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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadavul Thandha Paadam

From Nadodi · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nadodi
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
19 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadavul thandha paadam
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
Enna manamo enna gunamo
Indha manidhan konda kolam
Manidhan konda kolam
Kadavul thandha paadam
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
Enna manamo enna gunamo
Indha manidhan konda kolam
Manidhan konda kolam
{Porulaedhum indri
Karuvaaga vaithu
Uruvaakki vittu vittaan
Arivendra ondrai mariyaadhai indri
Idam maattri vaithu vittaan} (2)
Kadavul thandha paadam
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
Enna manamo enna gunamo
Indha manidhan konda kolam
Manidhan konda kolam
{Nanbargal pagaivargal
Yaarendrum
Nallavar kettavar yaarendrum} (2)
Pazhagum podhum therivadhillai
Paazhai pona indha boomiyilae
Pazhaghum podhum therivadhillai
Paazhai pona indha boomiyilae
Mugatthukku naerae
Sirippavar kangal
Mudhugukku pinnaal seerum
Mugasthudhi pesum
Valaiyum kuzhaiyum
Kaariyam aanadhum maarum
Kaariyam aanadhum maarum
Kadavul thandha paadam
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
Enna manamo enna gunamo
Indha manidhan konda kolam
Manidhan konda kolam
Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi
Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi
Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi
Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi
Padaithavan peraal jaadhi vaithaan
Paazhaai pona indha boomiyilae
Padaithavan peraal jaadhi vaithaan
Paazhaai pona indha boomiyilae
{Nadappadhu yaavum
Vidhippadi endraal
Vedhanai eppadi theerum} (2)
Udaippadhai udaithu
Valarppadhai valarthaal
Ulagam uruppadi aagum
Ulagam uruppadi aagum
Kadavul thandha paadam
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
Enna manamo enna gunamo
Indha manidhan konda kolam
Manidhan konda kolam
A lesson taught by God
is all the sorrow we see here.
What a mind, what a nature!
Look at the strange guise man has taken on!
The strange guise man has taken on!
A lesson taught by God
is all the sorrow we see here.
What a mind, what a nature!
Look at the strange guise man has taken on!
The strange guise man has taken on!
Out of nothing at all,
planting man as a tiny seed,
He created him and left him behind.
And that thing called intellect, without any respect,
He misplaced in the wrong spot!
A lesson taught by God
is all the sorrow we see here.
What a mind, what a nature!
Look at the strange guise man has taken on!
The strange guise man has taken on!
Who is a friend and who is a foe,
who is truly who,
and who is good and who is bad,
is never known even when moving closely with them,
in this ruined world.
It is never known even when moving closely with them,
in this ruined world.
Right to your face,
the eyes of those who smile
will hiss venom behind your back.
They shower you with sweet flattery,
bend low and fawn over you,
and change the moment their need is met!
Change the moment their need is met!
A lesson taught by God
is all the sorrow we see here.
What a mind, what a nature!
Look at the strange guise man has taken on!
The strange guise man has taken on!
The one who gives is the truly high caste,
and the one who refuses to give is the low caste.
The one who gives is the truly high caste,
and the one who refuses to give is the low caste.
Yet man created caste in the Creator's name,
in this ruined world.
He created caste in the Creator's name,
in this ruined world.
If everything that happens
is only driven by fate,
how will this suffering ever end?
If we break what should be broken
and nurture what should be nurtured,
this world will become a better place.
This world will become a better place.
A lesson taught by God
is all the sorrow we see here.
What a mind, what a nature!
Look at the strange guise man has taken on!
The strange guise man has taken on!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kadavul Thandha Paadam from the 1966 film Nadodi is a reflective, socio-philosophical song written by Kannadasan. The lyrics critique human hypocrisy, deceit, and social inequality. Kannadasan questions why humans act falsely—smiling to one's face while speaking ill behind their back—and laments how society misuses intellect and creates artificial caste barriers based on wealth rather than virtue.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi / Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi

The second letters rhyme in adjacent lines to establish melodic cadence.

Metaphor

Mudhugukku pinnaal seerum

The line compares human deception behind someone's back to a snake hissing.

Rhetorical Question

Vidhippadi endraal vedhanai eppadi theerum

The lyricist challenges the idea of fatalism by asking how pain can end if everything is left to fate.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nadodi (1966) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Kannadasan. The song was sung by T. M. Soundararajan and served as a core moral message aligning with MGR's public persona of advocating social justice.

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