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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kakithathil Kappal

From Anbu Karangal · 1965

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
R. Sudharsanam
Details
Anbu Karangal1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaagithathil kappal seidhuI made a boat out of paper
Kadal naduvae oda vittenAnd set it sailing in the middle of the sea
Manal eduthu veedu kattiI built a house using sand
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Male
Kaagithathil kappal seidhuI made a boat out of paper
Kadal naduvae oda vittenAnd set it sailing in the middle of the sea
Manal eduthu veedu kattiI built a house using sand
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Male
Maanam endra porul kaakkaTo protect the virtue called self-respect
Mana kadhavai moodi vaithenI kept the doors of my heart closed
Maanam endra porul kaakkaTo protect the virtue called self-respect
Mana kadhavai moodi vaithenI kept the doors of my heart closed
Naalu pakkam thiranthu kondaalIf it opened up on all four sides
Naan atharku enna seivenWhat could I possibly do about it?
Naan atharku enna seivenWhat could I possibly do about it?
Male
Kaagithathil kappal seidhuI made a boat out of paper
Kadal naduvae oda vittenAnd set it sailing in the middle of the sea
Manal eduthu veedu kattiI built a house using sand
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Male
Mul naduvae malar valarthuI nurtured a flower amidst thorns
Mudiyum varai kaathirunthenAnd waited for as long as I could
Mul naduvae malar valarthuI nurtured a flower amidst thorns
Mudiyum varai kaathirunthenAnd waited for as long as I could
Malar parikkum velaiyilaeAt the moment of plucking the flower
Mul thaitha kathaiyaanenI became a story of getting pierced by thorns
Mul thaitha kathaiyaanenI became a story of getting pierced by thorns
Male
Kaagithathil kappal seidhuI made a boat out of paper
Kadal naduvae oda vittenAnd set it sailing in the middle of the sea
Manal eduthu veedu kattiI built a house using sand
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Male
Thaai mugathai paarkkaamalWithout looking at my mother's face
Yaar mugaththai paarthazhuvenWhose face can I look at and cry?
Thaai mugathai paarkkaamalWithout looking at my mother's face
Yaar mugaththai paarthazhuvenWhose face can I look at and cry?
Nee kodutha nizhalai vittuLeaving the shelter you gave me
Yaar nizhalil poi iruppen ammaaWhose shelter can I go and live under, oh mother?
Yaar nizhalil poi iruppenWhose shelter can I go and live under?
Male
Kaagithathil kappal seidhuI made a boat out of paper
Kadal naduvae oda vittenAnd set it sailing in the middle of the sea
Manal eduthu veedu kattiI built a house using sand
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water
Mazhai neeril nanaiya vittenAnd let it get soaked in the rain water

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from the film 'Anbu Karangal' (1965) expresses deep emotional anguish, helplessness, and the fragility of human expectations. Through powerful metaphors like launching a paper boat into a rough ocean or building a sand castle exposed to heavy rains, Vaali depicts the futility of human effort in the face of overwhelming adversity and tragic fate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / Extended Metaphor

Kaagithathil kappal seidhu / Kadal naduvae oda vitten

The paper boat ('Kaagithathil kappal') and sand house ('Manal eduthu veedu') serve as metaphors for fragile hopes and vulnerable dreams built on unstable foundations.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Mul naduvae malar valarthu

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'm' in 'Mul' and 'Malar' creates a rhythmic poetic resonance.

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Manal eduthu veedu katti / Mazhai neeril nanaiya vitten

The second letter 'na' matches in 'Manal' and 'Mazhai', fulfilling traditional Tamil prosodic rules.

Contrast / Antithesis

Malar parikkum velaiyilae / Mul thaitha kathaiyaanen

Juxtaposes the beauty and delicacy of a flower ('malar') against the pain and harshness of thorns ('mul').

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Anbu Karangal' (1965) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Devika. The music was composed by R. Goverdhanam, and this melancholy song was rendered by P. Susheela with lyrics penned by Vaali.

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