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Ninaivugal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Kannodu Kannerai

From Ninaivugal · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Ninaivugal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
11 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilanthalaeerae…..ennuyirae
Oor pugazha pear padaiththu
Uyarnthiduvaai endrinthaen
Nee pirinthu sendraalum naan thanaiyae nindraalum
Neengaathu vaazhnthirukkum un ninaivugal ninaivugal
Kadavul kannodu kanneerai vaiththaan
Kaaranam sonnavar illai
Azhuthaal thunbangal karainthuvidum
Pinbu aarambam vaazhkkaiyin ellai….
Kadavul kannodu kanneerai vaiththaan
Kaaranam sonnavar illai
Azhuthaal thunbangal karainthuvidum
Pinbu aarambam vaazhkkaiyin ellai…..
Pennena neeyum piranthathu paavam
Pennena neeyum piranthathu paavam
Vantha pinnaalae payanthenna laabam
Thuninthu nil oru tholvi illai
Vantha sodhanai pani pol vilagum
Idhu eppothum pollaatha ulagam
Kadavul kannodu kanneerai vaiththaan
Kaaranam sonnavar illai
Azhuthaal thunbangal karainthuvidum
Pinbu aarambam vaazhkkaiyin ellai…..
Ulagangal yaavum urangidum neram
Ulagangal yaavum urangidum neram
Kaattril poraadi kalangidum dheepam
Vidintha pin pudhu velli varum
Adhikaalaiyil pozhuthukal pularum
Nalla aanathan un vaazhvil malarum
Kadavul kannodu kanneerai vaiththaan
Kaaranam sonnavar illai
Azhuthaal thunbangal karainthuvidum
Pinbu aarambam vaazhkkaiyin ellai…..
My tender child... my very life...
Earning great fame and praised by all,
I believed you would rise high in life.
Even if you depart and I am left standing alone,
Your memories will never fade; they will live on...
God gave us tears along with our eyes,
Yet no one has ever explained why.
If you weep, your sorrows will melt away,
And then the journey of life truly begins...
God gave us tears along with our eyes,
Yet no one has ever explained why.
If you weep, your sorrows will melt away,
And then the journey of life truly begins...
It seems a curse to be born a woman...
It seems a curse to be born a woman...
Having come into this world, what is the use of fear?
Stand brave, there is no defeat for you.
The trials you face will fade away like mist;
This world has always been unkind.
God gave us tears along with our eyes,
Yet no one has ever explained why.
If you weep, your sorrows will melt away,
And then the journey of life truly begins...
At the hour when the whole world is asleep...
At the hour when the whole world is asleep...
A lamp flickers, struggling against the wind.
After dawn breaks, a new morning star will rise,
A brand-new day will arrive with the sunrise,
And sweet happiness will blossom in your life...
God gave us tears along with our eyes,
Yet no one has ever explained why.
If you weep, your sorrows will melt away,
And then the journey of life truly begins...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ninaivugal is a deeply emotional, philosophical track that offers comfort and hope during times of grief and separation. The singer reflects on a cherished bond, acknowledging that while physical separation brings loneliness, precious memories remain eternal. The song contemplates why God endowed humans with tears, offering the perspective that crying helps dissolve pain, serving as a emotional release that opens the door to new beginnings in life. Furthermore, the lyrics serve as a call to courage for women facing societal hardships and personal ordeals. Using evocative nature metaphors such as mist dispersing and a lamp braving the wind until the morning star appears, the song delivers an inspiring message of resilience, assuring that every dark night of adversity is eventually followed by a bright, joyful morning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kadavul kannodu kanneerai vaiththaan

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words ('Kadavul', 'kannodu', 'kanneerai') creates a poetic rhythmic flow in Tamil prosody.

Simile (Uwamai)

Vantha sodhanai pani pol vilagum

Comparing hardships and trials ('sodhanai') to mist ('pani') that dissolves rapidly when morning arrives.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaattril poraadi kalangidum dheepam

A struggling human soul amidst chaotic worldly troubles is metaphorically described as a lamp flickering against strong wind.

Symbolism

Vidintha pin pudhu velli varum

The morning star ('pudhu velli') and dawn ('pudhu pozhuthukal') symbolize new hope, rebirth, and positive transformation after despair.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the musical duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by veteran poet Pulamaipithan, 'Ninaivugal' is recognized for P. Susheela's emotive vocal rendering. The song's philosophical tone regarding tears as a restorative mechanism made it a memorable, comforting classic in 1980s Tamil cinema melody tracks.

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