Kal Endraalum Kanavanaa
From Rani Lalithangi · 1957
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Rani Lalithangi1957
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| …………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Kal endraalum kanavanaa | Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone? |
| Pullendraalum purushanaa | Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass? |
| Kallum pullum | Are stone and grass |
| Manasukettra manushanaa | Human beings suitable to one's heart? |
| Female | |
| Kal endraalum kanavanaa | Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone? |
| Pullendraalum purushanaa | Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass? |
| Kallum pullum | Are stone and grass |
| Manasukettra manushanaa | Human beings suitable to one's heart? |
| Female | |
| Karuththillaatha kanavanellaam | Is a husband without compatible thoughts |
| Poruthamenpathaa | To be considered a true match? |
| Penn kadamaiyin peraalae | In the name of a woman's duty, |
| Naam adimai paduvathaa | Should we subject ourselves to slavery? |
| Female | |
| Karuththillaatha kanavanellaam | Is a husband without compatible thoughts |
| Poruthamenpathaa | To be considered a true match? |
| Penn kadamaiyin peraalae | In the name of a woman's duty, |
| Naam adimai paduvathaa | Should we subject ourselves to slavery? |
| Female | |
| Arthamindri paruvanilaiyum | Without any meaning, should youth |
| Azhinthu keduvathaa | Be ruined and destroyed? |
| Arthamindri paruvanilaiyum | Without any meaning, should youth |
| Azhinthu keduvathaa | Be ruined and destroyed? |
| Idhai naan ariyaathavalaaa | Am I someone who does not know this? |
| Illai puriyaathavalaa | Or am I someone who does not understand this? |
| Female | |
| Kal endraalum kanavanaa | Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone? |
| Pullendraalum purushanaa | Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass? |
| Kallum pullum | Are stone and grass |
| Manasukettra manushanaa | Human beings suitable to one's heart? |
| Female | |
| Malarum manamum polae | Like a flower and its fragrance, |
| Jathaiyum amaithida venum | A pair should be formed. |
| Malarum manamum polae | Like a flower and its fragrance, |
| Jathaiyum amaithida venum | A pair should be formed. |
| Female | |
| Malaiyum maduvum aanaal | If they are like a mountain and a ditch, |
| Adhaiyum maraththida venum | Even that alliance should be forgotten. |
| Malaiyum maduvum aanaal | If they are like a mountain and a ditch, |
| Adhaiyum maraththida venum | Even that alliance should be forgotten. |
| Female | |
| Kiliyai pondra azhagai | A beauty like that of a parrot, |
| Yaen keduthu kolla venum | Why should it be ruined? |
| Kiliyai pondra azhagai | A beauty like that of a parrot, |
| Yaen keduthu kolla venum | Why should it be ruined? |
| Female | |
| Idhai naan ariyaathavalaa | Am I someone who does not know this? |
| Illai puriyaathavalaa | Or am I someone who does not understand this? |
| Female | |
| Kal endraalum kanavanaa | Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone? |
| Pullendraalum purushanaa | Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass? |
| Kallum pullum | Are stone and grass |
| Manasukettra manushanaa | Human beings suitable to one's heart? |
....................
...
கல்லென்றாலும் கணவனா
புல்லென்றாலும் புருஷனா
கல்லும் புல்லும்
மனசுக்கேற்ற மனுஷனா
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Are stone and grass
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
கல்லென்றாலும் கணவனா
புல்லென்றாலும் புருஷனா
கல்லும் புல்லும்
மனசுக்கேற்ற மனுஷனா
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Are stone and grass
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
கருத்தில்லாத கணவனெல்லாம்
பொருத்தமென்பதா
பெண் கடமையின் பேராலே
நாம் அடிமைப் படுவதா
Is a husband without compatible thoughts
To be considered a true match?
In the name of a woman's duty,
Should we subject ourselves to slavery?
கருத்தில்லாத கணவனெல்லாம்
பொருத்தமென்பதா
பெண் கடமையின் பேராலே
நாம் அடிமைப் படுவதா
Is a husband without compatible thoughts
To be considered a true match?
In the name of a woman's duty,
Should we subject ourselves to slavery?
அர்த்தமின்றி பருவநிலையும்
அழிந்து கெடுவதா
அர்த்தமின்றி பருவநிலையும்
அழிந்து கெடுவதா
இதை நான் அறியாதவளா
இல்லை புரியாதவளா
Without any meaning, should youth
Be ruined and destroyed?
Without any meaning, should youth
Be ruined and destroyed?
Am I someone who does not know this?
Or am I someone who does not understand this?
கல்லென்றாலும் கணவனா
புல்லென்றாலும் புருஷனா
கல்லும் புல்லும்
மனசுக்கேற்ற மனுஷனா
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Are stone and grass
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
மலரும் மணமும் போலே
ஜதையும் அமைந்திட வேணும்
மலரும் மணமும் போலே
ஜதையும் அமைந்திட வேணும்
Like a flower and its fragrance,
A pair should be formed.
Like a flower and its fragrance,
A pair should be formed.
மலையும் மடுவும் ஆனால்
அதையும் மறந்திட வேணும்
மலையும் மடுவும் ஆனால்
அதையும் மறந்திட வேணும்
If they are like a mountain and a ditch,
Even that alliance should be forgotten.
If they are like a mountain and a ditch,
Even that alliance should be forgotten.
கிளியைப் போன்ற அழகை
ஏன் கெடுத்துக் கொள்ள வேணும்
கிளியைப் போன்ற அழகை
ஏன் கெடுத்துக் கொள்ள வேணும்
A beauty like that of a parrot,
Why should it be ruined?
A beauty like that of a parrot,
Why should it be ruined?
இதை நான் அறியாதவளா
இல்லை புரியாதவளா
Am I someone who does not know this?
Or am I someone who does not understand this?
கல்லென்றாலும் கணவனா
புல்லென்றாலும் புருஷனா
கல்லும் புல்லும்
மனசுக்கேற்ற மனுஷனா
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Are stone and grass
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
……………..
...
Kal endraalum kanavanaa
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Pullendraalum purushanaa
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Kallum pullum
Are stone and grass
Manasukettra manushanaa
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
Kal endraalum kanavanaa
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Pullendraalum purushanaa
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Kallum pullum
Are stone and grass
Manasukettra manushanaa
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
Karuththillaatha kanavanellaam
Is a husband without compatible thoughts
Poruthamenpathaa
To be considered a true match?
Penn kadamaiyin peraalae
In the name of a woman's duty,
Naam adimai paduvathaa
Should we subject ourselves to slavery?
Karuththillaatha kanavanellaam
Is a husband without compatible thoughts
Poruthamenpathaa
To be considered a true match?
Penn kadamaiyin peraalae
In the name of a woman's duty,
Naam adimai paduvathaa
Should we subject ourselves to slavery?
Arthamindri paruvanilaiyum
Without any meaning, should youth
Azhinthu keduvathaa
Be ruined and destroyed?
Arthamindri paruvanilaiyum
Without any meaning, should youth
Azhinthu keduvathaa
Be ruined and destroyed?
Idhai naan ariyaathavalaaa
Am I someone who does not know this?
Illai puriyaathavalaa
Or am I someone who does not understand this?
Kal endraalum kanavanaa
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Pullendraalum purushanaa
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Kallum pullum
Are stone and grass
Manasukettra manushanaa
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
Malarum manamum polae
Like a flower and its fragrance,
Jathaiyum amaithida venum
A pair should be formed.
Malarum manamum polae
Like a flower and its fragrance,
Jathaiyum amaithida venum
A pair should be formed.
Malaiyum maduvum aanaal
If they are like a mountain and a ditch,
Adhaiyum maraththida venum
Even that alliance should be forgotten.
Malaiyum maduvum aanaal
If they are like a mountain and a ditch,
Adhaiyum maraththida venum
Even that alliance should be forgotten.
Kiliyai pondra azhagai
A beauty like that of a parrot,
Yaen keduthu kolla venum
Why should it be ruined?
Kiliyai pondra azhagai
A beauty like that of a parrot,
Yaen keduthu kolla venum
Why should it be ruined?
Idhai naan ariyaathavalaa
Am I someone who does not know this?
Illai puriyaathavalaa
Or am I someone who does not understand this?
Kal endraalum kanavanaa
Is a husband a husband just because he is like a stone?
Pullendraalum purushanaa
Is a man a husband just because he is like a blade of grass?
Kallum pullum
Are stone and grass
Manasukettra manushanaa
Human beings suitable to one's heart?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song from the 1957 Tamil film 'Rani Lalithangi' directly challenges the traditional patriarchal proverb 'Kallanaalum kanavan, pullanaalum purushan' (A husband must be accepted even if he is as emotionless as a stone or as insignificant as grass). The protagonist questions whether women should blindly submit to marital slavery in the name of duty, arguing that a true marriage requires intellectual and emotional compatibility rather than blind obedience.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uwamai)
“Malarum manamum polae”
Compares an ideal couple to a flower and its natural fragrance, emphasizing harmony and mutual fitting.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Malaiyum maduvum aanaal”
Contrasts a towering mountain with a deep ditch to describe an extreme mismatch between two partners.
Metaphor / Simile
“Kiliyai pondra azhagai”
Compares feminine youthful beauty to a bright, graceful parrot.
Rhetorical Questioning
“Penn kadamaiyin peraalae / Naam adimai paduvathaa”
Uses probing questions to challenge societal expectations of female subservience in marriage.
Alliteration & Rhyme (Emonai)
“Kal endraalum kanavanaa / Pullendraalum purushanaa”
Employs repeating consonant patterns (Kal/Pull) to critique traditional adages rhythmically.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics directly subvert an ancient Tamil proverb traditionally used to preach unconditional marital endurance to women. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass turned it into a powerful feminist statement, set to music by G. Ramanathan and sung by P. Leela.
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