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Lyrics & meaning

Kadha Kelu Kadha Kelu

From Michael Madana Kama Rajan · 1991

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Michael Madana Kama Rajan
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
19 Dec 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haaan….
Katha kelu katha kelu
Nijamaana katha kelu
Suvaiyoda sugamaaga
Uruvaana katha kelu
Michael madana kama rajan
Kathaiya nalla kelu
Achuadichu vechadhu pol
Naalu pera paaru
Ah..michael madana kama rajan
Kathaiya nalla kelu
Achuadichu vechadhu pol
Naalu pera paaru
Katha kelu katha kelu
Nijamaana katha kelu
Suvaiyoda sugamaaga
Uruvaana katha kelu
Seemaanin kathalukku
Aalanna pen oruthi
Kalyanam aagumunnae
Thannaiyae thandhal
Seemaanin sothukellam
Vaarisu illaiendru
Pangukku kaathirundha
Thambikku adhirchi
Annanin uravai
Azhithida thunindhaan
Saguniyai pol oru sadhi seithaan
Unmaiyai arindha kanniyum udanae
Karuvinai kaathida thunindhaalae
Vanjagar kangalil mannaiyum thoovi
Viraindhaval aval thaan abhaiyam theedi
Aadharavindri alaindhae thrindhae
Kodipol thuvandal thaniyae kidanthaal
Orunalla magarasi
Vandhaalae samayathil
Udhavikku thaai pol thunaiyai nindral
Katha kelu katha kelu
Nijamaana katha kelu
Suvaiyoda sugamaaga
Uruvaana katha kelu
Pillaiyae illaiendru enguvor ingirukka
Pillai o pillai endru pirandhadhu naangu
Ondruku naal endru sothukku pangu kolla
Vaarisu kanda thambi baliyida thunindhaan
Sollida nenjamum padharudhu ingae
Balagar nilai ini ennaagum
Panathukku vizhundha baathagan seyalaal
Annaiyin kadhaiyum ennagum
Maranathin kodumaiyai
Ariya kuzhandhaiyin
Malar pol siripil avan manam maara
Iraivanin arulaal nalladhu nadakka
Pirindhana kuzhandhaigal dhisaikenna ondrai
Thandhaikku theriyaadhu thanpillai than kaiyil
Vidhi podum kolangal yaarukkum puriyaadhu
Katha kelu katha kelu
Nijamaana katha kelu
Suvaiyoda sugamaaga
Uruvaana katha kelu
{Michael madana kama rajan
Kathaiya nalla kelu
Achuadichu vechadhu pol
Naalu pera paaru} (2)
Katha kelu katha kelu
Nijamaana katha kelu
Suvaiyoda sugamaaga
Uruvaana katha kelu
Haan...
Listen to the story, listen to the story!
Listen to a true story!
Rich in flavor and full of delight,
Listen to the story that came to be!
Michael, Madana, Kama, Rajan—
Listen closely to their story!
As if cast in the very same mold,
Look at the four of them!
Ah... Michael, Madana, Kama, Rajan—
Listen closely to their story!
As if cast in the very same mold,
Look at the four of them!
Listen to the story, listen to the story!
Listen to a true story!
Rich in flavor and full of delight,
Listen to the story that came to be!
To the love of a wealthy nobleman,
A young woman gave her heart.
Before they were even married,
She gave herself completely to him.
For all the rich man's wealth,
Thinking there was no heir,
Waiting to seize his share,
The younger brother got a shock!
His elder brother's bond of love,
He resolved to destroy,
And hatched a plot like Shakuni (the epic schemer).
Learning the truth, the young mother at once
Resolved to protect the unborn life in her womb.
Throwing dust in the eyes of the traitors,
She ran away in search of shelter.
Wandering helpless without any support,
She wilted like a vine and lay all alone.
A kind-hearted, noble woman
Arrived just in the nick of time,
And stood by her side like a mother to help.
Listen to the story, listen to the story!
Listen to a true story!
Rich in flavor and full of delight,
Listen to the story that came to be!
While there are those who ache without a single child,
Behold, not one, but four babies were born!
Four instead of one to claim a share of the wealth!
Seeing the heirs, the brother dared to kill them.
The heart trembles even to speak of it here:
What will happen to these innocent babies now?
By the deeds of the villain blinded by greed,
What will become of the mother's fate?
Unaware of the cruelty
Of looming death,
At the baby's blossom-like smile, the henchman's heart changed.
By God's grace, good things came to pass,
Yet the children were scattered, one in each direction.
The father does not know his own child is in his arms!
The patterns drawn by fate, no one can ever understand!
Listen to the story, listen to the story!
Listen to a true story!
Rich in flavor and full of delight,
Listen to the story that came to be!
Michael, Madana, Kama, Rajan—
Listen closely to their story!
As if cast in the very same mold,
Look at the four of them!
Listen to the story, listen to the story!
Listen to a true story!
Rich in flavor and full of delight,
Listen to the story that came to be!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Katha Kelu Katha Kelu' is a narrative prologue song from the iconic 1991 Tamil comedy film 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan'. Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Panchu Arunachalam (sung by Ilaiyaraaja himself along with K. S. Chithra), the song acts as a musical exposition that sets up the backstory of quadruplets separated at birth due to a villainous uncle's greed. Through puppet show visuals in the movie, it briefly outlines how a wealthy man's pregnant lover escapes an assassination plot, gives birth to quadruplets, and how destiny scatters them across four different walks of life. The song cleverly balances drama and playfulness, drawing listeners into the intricate plot of identical quadruplets—Michael, Madan, Kameshwaran, and Raju. It seamlessly integrates traditional storytelling techniques with popular cinematic music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Achuadichu vechadhu pol / Naalu pera paaru”

'Achuadichu vechadhu pol' compares the four identical quadruplets to items stamped out from the exact same mold.

Allusion (Thodarbiyaloopagam)

“Saguniyai pol oru sadhi seithaan”

'Saguniyai pol oru sadhi seithaan' references the treacherous character Shakuni from the Mahabharata to describe the villain's cunning plot.

Metaphor & Simile

“Kodipol thuvandal thaniyae kidanthaal / Malar pol siripil avan manam maara”

'Kodipol thuvandal' compares the helpless pregnant woman to a tender creeping vine wilting in distress, and 'Malar pol siripil' compares the infant's innocent smile to a flower.

Idiom / Metaphor

“Vanjagar kangalil mannaiyum thoovi”

'Vanjagar kangalil mannaiyum thoovi' uses the Tamil idiom of throwing dust into someone's eyes to signify evading deception.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Katha Kelu Katha Kelu' serves as a prologue track picturized on a traditional puppet show at the beginning of 'Michael Madana Kama Rajan'. Though Kamal Haasan stars in four distinct roles in the film, this introductory song explains the backstory of their separation in under five minutes, allowing the rest of the movie to focus purely on the comedic entanglements without lengthy exposition.

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