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Madhavi Vanthal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadal Vazhum Meenai

From Madhavi Vanthal · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Madhavi Vanthal
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
20 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai
Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
Aangara aanmai noyaaliyaanaal
Aadu kooda paayaatho adhuthaanae bhoomi
Yaar yaaro vanthaar yaar yaaro ponaar
Bedhai pola naan vaazha padaiththaanae saami
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
Mazhaikkaalam paadhi veyil kaalam paadhi
Maanamindri ponaalo elaamae needhi
Azhaikkaamal ponaal aniyaaya dheivam
Aadugindrean naan ingu uyirthaanae meedhi
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai
Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
If you put a saltwater fish into fresh drinking water,
It will die without air, isn't that the truth?
A woman who has lost her standing and character in life,
What honor is there if someone makes her a wife?
If you put a saltwater fish into fresh drinking water,
It will die without air, isn't that the truth?
If fierce manhood falls sick and weak,
Won't even a sheep attack it? That is the way of the world!
All kinds of people came, and all kinds of people left,
Yet God made me only to live like a helpless fool!
If you put a saltwater fish into fresh drinking water,
It will die without air, isn't that the truth?
Life is half rainy season and half scorching sun,
Once self-respect is lost, anything passes for justice!
When an unjust God refuses to call me away,
I keep dancing here, with nothing left but my life!
If you put a saltwater fish into fresh drinking water,
It will die without air, isn't that the truth?
A woman who has lost her standing and character in life,
What honor is there if someone makes her a wife?
If you put a saltwater fish into fresh drinking water,
It will die without air, isn't that the truth?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song uses powerful metaphors to express existential despair and the pain of being forced into an unsuitable life situation. Just as a saltwater ocean fish cannot survive in fresh drinking water, a person placed out of their natural or rightful element is bound to suffer and perish emotionally.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Analogy)

“Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal”

Comparing an ill-fated woman trapped in an unnatural social setting to an ocean fish placed in fresh drinking water.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai / Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai”

Repetition of initial consonants or phonetic sounds in consecutive lines for rhythmic flow (Tharam / Thaaramaaga).

Rhetorical Question

“Bedhai pola naan vaazha padaiththaanae saami”

Asking a reflective question to highlight the tragedy of the character's situation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1980 Tamil film Madhavi Vanthal, this song features lyrics by legendary poet Kannadasan set to music composed by Chandrabose and sung by veteran singer P. Susheela.

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