Kadavul Thandha Paadam
From Nadodi · 1966
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nadodi1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadavul thandha paadam | The lesson taught by God, |
| Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum | All the suffering seen here, |
| Enna manamo enna gunamo | What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature, |
| Indha manidhan konda kolam | This guise that man has taken, |
| Manidhan konda kolam | The guise man has taken. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul thandha paadam | The lesson taught by God, |
| Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum | All the suffering seen here, |
| Enna manamo enna gunamo | What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature, |
| Indha manidhan konda kolam | This guise that man has taken, |
| Manidhan konda kolam | The guise man has taken. |
| Male | |
| {Porulaedhum indri | Without any material form, |
| Karuvaaga vaithu | Placing it as an embryo, |
| Uruvaakki vittu vittaan | He created and left man behind. |
| Arivendra ondrai mariyaadhai indri | Without respecting the gift called intellect, |
| Idam maattri vaithu vittaan} (2) | He misplaced it in the wrong spot. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul thandha paadam | The lesson taught by God, |
| Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum | All the suffering seen here, |
| Enna manamo enna gunamo | What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature, |
| Indha manidhan konda kolam | This guise that man has taken, |
| Manidhan konda kolam | The guise man has taken. |
| Male | |
| {Nanbargal pagaivargal | Who are friends and who are enemies, |
| Yaarendrum | Who they really are, |
| Nallavar kettavar yaarendrum} (2) | Who is good and who is evil, |
| Male | |
| Pazhagum podhum therivadhillai | It cannot be known even while knowing them, |
| Paazhai pona indha boomiyilae | In this ruined world. |
| Pazhaghum podhum therivadhillai | It cannot be known even while knowing them, |
| Paazhai pona indha boomiyilae | In this ruined world. |
| Male | |
| Mugatthukku naerae | Right in front of one's face, |
| Sirippavar kangal | The eyes of those who smile, |
| Mudhugukku pinnaal seerum | Will hiss behind one's back. |
| Mugasthudhi pesum | Speaking empty flattery, |
| Valaiyum kuzhaiyum | Bending and crouching low, |
| Kaariyam aanadhum maarum | They change as soon as their purpose is served. |
| Kaariyam aanadhum maarum | They change as soon as their purpose is served. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul thandha paadam | The lesson taught by God, |
| Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum | All the suffering seen here, |
| Enna manamo enna gunamo | What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature, |
| Indha manidhan konda kolam | This guise that man has taken, |
| Manidhan konda kolam | The guise man has taken. |
| Male | |
| Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi | The one who gives is considered high caste, |
| Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi | The one who cannot give is low caste. |
| Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi | The one who gives is considered high caste, |
| Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi | The one who cannot give is low caste. |
| Male | |
| Padaithavan peraal jaadhi vaithaan | In the name of the Creator, man established caste, |
| Paazhaai pona indha boomiyilae | In this ruined world. |
| Padaithavan peraal jaadhi vaithaan | In the name of the Creator, man established caste, |
| Paazhaai pona indha boomiyilae | In this ruined world. |
| Male | |
| {Nadappadhu yaavum | If everything that happens, |
| Vidhippadi endraal | Is merely dictated by fate, |
| Vedhanai eppadi theerum} (2) | How will human suffering ever end? |
| Udaippadhai udaithu | By destroying what ought to be destroyed, |
| Valarppadhai valarthaal | And nurturing what ought to be nurtured, |
| Ulagam uruppadi aagum | Only then will the world become worthwhile. |
| Ulagam uruppadi aagum | Only then will the world become worthwhile. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul thandha paadam | The lesson taught by God, |
| Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum | All the suffering seen here, |
| Enna manamo enna gunamo | What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature, |
| Indha manidhan konda kolam | This guise that man has taken, |
| Manidhan konda kolam | The guise man has taken. |
கடவுள் தந்த பாடம்
இங்கு காணும் துன்பம் யாவும்
என்ன மனமோ என்ன குணமோ
இந்த மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
The lesson taught by God,
All the suffering seen here,
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
This guise that man has taken,
The guise man has taken.
கடவுள் தந்த பாடம்
இங்கு காணும் துன்பம் யாவும்
என்ன மனமோ என்ன குணமோ
இந்த மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
The lesson taught by God,
All the suffering seen here,
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
This guise that man has taken,
The guise man has taken.
{பொருளேதுமின்றி
கருவாக வைத்து
உருவாக்கி விட்டுவிட்டான்
அறிவென்ற ஒன்றை மரியாதை இன்றி
இடம் மாற்றி வைத்து விட்டான்} (2)
Without any material form,
Placing it as an embryo,
He created and left man behind.
Without respecting the gift called intellect,
He misplaced it in the wrong spot.
கடவுள் தந்த பாடம்
இங்கு காணும் துன்பம் யாவும்
என்ன மனமோ என்ன குணமோ
இந்த மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
The lesson taught by God,
All the suffering seen here,
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
This guise that man has taken,
The guise man has taken.
{நண்பர்கள் பகைவர்கள்
யாரென்றும்
நல்லவர் கெட்டவர் யாரென்றும்} (2)
Who are friends and who are enemies,
Who they really are,
Who is good and who is evil,
பழகும் போதும் தெரிவதில்லை
பாழாய்ப் போன இந்த பூமியிலே
பழகும் போதும் தெரிவதில்லை
பாழாய்ப் போன இந்த பூமியிலே
It cannot be known even while knowing them,
In this ruined world.
It cannot be known even while knowing them,
In this ruined world.
முகத்துக்கு நேரே
சிரிப்பவர் கண்கள்
முதுகுக்கு பின்னால் சீரும்
முகஸ்துதி பேசும்
வளையும் குழையும்
காரியமானதும் மாறும்
காரியமானதும் மாறும்
Right in front of one's face,
The eyes of those who smile,
Will hiss behind one's back.
Speaking empty flattery,
Bending and crouching low,
They change as soon as their purpose is served.
They change as soon as their purpose is served.
கடவுள் தந்த பாடம்
இங்கு காணும் துன்பம் யாவும்
என்ன மனமோ என்ன குணமோ
இந்த மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
The lesson taught by God,
All the suffering seen here,
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
This guise that man has taken,
The guise man has taken.
கொடுப்பவன் தானே மேல் ஜாதி
கொடுக்காதவனே கீழ் ஜாதி
கொடுப்பவன் தானே மேல் ஜாதி
கொடுக்காதவனே கீழ் ஜாதி
The one who gives is considered high caste,
The one who cannot give is low caste.
The one who gives is considered high caste,
The one who cannot give is low caste.
படைத்தவன் பேரால் ஜாதி வைத்தான்
பாழாய்ப்போன இந்த பூமியிலே
படைத்தவன் பேரால் ஜாதி வைத்தான்
பாழாய்ப்போன இந்த பூமியிலே
In the name of the Creator, man established caste,
In this ruined world.
In the name of the Creator, man established caste,
In this ruined world.
{நடப்பது யாவும்
விதிப்படி என்றால்
வேதனை எப்படி தீரும்} (2)
உடைப்பதை உடைத்து
வளர்ப்பதை வளர்த்தால்
உலகம் உருப்படியாகும்
உலகம் உருப்படியாகும்
If everything that happens,
Is merely dictated by fate,
How will human suffering ever end?
By destroying what ought to be destroyed,
And nurturing what ought to be nurtured,
Only then will the world become worthwhile.
Only then will the world become worthwhile.
கடவுள் தந்த பாடம்
இங்கு காணும் துன்பம் யாவும்
என்ன மனமோ என்ன குணமோ
இந்த மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
மனிதன் கொண்ட கோலம்
The lesson taught by God,
All the suffering seen here,
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
This guise that man has taken,
The guise man has taken.
Kadavul thandha paadam
The lesson taught by God,
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
All the suffering seen here,
Enna manamo enna gunamo
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
Indha manidhan konda kolam
This guise that man has taken,
Manidhan konda kolam
The guise man has taken.
Kadavul thandha paadam
The lesson taught by God,
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
All the suffering seen here,
Enna manamo enna gunamo
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
Indha manidhan konda kolam
This guise that man has taken,
Manidhan konda kolam
The guise man has taken.
{Porulaedhum indri
Without any material form,
Karuvaaga vaithu
Placing it as an embryo,
Uruvaakki vittu vittaan
He created and left man behind.
Arivendra ondrai mariyaadhai indri
Without respecting the gift called intellect,
Idam maattri vaithu vittaan} (2)
He misplaced it in the wrong spot.
Kadavul thandha paadam
The lesson taught by God,
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
All the suffering seen here,
Enna manamo enna gunamo
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
Indha manidhan konda kolam
This guise that man has taken,
Manidhan konda kolam
The guise man has taken.
{Nanbargal pagaivargal
Who are friends and who are enemies,
Yaarendrum
Who they really are,
Nallavar kettavar yaarendrum} (2)
Who is good and who is evil,
Pazhagum podhum therivadhillai
It cannot be known even while knowing them,
Paazhai pona indha boomiyilae
In this ruined world.
Pazhaghum podhum therivadhillai
It cannot be known even while knowing them,
Paazhai pona indha boomiyilae
In this ruined world.
Mugatthukku naerae
Right in front of one's face,
Sirippavar kangal
The eyes of those who smile,
Mudhugukku pinnaal seerum
Will hiss behind one's back.
Mugasthudhi pesum
Speaking empty flattery,
Valaiyum kuzhaiyum
Bending and crouching low,
Kaariyam aanadhum maarum
They change as soon as their purpose is served.
Kaariyam aanadhum maarum
They change as soon as their purpose is served.
Kadavul thandha paadam
The lesson taught by God,
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
All the suffering seen here,
Enna manamo enna gunamo
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
Indha manidhan konda kolam
This guise that man has taken,
Manidhan konda kolam
The guise man has taken.
Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi
The one who gives is considered high caste,
Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi
The one who cannot give is low caste.
Koduppavan thaanae mel jaadhi
The one who gives is considered high caste,
Kodukkaadhavanae keezh jaadhi
The one who cannot give is low caste.
Padaithavan peraal jaadhi vaithaan
In the name of the Creator, man established caste,
Paazhaai pona indha boomiyilae
In this ruined world.
Padaithavan peraal jaadhi vaithaan
In the name of the Creator, man established caste,
Paazhaai pona indha boomiyilae
In this ruined world.
{Nadappadhu yaavum
If everything that happens,
Vidhippadi endraal
Is merely dictated by fate,
Vedhanai eppadi theerum} (2)
How will human suffering ever end?
Udaippadhai udaithu
By destroying what ought to be destroyed,
Valarppadhai valarthaal
And nurturing what ought to be nurtured,
Ulagam uruppadi aagum
Only then will the world become worthwhile.
Ulagam uruppadi aagum
Only then will the world become worthwhile.
Kadavul thandha paadam
The lesson taught by God,
Ingu kaanum thunbam yaavum
All the suffering seen here,
Enna manamo enna gunamo
What kind of mind is this, what kind of nature,
Indha manidhan konda kolam
This guise that man has taken,
Manidhan konda kolam
The guise man has taken.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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