Kaathirunden Kaathirunden
From Kairasi · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- R. Govarthanam
- Details
- Kairasi1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen | I waited and I waited, |
| Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen | I kept watching all through time, |
| Paarthirundha kaalamellaam | All the time I spent waiting, |
| Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa | Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen | I waited and I waited, |
| Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen | I kept watching all through time, |
| Paarthirundha kaalamellaam | All the time I spent waiting, |
| Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa | Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal un paal illai endraal | If love is not found in you, |
| Kanni ullam karugi vidum | A maiden's heart will char and burn. |
| Thaedhi vachu saedhi sonnaal | When a wedding date is set and news arrives, |
| Thaai mugamum marandhu vidum | Even her mother's face will be forgotten. |
| Female | |
| Thanga magal koondhal yendru | Thinking of it as her golden daughter's hair, |
| Thaai mudindhu poovum vaippaal | A mother ties it and adorns it with flowers. |
| Thanga magal koondhal endru | Thinking of it as her golden daughter's hair, |
| Thaai mudindhu poovum vaippaal | A mother ties it and adorns it with flowers. |
| Mangai manam mudindhu vittaal | Once a maiden's marriage is decided, |
| Manavaalan poo mudippaan | Her groom will adorn her hair with flowers. |
| Female | |
| Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen | I waited and I waited, |
| Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen | I kept watching all through time, |
| Paarthirundha kaalamellaam | All the time I spent waiting, |
| Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa | Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Naam virumbi pirappadhillai | We are not born out of our own desire, |
| Petravalae valarppadhillai | Nor does the mother who bore us raise us forever. |
| Naam virumbi pirappadhillai | We are not born out of our own desire, |
| Petravalae valarppadhillai | Nor does the mother who bore us raise us forever. |
| Female | |
| Thaam virumbi manam mudippaar | They wed us out of their own love, |
| Tham uyiril namai valarppaar | And nourish us within their very soul. |
| Thaam virumbi manam mudippaar | They wed us out of their own love, |
| Tham uyiril namai valarppaar | And nourish us within their very soul. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhalilae tholvi kandor | Stories of those who failed in love, |
| Kadhaigalai naan padithadhundu | I have read many a time. |
| Kaadhalilae vetri kanda | But who is there like me, |
| Kanni en pol yaavarundu | A maiden who has triumphed in love? |
| Female | |
| Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen | I waited and I waited, |
| Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen | I kept watching all through time, |
| Paarthirundha kaalamellaam | All the time I spent waiting, |
| Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa | Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear! |
| Female | |
| Thanithiurndha en udalai | To the gentle breeze that embraced my body, |
| Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku | Back when I was all alone, |
| Thunai adaindha en udalai | Now that my body has found a companion, |
| Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai | It no longer has the right to touch me. |
| Female | |
| Thanithiurndha en udalai | To the gentle breeze that embraced my body, |
| Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku | Back when I was all alone, |
| Thunai adaindha en udalai | Now that my body has found a companion, |
| Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai | It no longer has the right to touch me. |
| Female | |
| Kan thirandhu naan irundhen | I remained with my eyes open, |
| Kattazhaghar kudi pugundhaar | And the handsome man moved in to reside. |
| Kan thirandhu naan irundhen | I remained with my eyes open, |
| Kattazhaghar kudi pugundhaar | And the handsome man moved in to reside. |
| Kan thirandhaal poi viduvaar | If I open my eyes, he might disappear, |
| Kan moodi kaathiruppaen | So I will wait with my eyes closed. |
| Female | |
| Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen | I waited and I waited, |
| Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen | I kept watching all through time, |
| Paarthirundha kaalamellaam | All the time I spent waiting, |
| Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa | Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear! |
காத்திருந்தேன் காத்திருந்தேன்
காலமெல்லாம் பார்த்திருந்தேன்
பார்த்திருந்த காலமெல்லாம்
பழம்போல் கனிந்ததம்மா
I waited and I waited,
I kept watching all through time,
All the time I spent waiting,
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
காத்திருந்தேன் காத்திருந்தேன்
காலமெல்லாம் பார்த்திருந்தேன்
பார்த்திருந்த காலமெல்லாம்
பழம்போல் கனிந்ததம்மா
I waited and I waited,
I kept watching all through time,
All the time I spent waiting,
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
காதல் உன் பால் இல்லையென்றால்
கன்னி உள்ளம் கருகி விடும்
தேதி வைத்து சேதி சொன்னால்
தாய் முகமும் மறைந்து விடும்
If love is not found in you,
A maiden's heart will char and burn.
When a wedding date is set and news arrives,
Even her mother's face will be forgotten.
தங்க மகள் கூந்தல் என்று
தாய் முடித்து பூவும் வைப்பாள்
தங்க மகள் கூந்தல் என்று
தாய் முடித்து பூவும் வைப்பாள்
மங்கை மணம் முடிந்து விட்டால்
மணவாளன் பூ முடிப்பான்
Thinking of it as her golden daughter's hair,
A mother ties it and adorns it with flowers.
Thinking of it as her golden daughter's hair,
A mother ties it and adorns it with flowers.
Once a maiden's marriage is decided,
Her groom will adorn her hair with flowers.
காத்திருந்தேன் காத்திருந்தேன்
காலமெல்லாம் பார்த்திருந்தேன்
பார்த்திருந்த காலமெல்லாம்
பழம்போல் கனிந்ததம்மா
I waited and I waited,
I kept watching all through time,
All the time I spent waiting,
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
நாம் விரும்பி பிறப்பதில்லை
பெற்றவளே வளர்ப்பதில்லை
நாம் விரும்பி பிறப்பதில்லை
பெற்றவளே வளர்ப்பதில்லை
We are not born out of our own desire,
Nor does the mother who bore us raise us forever.
We are not born out of our own desire,
Nor does the mother who bore us raise us forever.
தாம் விரும்பி மணமுடிப்பார்
தம் உயிரில் நமை வளர்ப்பாள்
தாம் விரும்பி மணமுடிப்பார்
தம் உயிரில் நமை வளர்ப்பாள்
They wed us out of their own love,
And nourish us within their very soul.
They wed us out of their own love,
And nourish us within their very soul.
காதலிலே தோல்வி கண்டோர்
கதைகளை நான் படித்ததுண்டு
காதலிலே வெற்றிக் கண்ட
கன்னி என் போல் யாவருண்டு
Stories of those who failed in love,
I have read many a time.
But who is there like me,
A maiden who has triumphed in love?
காத்திருந்தேன் காத்திருந்தேன்
காலமெல்லாம் பார்த்திருந்தேன்
பார்த்திருந்த காலமெல்லாம்
பழம்போல் கனிந்ததம்மா
I waited and I waited,
I kept watching all through time,
All the time I spent waiting,
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
தனித்திருந்த என் உடலை
தழுவி வந்த தென்றலுக்கு
துணை அடைந்த என் உடலை
தொடுவதற்கும் உரிமையில்லை
To the gentle breeze that embraced my body,
Back when I was all alone,
Now that my body has found a companion,
It no longer has the right to touch me.
கண் திறந்து நானிருந்தேன்
கட்டழகர் குடி புகுந்தார்
கண் திறந்து நானிருந்தேன்
கட்டழகர் குடி புகுந்தார்
கண் திறந்தால் போய் விடுவார்
கண்மூடிக் காத்திருப்பேன்
To the gentle breeze that embraced my body,
Back when I was all alone,
Now that my body has found a companion,
It no longer has the right to touch me.
காத்திருந்தேன் காத்திருந்தேன்
காலமெல்லாம் பார்த்திருந்தேன்
பார்த்திருந்த காலமெல்லாம்
பழம்போல் கனிந்ததம்மா
I remained with my eyes open,
And the handsome man moved in to reside.
I remained with my eyes open,
And the handsome man moved in to reside.
If I open my eyes, he might disappear,
So I will wait with my eyes closed.
I waited and I waited,
I kept watching all through time,
All the time I spent waiting,
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
I waited and I waited,
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
I kept watching all through time,
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
All the time I spent waiting,
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
I waited and I waited,
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
I kept watching all through time,
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
All the time I spent waiting,
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
Kaadhal un paal illai endraal
If love is not found in you,
Kanni ullam karugi vidum
A maiden's heart will char and burn.
Thaedhi vachu saedhi sonnaal
When a wedding date is set and news arrives,
Thaai mugamum marandhu vidum
Even her mother's face will be forgotten.
Thanga magal koondhal yendru
Thinking of it as her golden daughter's hair,
Thaai mudindhu poovum vaippaal
A mother ties it and adorns it with flowers.
Thanga magal koondhal endru
Thinking of it as her golden daughter's hair,
Thaai mudindhu poovum vaippaal
A mother ties it and adorns it with flowers.
Mangai manam mudindhu vittaal
Once a maiden's marriage is decided,
Manavaalan poo mudippaan
Her groom will adorn her hair with flowers.
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
I waited and I waited,
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
I kept watching all through time,
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
All the time I spent waiting,
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
Naam virumbi pirappadhillai
We are not born out of our own desire,
Petravalae valarppadhillai
Nor does the mother who bore us raise us forever.
Naam virumbi pirappadhillai
We are not born out of our own desire,
Petravalae valarppadhillai
Nor does the mother who bore us raise us forever.
Thaam virumbi manam mudippaar
They wed us out of their own love,
Tham uyiril namai valarppaar
And nourish us within their very soul.
Thaam virumbi manam mudippaar
They wed us out of their own love,
Tham uyiril namai valarppaar
And nourish us within their very soul.
Kaadhalilae tholvi kandor
Stories of those who failed in love,
Kadhaigalai naan padithadhundu
I have read many a time.
Kaadhalilae vetri kanda
But who is there like me,
Kanni en pol yaavarundu
A maiden who has triumphed in love?
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
I waited and I waited,
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
I kept watching all through time,
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
All the time I spent waiting,
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
Thanithiurndha en udalai
To the gentle breeze that embraced my body,
Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku
Back when I was all alone,
Thunai adaindha en udalai
Now that my body has found a companion,
Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai
It no longer has the right to touch me.
Thanithiurndha en udalai
To the gentle breeze that embraced my body,
Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku
Back when I was all alone,
Thunai adaindha en udalai
Now that my body has found a companion,
Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai
It no longer has the right to touch me.
Kan thirandhu naan irundhen
I remained with my eyes open,
Kattazhaghar kudi pugundhaar
And the handsome man moved in to reside.
Kan thirandhu naan irundhen
I remained with my eyes open,
Kattazhaghar kudi pugundhaar
And the handsome man moved in to reside.
Kan thirandhaal poi viduvaar
If I open my eyes, he might disappear,
Kan moodi kaathiruppaen
So I will wait with my eyes closed.
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
I waited and I waited,
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
I kept watching all through time,
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
All the time I spent waiting,
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Has ripened like a sweet fruit, oh dear!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaathirundhen Kaathirundhen is a classic Tamil song from Kairasi (1960) with lyrics by Kavinar Kannadasan. The song expresses the joy of a young woman whose patience in love has finally borne sweet fruit. She reflects on the emotional shifts in a woman's life as she transitions from her mother's care to her husband's embrace upon marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai Ani (Simile)
“Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa”
Compares the patient wait of love coming to fruition with a fruit ripening sweet and soft (Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen / Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines creates an alluring rhythmic flow.
Personification
“Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku... Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai”
Personification of the breeze, attributing to it human rights and social boundaries after marriage.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Thanithirundha en udalai / Thunai adaindha en udalai”
Rhyming of the second letter 'ni' and 'nai' in Thanithirundha and Thunai adaindha.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by R. Govardhanam and sung delightfully by P. Susheela, this song stands out for Kannadasan's evocative poetry capturing traditional Tamil marital sensibilities.
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