Kadavul Vazhum Kovilile
From Oru Thalai Ragam · 1980
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Oru Thalai Ragam1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam | A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides |
| Kalai izhantha maadaththilae | In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm |
| Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam | Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam | A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides |
| Kalai izhantha maadaththilae | In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm |
| Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam | Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam | A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides |
| Male | |
| Munthaanai paarththu munnooru kavithai | Just looking at the saree pallu, three hundred poems |
| Ennaalum ezhuthum kavingargal kodi | Are written every day by millions of poets |
| Munthaanai paarththu munnooru kavithai | Just looking at the saree pallu, three hundred poems |
| Ennaalum ezhuthum kavingargal kodi | Are written every day by millions of poets |
| Munnaadi ariyaa penn manathai kettu | Begging the heart of a woman who never understood |
| Anbundu vaazhum kaalaiyar kodi | Millions of young men live in hope of love |
| Male | |
| Oru thalai raagam entha vagaiyinil saarum | Which musical category does one-sided love belong to? |
| Aval irakkaththai thedum en manam paadum | Seeking her mercy, my heart sings |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam | A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam | A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides |
| Kalai izhantha maadaththilae | In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm |
| Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam | Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam |
| Male | |
| Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola | Like a frog living inside a deep well |
| Manaththukkul aadum aasaigal kodi | Millions of desires dance inside the mind |
| Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola | Like a frog living inside a deep well |
| Manaththukkul aadum aasaigal kodi | Millions of desires dance inside the mind |
| Kann ketta pinnae sooriya udhayam | A sunrise occurring after one has lost their eyesight |
| Entha pakkam aanaal enakkenna podi | Whichever direction it rises, what difference does it make to me? |
| Male | |
| Oru thalai raagam entha vagaiyinil saarum | Which musical category does one-sided love belong to? |
| Aval irakkaththai thedum en manam paadum | Seeking her mercy, my heart sings |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam | A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides |
| Kalai izhantha maadaththilae | In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm |
| Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam | Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam |
கடவுள் வாழும் கோவிலிலே கற்பூர தீபம்
கலை இழந்த மாடத்திலே
முகாரி ராகம் முகாரி ராகம்
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
கடவுள் வாழும் கோவிலிலே கற்பூர தீபம்
கலை இழந்த மாடத்திலே
முகாரி ராகம் முகாரி ராகம்
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
ஆண்
: கடவுள் வாழும் கோவிலிலே கற்பூர தீபம்
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
முந்தானை பார்த்து முன்னூறு கவிதை
எந்நாளும் எழுதும் கவிஞர்கள் கோடி
முந்தானை பார்த்து முன்னூறு கவிதை
எந்நாளும் எழுதும் கவிஞர்கள் கோடி
முன்னாடி அறியா பெண் மனதை கேட்டு
அன்புண்டு வாழும் காளையர் கோடி
Just looking at the saree pallu, three hundred poems
Are written every day by millions of poets
Just looking at the saree pallu, three hundred poems
Are written every day by millions of poets
Begging the heart of a woman who never understood
Millions of young men live in hope of love
ஒரு தலை ராகம் எந்த வகையினில் சாரும்
அவள் இரக்கத்தை தேடும் என் மனம் பாடும்
Which musical category does one-sided love belong to?
Seeking her mercy, my heart sings
கடவுள் வாழும் கோவிலிலே கற்பூர தீபம்
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
கடவுள் வாழும் கோவிலிலே கற்பூர தீபம்
கலை இழந்த மாடத்திலே
முகாரி ராகம் முகாரி ராகம்
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
கிணற்றுக்குள் வாழும் தவளையை போல
மனத்துக்குள் ஆடும் ஆசைகள் கோடி
கிணற்றுக்குள் வாழும் தவளையை போல
மனத்துக்குள் ஆடும் ஆசைகள் கோடி
கண் கெட்ட பின்னே சூரிய உதயம்
எந்த பக்கம் ஆனால் எனக்கென்ன போடி
Like a frog living inside a deep well
Millions of desires dance inside the mind
Like a frog living inside a deep well
Millions of desires dance inside the mind
A sunrise occurring after one has lost their eyesight
Whichever direction it rises, what difference does it make to me?
ஒருதலை ராகம் எந்த வகையினில் சாரும்
அவள் இரக்கத்தை தேடும் என் மனம் பாடும்
Which musical category does one-sided love belong to?
Seeking her mercy, my heart sings
கடவுள் வாழும் கோவிலிலே கற்பூர தீபம்
கலை இழந்த மாடத்திலே
முகாரி ராகம் முகாரி ராகம் முகாரி ராகம்
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
Kalai izhantha maadaththilae
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
Kalai izhantha maadaththilae
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
Munthaanai paarththu munnooru kavithai
Just looking at the saree pallu, three hundred poems
Ennaalum ezhuthum kavingargal kodi
Are written every day by millions of poets
Munthaanai paarththu munnooru kavithai
Just looking at the saree pallu, three hundred poems
Ennaalum ezhuthum kavingargal kodi
Are written every day by millions of poets
Munnaadi ariyaa penn manathai kettu
Begging the heart of a woman who never understood
Anbundu vaazhum kaalaiyar kodi
Millions of young men live in hope of love
Oru thalai raagam entha vagaiyinil saarum
Which musical category does one-sided love belong to?
Aval irakkaththai thedum en manam paadum
Seeking her mercy, my heart sings
Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
Kalai izhantha maadaththilae
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola
Like a frog living inside a deep well
Manaththukkul aadum aasaigal kodi
Millions of desires dance inside the mind
Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola
Like a frog living inside a deep well
Manaththukkul aadum aasaigal kodi
Millions of desires dance inside the mind
Kann ketta pinnae sooriya udhayam
A sunrise occurring after one has lost their eyesight
Entha pakkam aanaal enakkenna podi
Whichever direction it rises, what difference does it make to me?
Oru thalai raagam entha vagaiyinil saarum
Which musical category does one-sided love belong to?
Aval irakkaththai thedum en manam paadum
Seeking her mercy, my heart sings
Kadavul vaazhum kovililae karpoora dheepam
A camphor lamp in the temple where God resides
Kalai izhantha maadaththilae
In a balcony that has lost its artistic charm
Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam
Plays the mournful Mugaari ragam, Mugaari ragam
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the deep anguish and sorrow of unrequited love. The protagonist compares his state to a solitary camphor flame burning in a faded temple alcove accompanied by Mugaari, a classical raga traditionally associated with grief and mourning. He questions the nature of one-sided love, feeling hopeless as his affection goes unacknowledged. He uses powerful metaphors—such as desires trapped inside a mind like a frog in a well, and the irrelevance of a beautiful sunrise to a person who has already gone blind. Ultimately, the song captures the agonizing feeling of yearning for love and mercy from someone who remains indifferent.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola”
Compares desires trapped within a heart to a frog trapped inside a well ('Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Mugaari raagam mugaari raagam”
Uses 'Mugaari raagam' (a raga associated with grief) to symbolize the profound sadness of unrequited love.
Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Munthaanai paarththu munnooru kavithai”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Munthaanai' / 'Munnooru').
Rhyme (Edugai)
“Kinattrukkul vaazhum thavalaiyai pola / Manaththukkul aadum aasaigal kodi”
Matching second consonants in consecutive lines ('Kinattrukkul' / 'Manaththukkul').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Oru Thalai Ragam' (1980) was a pathbreaking romantic drama written, composed, and lyricized by T. Rajendar. The term 'Oru Thalai Ragam' became a ubiquitous Tamil pop-culture phrase for one-sided love, and the soundtrack launched singer P. Jayachandran's iconic Tamil hits era.
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