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Aval Oru Thodarkathai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Amaithu Vaitha

From Aval Oru Thodarkathai · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Aval Oru Thodarkathai
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
3 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Heyy hey eyyy haa haa haa
Hmm hmmm mmm
Laalaalaaaa
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Innaarkku innaarendru
Ezhudhi vaithaanae dhaevan andru
Innaarkku innaarendru
Ezhudhi vaithaanae dhaevan andru
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Naan oru vigadakavi
Indru naan oru kadhai solvaen
Ongiya perum kaadu
Adhil uyarndhoru aalamaram
Aalamaraththinilae andha arpudha vanathinilae
Aankili irandundu penkili irandundu
Angaeyum aasai undu
Adhiloru pen kili adhanidam aankili
Irandukkum mayakkam undu
Anbae…aaruyirae…en athaan
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Innaarkku innaarendru
Ezhudhi vaithaanae dhaevan andru
Innaarkku innaarendru
Ezhudhi vaithaanae dhaevan andru
Kottum muzhakkangal
Kalyaana maelangal
Kondaattam kaettadhammaa
……………………………………..
Kottum muzhakkangal
Kalyaana maelangal
Kondaattam kaettadhammaa
Aasai vimaanathil aanandha maegathil
Seer kondu vandhadhammaa
Thaen mozhi mangaiyar
Yaazhisai meettida
Oorgoalam poanadhammaa
Singaara kaalodu sangeetha thandhaigal
Santhosam paadudhammaa
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Kanrodu pasu vanthu
Kalyaana pen paarthu
Vaazhththondru koorudhammaa
Maaa….aaa….
Conventu pillaigal pol vandha muyalgal
Aangilam paadudhammaa
Wish u both a happy happy maried life
……………………………..
Panbaana vedhathai kondaadum maangal
Mandhiram odhudhamma
Mangalyam thantunaena
Mama jiivana hethuna
Kante badhnaami subhage
Sanjiiva sarada chatam
Panbaana vedhathai kondaadum maangal
Mandhiram odhudhamma
Pallakku thookidum parivatta yaanaigal
Pallandu paadudhamma
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Oru kili kaiyodu orukili kaisaerthu
Uravukkul nuzhaiyudhammaa
Ullaasa vaazhkkaiyai uravukku koduthitta
Oru kili odhungudhammaa
Appaavi aan kili thappaaga ninaithadhu
Appodhu purindhadhammaa
Adhu eppodhum kiliyalla
Kinatru thavalaidhaan ippodhu therindhadhamaa
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
Innaarkku innaarendru
Ezhudhi vaithaanae dhaevan andru
Kadavul amaithu vaitha maedai
Inaikkum kalyaana maalai
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
Hey hey eh ha ha ha
Hmm hmmm mmm
La la la...
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
Who belongs to whom,
God had already written long ago!
Who belongs to whom,
God had already written long ago!
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
I am a jester,
and today, I shall tell you a story.
In a vast and mighty forest,
there stood a towering banyan tree.
In that banyan tree, inside that wonderful forest,
lived two male parrots and two female parrots.
Desire lived there as well.
Between one female parrot and a male parrot,
both fell deeply under love's spell.
My love... my dearest life... my darling...
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
Who belongs to whom,
God had already written long ago!
Who belongs to whom,
God had already written long ago!
The beating of celebratory drums,
the sound of wedding music,
the joy of celebration was heard all around!
...
The beating of celebratory drums,
the sound of wedding music,
the joy of celebration was heard all around!
Riding on an airplane of dreams, amidst clouds of joy,
the wedding gifts arrived!
Young women with sweet voices
plucked the strings of the yazh (ancient harp),
and the wedding procession moved along!
With graceful steps, musical elders
sang songs of pure delight!
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
A cow came along with her calf,
gazed at the bride,
and offered her blessing:
Mooo... aaah...
Rabbits arriving like convent school children
sang out in English:
'Wish you both a happy, happy married life!'
...
Deer that cherish the sacred scriptures
chanted the wedding mantras:
Mangalyam tantunanena
mama jeevana hetuna,
kanthe badhnami subhage
sanjeeva saradah satam.
Deer that cherish the sacred scriptures
chanted the wedding mantras!
Elephants draped in ceremonial silk, carrying the palanquin,
sang blessings for a long and happy life!
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
Joining hands together, one parrot took another
and stepped into married life.
Having given up its own happy life for its family,
one parrot stepped aside in silence.
What the innocent male parrot had misunderstood,
it finally understood at that moment.
It was never really a parrot at all—
only a frog in a well, it realized now.
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
Who belongs to whom,
God had already written long ago!
A stage set up by God,
a wedding garland that unites.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic song from K. Balachander's 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai' is presented as a puppet show/storytelling performance by the character played by Kamal Haasan. Through the allegory of parrots living on a banyan tree, the narrator allegorically unfolds the complex family relationships, sacrifices, and destiny of the protagonist, Kavitha (played by Sujatha). The song humorously yet poignantly depicts a forest wedding involving animals and birds, reflecting the societal pressure and destiny surrounding marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory (Uvamaani / Urubagam)

Aankili irandundu penkili irandundu

The entire song uses forest animals (parrots, rabbits, deer, cows) as an allegory for human characters and social roles in the protagonist's life.

Metaphor (Uruvagak Kurippu)

Kinatru thavalaidhaan ippodhu therindhadhamaa

Refers to the protagonist realizing her limitations as a 'frog in a well' (kinatru thavalai) trapped by family responsibilities rather than a free bird.

Emonai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Innaarkku innaarendru / Ezhudhi vaithaanae dhaevan andru

Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds ('Innaarkku' and 'Ezhudhi') enhancing rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song features Kamal Haasan performing a famous mime and puppet-style storytelling act on screen. The song prominently incorporates Sanskrit mangalashtakam slokas and humorously includes English greetings ('Wish u both a happy happy married life') within a traditional Tamil cinematic format.

Keep listening

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