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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Poota Kanakku

From Maalai Sooda Vaa · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vijaya Bhaskar
Movie name
Maalai Sooda Vaa
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
12 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadavul potta kanakku
Therivadhillai namakku
Kadavul potta kanakku
Therivadhillai namakku
Nee nenaippaai ondru ada
Avan nenaippan ondru
Nee nenaippaai ondru ada
Avan nenaippan ondru
Kodambaakkam kudiirukkum
Palaniappa
Ivan korikkaiyai konjam nee
Gavaniappa
Yeppo kodambaakkam kudiirukkum
Palaniappa
Ivan korikkaiyai konjam nee gavaniappa
Odi pona magan kedacha
Mottai poduvaan
Un undiyilae edho konjam
Thutta poduvaan
Andha thasarathanai vaatiyadho
Puthira sogam
Indha thagapanukku yerpattadho
Pathira sogam
Kadavul potta kanakku
Therivadhillai namakku
Kadavul potta kanakku
Therivadhillai namakku
Maada veedhi kudirukkum
Karppagaambigae
Ivan magal ingu vandhu sera
Enna kaanikkae
Maada veedhi kudirukkum
Karppagaambigae
Ivan magal ingu vandhu sera
Enna kaanikkae
Kedupidiyaai irunthaan
Ennavaachu
Veeratheera rosham ellaam
Engae pochu
Oru magal kaadhalichaa appadiyaachu
Ippo innoruthi kadhai sonna ippadiyaachu
Kadavul potta kanakku
Therivadhillai namakku
Kadavul potta kanakku
Therivadhillai namakku
{Kaadhalilae vetri kandaai
Kanna paramaathmaa un pol
Ivanum oru pennai ingu
Kaadhalitha aathmaa} (2)
The calculations made by God,
We can never truly know.
The calculations made by God,
We can never truly know.
You will think of one thing,
But He will decide another!
You will think of one thing,
But He will decide another!
Residing in Kodambakkam,
O Lord Palaniyappa,
Please pay a little attention
To his humble plea!
Hey, residing in Kodambakkam,
O Lord Palaniyappa,
Please pay a little attention to his humble plea!
If he gets back his runaway son,
He will shave his head for you,
And into your temple donation box,
He will drop some money!
What tormented King Dasharatha
Was the grief of losing a son,
But what has struck this father
Is the grief over his documents!
The calculations made by God,
We can never truly know.
The calculations made by God,
We can never truly know.
Residing on the temple car street,
O Goddess Karpagambal,
For his daughter to return here,
What offering do you want?
Residing on the temple car street,
O Goddess Karpagambal,
For his daughter to return here,
What offering do you want?
He used to be so strict and unyielding—
What happened to all that now?
All his bravery, pride, and temper,
Where did it all vanish?
When one daughter fell in love, that happened;
Now when the other told her story, it turned out like this!
The calculations made by God,
We can never truly know.
The calculations made by God,
We can never truly know.
You found victory in love,
O Lord Krishna, the Supreme Soul!
Just like you, he too is a soul
Who loved a woman here!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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