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Oru Naal Oru Kanavu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatril Varum

From Oru Naal Oru Kanavu · 2005

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Bhavatharani, Hariharan, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Oru Naal Oru Kanavu
Movie release year
2005
Lyrics added on
16 Feb 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa….
Avan vai kulalil alagagaa….
Aaaa…..aaaa
Amutham thathumbum isayagaa
Malarnthai nadanthai
Alai pol mithanthu
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa
Pasu ariyum antha sisu ariyum
Paalai maranthu antha pambariyum
Pasu ariyum antha sisu ariyum
Paalai maranthu antha pambariyum
Varunthum uyirkuuuu…uuuu
Aaaaa…aaaa…
Chorus :Varunthum uyirku oru
Marunthagum
Isai arunthum mugam malarum
Arumbagaum
Isayin payanae iraivan thaanae
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa
Athara sruthi antha
Annai endren
Male :Athukettra layam enthan
Thanthai enben
Suthi layangal thannai sutrum
Swarangal ellam
Male :Uravaga amaintha nalla
Isai kudumbam
Thirantha kathavu endrum
Moodathu
Ingu sirantha isai virunthu
Kuraiyathu
Ithu pol illam ethu sollu tholi
Pa ma ri ga ri ga ri ga ni tha tha ni
Chorus :Pa ma ri ga ri ga ri ga ni tha tha ni
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa
Chorus :Avan vai kulalil alagagaa
Male :Amutham thathumbum isayagaa
Chorus :Malarnthai nadanthai
Alai pol midhanthu
Katril varum geethamae
En kannanai arivayaa….
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan (Lord Krishna)?
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan?
From the flute at his lips, so beautifully,
Aaa... aaa...
As music overflowing with sweet nectar,
You blossomed and wandered,
Floating gently like a wave.
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan?
The cow knows it, the little child knows it,
Forgetting its milk, even the serpent knows it.
The cow knows it, the little child knows it,
Forgetting its milk, even the serpent knows it.
For suffering souls...
Aaaa... aaa...
Chorus: For every suffering soul,
It becomes a healing medicine.
Drinking in music, the face blossoms
Like a fresh flower bud.
The ultimate fruit of music is God Himself, isn't it?
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan?
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan?
I say the root pitch (sruti)
Is my mother,
Male: And the matching rhythm (laya)
Is my father, I say.
Surrounding the pitch and rhythm,
All the musical notes (swaras)
Male: Become the loving kin of a beautiful
Musical family.
The open doors of this house
Will never close.
Here, this grand feast of music
Will never run short.
Tell me, my friend, is there any home quite like this?
Pa Ma Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri Ga Ni Dha Dha Ni
Chorus: Pa Ma Ri Ga Ri Ga Ri Ga Ni Dha Dha Ni
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan?
Chorus: From the flute at his lips, so beautifully,
Male: As music overflowing with sweet nectar,
Chorus: You blossomed and wandered,
Floating gently like a wave.
O song drifting on the breeze,
Do you know my Kannan?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Katril Varum Geethame' is a serene classical composition that celebrates the divine power of music and its intimate connection with Lord Krishna's flute. The song highlights how music transcends logical boundaries, captivating cows, infants, and even snakes, while serving as a healing medicine for grieving souls. Vaali's lyrics emphasize that the true ultimate end of music is reaching God Himself. In the latter stanzas, music is poetically depicted as a complete family where the pitch (Sruti) acts as the mother, rhythm (Laya) as the father, and the musical notes (Swaras) as relatives, hosting an eternal feast of harmony where the doors are forever open to all listeners.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

“Katril varum geethamae / En kannanai arivayaa”

Addressing the song floating in the wind as a person capable of knowing Krishna.

Simile (Upamai)

“Alai pol mithanthu”

Comparing the graceful movement of music in the air to ocean waves floating.

Iyebu (End Rhyme / Repetition)

“Pasu ariyum antha sisu ariyum / Paalai maranthu antha pambariyum”

Repetition of 'ariyum' at line endings creating a rhythmic lyrical flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Athara sruthi antha Annai endren... Isai kudumbam”

Metaphorically structuring musical concepts (Sruti, Laya, Swaras) as a literal family system.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 2005 film 'Oru Naal Oru Kanavu' directed by Fazil, this song is celebrated for its intricate classical arrangements. Written by Vaali, it features vocals by Hariharan, Shreya Ghoshal, Vijay Yesudas, and Bhavatharini.

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