Kaaviri Penne
From Poompuhar · 1964
- Lyricist
- Aalangudi Somu
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- R. Sudharsanam
- Details
- Poompuhar1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaaviri pennae vaazhga | Long live the woman Kaveri! |
| Kaaviri pennae vaazhga | Long live the woman Kaveri! |
| Undhan kaadhalan | May your beloved, |
| Chozha vaendhadnum vaazhga | The Chola king, also live long! |
| Female | |
| Kaaviri pennae vaazhga | Long live the woman Kaveri! |
| Undhan kaadhalan | May your beloved, |
| Chozha vaendhadnum vaazhga | The Chola king, also live long! |
| Female | |
| {Thenkula pen araitha | {You bathed in turmeric ground |
| Manjalil kulithaai | By the women of the southern clan, |
| Thirumbiya dhisai ellaam | And in whichever direction you turned, |
| Ponnadi kuvitthaai} (2) | You heaped golden riches!} (2) |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyinil baradha | In your graceful stride, |
| Kalaiyinai vadithaai… | You sculpted the art of Bharatam... |
| Aa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aa..aa… | Ah....aaa....aaa....aaa...aaa...aaa...aa..aa... |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyinil baradha kalaiyinai vadithaai | In your graceful stride, you sculpted the art of Bharatam |
| Nadaiyinil baradha kalaiyinai vadithaai | In your graceful stride, you sculpted the art of Bharatam |
| Naru malar udaiyaal maeniyai maraithaai | You covered your body with a garment of fragrant flowers |
| Female | |
| Un arum kanavan gangaiyai anaithae | Though your dear husband embraced the Ganges |
| Kanni kumariyaiyum thannudai inaithaan | And united with the virgin sea Kumari as well, |
| Female | |
| Un arum kanavan gangaiyai anaithae | Though your dear husband embraced the Ganges |
| Kannik kumariyaiyum thannudai inaithaan | And united with the virgin sea Kumari as well, |
| Male | |
| {Aayinum un nenjil pagai yaedhum illai | {Yet there is no hatred in your heart; |
| Adhuvae mangaiyarin karpukkor ellai } (2) | That indeed defines the pinnacle of a woman's virtue.} (2) |
| Female | |
| Aayiram vazhigalil aadavar selvaar | Men will tread in a thousand ways, |
| Adhuvae karpendru nammidam solvaar | And preach to us that such is their virtue |
| Aayiram vazhigalil aadavar selvaar… | Men will tread in a thousand ways... |
| Adhuvae karpendru nammidam solvaar… | And preach to us that such is their virtue... |
காவிரிப் பெண்ணே வாழ்க
காவிரிப் பெண்ணே வாழ்க
உந்தன் காதலன் சோழ வேந்தனும் வாழ்க
Long live the woman Kaveri!
Long live the woman Kaveri!
May your beloved,
The Chola king, also live long!
காவிரிப் பெண்ணே வாழ்க
உந்தன் காதலன் சோழ வேந்தனும் வாழ்க
Long live the woman Kaveri!
May your beloved,
The Chola king, also live long!
காவிரிப் பெண்ணே வாழ்க
நீ வாழ்க பெண்ணே வாழ்க
{You bathed in turmeric ground
By the women of the southern clan,
And in whichever direction you turned,
You heaped golden riches!} (2)
தென்குலப் பெண் அரைத்த மஞ்சளில்
குளித்தாய்
திரும்பிய திசை எல்லாம் பொன்னடி
குவித்தாய்} (2)
In your graceful stride,
You sculpted the art of Bharatam...
Ah....aaa....aaa....aaa...aaa...aaa...aa..aa...
நடையினில் பரத கலையினை வடித்தாய்...
ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ... ஆ...
In your graceful stride, you sculpted the art of Bharatam
In your graceful stride, you sculpted the art of Bharatam
You covered your body with a garment of fragrant flowers
நடையினில் பரத கலையினை வடித்தாய்
நடையினில் பரத கலையினை வடித்தாய்
நறு மலர் உடையால் மேனியை மறைத்தாய்
Though your dear husband embraced the Ganges
And united with the virgin sea Kumari as well,
காவிரிப் பெண்ணே வாழ்க
நீ வாழ்க பெண்ணே வாழ்க
Though your dear husband embraced the Ganges
And united with the virgin sea Kumari as well,
உன் அரும் கணவன் கங்கையை
அணைத்தே
கன்னிக் குமரியையும் தன்னுடன்
இணைத்தான்
ஆ... ஆ...
{Yet there is no hatred in your heart;
That indeed defines the pinnacle of a woman's virtue.} (2)
உன் அரும் கணவன் கங்கையை
அணைத்தே
கன்னிக் குமரியையும் தன்னுடன்
இணைத்தான்
Men will tread in a thousand ways,
And preach to us that such is their virtue
Men will tread in a thousand ways...
And preach to us that such is their virtue...
{ஆயினும் உன் நெஞ்சில் பகை
ஏதும் இல்லை
அதுவே மங்கையரின் கற்புக்கோர் எல்லை} (2)
ஆயிரம் வழிகளில் ஆடவர் செல்வார்
அதுவே கற்பென்று நம்மிடம் சொல்வார்
ஆயிரம் வழிகளில் ஆடவர் செல்வார்...
அதுவே கற்பென்று நம்மிடம் சொல்வார்...
Kaaviri pennae vaazhga
Long live the woman Kaveri!
Kaaviri pennae vaazhga
Long live the woman Kaveri!
Undhan kaadhalan
May your beloved,
Chozha vaendhadnum vaazhga
The Chola king, also live long!
Kaaviri pennae vaazhga
Long live the woman Kaveri!
Undhan kaadhalan
May your beloved,
Chozha vaendhadnum vaazhga
The Chola king, also live long!
{Thenkula pen araitha
{You bathed in turmeric ground
Manjalil kulithaai
By the women of the southern clan,
Thirumbiya dhisai ellaam
And in whichever direction you turned,
Ponnadi kuvitthaai} (2)
You heaped golden riches!} (2)
Nadaiyinil baradha
In your graceful stride,
Kalaiyinai vadithaai…
You sculpted the art of Bharatam...
Aa….aaa….aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aa..aa…
Ah....aaa....aaa....aaa...aaa...aaa...aa..aa...
Nadaiyinil baradha kalaiyinai vadithaai
In your graceful stride, you sculpted the art of Bharatam
Nadaiyinil baradha kalaiyinai vadithaai
In your graceful stride, you sculpted the art of Bharatam
Naru malar udaiyaal maeniyai maraithaai
You covered your body with a garment of fragrant flowers
Un arum kanavan gangaiyai anaithae
Though your dear husband embraced the Ganges
Kanni kumariyaiyum thannudai inaithaan
And united with the virgin sea Kumari as well,
Un arum kanavan gangaiyai anaithae
Though your dear husband embraced the Ganges
Kannik kumariyaiyum thannudai inaithaan
And united with the virgin sea Kumari as well,
{Aayinum un nenjil pagai yaedhum illai
{Yet there is no hatred in your heart;
Adhuvae mangaiyarin karpukkor ellai } (2)
That indeed defines the pinnacle of a woman's virtue.} (2)
Aayiram vazhigalil aadavar selvaar
Men will tread in a thousand ways,
Adhuvae karpendru nammidam solvaar
And preach to us that such is their virtue
Aayiram vazhigalil aadavar selvaar…
Men will tread in a thousand ways...
Adhuvae karpendru nammidam solvaar…
And preach to us that such is their virtue...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic song from the 1964 Tamil movie 'Poompuhar' is inspired by Silappatikaram's 'Kaanal Vari' and pays tribute to the river Kaveri, personifying her as a benevolent and magnanimous queen devoted to the Chola king (representing the Chola land). The lyrics glorify Kaveri's grace, comparing her rhythmic flow to Bharatanatyam and her fertile silt to golden wealth. The song praises her forgiving nature, noting how she holds no malice despite the Chola kingdom expanding to meet other water bodies like the Ganges and Kumari. Finally, it contrasts her noble virtue with the double standards of men, offering a subtle social critique.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagamm / உருவகம்)
“Nadaiyinil baradha kalaiyinai vadithaai”
The river Kaveri is personified as a graceful woman and queen who wears a dress of flowers and practices Bharatanatyam in her flow.
Metaphor (Uvamaani / உவமை)
“Thirumbiya dhisai ellaam Ponnadi kuvitthaai”
The golden fertile soil brought by the river's flow across the land is described metaphorically as heapings of gold.
Anaphora / Alliteration (Monai / மோனை)
“Kaaviri pennae vaazhga”
Repetition of starting sounds in consecutive lines such as Kaaviri / Undhan / Chozha creating rhythmic symmetry.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Poompuhar' (1964) was produced by Nemichand Jhabak and written by M. Karunanidhi based on the epic Silappatikaram. Music for the film was composed by R. Sudarsanam, and this song highlights classical Tamil literary allegories about the river Kaveri and the Chola dynasty.
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