Kadavul Thantha
From Iru Malargal · 1967
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Iru Malargal1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| { Kadavul | { God |
| Thandha iru malargal | Given two flowers |
| Kanmalarndha pon malargal | Golden flowers that opened their eyes |
| Ondru paavai koondhalilae | One on the maiden's tresses |
| Ondru paadhai orathilae } (2) | One by the roadside } (2) |
| Female | |
| Kadavul | God |
| Thandha iru malargal | Given two flowers |
| { Iru malargal } (2) | { Two flowers } (2) |
| Female | |
| { Kaatril | { In the wind |
| Udhirndha vannamalar | Fallen colorful flower |
| Kanneer sindhum chinna | Shedding tears, the little |
| Malar } (2) | Flower } (2) |
| Female | |
| { Aatril | { Into the river |
| Vandhu serndhadhamma | It arrived, my dear |
| Alaigal kondu | Carried by the waves |
| ponadhamma } (2) | It went away, my dear } (2) |
| Female | |
| Paavai | The maiden's |
| Koondhal serndha | Hair it reached |
| Malar paruvam kandu | Seeing youthfulness, the bloomed |
| Pootha malar | Flower |
| Female | |
| Paasam | Affection |
| Kondu vandhadhamma | It brought along, my dear |
| Parisai thannai | As a gift itself |
| Thandhadhamma | It gave away, my dear |
| Female | |
| Kadavul | God |
| Thandha iru malargal | Given two flowers |
| Kanmalarndha pon malargal | Golden flowers that opened their eyes |
| Ondru paavai koondhalilae | One on the maiden's tresses |
| Ondru paadhai orathilae | One by the roadside |
| Female | |
| Kadavul | God |
| Thandha iru malargal | Given two flowers |
| Female | |
| { Alaiyil | { In the waves |
| Midhandha malar | The floating flower |
| Kandu adhanmel | Seeing it, upon it |
| Karunai manam | A compassionate heart |
| Kondu } (2) | Having felt } (2) |
| Female | |
| { Thalaiyil | { On His head |
| Iraivan soodikondan | The Almighty adorned it |
| Thaanae adhanai | Himself |
| Serthukondan } (2) | Accepted and took it in } (2) |
| Female | |
| Kuzhalil | In the tresses |
| Soodiya oru malarum | One flower adorned |
| Koyil serndha oru malarum | One flower that reached the temple |
| Female | |
| Irandum | Both |
| Vaazhvil perumai | Attain greatness in life |
| Perum idhayam | The heart will gain |
| Engum amaidhi perum | Peace everywhere |
| Female | |
| Kadavul | God |
| Thandha iru malargal | Given two flowers |
{ கடவுள் தந்த
இரு மலர்கள் கண்மலர்ந்த
பொன் மலர்கள் ஒன்று பாவை
கூந்தலிலே ஒன்று பாதை
ஓரத்திலே } (2)
{ God
Given two flowers
Golden flowers that opened their eyes
One on the maiden's tresses
One by the roadside } (2)
கடவுள் தந்த
இரு மலர்கள்
{ இரு மலர்கள் } (2)
God
Given two flowers
{ Two flowers } (2)
{ காற்றில்
உதிர்ந்த வண்ணமலர்
கண்ணீர் சிந்தும் சின்ன
மலர் } (2)
{ In the wind
Fallen colorful flower
Shedding tears, the little
Flower } (2)
{ ஆற்றில் வந்து
சேர்ந்ததம்மா அலைகள்
கொண்டு போனதம்மா } (2)
{ Into the river
It arrived, my dear
Carried by the waves
It went away, my dear } (2)
பாவை கூந்தல்
சேர்ந்த மலர் பருவம்
கண்டு பூத்த மலர்
The maiden's
Hair it reached
Seeing youthfulness, the bloomed
Flower
பாசம் கொண்டு
வந்ததம்மா பரிசாய்
தன்னைத் தந்ததம்மா
Affection
It brought along, my dear
As a gift itself
It gave away, my dear
கடவுள் தந்த
இரு மலர்கள் கண்மலர்ந்த
பொன் மலர்கள் ஒன்று பாவை
கூந்தலிலே ஒன்று பாதை
ஓரத்திலே
God
Given two flowers
Golden flowers that opened their eyes
One on the maiden's tresses
One by the roadside
கடவுள் தந்த
இரு மலர்கள்
God
Given two flowers
{ அலையில்
மிதந்த மலர் கண்டு
அதன்மேல் கருணை
மனம் கொண்டு } (2)
{ In the waves
The floating flower
Seeing it, upon it
A compassionate heart
Having felt } (2)
{ தலையில்
இறைவன் சூடிக்கொண்டான்
தானே அதனை
சேர்த்துக்கொண்டான் } (2)
{ On His head
The Almighty adorned it
Himself
Accepted and took it in } (2)
குழலில் சூடிய
ஒரு மலரும் கோயில்
சேர்ந்த ஒரு மலரும்
In the tresses
One flower adorned
One flower that reached the temple
இரண்டும்
வாழ்வில் பெருமை
பெரும் இதயம் எங்கும்
அமைதி பெறும்
Both
Attain greatness in life
The heart will gain
Peace everywhere
கடவுள் தந்த
இரு மலர்கள்
God
Given two flowers
{ Kadavul
{ God
Thandha iru malargal
Given two flowers
Kanmalarndha pon malargal
Golden flowers that opened their eyes
Ondru paavai koondhalilae
One on the maiden's tresses
Ondru paadhai orathilae } (2)
One by the roadside } (2)
Kadavul
God
Thandha iru malargal
Given two flowers
{ Iru malargal } (2)
{ Two flowers } (2)
{ Kaatril
{ In the wind
Udhirndha vannamalar
Fallen colorful flower
Kanneer sindhum chinna
Shedding tears, the little
Malar } (2)
Flower } (2)
{ Aatril
{ Into the river
Vandhu serndhadhamma
It arrived, my dear
Alaigal kondu
Carried by the waves
ponadhamma } (2)
It went away, my dear } (2)
Paavai
The maiden's
Koondhal serndha
Hair it reached
Malar paruvam kandu
Seeing youthfulness, the bloomed
Pootha malar
Flower
Paasam
Affection
Kondu vandhadhamma
It brought along, my dear
Parisai thannai
As a gift itself
Thandhadhamma
It gave away, my dear
Kadavul
God
Thandha iru malargal
Given two flowers
Kanmalarndha pon malargal
Golden flowers that opened their eyes
Ondru paavai koondhalilae
One on the maiden's tresses
Ondru paadhai orathilae
One by the roadside
Kadavul
God
Thandha iru malargal
Given two flowers
{ Alaiyil
{ In the waves
Midhandha malar
The floating flower
Kandu adhanmel
Seeing it, upon it
Karunai manam
A compassionate heart
Kondu } (2)
Having felt } (2)
{ Thalaiyil
{ On His head
Iraivan soodikondan
The Almighty adorned it
Thaanae adhanai
Himself
Serthukondan } (2)
Accepted and took it in } (2)
Kuzhalil
In the tresses
Soodiya oru malarum
One flower adorned
Koyil serndha oru malarum
One flower that reached the temple
Irandum
Both
Vaazhvil perumai
Attain greatness in life
Perum idhayam
The heart will gain
Engum amaidhi perum
Peace everywhere
Kadavul
God
Thandha iru malargal
Given two flowers
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song uses the metaphor of two flowers created by God to symbolize different paths and destinies in human life. One flower finds its home in a maiden's hair, experiencing love, beauty, and affection, while the other drifts down a river weeping until it is tenderly picked up by the Divine to grace the lord's temple head. Ultimately, the song reflects on how both destinations—love in human life and devotions/surrender to God—bring glory, peace, and spiritual completion to the heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை)
“Kadavul Thandha iru malargal”
The two flowers serve as an allegory for two women or two distinct soul journeys in life.
Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Ondru paavai koondhalilae / Ondru paadhai orathilae”
Rhyming of the second consonant ('da' in Kadavul / Thandha, or 'n' sound in Ondru / Ondru).
Personification
“Kanneer sindhum chinna Malar”
Attributing human traits like weeping ('kanneer sindhum') and feeling affection ('paasam kondu vandhadhamma') to flowers.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the landmark 1967 Tamil drama film 'Iru Malargal' starring Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, and K. R. Vijaya. The title of the film itself comes from this philosophical core concept of two flowers representing the two female leads and their destinies.
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