Kalangudhe
From Vaathi · 2022
- Lyricist
- Yugabharathi
- Singer
- Vijay Yesudas
- Music director
- G. V. Prakash Kumar
- Details
- Vaathi2022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| O o ..oo..oo.. | O o ..oo..oo.. |
| Oo ..oo..ooo… | Oo ..oo..ooo… |
| Male | |
| Kalangudhae kann kalangudhae | The eyes are welling up with tears, welling up |
| Kadhariyae nenju norungudhae | Screaming in pain, the heart shatters into pieces |
| Ponga vecha thangakudam | The golden pot set to boil over with abundance |
| Pothalu vitturichae | Has developed a severe leak |
| Maasariya vairamani | The flawless diamond gem of high purity |
| Mannula saainjiruchae | Has fallen down into the dirt |
| Male | |
| Aricane vilakkae | Oh hurricane lamp that brings light |
| Iruttaayiruchae | It has suddenly turned pitch dark |
| Pasumpal veluppae | Oh pure white cow's milk |
| Karuppayiruchae | It has transformed into dark black |
| Male | |
| Kammakarai aayiruchae | The fertile bank of the lake has become |
| Kattandharai ooo | Barren dry ground, oh |
| Kanneerula sainjiruchae | It has fallen and withered in tears |
| Senthamarai | The red lotus flower |
| Male | |
| Mutti mutti ooru sanam | Struggling tirelessly, the village folk |
| Munnae vara ooo | Trying to move forward, oh |
| Mukkathula ninnuduchae | It has come to a sudden halt right in front of them |
| Moonampirai ..oo | The crescent moon ..oo |
| Male | |
| Pulakadaiyilae mulachaalum | Even if it grows in the backyard dirt |
| Thulasikku oru vaasam | The holy basil retains its sacred fragrance |
| Theru puludhiyilae purandaalum | Even if rolling in street dust |
| Vaazhumae nesam | True affection and love will endure |
| Male | |
| Kodi aduppula puga pola | Like smoke from a massive hearth |
| Posungudhu oru koottam | A whole community of people is burning and choking |
| Kalaiyeduthida thuninjaalae | If we gather the courage to weed out the evil |
| Kaalam maaridum | Times will surely change for the better |
| Male | |
| Vayakkattula ulacha naanga | We who labored endlessly in the farm fields |
| Endha paadamum padikkala | Have not studied any formal lessons |
| Nidham saethula kidakkuromae | We lie buried daily in the mud of poverty |
| Adha saamiyum thadukkala | And even God did not stop this plight |
| Male | |
| Kaasa kekkum kalvi | Education that constantly demands money |
| Kanavaagi ponadhae | Has turned into an unattainable dream |
| Neeru mela potta | Like a rangoli pattern drawn |
| Oru kolam aanadhae | Upon the surface of flowing water |
| Male | |
| Kaadharundha oosiyilae | With a broken-eyed needle |
| Sattaiya thaikkanuma | Are we expected to stitch a shirt? |
| Kaiya katti vaaya pothi | With hands tied and mouth covered |
| Naangalum nikkanuma | Must we also stand by silently? |
| Male | |
| Thalaiyeluthae puriyalunnu | Claiming we cannot comprehend our fate |
| Oppari veikkanuma | Must we sing a mournful lament? |
| Male | |
| Kammakarai aayiruchae | The bank of the lake has become |
| Kattandharai ooo | Barren dry ground, oh |
| Kanneerula sainjiruchae | It has fallen and withered in tears |
| Senthamarai | The red lotus flower |
| Male | |
| Mutti mutti ooru sanam | Struggling tirelessly, the village folk |
| Munnae vara ooo | Trying to move forward, oh |
| Mukkathula ninnuduchae | It has come to a sudden halt right in front of them |
| Moonampirai ..oo | The crescent moon ..oo |
ஓஓ… ஓஓ.. ஓஓ..
ஓஓ… ஓஓ.. ஓஓ..
O o ..oo..oo..
Oo ..oo..ooo…
கலங்குதே! கண்கள் கலங்குதே!
கதறியே நெஞ்சம் நொறுங்குதே!
பொங்க வச்ச தங்ககுடம்
பொத்தலு விட்டுறிச்சே
மாசறியா வைரமணி
மண்ணலு சாய்ஞ்சிரிச்சே
The eyes are welling up with tears, welling up
Screaming in pain, the heart shatters into pieces
The golden pot set to boil over with abundance
Has developed a severe leak
The flawless diamond gem of high purity
Has fallen down into the dirt
அரிக்கேன் விளக்கே
இருட்டாயிறுச்சே!
பசும்பால் வெளுப்பே
கருப்பாயிறுச்சே!
Oh hurricane lamp that brings light
It has suddenly turned pitch dark
Oh pure white cow's milk
It has transformed into dark black
கம்மாக்கரை ஆயிருச்சே
கட்டாந்தரை ஓ…
கண்ணீருல சாய்ஞ்சிருச்சு
செந்தாமரை
The fertile bank of the lake has become
Barren dry ground, oh
It has fallen and withered in tears
The red lotus flower
முட்டி முட்டி ஊரு ஜனம்
முன்னே வர ஓ…
முக்கத்துலு நின்னுடுச்சே
மூணாம்பிறை ஓ…
Struggling tirelessly, the village folk
Trying to move forward, oh
It has come to a sudden halt right in front of them
The crescent moon ..oo
புழக்கடையில முளச்சாலும்
துளசிக்கு ஓரு வாசம்
தெருப் புழுதியில் புரண்டாலும்
வாழுமே நிசம்
Even if it grows in the backyard dirt
The holy basil retains its sacred fragrance
Even if rolling in street dust
True affection and love will endure
கொடி அடுப்புல புகப்போல
பொசுங்கு ஒரு கூட்டம்
களையெடுத்திட துணிஞ்சாலே
காலம் மாறிடும்
Like smoke from a massive hearth
A whole community of people is burning and choking
If we gather the courage to weed out the evil
Times will surely change for the better
வயக்காட்டுல முளச்ச நாங்க
எந்த பாடமும் படிக்கல
நிதம் சேத்துல கிடக்குறோமே
அத சாமியும் தடுக்கல
We who labored endlessly in the farm fields
Have not studied any formal lessons
We lie buried daily in the mud of poverty
And even God did not stop this plight
காச கேக்கும் கல்வி
கனவாகி போனதே!
நீரு மேல போட்ட
ஒரு கோலமானதே!
Education that constantly demands money
Has turned into an unattainable dream
Like a rangoli pattern drawn
Upon the surface of flowing water
காதறுந்த ஊசியிலே
சட்டைய தைகக்கனுமா!
கைய கட்டி வாய பொத்தி
நாங்களும் நிக்கனுமா!
With a broken-eyed needle
Are we expected to stitch a shirt?
With hands tied and mouth covered
Must we also stand by silently?
தலையெழுத்தே புரியலனு
ஒப்பாரி வைக்குனுமா!
Claiming we cannot comprehend our fate
Must we sing a mournful lament?
கம்மாக்கரை ஆயிருச்சே
கட்டாந்தரை ஓ…
கண்ணீருல சாய்ஞ்சிருச்சு
செந்தாமரை
The bank of the lake has become
Barren dry ground, oh
It has fallen and withered in tears
The red lotus flower
முட்டி முட்டி ஊரு ஜனம்
முன்னே வர ஓ…
முக்கத்துலு நின்னுடுச்சே
மூணாம் பிறை ஓ…
Struggling tirelessly, the village folk
Trying to move forward, oh
It has come to a sudden halt right in front of them
The crescent moon ..oo
O o ..oo..oo..
O o ..oo..oo..
Oo ..oo..ooo…
Oo ..oo..ooo…
Kalangudhae kann kalangudhae
The eyes are welling up with tears, welling up
Kadhariyae nenju norungudhae
Screaming in pain, the heart shatters into pieces
Ponga vecha thangakudam
The golden pot set to boil over with abundance
Pothalu vitturichae
Has developed a severe leak
Maasariya vairamani
The flawless diamond gem of high purity
Mannula saainjiruchae
Has fallen down into the dirt
Aricane vilakkae
Oh hurricane lamp that brings light
Iruttaayiruchae
It has suddenly turned pitch dark
Pasumpal veluppae
Oh pure white cow's milk
Karuppayiruchae
It has transformed into dark black
Kammakarai aayiruchae
The fertile bank of the lake has become
Kattandharai ooo
Barren dry ground, oh
Kanneerula sainjiruchae
It has fallen and withered in tears
Senthamarai
The red lotus flower
Mutti mutti ooru sanam
Struggling tirelessly, the village folk
Munnae vara ooo
Trying to move forward, oh
Mukkathula ninnuduchae
It has come to a sudden halt right in front of them
Moonampirai ..oo
The crescent moon ..oo
Pulakadaiyilae mulachaalum
Even if it grows in the backyard dirt
Thulasikku oru vaasam
The holy basil retains its sacred fragrance
Theru puludhiyilae purandaalum
Even if rolling in street dust
Vaazhumae nesam
True affection and love will endure
Kodi aduppula puga pola
Like smoke from a massive hearth
Posungudhu oru koottam
A whole community of people is burning and choking
Kalaiyeduthida thuninjaalae
If we gather the courage to weed out the evil
Kaalam maaridum
Times will surely change for the better
Vayakkattula ulacha naanga
We who labored endlessly in the farm fields
Endha paadamum padikkala
Have not studied any formal lessons
Nidham saethula kidakkuromae
We lie buried daily in the mud of poverty
Adha saamiyum thadukkala
And even God did not stop this plight
Kaasa kekkum kalvi
Education that constantly demands money
Kanavaagi ponadhae
Has turned into an unattainable dream
Neeru mela potta
Like a rangoli pattern drawn
Oru kolam aanadhae
Upon the surface of flowing water
Kaadharundha oosiyilae
With a broken-eyed needle
Sattaiya thaikkanuma
Are we expected to stitch a shirt?
Kaiya katti vaaya pothi
With hands tied and mouth covered
Naangalum nikkanuma
Must we also stand by silently?
Thalaiyeluthae puriyalunnu
Claiming we cannot comprehend our fate
Oppari veikkanuma
Must we sing a mournful lament?
Kammakarai aayiruchae
The bank of the lake has become
Kattandharai ooo
Barren dry ground, oh
Kanneerula sainjiruchae
It has fallen and withered in tears
Senthamarai
The red lotus flower
Mutti mutti ooru sanam
Struggling tirelessly, the village folk
Munnae vara ooo
Trying to move forward, oh
Mukkathula ninnuduchae
It has come to a sudden halt right in front of them
Moonampirai ..oo
The crescent moon ..oo
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kalangudhae Kann Kalangudhae' is an emotionally charged song from the film 'Vaathi' that laments the systemic denial of education and socio-economic mobility to underprivileged rural communities. Through evocative rural imagery—such as a leaking golden pot, a flawed diamond, and water-drawn patterns—the song captures the crushing weight of poverty and how commercialized education remains an unfulfilled dream for working-class families.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Neeru mela potta / Oru kolam aanadhae”
Comparing commercialized, unattainable education to a pattern (kolam) drawn on water, highlighting its fleeting and impossible nature.
Contrast (Ethirhu)
“Pasumpal veluppae / Karuppayiruchae”
Contrasting light/whiteness with darkness/blackness to signify sudden loss and tragedy.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Mutti mutti ooru sanam / Munnae vara ooo”
Repetition of initial consonant and vowel sounds creating a rhythmic mournful cadence.
Rhetorical Question
“Kaiya katti vaaya pothi / Naangalum nikkanuma”
Asking impassioned questions to challenge passivity and caste/class suppression.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar for the period social drama 'Vaathi' (titled 'Sir' in Telugu), directed by Venky Atluri. Sung poignantly by Vijay Yesudas with lyrics by Yugabharathi, the track serves as a pivotal emotional backdrop highlighting the struggle against the privatization and commercialization of education in the late 1990s.
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