Kadavul Yen Kallanan
From En Annan · 1970
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- En Annan1970
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Kadavul | God, |
| Yen kallanaan | Why did He turn into stone? |
| Manam kallaai | Because of human beings whose hearts |
| Pona manithargalalae } (3) | Have turned into stone. |
| Male | |
| { Kodumaiyai | Cruelty... |
| Kandavan kannai ilandhan | The one who witnessed it lost his eyes, |
| Adhai kobithu thaduthavan | The one who angrily confronted it |
| Sollai ilandhan } (2) | Lost his voice. |
| Male | |
| { Irakathai | Compassion... |
| Ninaithavan ponnai | The one who thought of it lost his wealth, |
| Ilandhan } (2) | Lost it. |
| Male | |
| Ingu ellorkum | Here, to everyone, |
| Nallavan thannai ilandhan | The good person lost himself, |
| Ellorkum nallavan thannai ilandhan | The person who is good to everyone lost himself. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul | God, |
| Yen kallanaan | Why did He turn into stone? |
| Manam kallaai | Because of human beings whose hearts |
| Pona manithargalalae | Have turned into stone. |
| Male | |
| { Nenjuku | For the heart, |
| Thevai manasaatchi | Conscience is essential; |
| Adhu needhi devanil arasaatchi } (2) | That is the reign of the God of Justice. |
| Male | |
| { Athanai | For all |
| Unmaikum avan saatchi } (2) | Truths, He is the ultimate witness; |
| Makkal arangathil varadhu avan | Yet in the public arena His witness, |
| Saatchi arangathil varadhu avan saatchi | His testimony never appears in court. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul | God, |
| Yen kallanaan | Why did He turn into stone? |
| Manam kallaai | Because of human beings whose hearts |
| Pona manithargalalae | Have turned into stone. |
| Male | |
| { Sadhicheyal | A treacherous plot... |
| Seidhavan budhisali | The one who executed it is called clever, |
| Adhai sagithukondirundhavan kutravali } (2) | The one who endured it is branded a criminal. |
| Male | |
| { Unmaiyai | The truth... |
| Solbavan sadhikaran } (2) | The one who speaks it is labelled a conspirator. |
| { Idhu ulagathil | In this world, |
| Aandavan adhikaram } (2) | Is this God's authority? |
| Male | |
| Kadavul | God, |
| Yen kallanaan | Why did He turn into stone? |
| Manam kallaai | Because of human beings whose hearts |
| Pona manithargalalae | Have turned into stone. |
| Chorus | |
| Kadavul | God, |
| Yen kallanaan | Why did He turn into stone? |
| Manam kallaai | Because of human beings whose hearts |
| Pona manithargalalae | Have turned into stone. |
{ கடவுள் ஏன்
கல்லானான் மனம்
கல்லாய் போன
மனிதர்களாலே } (3)
God,
Why did He turn into stone?
Because of human beings whose hearts
Have turned into stone.
{ கொடுமையை
கண்டவன் கண்ணை
இழந்தான் அதை
கோபித்து தடுத்தவன்
சொல்லை இழந்தான் } (2)
Cruelty...
The one who witnessed it lost his eyes,
The one who angrily confronted it
Lost his voice.
{ இரக்கத்தை
நினைத்தவன் பொன்னை
இழந்தான் } (2)
Compassion...
The one who thought of it lost his wealth,
Lost it.
இங்கு
எல்லோர்க்கும்
நல்லவன் தன்னை
இழந்தான் எல்லோர்க்கும்
நல்லவன் தன்னை இழந்தான்
Here, to everyone,
The good person lost himself,
The person who is good to everyone lost himself.
கடவுள் ஏன்
கல்லானான் மனம்
கல்லாய் போன
மனிதர்களாலே
God,
Why did He turn into stone?
Because of human beings whose hearts
Have turned into stone.
{ நெஞ்சுக்கு
தேவை மனசாட்சி
அது நீதி தேவனில்
அரசாட்சி } (2)
For the heart,
Conscience is essential;
That is the reign of the God of Justice.
{ அத்தனை
உண்மைக்கும் அவன்
சாட்சி } (2)
மக்கள் அரங்கத்தில்
வராது அவன் சாட்சி
அரங்கத்தில் வராது
அவன் சாட்சி
For all
Truths, He is the ultimate witness;
Yet in the public arena His witness,
His testimony never appears in court.
கடவுள் ஏன்
கல்லானான் மனம்
கல்லாய் போன
மனிதர்களாலே
God,
Why did He turn into stone?
Because of human beings whose hearts
Have turned into stone.
{ சதி செயல்
செய்தவன் புத்திசாலி
அதை சகித்துக்கொண்டிருந்தவன்
குற்றவாளி } (2)
A treacherous plot...
The one who executed it is called clever,
The one who endured it is branded a criminal.
{ உண்மையை
சொல்பவன் சதிகாரன் } (2)
{ இது உலகத்தில்
ஆண்டவன் அதிகாரம் } (2)
The truth...
The one who speaks it is labelled a conspirator.
In this world,
Is this God's authority?
கடவுள் ஏன்
கல்லானான் மனம்
கல்லாய் போன
மனிதர்களாலே
God,
Why did He turn into stone?
Because of human beings whose hearts
Have turned into stone.
கடவுள் ஏன்
கல்லானான் மனம்
கல்லாய் போன
மனிதர்களாலே
God,
Why did He turn into stone?
Because of human beings whose hearts
Have turned into stone.
{ Kadavul
God,
Yen kallanaan
Why did He turn into stone?
Manam kallaai
Because of human beings whose hearts
Pona manithargalalae } (3)
Have turned into stone.
{ Kodumaiyai
Cruelty...
Kandavan kannai ilandhan
The one who witnessed it lost his eyes,
Adhai kobithu thaduthavan
The one who angrily confronted it
Sollai ilandhan } (2)
Lost his voice.
{ Irakathai
Compassion...
Ninaithavan ponnai
The one who thought of it lost his wealth,
Ilandhan } (2)
Lost it.
Ingu ellorkum
Here, to everyone,
Nallavan thannai ilandhan
The good person lost himself,
Ellorkum nallavan thannai ilandhan
The person who is good to everyone lost himself.
Kadavul
God,
Yen kallanaan
Why did He turn into stone?
Manam kallaai
Because of human beings whose hearts
Pona manithargalalae
Have turned into stone.
{ Nenjuku
For the heart,
Thevai manasaatchi
Conscience is essential;
Adhu needhi devanil arasaatchi } (2)
That is the reign of the God of Justice.
{ Athanai
For all
Unmaikum avan saatchi } (2)
Truths, He is the ultimate witness;
Makkal arangathil varadhu avan
Yet in the public arena His witness,
Saatchi arangathil varadhu avan saatchi
His testimony never appears in court.
Kadavul
God,
Yen kallanaan
Why did He turn into stone?
Manam kallaai
Because of human beings whose hearts
Pona manithargalalae
Have turned into stone.
{ Sadhicheyal
A treacherous plot...
Seidhavan budhisali
The one who executed it is called clever,
Adhai sagithukondirundhavan kutravali } (2)
The one who endured it is branded a criminal.
{ Unmaiyai
The truth...
Solbavan sadhikaran } (2)
The one who speaks it is labelled a conspirator.
{ Idhu ulagathil
In this world,
Aandavan adhikaram } (2)
Is this God's authority?
Kadavul
God,
Yen kallanaan
Why did He turn into stone?
Manam kallaai
Because of human beings whose hearts
Pona manithargalalae
Have turned into stone.
Kadavul
God,
Yen kallanaan
Why did He turn into stone?
Manam kallaai
Because of human beings whose hearts
Pona manithargalalae
Have turned into stone.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from 'En Annan' (1970) features the protagonist lamenting the state of human morality and justice in society. The central theme explores why God remains a silent stone idol without intervening in worldly affairs, arriving at the conclusion that God became stone because human hearts became as hard as stone.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor & Symbolism
“Kadavul Yen kallanaan Manam kallaai Pona manithargalalae”
Comparing human unfeeling hearts to stone ('Manam kallaai') and connecting it to God's idol form ('Kadavul yen kallanaan').
Iyalbu Navitchi / Irony
“Sadhicheyal Seidhavan budhisali Adhai sagithukondirundhavan kutravali”
Illustrating societal paradoxes where the evil-doer is deemed smart while the innocent victim or truthful speaker is punished.
Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Adhu needhi devanil arasaatchi”
Rhyming pattern on second consonants across lines ('Budhisali' / 'Kutravali' and 'Manasaatchi' / 'Arasaatchi').
Did you know?
Trivia
Though listed as unknown in the song prompt, 'En Annan' (1970) was a famous M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) film directed by Pa. Neelakantan. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this specific track was sung by T. M. Soundararajan with lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan.
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