Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Vaazhnthu Kattukiren album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaaviri Nagarinil

From Vaazhnthu Kattukiren · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Vaazhnthu Kattukiren
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
Kannagi vaazhnthirunthaal
Oru mannavan maalaiyittaan
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
Kannagi vaazhnthirunthaal
Oru mannavan maalaiyittaan
Avan pooviri manjaththil porunthidum munbe
Madhavi vaazhavanthaal adhaiyum
Kannagi kaana vanthaal….
Kannagi kaana vanthaal….
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
Kannagi vaazhnthirunthaal
Oru mannavan maalaiyittaan
Ippadi vaazhvathu inbamendrenni
Illaram kaanugindrom
Adhu eppadiyaavathu vaazhvathendraal
Ellaiyai thaandugirom
Karpena solvathu pengalai mattum
Kaavalil vaiththu vidum
Adhai virpanai porulaai kanavan ninaiththaal
Veedhikku vanthu vidum
Mm….veedhikku vanthu vidum
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
Kannagi vaazhnthirunthaal
Oru mannavan maalaiyittaan
Vilaimagal oruththu kalaimagalaanaal
Kulamagal ennaavaal ennaavaal
Aval vedhanai migunthu naayagan thanakkae
Sodhanai pennaavaal
Varuvathu varattum naanum penthaan
Vaazhnthae kaattukiraen
Vaazhnthae kaattukiraen
Vaazhnthae kaattukiraen
En vazhkkaiyai iraivan
Kaakkavillai endraal
Koyilai poottugiraen
Koyilai poottugiraen
Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil
Kannagi vaazhnthirunthaal
Oru mannavan maalaiyittaan
Mannavan maalaiyittaan
Mannavan maalaiyittaan
In the city by the Kaveri river, along the seashore,
Kannagi once lived,
and a noble man wed her with a garland.
In the city by the Kaveri river, along the seashore,
Kannagi once lived,
and a noble man wed her with a garland.
Even before he joined her on their bed of flowers,
Madhavi came into his life, and that too
Kannagi had to watch...
Kannagi had to watch...
In the city by the Kaveri river, along the seashore,
Kannagi once lived,
and a noble man wed her with a garland.
Thinking that such a life brings true happiness,
we enter into marriage.
If life becomes just living without any care,
we cross all moral bounds.
What the world calls chastity locks only women
under strict confinement.
Yet if a husband treats it like goods to sell,
it is dragged out onto the open street.
Mmm... it is dragged out onto the open street.
In the city by the Kaveri river, along the seashore,
Kannagi once lived,
and a noble man wed her with a garland.
If a courtesan is honored as a goddess of the arts,
what will become of the devoted wife? What will become of her?
Overcome with sorrow, for her own husband
she becomes a woman put through endless trials.
Let come what may, I too am a woman,
I will live and prove my worth!
I will live and prove my worth!
I will live and prove my worth!
If God will not protect
this life of mine,
I will lock the doors of His temple...
I will lock the doors of His temple...
In the city by the Kaveri river, along the seashore,
Kannagi once lived,
and a noble man wed her with a garland.
A noble man wed her with a garland.
A noble man wed her with a garland.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Vaazhnthu Kattukiren' (1975) draws a powerful parallel between the protagonist's personal plight and the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram. Kannadasan uses the classical narrative of Kannagi, Kovalan, and Madhavi to critique society's hypocritical expectations of women. The lyrics reflect on how women enter marriage expecting happiness, only to be bound by double standards where chastity is enforced upon women while men treat relationships recklessly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Kannagi vaazhnthirunthaal / Madhavi vaazhavanthaal”

Direct mythological and literary reference to Kannagi and Madhavi from the epic Silappatikaram.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

“Kaveri nagarinil kadarkarai oraththil”

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kaveri' and 'kadarkarai'.

Juxtaposition / Antithesis

“Vilaimagal oruththu kalaimagalaanaal / Kulamagal ennaavaal”

Contrasting 'Vilaimagal' (courtesan) with 'Kulamagal' (virtuous woman) to highlight societal paradoxes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Kannadasan and rendered by P. Susheela, this song's title matches the movie title 'Vaazhnthu Kattukiren' ('I Will Prove Myself by Living'), serving as the central thematic climax of the film.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Theerthathil Vizhutha Vandu1975
Vazhvu En PakkamDefiantIdentity
Selai Virkkum Kadai1974
Avalukku Nigar AvaleDignityIdentity
Enna Muthalali Sowkkiyama (Short)1972
Enna Muthalali SowkkiyamaDignityDefiant
Kaadhal Kaadhal Endru Pesa1970
Utharavindri Ulle VaaPassionateMythological References
Kanna Neeyum1973
GauravamIdentityContemplative
Enna Ninaithu1967
Anubavam PuthumaiRebellionIdentity

From the same album

More songs from Vaazhnthu Kattukiren

View album
Kaaviri Nagarinil – (2)1975
Vaazhnthu KattukirenContemplative

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.