Kadavul Poota Kanakku
From Maalai Sooda Vaa · 1975
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vijaya Bhaskar
- Details
- Maalai Sooda Vaa1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadavul potta kanakku | The calculation made by God, |
| Therivadhillai namakku | Is unknown to us. |
| Kadavul potta kanakku | The calculation made by God, |
| Therivadhillai namakku | Is unknown to us. |
| Nee nenaippaai ondru ada | Hey, you may intend one outcome, |
| Avan nenaippan ondru | But He (God) intends another. |
| Nee nenaippaai ondru ada | Hey, you may intend one outcome, |
| Avan nenaippan ondru | But He (God) intends another. |
| Male | |
| Kodambaakkam kudiirukkum | Oh Lord Muruga of Palani residing in Kodambakkam, |
| Palaniappa | Palaniappa! |
| Ivan korikkaiyai konjam nee | Please pay a little attention to, |
| Gavaniappa | His request, Lord! |
| Yeppo kodambaakkam kudiirukkum | Hey, Lord Muruga residing in Kodambakkam, |
| Palaniappa | Palaniappa! |
| Ivan korikkaiyai konjam nee gavaniappa | Please pay a little attention to his request, Lord! |
| Male | |
| Odi pona magan kedacha | If the son who ran away is found, |
| Mottai poduvaan | He will tonsure his head as an offering. |
| Un undiyilae edho konjam | Into your collection box, |
| Thutta poduvaan | He will drop some coins. |
| Andha thasarathanai vaatiyadho | Was it the sorrow of losing a son that tormented King Dasaratha? |
| Puthira sogam | Childhood sorrow! |
| Indha thagapanukku yerpattadho | Has this father suffered from, |
| Pathira sogam | Sorrows over documents and deeds? |
| Male | |
| Kadavul potta kanakku | The calculation made by God, |
| Therivadhillai namakku | Is unknown to us. |
| Kadavul potta kanakku | The calculation made by God, |
| Therivadhillai namakku | Is unknown to us. |
| Male | |
| Maada veedhi kudirukkum | Goddess Karpagambal who resides in the grand temple street, |
| Karppagaambigae | Karppagaambigae! |
| Ivan magal ingu vandhu sera | For his daughter to return and join him here, |
| Enna kaanikkae | What offering should be made? |
| Male | |
| Maada veedhi kudirukkum | Goddess Karpagambal who resides in the grand temple street, |
| Karppagaambigae | Karppagaambigae! |
| Ivan magal ingu vandhu sera | For his daughter to return and join him here, |
| Enna kaanikkae | What offering should be made? |
| Male | |
| Kedupidiyaai irunthaan | He used to be so strict and unyielding, |
| Ennavaachu | What happened to him now? |
| Veeratheera rosham ellaam | Where did all his bravery, courage, and pride go? |
| Engae pochu | When one daughter fell in love, it turned out like that, |
| Oru magal kaadhalichaa appadiyaachu | Now that another daughter told her story, it turned out like this! |
| Ippo innoruthi kadhai sonna ippadiyaachu | The calculation made by God, |
| Male | |
| Kadavul potta kanakku | Is unknown to us. |
| Therivadhillai namakku | The calculation made by God, |
| Kadavul potta kanakku | Is unknown to us. |
| Therivadhillai namakku | You found victory in love, |
| Male | |
| {Kaadhalilae vetri kandaai | Oh Krishna, supreme soul, just like you, |
| Kanna paramaathmaa un pol | He too is a soul here, |
| Ivanum oru pennai ingu | Who fell in love with a woman. |
| Kaadhalitha aathmaa} (2) | |
கடவுள் போட்ட கணக்கு
தெரிவதில்லை நமக்கு
கடவுள் போட்ட கணக்கு
தெரிவதில்லை நமக்கு
நீ நினைப்பாய் ஒன்று அட
அவன் நினைப்பான் ஒன்று
நீ நினைப்பாய் ஒன்று அட
அவன் நினைப்பான் ஒன்று
The calculation made by God,
Is unknown to us.
The calculation made by God,
Is unknown to us.
Hey, you may intend one outcome,
But He (God) intends another.
Hey, you may intend one outcome,
But He (God) intends another.
கோடம்பாக்கம் குடியிருக்கும்
பழனியப்பா
இவன் கோரிக்கையை கொஞ்சம் நீ
கவனியப்பா
எப்போ கோடம்பாக்கம் குடியிருக்கும்
பழனியப்பா
இவன் கோரிக்கையை கொஞ்சம் நீ
கவனியப்பா
Oh Lord Muruga of Palani residing in Kodambakkam,
Palaniappa!
Please pay a little attention to,
His request, Lord!
Hey, Lord Muruga residing in Kodambakkam,
Palaniappa!
Please pay a little attention to his request, Lord!
ஓடி போன மகள் கெடச்சா
மொட்டை போடுவான்
உன் உண்டியிலே ஏதோ கொஞ்சம்
துட்டப் போடுவான்
அந்த தசரதனை வாட்டியதோ
புத்திர சோகம்
இந்த தகப்பனுக்கு ஏற்பட்டதோ
பத்திர சோகம்
If the son who ran away is found,
He will tonsure his head as an offering.
Into your collection box,
He will drop some coins.
Was it the sorrow of losing a son that tormented King Dasaratha?
Childhood sorrow!
Has this father suffered from,
Sorrows over documents and deeds?
கடவுள் போட்ட கணக்கு
தெரிவதில்லை நமக்கு
கடவுள் போட்ட கணக்கு
தெரிவதில்லை நமக்கு
The calculation made by God,
Is unknown to us.
The calculation made by God,
Is unknown to us.
மாடவீதி குடியிருக்கும்
கற்பகாம்பிகே
இவன் மகள் இங்கு வந்து சேர
என்ன காணிக்கை
Goddess Karpagambal who resides in the grand temple street,
Karppagaambigae!
For his daughter to return and join him here,
What offering should be made?
கெடுபிடியாக இருந்தான்
என்னவாச்சு
வீரதீர ரோசம் எல்லாம்
எங்கே போச்சு
ஒரு மகள் காதலிச்சா அப்படியாச்சு
இப்போ இன்னொருத்தி
கதை சொன்னா இப்படியாச்சு
Goddess Karpagambal who resides in the grand temple street,
Karppagaambigae!
For his daughter to return and join him here,
What offering should be made?
{காதலிலே வெற்றிக் கண்டாய்
கண்ண பரமாத்மா உன் போல்
இவனும் ஒரு பெண்ணை இங்கு
காதலித்த ஆத்மா} (2)
He used to be so strict and unyielding,
What happened to him now?
Where did all his bravery, courage, and pride go?
When one daughter fell in love, it turned out like that,
Now that another daughter told her story, it turned out like this!
The calculation made by God,
Is unknown to us.
The calculation made by God,
Is unknown to us.
You found victory in love,
Oh Krishna, supreme soul, just like you,
He too is a soul here,
Who fell in love with a woman.
Kadavul potta kanakku
The calculation made by God,
Therivadhillai namakku
Is unknown to us.
Kadavul potta kanakku
The calculation made by God,
Therivadhillai namakku
Is unknown to us.
Nee nenaippaai ondru ada
Hey, you may intend one outcome,
Avan nenaippan ondru
But He (God) intends another.
Nee nenaippaai ondru ada
Hey, you may intend one outcome,
Avan nenaippan ondru
But He (God) intends another.
Kodambaakkam kudiirukkum
Oh Lord Muruga of Palani residing in Kodambakkam,
Palaniappa
Palaniappa!
Ivan korikkaiyai konjam nee
Please pay a little attention to,
Gavaniappa
His request, Lord!
Yeppo kodambaakkam kudiirukkum
Hey, Lord Muruga residing in Kodambakkam,
Palaniappa
Palaniappa!
Ivan korikkaiyai konjam nee gavaniappa
Please pay a little attention to his request, Lord!
Odi pona magan kedacha
If the son who ran away is found,
Mottai poduvaan
He will tonsure his head as an offering.
Un undiyilae edho konjam
Into your collection box,
Thutta poduvaan
He will drop some coins.
Andha thasarathanai vaatiyadho
Was it the sorrow of losing a son that tormented King Dasaratha?
Puthira sogam
Childhood sorrow!
Indha thagapanukku yerpattadho
Has this father suffered from,
Pathira sogam
Sorrows over documents and deeds?
Kadavul potta kanakku
The calculation made by God,
Therivadhillai namakku
Is unknown to us.
Kadavul potta kanakku
The calculation made by God,
Therivadhillai namakku
Is unknown to us.
Maada veedhi kudirukkum
Goddess Karpagambal who resides in the grand temple street,
Karppagaambigae
Karppagaambigae!
Ivan magal ingu vandhu sera
For his daughter to return and join him here,
Enna kaanikkae
What offering should be made?
Maada veedhi kudirukkum
Goddess Karpagambal who resides in the grand temple street,
Karppagaambigae
Karppagaambigae!
Ivan magal ingu vandhu sera
For his daughter to return and join him here,
Enna kaanikkae
What offering should be made?
Kedupidiyaai irunthaan
He used to be so strict and unyielding,
Ennavaachu
What happened to him now?
Veeratheera rosham ellaam
Where did all his bravery, courage, and pride go?
Engae pochu
When one daughter fell in love, it turned out like that,
Oru magal kaadhalichaa appadiyaachu
Now that another daughter told her story, it turned out like this!
Ippo innoruthi kadhai sonna ippadiyaachu
The calculation made by God,
Kadavul potta kanakku
Is unknown to us.
Therivadhillai namakku
The calculation made by God,
Kadavul potta kanakku
Is unknown to us.
Therivadhillai namakku
You found victory in love,
{Kaadhalilae vetri kandaai
Oh Krishna, supreme soul, just like you,
Kanna paramaathmaa un pol
He too is a soul here,
Ivanum oru pennai ingu
Who fell in love with a woman.
Kaadhalitha aathmaa} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song presents a philosophical yet lighthearted reflection on how human intentions are often overridden by divine destiny. The narrator speaks on behalf of a father overwhelmed by domestic tribulations—dealing with children who run away or make independent choices in love. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes that God's plans remain mysterious and unpredictable to human understanding. By addressing deities located in well-known Tamil Nadu shrines (such as the Kodambakkam Murugan temple and Mylapore's Goddess Karpagambal), the lyrics weave traditional faith with humorous everyday dilemmas. The song lightens parental anxiety by contrasting ancient epic struggles, like King Dasaratha's grief for Rama, with modern household troubles and divine romantic precedents like Lord Krishna.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Kadavul potta kanakku / Therivadhillai namakku”
Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, such as 'kanakku' and 'namakku' to create rhythmic cohesion.
Wordplay / Pun (Iledchhanai)
“Puthira sogam / Pathira sogam”
A humorous play on words contrasting 'Puthira sogam' (grief caused by a child, referring to Dasaratha) with 'Pathira sogam' (grief caused by property/document deeds).
Mythological Allusion
“Andha thasarathanai vaatiyadho / Kanna paramaathmaa un pol”
Referencing King Dasaratha's grief over Rama's exile from the Ramayana, and Lord Krishna's victories in love from Hindu scriptures to draw parallels with domestic life.
Anaphora (Chorus Refrain)
“Kadavul potta kanakku / Therivadhillai namakku”
Repetition of the core philosophical premise throughout the song to reinforce the central theme.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by legendary lyricist Vaali for the 1975 film 'Maalai Sooda Vaa' (music composed by Vijaya Bhaskar), the song cleverly incorporates local Chennai urban landmarks—such as Kodambakkam and the Maada Veedhi around Mylapore Kapaleeshwarar Temple—into devotional satire.
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