Kaaviri Nagarinil – (2)
From Vaazhnthu Kattukiren · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Vaazhnthu Kattukiren1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil | In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore |
| Madhavi aada vanthaal | Madhavi came to dance |
| Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan | A kingly man accompanied her |
| Avar pooviri manjaththil porunthiya pinnae | After they reclined upon a flower-strewn bed |
| Kannagi vaazhavanthaal adhaiyum | Kannagi came to live her life, and that too |
| Madhavi kaana vanthaal | Madhavi came to witness |
| Female | |
| Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil | In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore |
| Madhavi aada vanthaal | Madhavi came to dance |
| Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan | A kingly man accompanied her |
| Female | |
| Thiruvum manamum saernthathuthaanae | When divinity and heart unite as one |
| Thirumanam endruraippaar | They call it a holy matrimony |
| Angu thiru veraagavum manam veraagavum | There, divinity stood apart and the heart stood apart |
| Iruvarum thanithirunthaar | And both remained isolated from each other |
| Female | |
| Maalai aninthavar sooriyan polae | The one adorned with the garland was like the sun |
| Kaaigindra gunamum ndu | Possessing a scorching temperament |
| Aanaal mayakkaththil vanthaval venmathi polae | Yet she who arrived in a spell was like the cool full moon |
| Manathinil kulirvathundu | Bringing soothing comfort to the heart |
| Manathinil kulirvathundu | Bringing soothing comfort to the heart |
| Female | |
| Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil | In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore |
| Madhavi aada vanthaal | Madhavi came to dance |
| Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan | A kingly man accompanied her |
| Female | |
| Naadakaththil varum manamakkal ellaam | All the brides and grooms who appear in a theatrical play |
| Nallisai payilvathundu | Practice fine harmony together |
| Antha naadagam mudinthu thiraiyum vizhunthaal | When that play ends and the stage curtain falls |
| Iruvarum pirivathundu | The two inevitably part ways |
| Female | |
| Aayirangkaalaththu thendralai polae | Like a breeze that endures for a thousand ages |
| Vaazhiya kulamagalae unnai | May you live long, O noble lady of the household |
| Aruginil irunthu paarththu kondriruppaal | Watching over you closely from nearby |
| Azhagiya kalaimagalae…..azhagiya kalaimagalae | Is the beautiful goddess of arts... beautiful goddess of arts |
| Female | |
| Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil | In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore |
| Madhavi aada vanthaal | Madhavi came to dance |
| Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan | A kingly man accompanied her |
| Avar pooviri manjaththil porunthiya pinnae | After they reclined upon a flower-strewn bed |
| Kannagi vaazhavanthaal adhaiyum | Kannagi came to live her life, and that too |
| Madhavi kaana vanthaal | Madhavi came to witness |
| Madhavi kaana vanthaal | Madhavi came to witness |
காவிரி நகரினில் கடற்கரை ஓரத்தில்
மாதவி ஆட வந்தாள்
ஒரு மன்னவன் கூட வந்தான்
அவர் பூவிரி மஞ்சத்தில் பொருந்திய பின்னே
கண்ணகி வாழவந்தாள் அதையும்
மாதவி காண வந்தாள்.......
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi came to dance
A kingly man accompanied her
After they reclined upon a flower-strewn bed
Kannagi came to live her life, and that too
Madhavi came to witness
காவிரி நகரினில் கடற்கரை ஓரத்தில்
மாதவி ஆட வந்தாள்
ஒரு மன்னவன் கூட வந்தான்
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi came to dance
A kingly man accompanied her
திருவும் மணமும் சேர்ந்ததுதானே
திருமணம் என்றுரைப்பார்
அங்கு திரு வேறாகவும் மனம் வேறாகவும்
இருவரும் தனித்திருந்தார்
When divinity and heart unite as one
They call it a holy matrimony
There, divinity stood apart and the heart stood apart
And both remained isolated from each other
மாலை அணிந்தவர் சூரியன் போலே
காய்கின்ற குணமும் உண்டு
ஆனால் மயக்கத்தில் வந்தவள் வெண்மதி போலே
மனதினில் குளிர்வதுண்டு
மனதினில் குளிர்வதுண்டு.....
The one adorned with the garland was like the sun
Possessing a scorching temperament
Yet she who arrived in a spell was like the cool full moon
Bringing soothing comfort to the heart
Bringing soothing comfort to the heart
காவிரி நகரினில் கடற்கரை ஓரத்தில்
மாதவி ஆட வந்தாள்
ஒரு மன்னவன் கூட வந்தான்
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi came to dance
A kingly man accompanied her
நாடகத்தில் வரும் மணமக்கள் எல்லாம்
நல்லிசை பயில்வதுண்டு
அந்த நாடகம் முடிந்து திரையும் விழுந்தால்
இருவரும் பிரிவதுண்டு
All the brides and grooms who appear in a theatrical play
Practice fine harmony together
When that play ends and the stage curtain falls
The two inevitably part ways
ஆயிரங்காலத்து தென்றலை போலே
வாழிய குலமகளே உன்னை
அருகினில் இருந்து பார்த்துக் கொன்றிருப்பாள்
அழகிய கலைமகளே......அழகிய கலைமகளே......
Like a breeze that endures for a thousand ages
May you live long, O noble lady of the household
Watching over you closely from nearby
Is the beautiful goddess of arts... beautiful goddess of arts
காவிரி நகரினில் கடற்கரை ஓரத்தில்
மாதவி ஆட வந்தாள்
ஒரு மன்னவன் கூட வந்தான்
அவர் பூவிரி மஞ்சத்தில் பொருந்திய பின்னே
கண்ணகி வாழவந்தாள் அதையும்
மாதவி காண வந்தாள்.......
மாதவி காண வந்தாள்.......
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi came to dance
A kingly man accompanied her
After they reclined upon a flower-strewn bed
Kannagi came to live her life, and that too
Madhavi came to witness
Madhavi came to witness
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi aada vanthaal
Madhavi came to dance
Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan
A kingly man accompanied her
Avar pooviri manjaththil porunthiya pinnae
After they reclined upon a flower-strewn bed
Kannagi vaazhavanthaal adhaiyum
Kannagi came to live her life, and that too
Madhavi kaana vanthaal
Madhavi came to witness
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi aada vanthaal
Madhavi came to dance
Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan
A kingly man accompanied her
Thiruvum manamum saernthathuthaanae
When divinity and heart unite as one
Thirumanam endruraippaar
They call it a holy matrimony
Angu thiru veraagavum manam veraagavum
There, divinity stood apart and the heart stood apart
Iruvarum thanithirunthaar
And both remained isolated from each other
Maalai aninthavar sooriyan polae
The one adorned with the garland was like the sun
Kaaigindra gunamum ndu
Possessing a scorching temperament
Aanaal mayakkaththil vanthaval venmathi polae
Yet she who arrived in a spell was like the cool full moon
Manathinil kulirvathundu
Bringing soothing comfort to the heart
Manathinil kulirvathundu
Bringing soothing comfort to the heart
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi aada vanthaal
Madhavi came to dance
Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan
A kingly man accompanied her
Naadakaththil varum manamakkal ellaam
All the brides and grooms who appear in a theatrical play
Nallisai payilvathundu
Practice fine harmony together
Antha naadagam mudinthu thiraiyum vizhunthaal
When that play ends and the stage curtain falls
Iruvarum pirivathundu
The two inevitably part ways
Aayirangkaalaththu thendralai polae
Like a breeze that endures for a thousand ages
Vaazhiya kulamagalae unnai
May you live long, O noble lady of the household
Aruginil irunthu paarththu kondriruppaal
Watching over you closely from nearby
Azhagiya kalaimagalae…..azhagiya kalaimagalae
Is the beautiful goddess of arts... beautiful goddess of arts
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
In the city of Kaveri, by the edge of the seashore
Madhavi aada vanthaal
Madhavi came to dance
Oru mannavan kooda vanthaan
A kingly man accompanied her
Avar pooviri manjaththil porunthiya pinnae
After they reclined upon a flower-strewn bed
Kannagi vaazhavanthaal adhaiyum
Kannagi came to live her life, and that too
Madhavi kaana vanthaal
Madhavi came to witness
Madhavi kaana vanthaal
Madhavi came to witness
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from the film 'Vaazhnthu Kattukiren' uses the ancient Tamil epic 'Silappatikaram' as a powerful allegory for modern relationship struggles. Lyricist Kannadasan draws parallels between the narrative of Kovalan, Kannagi, and Madhavi in the coastal city of Poompuhar (Kaveri Poompattinam) and the theatrical, fleeting nature of human relationships. The song contrasts the burning intensity of duty with the soothing comfort of true affection, ultimately portraying life as a stage performance where roles dissolve once the curtain falls.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory (Uvamanam)
“Kannagi vaazhavanthaal adhaiyum Madhavi kaana vanthaal”
The lyrics draw extensive parallels to the classical epic Silappatikaram, invoking characters Kannagi and Madhavi to describe the protagonist's emotional turmoil.
Simile (Upamai)
“Maalai aninthavar sooriyan polae ... venmathi polae”
Compares the husband to the harsh, burning sun and the lady to the gentle, soothing full moon.
Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thiruvum manamum saernthathuthaanae / Thirumanam endruraippaar”
Classical Tamil poetic tradition where the second letter of consecutive lines rhymes (Thiruvum / Thirumanam).
Metaphor (Uruvakam)
“Antha naadagam mudinthu thiraiyum vizhunthaal / Iruvarum pirivathundu”
Life and marriage are metaphorically presented as an onstage play where actors part ways after the curtain drops.
Did you know?
Trivia
Lyricist Kannadasan frequently wove classical Sangam and post-Sangam literature into contemporary film songs. By linking the movie's plot to 'Silappatikaram', he elevated a modern marital drama into a literary narrative. The song was set to a mesmerizing melody by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered with exceptional classical control by Vani Jairam.
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