Kaavalukku Saamy
From Murattu Karangal · 1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu | There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge |
| Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu | There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge |
| Adi pachapasael endru nanja kaadu punja kaadu | Oh, look at the lush green wet fields and dry lands |
| Pon vilaiyum nalla panna kaadu thaan | It is indeed a rich farm forest that yields gold |
| Adi akkam pakkam vanna thennanjolai poonjolai | Oh, look around at the colorful coconut groves and flower gardens |
| Nikkudhu paaru idhu namma ooru thaan | Look at it standing tall, this is indeed our village |
| Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu…hey | There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge… hey |
| Male | |
| Madaiyil mani vaathu neendhum | In the sluice, the sleek duck swims |
| Thunaiyai ethirpaathu neendhum | It swims waiting eagerly for its partner |
| Kilaiyil ilam moongil aadum | On the branch, young bamboo sways |
| Adhan mel kili oonjal aadum | Upon it, a parrot swings like on a cradle |
| Male | |
| Sengazhani sethula thaan | In the muddy red field soil |
| Chinnanjiru naathu varum | Tiny young saplings emerge |
| Adi sinnanjiru naathodu thaan | Oh, along with those tiny young saplings |
| Seidhi solla kaathu varum | The wind arrives to deliver news |
| Male | |
| Sengazhani sethula thaan | In the muddy red field soil |
| Chinnanjiru naathu varum | Tiny young saplings emerge |
| Adi sinnanjiru naathodu thaan | Oh, along with those tiny young saplings |
| Seidhi solla kaathu varum | The wind arrives to deliver news |
| Male | |
| Aahaa kannukkum nenjukkum | Aha, for both the eyes and the heart |
| Ennenna inbam thaan | What an immense delight it brings! |
| Ullapadi indha oora pola oorum illa | Truly, there is no village quite like this village |
| Solla pona indha | And if truth be told, this |
| Mannu pola mannum illa | There is no soil quite like this soil |
| Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu…hu | There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge… hu |
| Male | |
| Nelam thaan ingu vaanam paatha | If the land here looks up at the sky |
| Tharisaa ninnu vaadi verthaa | Standing barren, withered and sweating |
| Tharuva mazhai maariyathaa | Will the rain deity transform and come as rain? |
| Aval ingu yaaru kaatha | Who was it that protected her here? |
| Male | |
| {Ponga vechu pooja vechu | By cooking sweet rice offerings and performing worship |
| Pambha thattum oosai vara | As the sound of playing the pamflet drum echoes |
| Ada kumbittadhum koopittadhum | Ah, upon praying and calling out |
| Thaairukkaa odi vara} (2) | Mother Goddess rushes to us (Repeated) |
| Male | |
| Aahaa annalum innaalum | Aha, back then, today, and |
| Ennaalum kummalam | On all days, it is pure joy |
| Eppavumae nalla neram kaalam vaaichirukku | We are always blessed with good times and fortunate seasons |
| Nattadhellam nalla poovum pinjaa kaaichirukku | Whatever we plant blossoms into fine flowers and yields young fruits |
| Male | |
| Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu | There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge |
| Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu | There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge |
| Adi pachapasael endru nanja kaadu punja kaadu | Oh, look at the lush green wet fields and dry lands |
| Pon vilaiyum nalla panna kaadu thaan | It is indeed a rich farm forest that yields gold |
| Adi akkam pakkam vanna thennanjolai poonjolai | Oh, look around at the colorful coconut groves and flower gardens |
| Nikkudhu paaru idhu namma ooru thaan | Look at it standing tall, this is indeed our village |
காவலுக்கு சாமி உண்டு கஞ்சி ஊத்த பூமி உண்டு
காவலுக்கு சாமி உண்டு கஞ்சி ஊத்த பூமி உண்டு
அடி பச்சப்பசேலென்று நஞ்சக் காடு புஞ்சக் காடு
பொன் விளையும் நல்ல பண்ணக் காடுதான்
அடி அக்கம் பக்கம் வண்ண தென்னஞ்சோலை புன்னஞ்சோலை
நிக்கிது பார் இது நம்ம ஊருதான்
காவலுக்கு சாமி உண்டு கஞ்சி ஊத்த பூமி உண்டு..ஹே
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
Oh, look at the lush green wet fields and dry lands
It is indeed a rich farm forest that yields gold
Oh, look around at the colorful coconut groves and flower gardens
Look at it standing tall, this is indeed our village
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge… hey
மடையில் மணி வாத்து நீந்தும்
துணையை எதிர்ப்பார்த்து நீந்தும்
கிளையில் இளம் மூங்கில் ஆடும்
அதன் மேல் கிளி ஊஞ்சல் ஆடும்
In the sluice, the sleek duck swims
It swims waiting eagerly for its partner
On the branch, young bamboo sways
Upon it, a parrot swings like on a cradle
செங்கழனி சேத்துலதான்
சின்னஞ்சிறு நாத்து வரும்
அடி சின்னஞ்சிறு நாத்தோடுதான்
சேதி சொல்ல காத்து வரும்
In the muddy red field soil
Tiny young saplings emerge
Oh, along with those tiny young saplings
The wind arrives to deliver news
செங்கழனி சேத்துலதான்
சின்னஞ்சிறு நாத்து வரும்
அடி சின்னஞ்சிறு நாத்தோடுதான்
சேதி சொல்ல காத்து வரும்
In the muddy red field soil
Tiny young saplings emerge
Oh, along with those tiny young saplings
The wind arrives to deliver news
ஆஹா கண்ணுக்கும் நெஞ்சுக்கும்
என்னென்ன இன்பம்தான்
உள்ளபடி இந்த ஊரப் போல ஊருமில்ல
சொல்லப் போனா இந்த
மண்ணப் போல மண்ணுமில்ல
காவலுக்கு சாமி உண்டு கஞ்சி ஊத்த பூமி உண்டு...ஹு
Aha, for both the eyes and the heart
What an immense delight it brings!
Truly, there is no village quite like this village
And if truth be told, this
There is no soil quite like this soil
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge… hu
நெலம்தான் இங்கு வானம் பாத்தா
தரிசா நின்னு வாடி வேர்த்தா
தருவா மழை மாரியாத்தா
அவள் இங்கு யாரு காத்தா
If the land here looks up at the sky
Standing barren, withered and sweating
Will the rain deity transform and come as rain?
Who was it that protected her here?
பொங்க வச்சு பூஜ வச்சு
பம்ப தட்டும் ஓசை வர
அட கும்பிட்டதும் கூப்பிட்டதும்
தாயிருக்கா ஓடி வர
By cooking sweet rice offerings and performing worship
As the sound of playing the pamflet drum echoes
Ah, upon praying and calling out
Mother Goddess rushes to us (Repeated)
பொங்க வச்சு பூஜ வச்சு
பம்ப தட்டும் ஓசை வர
அட கும்பிட்டதும் கூப்பிட்டதும்
தாயிருக்கா ஓடி வர
Aha, back then, today, and
On all days, it is pure joy
We are always blessed with good times and fortunate seasons
Whatever we plant blossoms into fine flowers and yields young fruits
ஆஹா அந்நாளும் இந்நாளும்
எந்நாளும் கும்மாளம்
எப்பவுமே நல்ல நேரம் காலம் வாய்ச்சிருக்கு
நட்டதெல்லாம் நல்ல பூவும் பிஞ்சா காய்ச்சிருக்கு
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
Oh, look at the lush green wet fields and dry lands
It is indeed a rich farm forest that yields gold
Oh, look around at the colorful coconut groves and flower gardens
Look at it standing tall, this is indeed our village
காவலுக்கு சாமி உண்டு கஞ்சி ஊத்த பூமி உண்டு
காவலுக்கு சாமி உண்டு கஞ்சி ஊத்த பூமி உண்டு
அடி பச்சப்பசேலென்று நஞ்சக் காடு புஞ்சக் காடு
பொன் விளையும் நல்ல பண்ணக் காடுதான்
அடி அக்கம் பக்கம் வண்ண
தென்னஞ்சோலை புன்னஞ்சோலை
நிக்கிது பார் இது நம்ம ஊருதான்....
Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
Adi pachapasael endru nanja kaadu punja kaadu
Oh, look at the lush green wet fields and dry lands
Pon vilaiyum nalla panna kaadu thaan
It is indeed a rich farm forest that yields gold
Adi akkam pakkam vanna thennanjolai poonjolai
Oh, look around at the colorful coconut groves and flower gardens
Nikkudhu paaru idhu namma ooru thaan
Look at it standing tall, this is indeed our village
Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu…hey
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge… hey
Madaiyil mani vaathu neendhum
In the sluice, the sleek duck swims
Thunaiyai ethirpaathu neendhum
It swims waiting eagerly for its partner
Kilaiyil ilam moongil aadum
On the branch, young bamboo sways
Adhan mel kili oonjal aadum
Upon it, a parrot swings like on a cradle
Sengazhani sethula thaan
In the muddy red field soil
Chinnanjiru naathu varum
Tiny young saplings emerge
Adi sinnanjiru naathodu thaan
Oh, along with those tiny young saplings
Seidhi solla kaathu varum
The wind arrives to deliver news
Sengazhani sethula thaan
In the muddy red field soil
Chinnanjiru naathu varum
Tiny young saplings emerge
Adi sinnanjiru naathodu thaan
Oh, along with those tiny young saplings
Seidhi solla kaathu varum
The wind arrives to deliver news
Aahaa kannukkum nenjukkum
Aha, for both the eyes and the heart
Ennenna inbam thaan
What an immense delight it brings!
Ullapadi indha oora pola oorum illa
Truly, there is no village quite like this village
Solla pona indha
And if truth be told, this
Mannu pola mannum illa
There is no soil quite like this soil
Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu…hu
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge… hu
Nelam thaan ingu vaanam paatha
If the land here looks up at the sky
Tharisaa ninnu vaadi verthaa
Standing barren, withered and sweating
Tharuva mazhai maariyathaa
Will the rain deity transform and come as rain?
Aval ingu yaaru kaatha
Who was it that protected her here?
{Ponga vechu pooja vechu
By cooking sweet rice offerings and performing worship
Pambha thattum oosai vara
As the sound of playing the pamflet drum echoes
Ada kumbittadhum koopittadhum
Ah, upon praying and calling out
Thaairukkaa odi vara} (2)
Mother Goddess rushes to us (Repeated)
Aahaa annalum innaalum
Aha, back then, today, and
Ennaalum kummalam
On all days, it is pure joy
Eppavumae nalla neram kaalam vaaichirukku
We are always blessed with good times and fortunate seasons
Nattadhellam nalla poovum pinjaa kaaichirukku
Whatever we plant blossoms into fine flowers and yields young fruits
Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
Kaavalukku saami undu kanji ootha boomi undu
There is a deity to guard us, and fertile land to feed us porridge
Adi pachapasael endru nanja kaadu punja kaadu
Oh, look at the lush green wet fields and dry lands
Pon vilaiyum nalla panna kaadu thaan
It is indeed a rich farm forest that yields gold
Adi akkam pakkam vanna thennanjolai poonjolai
Oh, look around at the colorful coconut groves and flower gardens
Nikkudhu paaru idhu namma ooru thaan
Look at it standing tall, this is indeed our village
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaavalukku Saami Undu is a celebratory village folk song from the movie Murattu Karangal (1986). It beautifully captures the rural pride, agricultural vitality, and spiritual faith of Tamil village folk. The song extols the guardian deity (Kaaval Saami) who watches over the village and Mother Earth who provides endless sustenance. It vividly depicts natural elements like lush fields, swimming ducks, swaying bamboo, and gentle breezes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor / Hyperbole
“Pon vilaiyum nalla panna kaadu thaan”
Describing the crops growing in the field as 'gold yielding' (Pon vilaiyum) to emphasize extreme fertility.
Personification
“Seidhi solla kaathu varum”
Depicting the wind as a messenger bringing news alongside the newly sprouted saplings.
Imagery
“Kilaiyil ilam moongil aadum / Adhan mel kili oonjal aadum”
Creating clear visual and auditory pictures of nature, such as ducks swimming, parrots swinging on bamboo branches, and ritual drums beating.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Sengazhani sethula thaan / Chinnanjiru naathu varum”
Tamil poetic convention of rhyming second letters across adjacent lines (e.g., Sengazhani / Chinnanjiru).
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Vaali extensively uses authentic Tamil rural agricultural jargon such as 'nanja kaadu' (wetlands), 'punja kaadu' (drylands), 'madai' (water sluice gate), and 'naathu' (young crop saplings) to give the song its genuine folk flavor.
Keep listening
More from Murattu Karangal
Murattu Karangal