Kainiraiya Chozhi
From Velli Vizha · 1972
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Velli Vizha1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| : Kai niraiya sozhi | A handful of cowrie shells |
| Kondu vanthen maami | I have brought, aunt |
| Kai niraiya sozhi | A handful of cowrie shells |
| Kondu vanthen maami | I have brought, aunt |
| Kaayai vettalaamaa | Can I capture the game piece? |
| Kan vizhikkum naazhi.. | In the moment of opening eyes... |
| Kan vizikkum naazhi | In the moment of opening eyes |
| Female | |
| Thavamirunthu naanae | Having performed penance myself |
| Dhaayam ondru potten | I rolled a 'one' in the game |
| Vettu pada naanum | To be captured, I too |
| Vittu vida maatten | Will not let go |
| Vittu vida maatten | Will not let go |
| Female | |
| Angkirukkum manggai | The woman over there |
| Sonthamulla raani | Is a rightful queen |
| Ingkirukkum kanni | The maiden over here |
| Sokkathaan raani | Is a queen of pure gold |
| Female | |
| Kalakkamenna thozhi | Why the worry, my friend? |
| Kan vizhikkum naazhi | In the moment of opening eyes |
| Vidhi endra vilaiyaattai | The game called destiny |
| Ninaippadhum yeno | Why even think about it? |
| Santhaegamthaanoo | Is it a doubt? |
| Female | |
| Pannirandu pottaalum | Even if twelve is rolled |
| Kannirandum angae | Both eyes remain fixed over there |
| Female :Mannavanum aattaththilae | Female: The king too in this game |
| Maatti kondaan ingae | Has gotten trapped here |
| Female | |
| Onnu vizhum idathinilae | In the place where a one falls |
| Rendu vizhalaamoo | Can a two fall instead? |
| Onnu vizhum idathinilae | In the place where a one falls |
| Rendu vizhalaamoo | Can a two fall instead? |
| Female :Panthayathai vaazhkkai endru | Female: Can a gamble |
| Enni vidalaamoo | Be considered as life itself? |
| Female | |
| Kalakkamenna thozhi | Why the worry, my friend? |
| Kan vizhikkum naazhi | In the moment of opening eyes |
| Female :Kaayai vettalaamaa | Female: Can I capture the game piece? |
| Kan vizhikkum naazhi.. | In the moment of opening eyes... |
| Kan vizikkum naazhi | In the moment of opening eyes |
| Female | |
| Naanam endrum acham endrum | Shyness and fear |
| Naalu kattam penmaikkundu | Womanhood has four traditional boundaries |
| Naam aadum aattamellaam | All the games we play |
| Aada vendum adharkkul nindru | Must be played staying within them |
| Female | |
| Thaandi vara maattaalammaa | She will not cross, dear lady |
| Thozhiyaval ellai | My friend will not cross her limit |
| Thaandi vara maattaalammaa | She will not cross, dear lady |
| Thozhiyaval ellai | My friend will not cross her limit |
| Mangaiyaval naalu gunam | That young woman the four virtues |
| Maranthaval illai | Has not forgotten |
| Female | |
| Kai niraiya sozhi | A handful of cowrie shells |
| Kondu vanthen thozhi | I have brought, my friend |
| Kaayai vettalaamaa | Can I capture the game piece? |
| Kan vizhikkum naazhi.. | In the moment of opening eyes... |
| Kan vizikkum naazhi | In the moment of opening eyes |
கை நிறைய சோழி
கொண்டு வந்தேன் மாமி
கை நிறைய சோழி
கொண்டு வந்தேன் மாமி
காயை வெட்டலாமா
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
A handful of cowrie shells
I have brought, aunt
A handful of cowrie shells
I have brought, aunt
Can I capture the game piece?
In the moment of opening eyes...
In the moment of opening eyes
தவமிருந்து நானே
தாயம் ஒன்று போட்டேன்
வெட்டுப் பட நானும்
விட்டு விட மாட்டேன்
விட்டு விட மாட்டேன்
Having performed penance myself
I rolled a 'one' in the game
To be captured, I too
Will not let go
Will not let go
அங்கிருக்கும் மங்கை
சொந்தமுள்ள ராணி
இங்கிருக்கும் கன்னி
சொக்கத்தான் ராணி
The woman over there
Is a rightful queen
The maiden over here
Is a queen of pure gold
கலக்கமென்ன தோழி
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
விதி என்று விளையாட்டை
நினைப்பதும் ஏனோ
சந்தேகம்தானோ
Why the worry, my friend?
In the moment of opening eyes
The game called destiny
Why even think about it?
Is it a doubt?
பன்னிரெண்டு போட்டாலும்
கன்னிரெண்டும் அங்கே
Even if twelve is rolled
Both eyes remain fixed over there
Female: The king too in this game
Has gotten trapped here
மன்னவனும் ஆட்டத்திலே
மாட்டிக் கொண்டான் இங்கே
In the place where a one falls
Can a two fall instead?
In the place where a one falls
Can a two fall instead?
Female: Can a gamble
Be considered as life itself?
ஒன்னு விழும் இடத்தினிலே
ரெண்டு விழலாமோ
ஒன்னு விழும் இடத்தினிலே
ரெண்டு விழலாமோ
Why the worry, my friend?
In the moment of opening eyes
Female: Can I capture the game piece?
In the moment of opening eyes...
In the moment of opening eyes
பந்தயத்தை வாழ்க்கை என்று
எண்ணி விடலாமோ
Shyness and fear
Womanhood has four traditional boundaries
All the games we play
Must be played staying within them
கலக்கமென்ன தோழி
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
She will not cross, dear lady
My friend will not cross her limit
She will not cross, dear lady
My friend will not cross her limit
That young woman the four virtues
Has not forgotten
காயை வெட்டலாமா
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
A handful of cowrie shells
I have brought, my friend
Can I capture the game piece?
In the moment of opening eyes...
In the moment of opening eyes
நாணமென்றும் அச்சமென்றும்
நாளு கட்டம் பெண்மைக்குண்டு
நான் ஆடும் ஆட்டமெல்லாம்
ஆட வேண்டும் அதற்குள் நின்று
தாண்டி வர மாட்டாலம்மா
தோழியவள் எல்லை
தாண்டி வர மாட்டாலம்மா
தோழியவள் எல்லை
மங்கையவள் நாலு குணம்
மறந்தவள் இல்லை
கை நிறைய சோழி
கொண்டு வந்தேன் தோழி
காயை வெட்டலாமா
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
கண் விழிக்கும் நாழி
: Kai niraiya sozhi
A handful of cowrie shells
Kondu vanthen maami
I have brought, aunt
Kai niraiya sozhi
A handful of cowrie shells
Kondu vanthen maami
I have brought, aunt
Kaayai vettalaamaa
Can I capture the game piece?
Kan vizhikkum naazhi..
In the moment of opening eyes...
Kan vizikkum naazhi
In the moment of opening eyes
Thavamirunthu naanae
Having performed penance myself
Dhaayam ondru potten
I rolled a 'one' in the game
Vettu pada naanum
To be captured, I too
Vittu vida maatten
Will not let go
Vittu vida maatten
Will not let go
Angkirukkum manggai
The woman over there
Sonthamulla raani
Is a rightful queen
Ingkirukkum kanni
The maiden over here
Sokkathaan raani
Is a queen of pure gold
Kalakkamenna thozhi
Why the worry, my friend?
Kan vizhikkum naazhi
In the moment of opening eyes
Vidhi endra vilaiyaattai
The game called destiny
Ninaippadhum yeno
Why even think about it?
Santhaegamthaanoo
Is it a doubt?
Pannirandu pottaalum
Even if twelve is rolled
Kannirandum angae
Both eyes remain fixed over there
Female :Mannavanum aattaththilae
Female: The king too in this game
Maatti kondaan ingae
Has gotten trapped here
Onnu vizhum idathinilae
In the place where a one falls
Rendu vizhalaamoo
Can a two fall instead?
Onnu vizhum idathinilae
In the place where a one falls
Rendu vizhalaamoo
Can a two fall instead?
Female :Panthayathai vaazhkkai endru
Female: Can a gamble
Enni vidalaamoo
Be considered as life itself?
Kalakkamenna thozhi
Why the worry, my friend?
Kan vizhikkum naazhi
In the moment of opening eyes
Female :Kaayai vettalaamaa
Female: Can I capture the game piece?
Kan vizhikkum naazhi..
In the moment of opening eyes...
Kan vizikkum naazhi
In the moment of opening eyes
Naanam endrum acham endrum
Shyness and fear
Naalu kattam penmaikkundu
Womanhood has four traditional boundaries
Naam aadum aattamellaam
All the games we play
Aada vendum adharkkul nindru
Must be played staying within them
Thaandi vara maattaalammaa
She will not cross, dear lady
Thozhiyaval ellai
My friend will not cross her limit
Thaandi vara maattaalammaa
She will not cross, dear lady
Thozhiyaval ellai
My friend will not cross her limit
Mangaiyaval naalu gunam
That young woman the four virtues
Maranthaval illai
Has not forgotten
Kai niraiya sozhi
A handful of cowrie shells
Kondu vanthen thozhi
I have brought, my friend
Kaayai vettalaamaa
Can I capture the game piece?
Kan vizhikkum naazhi..
In the moment of opening eyes...
Kan vizikkum naazhi
In the moment of opening eyes
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song uses the traditional South Indian board game of Dhaayam (played with cowrie shells) as an allegory for human life, destiny, and romantic relationships. The lyrics draw clever parallels between rolling dice, capturing game pieces, and navigating fate's unpredictable turns. Through playful banter, the song also highlights the social boundaries and traditional virtues (Acham, Madam, Naanam, Payirppu) expected of women, suggesting that while life's gamble has rules, destiny ultimately determines where the pieces fall.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vidhi endra vilaiyaattai”
Life and destiny are metaphorically framed as a game of dice played with cowrie shells ('Vidhi endra vilaiyaattai', 'Panthayathai vaazhkkai endru').
Initial Rhyme (Monai)
“Naanam endrum acham endrum / Naalu kattam penmaikkundu”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Naa' across lines creating rhythmic flow.
Parallelism / Contrast
“Angkirukkum manggai... Ingkirukkum kanni...”
Symmetrical structure contrasting 'the woman over there' with 'the maiden over here'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Vaali, 'Kai Niraiya Sozhi' is a famous track from K. Balachander's 1972 drama film 'Velli Vizha', starring Gemini Ganesan, Jayanthi, and Vanisri. It features vocals by playback legends P. Susheela and L. R. Eswari.
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