Kaatre Yazh Meettu
From Manjal Nila · 1982
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Ashok
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Manjal Nila1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu | Listening to their tearful poetry. |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu | Listening to their tearful poetry. |
| Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari | Here, pleasures are merely a mirage, |
| Thunbangalae neelaampari….. | Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam... |
| Male | |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu | Listening to their tearful poetry. |
| Male | |
| Malar aaraangalai theru ooranggalil | Garlands of flowers on the roadsides, |
| Ingu yaar pottathu adhai yaar ketpathu | Who threw them here, and who listens to their plight? |
| Malar aaraangalai theru ooranggalil | Garlands of flowers on the roadsides, |
| Ingu yaar pottathu adhai yaar ketpathu | Who threw them here, and who listens to their plight? |
| Male | |
| Verum kovilgal engengum aaraathanai | There are worships in temples everywhere, |
| Konjam koorungal ivar nenjil yaen vedhanai | Please tell me, why is there pain in their hearts? |
| Aaraatho nenjin kaayangal | Will the wounds of the heart never heal? |
| Eppothu thelivaagum niyaayangal… | When will justice become clear?... |
| Male | |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu | Listening to their tearful poetry. |
| Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari | Here, pleasures are merely a mirage, |
| Thunbangalae neelaampari….. | Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam... |
| Male | |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu | Listening to their tearful poetry. |
| Male | |
| Ingu gangai undu | Here there is a Ganges, |
| Konjam thanneer illai | Yet not a bit of drinking water; |
| Vayal engum undu | Fields exist everywhere, |
| Unna sorum illai | Yet there is no rice to eat. |
| Male | |
| Ingu gangai undu | Here there is a Ganges, |
| Konjam thanneer illai | Yet not a bit of drinking water; |
| Vayal engum undu | Fields exist everywhere, |
| Unna sorum illai | Yet there is no rice to eat. |
| Male | |
| Intha dhesaththai thunbangal aalgindrana | Sufferings rule over this nation, |
| Verum therthalgalae ingu vaazhgindrana | Only mere elections thrive here. |
| Yaaringae oru aadhaaram | Who is a support here? |
| Tharumangal theruvengum viyabaaram | Charity has become a business on every street. |
| Male | |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu | Listening to their tearful poetry. |
| Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari | Here, pleasures are merely a mirage, |
| Thunbangalae neelaampari….. | Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam... |
| Male | |
| Kaatrae yaazh meettu | O wind, play the harp, |
| Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu…. | Listening to their tearful poetry.... |
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு
இங்கு இன்பங்களே கானல் வரி
துன்பங்களே நீலாம்பரி......
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry.
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Here, pleasures are merely a mirage,
Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam...
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry.
மலர் ஆரங்களை தெரு ஓரங்களில்
இங்கு யார் போட்டது அதை யார் கேட்பது
மலர் ஆரங்களை தெரு ஓரங்களில்
இங்கு யார் போட்டது அதை யார் கேட்பது
Garlands of flowers on the roadsides,
Who threw them here, and who listens to their plight?
Garlands of flowers on the roadsides,
Who threw them here, and who listens to their plight?
வெறும் கோவில்கள் எங்கெங்கும் ஆராதனை
கொஞ்சம் கூறுங்கள் இவர் நெஞ்சில் ஏன் வேதனை
ஆறாதோ நெஞ்சின் காயங்கள்
எப்போது தெளிவாகும் நியாயங்கள்...
There are worships in temples everywhere,
Please tell me, why is there pain in their hearts?
Will the wounds of the heart never heal?
When will justice become clear?...
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு
இங்கு இன்பங்களே கானல் வரி
துன்பங்களே நீலாம்பரி......
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Here, pleasures are merely a mirage,
Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam...
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry.
இங்கு கங்கை உண்டு
கொஞ்சம் தண்ணீர் இல்லை
வயல் எங்கும் உண்டு
உண்ண சோறும் இல்லை
Here there is a Ganges,
Yet not a bit of drinking water;
Fields exist everywhere,
Yet there is no rice to eat.
இங்கு கங்கை உண்டு
கொஞ்சம் தண்ணீர் இல்லை
வயல் எங்கும் உண்டு
உண்ண சோறும் இல்லை
Here there is a Ganges,
Yet not a bit of drinking water;
Fields exist everywhere,
Yet there is no rice to eat.
இந்த தேசத்தை துன்பங்கள் ஆள்கின்றன
வெறும் தேர்தல்களே இங்கு வாழ்கின்றன
யாரிங்கே ஒரு ஆதாரம்
தருமங்கள் தெருவெங்கும் வியாபாரம்....
Sufferings rule over this nation,
Only mere elections thrive here.
Who is a support here?
Charity has become a business on every street.
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு
இங்கு இன்பங்களே கானல் வரி
துன்பங்களே நீலாம்பரி......
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Here, pleasures are merely a mirage,
Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam...
காற்றே யாழ் மீட்டு
இவர் கண்ணீர் கவிதை கேட்டு....
O wind, play the harp,
Listening to their tearful poetry....
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari
Here, pleasures are merely a mirage,
Thunbangalae neelaampari…..
Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam...
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Malar aaraangalai theru ooranggalil
Garlands of flowers on the roadsides,
Ingu yaar pottathu adhai yaar ketpathu
Who threw them here, and who listens to their plight?
Malar aaraangalai theru ooranggalil
Garlands of flowers on the roadsides,
Ingu yaar pottathu adhai yaar ketpathu
Who threw them here, and who listens to their plight?
Verum kovilgal engengum aaraathanai
There are worships in temples everywhere,
Konjam koorungal ivar nenjil yaen vedhanai
Please tell me, why is there pain in their hearts?
Aaraatho nenjin kaayangal
Will the wounds of the heart never heal?
Eppothu thelivaagum niyaayangal…
When will justice become clear?...
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari
Here, pleasures are merely a mirage,
Thunbangalae neelaampari…..
Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam...
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Ingu gangai undu
Here there is a Ganges,
Konjam thanneer illai
Yet not a bit of drinking water;
Vayal engum undu
Fields exist everywhere,
Unna sorum illai
Yet there is no rice to eat.
Ingu gangai undu
Here there is a Ganges,
Konjam thanneer illai
Yet not a bit of drinking water;
Vayal engum undu
Fields exist everywhere,
Unna sorum illai
Yet there is no rice to eat.
Intha dhesaththai thunbangal aalgindrana
Sufferings rule over this nation,
Verum therthalgalae ingu vaazhgindrana
Only mere elections thrive here.
Yaaringae oru aadhaaram
Who is a support here?
Tharumangal theruvengum viyabaaram
Charity has become a business on every street.
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu
Listening to their tearful poetry.
Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari
Here, pleasures are merely a mirage,
Thunbangalae neelaampari…..
Sufferings are like a mournful Neelambari ragam...
Kaatrae yaazh meettu
O wind, play the harp,
Ivar kanneer kavithai kettu….
Listening to their tearful poetry....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song 'Kaatrae Yaazh Meettu' from the film 'Manjal Nila' (1982), written by Pulamaipithan, reflects deep social commentary and human pain. The speaker calls upon the wind to strum a harp in tune with the tearful life poetry of the suffering people. The lyrics highlight stark societal paradoxes—abundance in nature versus poverty in reality, grand religious worship versus unaddressed human sorrow, and the commercialization of virtue and political empty promises.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaai)
“Ingu inbangalae kaanal vari / Thunbangalae neelaampari”
Pleasures are metaphorically described as a mirage ('kaanal vari') and sufferings as the solemn night raga Neelambari ('neelaampari').
Personification
“Kaatrae yaazh meettu”
The wind ('Kaatrae') is requested to act like a musician playing an instrument ('yaazh meettu').
Paradox / Irony
“Ingu gangai undu / Konjam thanneer illai / Vayal engum undu / Unna sorum illai”
Juxtaposes the existence of a mighty river (Ganges) with lack of water, and widespread fields with lack of food.
Emoni / Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)
“Verum kovilgal engengum aaraathanai / Konjam koorungal ivar nenjil yaen vedhanai”
Internal and end rhymes like 'kaanal vari' and 'neelaampari', or 'aaraathanai' and 'vedhanai' create lyrical harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the renowned poet Pulamaipithan, known for his socially conscious and politically sharp lyrics, 'Manjal Nila' features music by Ilaiyaraaja and vocals by K. J. Yesudas, delivering a deeply soulful melancholic classic.
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