Kadal Vazhum Meenai
From Madhavi Vanthal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Madhavi Vanthal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal | If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water, |
| Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai | It will perish without air, that is the plain truth. |
| Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai | A woman who has lost her standing and character in life, |
| Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai | If brought as a wedded wife, what virtue or good lies in it? |
| Female | |
| Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal | If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water, |
| Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai | It will perish without air, that is the plain truth. |
| Female | |
| Aangara aanmai noyaaliyaanaal | If arrogant manhood becomes frail and diseased, |
| Aadu kooda paayaatho adhuthaanae bhoomi | Won't even a humble goat pounce on it? That is the way of the world. |
| Yaar yaaro vanthaar yaar yaaro ponaar | Many people came and many people passed away, |
| Bedhai pola naan vaazha padaiththaanae saami | Did God create me only to live like a foolish innocent? |
| Female | |
| Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal | If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water, |
| Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai | It will perish without air, that is the plain truth. |
| Female | |
| Mazhaikkaalam paadhi veyil kaalam paadhi | Half of life is rainy season, and half is sunny season, |
| Maanamindri ponaalo elaamae needhi | If honor is stripped away, is everything deemed as justice? |
| Azhaikkaamal ponaal aniyaaya dheivam | An unjust God does not respond even when called upon, |
| Aadugindrean naan ingu uyirthaanae meedhi | I am dancing here helplessly, with only my breath remaining. |
| Female | |
| Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal | If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water, |
| Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai | It will perish without air, that is the plain truth. |
| Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai | A woman who has lost her standing and character in life, |
| Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai | If brought as a wedded wife, what virtue or good lies in it? |
| Female | |
| Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal | If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water, |
| Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai | It will perish without air, that is the plain truth. |
கடல் வாழும் மீனை குடி நீரில் போட்டால்
காற்றில்லாமல் மாண்டு போகும் அதுதானே உண்மை
தரம் கேட்டு வாழ்வில் குணம் கெட்ட பெண்ணை
தாரமாகக் கொண்டு வந்தால் அதில் எது மேன்மை
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
A woman who has lost her standing and character in life,
If brought as a wedded wife, what virtue or good lies in it?
கடல் வாழும் மீனை குடி நீரில் போட்டால்
காற்றில்லாமல் மாண்டு போகும் அதுதானே உண்மை
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
ஆங்கார ஆண்மை நோயாளியானால்
ஆடு கூடப் பாயாதோ அதுதானே பூமி
யார் யாரோ வந்தார் யார் யாரோ போனார்
பேதை போல நான் வாழப் படைத்தானே சாமி
If arrogant manhood becomes frail and diseased,
Won't even a humble goat pounce on it? That is the way of the world.
Many people came and many people passed away,
Did God create me only to live like a foolish innocent?
கடல் வாழும் மீனை குடி நீரில் போட்டால்
காற்றில்லாமல் மாண்டு போகும் அதுதானே உண்மை
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
மழைக்காலம் பாதி வெயில் காலம் பாதி
மானமின்றி போனாலோ எல்லாமே நீதி
அழைக்காமல் போனால் அநியாய தெய்வம்
ஆடுகின்றேன் நான் இங்கு உயிர்தானே மீதி
Half of life is rainy season, and half is sunny season,
If honor is stripped away, is everything deemed as justice?
An unjust God does not respond even when called upon,
I am dancing here helplessly, with only my breath remaining.
கடல் வாழும் மீனை குடி நீரில் போட்டால்
காற்றில்லாமல் மாண்டு போகும் அதுதானே உண்மை
தரம் கேட்டு வாழ்வில் குணம் கெட்ட பெண்ணை
தாரமாகக் கொண்டு வந்தால் அதில் எது மேன்மை
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
A woman who has lost her standing and character in life,
If brought as a wedded wife, what virtue or good lies in it?
கடல் வாழும் மீனை குடி நீரில் போட்டால்
காற்றில்லாமல் மாண்டு போகும் அதுதானே உண்மை
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai
A woman who has lost her standing and character in life,
Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai
If brought as a wedded wife, what virtue or good lies in it?
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
Aangara aanmai noyaaliyaanaal
If arrogant manhood becomes frail and diseased,
Aadu kooda paayaatho adhuthaanae bhoomi
Won't even a humble goat pounce on it? That is the way of the world.
Yaar yaaro vanthaar yaar yaaro ponaar
Many people came and many people passed away,
Bedhai pola naan vaazha padaiththaanae saami
Did God create me only to live like a foolish innocent?
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
Mazhaikkaalam paadhi veyil kaalam paadhi
Half of life is rainy season, and half is sunny season,
Maanamindri ponaalo elaamae needhi
If honor is stripped away, is everything deemed as justice?
Azhaikkaamal ponaal aniyaaya dheivam
An unjust God does not respond even when called upon,
Aadugindrean naan ingu uyirthaanae meedhi
I am dancing here helplessly, with only my breath remaining.
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
Tharam kettu vaazhvil gunam ketta pennai
A woman who has lost her standing and character in life,
Thaaramaaga kondu vanthaal adhil edhu menmai
If brought as a wedded wife, what virtue or good lies in it?
Kadal vaazhum meenai kudi neeril pottaal
If you place a fish that lives in the ocean into fresh drinking water,
Kaattrillaamal maandu pogum adhuthaanae unmai
It will perish without air, that is the plain truth.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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