Kaatru Vandhal
From Kaathiruntha Kangal · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
- Music directors
- M. S. Vishwanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Kaathiruntha Kangal1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum | When the wind blows, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanal | Female: The reed |
| Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum | Male: When love arrives, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanam} (2) | Female: Shyness |
| Male | |
| Aatrinilae karai puralum | Overflowing the banks in the river is |
| Female :Vellam | Female: The flood |
| Male :Aasaiyilae karaipuralum | Male: Overflowing the bounds in desire is |
| Female :Ullam | Female: The heart |
| Female | |
| Aadai thottu vilaiyadum | Playing by touching clothes is |
| Male :Thendral | Male: The gentle breeze |
| Female :Aasai thottu vilayadum | Female: Playing by touching desire is |
| Male :Kangal | Male: The eyes |
| Female | |
| Oruvar mattum padipathu than | Read by only one person is |
| Male :Vedham | Male: The Veda |
| Female :Iruvaraga padikka sollum | Female: Asking two people to read together is |
| Male :Kaadhal | Male: Love |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum | When the wind blows, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanal | Female: The reed |
| Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum | Male: When love arrives, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanam | Female: Shyness |
| Female | |
| {Mazhai varumun vaanai moodum | Before rain comes, it covers the sky |
| Male :Megam | Male: The cloud |
| Female :Thirumanathukkumun manathai moodum | Female: Before marriage, it covers the mind |
| Male :Mogam} (2) | Male: Infatuation |
| Female | |
| Oodivarum naadivarum | Running towards, seeking out |
| Uravu kondu thedivarum | Seeking relationship, coming in search |
| Uyir kalanthu sernthuvidum | Merging with the soul and uniting is |
| Male :Maanum | Male: The deer |
| Female | |
| Paadivarum paruvamugam | The youthful face coming with song |
| Pakkam vanthu nidravudan | Once it comes close and stands |
| Paasathodu sernthu kolven | I will embrace with affection |
| Male :Naanum… | Male: I too... |
| Female :Naanum… | Female: I too... |
| Male :Naanum…. | Male: I too.... |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum | When the wind blows, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanal | Female: The reed |
| Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum | Male: When love arrives, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanam | Female: Shyness |
| Female | |
| Aaaa…aaa..aaaa…aaaaa…aaa.. | Aaaa...aaa..aaaa...aaaaa...aaa.. |
| Male | |
| {Anji anji nadanthu varum | Walking timidly and fearfully comes |
| Female :Annam | Female: The swan |
| Male :Achathilae sivanthu vidum | Male: Blushing red in shyness is |
| Female :Kannam} (2) | Female: The cheek |
| Male | |
| Konji varum vanji mugam | The sweet, lisping face of the maiden |
| Gopurathu kalasamena | Like the pinnacle spire on a temple tower |
| Anthi veyil nerathilae | In the evening sunlight |
| Female :Minnum | Female: Will shine |
| Male | |
| Minni varum nerathilae | In that glowing, sparkling moment |
| Meni konda paruvathilae | In the youth of her physical form |
| Munnirunthal thotruvidum | Standing before her, it would lose |
| Female :Ponnum | Female: Even gold |
| Male | |
| Ullam….Female :Thullum.. | The heart... Female: Leaps with joy.. |
| Male | |
| Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum | When the wind blows, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanal | Female: The reed |
| Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum | Male: When love arrives, it bows its head |
| Female :Naanam | Female: Shyness |
{ காற்று வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணல்
காதல் வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணம் } (2)
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female: The reed
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female: Shyness
ஆற்றினிலே
கரைபுரளும்
வெள்ளம்
ஆசையிலே
கரை புரளும்
உள்ளம்
Overflowing the banks in the river is
Female: The flood
Male: Overflowing the bounds in desire is
Female: The heart
ஆடை தொட்டு
விளையாடும்
தென்றல்
ஆசை தொட்டு
விளையாடும்
கண்கள்
Playing by touching clothes is
Male: The gentle breeze
Female: Playing by touching desire is
Male: The eyes
ஒருவர் மட்டும்
படிப்பதுதான்
வேதம்
இருவராக
படிக்க சொல்லும்
காதல்
Read by only one person is
Male: The Veda
Female: Asking two people to read together is
Male: Love
காற்று வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணல்
காதல் வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணம்
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female: The reed
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female: Shyness
{ மழை வருமுன்
வானை மூடும்
மேகம்
திருமணத்துக்கு
முன் மனதை மூடும்
மோகம் } (2)
Before rain comes, it covers the sky
Male: The cloud
Female: Before marriage, it covers the mind
Male: Infatuation
ஓடி வரும்
நாடி வரும் உறவு
கொண்டு தேடி வரும்
உயிர் கலந்து சேர்ந்து
விடும்
மானும்
Running towards, seeking out
Seeking relationship, coming in search
Merging with the soul and uniting is
Male: The deer
பாடி வரும்
பருவ முகம் பக்கம்
வந்து நின்றவுடன்
பாசத்தோடு சேர்ந்து
கொள்வேன்
நானும்
நானும்
நானும்
The youthful face coming with song
Once it comes close and stands
I will embrace with affection
Male: I too...
Female: I too...
Male: I too....
காற்று வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணல்
காதல் வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணம்
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female: The reed
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female: Shyness
ஆஆ ஆஆ
ஆஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ
Aaaa...aaa..aaaa...aaaaa...aaa..
{ அஞ்சி அஞ்சி
நடந்து வரும்
அன்னம்
அச்சத்திலே
சிவந்து விடும்
கன்னம் } (2)
Walking timidly and fearfully comes
Female: The swan
Male: Blushing red in shyness is
Female: The cheek
கொஞ்சிவரும்
வஞ்சி முகம் கோபுரத்து
கலசமென அந்தி வெயில்
நேரத்திலே
மின்னும்
The sweet, lisping face of the maiden
Like the pinnacle spire on a temple tower
In the evening sunlight
Female: Will shine
மின்னி வரும்
நேரத்திலே மேனி
கொண்ட பருவத்திலே
முன்னிருந்தால் தோற்று
விடும்
பொன்னும்
In that glowing, sparkling moment
In the youth of her physical form
Standing before her, it would lose
Female: Even gold
உள்ளம்
துள்ளும்
The heart... Female: Leaps with joy..
காற்று வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணல்
காதல் வந்தால்
தலை சாயும்
நாணம்
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female: The reed
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female: Shyness
ஆண் & பெண் :
ஆஹா
ஹாஹா ஆஆ ஆஹா
ஹாஹா ஆஆ ஹா
{Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female :Naanal
Female: The reed
Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female :Naanam} (2)
Female: Shyness
Aatrinilae karai puralum
Overflowing the banks in the river is
Female :Vellam
Female: The flood
Male :Aasaiyilae karaipuralum
Male: Overflowing the bounds in desire is
Female :Ullam
Female: The heart
Aadai thottu vilaiyadum
Playing by touching clothes is
Male :Thendral
Male: The gentle breeze
Female :Aasai thottu vilayadum
Female: Playing by touching desire is
Male :Kangal
Male: The eyes
Oruvar mattum padipathu than
Read by only one person is
Male :Vedham
Male: The Veda
Female :Iruvaraga padikka sollum
Female: Asking two people to read together is
Male :Kaadhal
Male: Love
Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female :Naanal
Female: The reed
Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female :Naanam
Female: Shyness
{Mazhai varumun vaanai moodum
Before rain comes, it covers the sky
Male :Megam
Male: The cloud
Female :Thirumanathukkumun manathai moodum
Female: Before marriage, it covers the mind
Male :Mogam} (2)
Male: Infatuation
Oodivarum naadivarum
Running towards, seeking out
Uravu kondu thedivarum
Seeking relationship, coming in search
Uyir kalanthu sernthuvidum
Merging with the soul and uniting is
Male :Maanum
Male: The deer
Paadivarum paruvamugam
The youthful face coming with song
Pakkam vanthu nidravudan
Once it comes close and stands
Paasathodu sernthu kolven
I will embrace with affection
Male :Naanum…
Male: I too...
Female :Naanum…
Female: I too...
Male :Naanum….
Male: I too....
Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female :Naanal
Female: The reed
Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female :Naanam
Female: Shyness
Aaaa…aaa..aaaa…aaaaa…aaa..
Aaaa...aaa..aaaa...aaaaa...aaa..
{Anji anji nadanthu varum
Walking timidly and fearfully comes
Female :Annam
Female: The swan
Male :Achathilae sivanthu vidum
Male: Blushing red in shyness is
Female :Kannam} (2)
Female: The cheek
Konji varum vanji mugam
The sweet, lisping face of the maiden
Gopurathu kalasamena
Like the pinnacle spire on a temple tower
Anthi veyil nerathilae
In the evening sunlight
Female :Minnum
Female: Will shine
Minni varum nerathilae
In that glowing, sparkling moment
Meni konda paruvathilae
In the youth of her physical form
Munnirunthal thotruvidum
Standing before her, it would lose
Female :Ponnum
Female: Even gold
Ullam….Female :Thullum..
The heart... Female: Leaps with joy..
Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum
When the wind blows, it bows its head
Female :Naanal
Female: The reed
Male :Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum
Male: When love arrives, it bows its head
Female :Naanam
Female: Shyness
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaatru Vanthaal Thalai Saayum from the 1962 movie Kaathiruntha Kangal is a playful musical duet between two lovers who express their blossoming romance through poetic riddles based on nature. By setting up parallels between natural phenomena—such as reeds bending in the wind, river floods overflowing, and clouds covering the sky—and human emotions like shyness, overflowing passion, and infatuation, the song vividly conveys the psychological effect of falling in love. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance shines in the question-and-answer format, where each line prompts a metaphoric response. Set to a melodious tune by the Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo, the song celebrates the joy, anticipation, and deep affection preceding marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile / Analogy)
“Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum Naanal / Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum Naanam”
Compares physical phenomena in nature to emotional states in humans, such as the reed bending to the wind being compared to love causing shyness.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Gopurathu kalasamena Anthi veyil nerathilae Minnum”
Directly compares the glowing face of the maiden in evening light to the golden spire (kalasam) of a temple tower using 'ena'.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aatrinilae karai puralum / Aasaiyilae karaipuralum”
The second consonant 't/d' or 's' aligns across lines to create rhythmic flow ('Aatrinilae' / 'Aasaiyilae').
Anaphora / Repetition
“Male :Naanum… Female :Naanum… Male :Naanum….”
Repetition of 'Naanum...' across characters to build emotional unison and playful climax.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kaathiruntha Kangal (1962) starred Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, and Nagesh. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kannadasan, sung by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela.
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