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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Mama Vantharu

From Kadavul Mama · 1974

Lyricist
P. K. Muthusami
Singer
Pushpalatha
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Details
Kadavul Mama1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kadavul maama kadavul maamaGod-uncle, God-uncle
Kadavul maamaGod-uncle
Female
Kadavul maama vandhaaruGod-uncle has arrived
Avar karunaiyai namakku thandhaaruHe bestowed His grace upon us
Kadavul maama vandhaaruGod-uncle has arrived
Avar karunaiyai namakku thandhaaruHe bestowed His grace upon us
Kavalai ellaam theerppaaruHe will solve all our worries
Nam kaalam muzhuthum kaappaaruHe will protect us throughout our lives
Female
Kadavul maama vandhaaruGod-uncle has arrived
Avar karunaiyai namakku thandhaaruHe bestowed His grace upon us
Female
Yesu buthan gaandhiJesus, Buddha, Gandhi
Vadivil ingae vandhaaruIn their forms, He has come here
Irulil oliyaai karunaiAs light in the darkness, as a rain
Mazhaiyaai kaatchi thndhaaruOf compassion, He appeared before us
Female
Yesu buthan gaandhiJesus, Buddha, Gandhi
Vadivil ingae vandhaaruIn their forms, He has come here
Irulil oliyaai karunaiAs light in the darkness, as a rain
Mazhaiyaai kaatchi thndhaaruOf compassion, He appeared before us
Female
Vinnin uyarvae megathin uruvaeOh height of the sky, oh shape of the cloud
Mannaai pona ponnaana vaazhvaiThis golden life that turned to dust
Malara seivaayaeWill you make it blossom again?
Mannaai pona ponnaana vaazhvaiThis golden life that turned to dust
Malara seivaayaeWill you make it blossom again?
Female
Kadavul maama vandhaaruGod-uncle has arrived
Avar karunaiyai namakku thandhaaruHe bestowed His grace upon us
Female
Amma ingae summa sirithuMother is here, laughing aimlessly
Avalae azharaalaeAnd weeping all by herself
Appa engae naanariyaenaeWhere is father? I do not know
Anaadhai aanenaeI have become an orphan
Female
Amma ingae summa sirithuMother is here, laughing aimlessly
Avalae azharaalaeAnd weeping all by herself
Appa engae naanariyaenaeWhere is father? I do not know
Anaadhai aanenaeI have become an orphan
Female
Arulin thiruvae anbin vadivaeHoly one of grace, form of divine love
Appa ennai anaithu magizhaSo that my father can embrace and rejoice with me
Azhaithu varuvaayaeWill you bring him back?
Appa ennai anaithu magizhaSo that my father can embrace and rejoice with me
Azhaithu varuvaayaeWill you bring him back?
Female
Kadavul maama vandhaaruGod-uncle has arrived
Avar karunaiyai namakku thandhaaruHe bestowed His grace upon us
Kavalai ellaam theerppaaruHe will solve all our worries
Nam kaalam muzhuthum kaappaaruHe will protect us throughout our lives
Female
Kadavul maama …(2)God-uncle ... (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kadavul Mama' expresses a child's innocent faith and prayer toward a divine savior figure who brings light, comfort, and hope into a broken family. The child likens this savior to noble figures like Jesus, Buddha, and Gandhi, seeing in him a rain of compassion capable of restoring a ruined life back to full bloom.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Irulil oliyaai karunai / Mazhaiyaai kaatchi thndhaaru

Describing compassion as rain ('karunai mazhaiyaai') and divine presence as light in darkness ('irulil oliyaai').

Contrast (Muran)

Mannaai pona ponnaana vaazhvai

Contrasting 'ponnaana vaazhvai' (golden life) with 'mannaai pona' (turned into dust/soil) to depict tragic decline.

Initial Alliteration (Monaai)

Mannaai pona ponnaana vaazhvai / Malara seivaayae

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'Ma' in 'Mannaai' and 'Malara'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kadavul Mama' (1974) featured Gemini Ganesan in the lead role, with music scored by veteran composer T. G. Lingappa. The song highlights the child's perspective through singer Pushpalatha's rendition.

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