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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathirunden Kaathirunden

From Kairasi · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Movie name
Kairasi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
24 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Kaadhal un paal illai endraal
Kanni ullam karugi vidum
Thaedhi vachu saedhi sonnaal
Thaai mugamum marandhu vidum
Thanga magal koondhal yendru
Thaai mudindhu poovum vaippaal
Thanga magal koondhal endru
Thaai mudindhu poovum vaippaal
Mangai manam mudindhu vittaal
Manavaalan poo mudippaan
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Naam virumbi pirappadhillai
Petravalae valarppadhillai
Naam virumbi pirappadhillai
Petravalae valarppadhillai
Thaam virumbi manam mudippaar
Tham uyiril namai valarppaar
Thaam virumbi manam mudippaar
Tham uyiril namai valarppaar
Kaadhalilae tholvi kandor
Kadhaigalai naan padithadhundu
Kaadhalilae vetri kanda
Kanni en pol yaavarundu
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
Thanithiurndha en udalai
Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku
Thunai adaindha en udalai
Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai
Thanithiurndha en udalai
Thazhuvi vandha thendralukku
Thunai adaindha en udalai
Thoduvadharkkum urimai illai
Kan thirandhu naan irundhen
Kattazhaghar kudi pugundhaar
Kan thirandhu naan irundhen
Kattazhaghar kudi pugundhaar
Kan thirandhaal poi viduvaar
Kan moodi kaathiruppaen
Kaathirundhen kaathirundhen
Kaalamellaam paarthirundhen
Paarthirundha kaalamellaam
Pazham pol kanindhadhammaa
I waited, oh I waited,
I watched and longed for all this time.
All the time I spent waiting
has finally ripened sweet like a fruit!
I waited, oh I waited,
I watched and longed for all this time.
All the time I spent waiting
has finally ripened sweet like a fruit!
If I did not have your love,
this young heart of mine would wither away.
Once the wedding date is fixed and the news is told,
even a mother's face is easily forgotten.
Calling it her precious daughter's hair,
a mother braids it and tucks in flowers.
Calling it her precious daughter's hair,
a mother braids it and tucks in flowers.
But once a woman gets married,
her bridegroom is the one to adorn her hair with flowers.
I waited, oh I waited,
I watched and longed for all this time.
All the time I spent waiting
has finally ripened sweet like a fruit!
We are not born by our own choice,
nor does the mother who bore us keep raising us forever.
We are not born by our own choice,
nor does the mother who bore us keep raising us forever.
He willingly takes my hand in marriage,
and cherishes me as his very life.
He willingly takes my hand in marriage,
and cherishes me as his very life.
The sad tales of those who failed in love,
I have often read them in books.
Among those who have succeeded in love,
is there anyone as blessed as me?
I waited, oh I waited,
I watched and longed for all this time.
All the time I spent waiting
has finally ripened sweet like a fruit!
When I used to be all alone,
the gentle breeze would come and embrace me;
now that I have found my partner in life,
even that breeze has no right to touch me.
When I used to be all alone,
the gentle breeze would come and embrace me;
now that I have found my partner in life,
even that breeze has no right to touch me.
While my eyes were open,
my handsome beloved came and made his home within.
While my eyes were open,
my handsome beloved came and made his home within.
If I open my eyes now, he might leave,
so I will keep my eyes closed and wait.
I waited, oh I waited,
I watched and longed for all this time.
All the time I spent waiting
has finally ripened sweet like a fruit!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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