Kamban Emandhaan
From Nizhal Nijamagiradhu · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nizhal Nijamagiradhu1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae | He called young maidens a soft flower |
| Karpanai seidhaanae | He merely imagined it so |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Male | |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae | He called young maidens a soft flower |
| Karpanai seidhaanae | He merely imagined it so |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Male | |
| Ambu vizhi endru yaen sonnaan | Why did he compare her eyes to arrows? |
| Adhu paaivadhinaal thaano | Is it because they pierce and wound? |
| Ambu vizhi endru yaen sonnaan | Why did he compare her eyes to arrows? |
| Adhu paaivadhinaal thaano | Is it because they pierce and wound? |
| Aval arunjuvai paalena yaen sonnaan | Why did he say her taste is like sweet milk? |
| Adhu kodhippadhinaal thaano | Is it because she boils over with anger? |
| Male | |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Male | |
| Dheebathin jodhiyil thirukkural padithaal | If one reads Thirukkural in the light of a lamp |
| Dheebathin perumaiyandro | Is it not the glory of the lamp? |
| Dheebathinaal oru nenjathai erithaal | If that lamp burns a human heart |
| Dheebamum paavamandro | Is not the lamp sinful as well? |
| Male | |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae | He called young maidens a soft flower |
| Karpanai seidhaanae | He merely imagined it so |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Male | |
| Valluvan ilango bharathi endroru | A line of greats like Valluvar, Ilango, and Bharathi |
| Varisaiyai naan kanden | I have witnessed such a lineup of poets |
| Andha varisaiyil ullavar mattumalla | Not only those who belong to that lineage |
| Ada naanum yaemaandhaen | Alas, I too was fooled! |
| Male | |
| Aathiram enbadhu pengalukkellaam | The anger of women after all |
| Aduppadi varai thaanae | Lasts only up to the kitchen hearth |
| Oru aadhikka naayagan saadhikka vandhaal | When a dominant man arrives to achieve |
| Adangudhal murai thaanae | Submission is their proper duty |
| Male | |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae | He called young maidens a soft flower |
| Karpanai seidhaanae | He merely imagined it so |
| Kamban yaemaandhaan | Kamban was fooled |
| Ha ha kamban yaemaandhaan… | Ha ha, Kamban was fooled... |
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
இளம் கன்னியரை ஒரு மலர் என்றானே
கற்பனை செய்தானே
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
Kamban was fooled
He called young maidens a soft flower
He merely imagined it so
Kamban was fooled
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
இளம் கன்னியரை ஒரு மலர் என்றானே
கற்பனை செய்தானே
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
Kamban was fooled
He called young maidens a soft flower
He merely imagined it so
Kamban was fooled
அம்பு விழி என்று ஏன் சொன்னான்
அது பாய்வதினால் தானோ
அம்பு விழி என்று ஏன் சொன்னான்
அது பாய்வதினால் தானோ
அவள் அறுஞ்சுவைப் பாலென ஏன் சொன்னான்
அது கொதிப்பதனால் தானோ
Why did he compare her eyes to arrows?
Is it because they pierce and wound?
Why did he compare her eyes to arrows?
Is it because they pierce and wound?
Why did he say her taste is like sweet milk?
Is it because she boils over with anger?
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
Kamban was fooled
தீபத்தின் ஜோதியில் திருக்குறள் படித்தால்
தீபத்தின் பெருமையன்றோ
தீபத்தினால் ஒரு நெஞ்சத்தை எரித்தால்
தீபமும் பாவமன்றோ
If one reads Thirukkural in the light of a lamp
Is it not the glory of the lamp?
If that lamp burns a human heart
Is not the lamp sinful as well?
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
இளம் கன்னியரை ஒரு மலர் என்றானே
கற்பனை செய்தானே
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
Kamban was fooled
He called young maidens a soft flower
He merely imagined it so
Kamban was fooled
வள்ளுவன் இளங்கோ பாரதி என்றொரு
வரிசையை நான் கண்டேன்
அந்த வரிசையில் உள்ளவர் மட்டுமல்ல
அட நானும் ஏமாந்தேன்
A line of greats like Valluvar, Ilango, and Bharathi
I have witnessed such a lineup of poets
Not only those who belong to that lineage
Alas, I too was fooled!
ஆத்திரம் என்பது பெண்களுக்கெல்லாம்
அடுப்படி வரைதானே
ஒரு ஆதிக்க நாயகன் சாதிக்க வந்தால்
அடங்குதல் முறைதானே
The anger of women after all
Lasts only up to the kitchen hearth
When a dominant man arrives to achieve
Submission is their proper duty
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
இளம் கன்னியரை ஒரு மலர் என்றானே
கற்பனை செய்தானே
கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
ஹ ஹ கம்பன் ஏமாந்தான்
Kamban was fooled
He called young maidens a soft flower
He merely imagined it so
Kamban was fooled
Ha ha, Kamban was fooled...
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae
He called young maidens a soft flower
Karpanai seidhaanae
He merely imagined it so
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae
He called young maidens a soft flower
Karpanai seidhaanae
He merely imagined it so
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Ambu vizhi endru yaen sonnaan
Why did he compare her eyes to arrows?
Adhu paaivadhinaal thaano
Is it because they pierce and wound?
Ambu vizhi endru yaen sonnaan
Why did he compare her eyes to arrows?
Adhu paaivadhinaal thaano
Is it because they pierce and wound?
Aval arunjuvai paalena yaen sonnaan
Why did he say her taste is like sweet milk?
Adhu kodhippadhinaal thaano
Is it because she boils over with anger?
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Dheebathin jodhiyil thirukkural padithaal
If one reads Thirukkural in the light of a lamp
Dheebathin perumaiyandro
Is it not the glory of the lamp?
Dheebathinaal oru nenjathai erithaal
If that lamp burns a human heart
Dheebamum paavamandro
Is not the lamp sinful as well?
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae
He called young maidens a soft flower
Karpanai seidhaanae
He merely imagined it so
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Valluvan ilango bharathi endroru
A line of greats like Valluvar, Ilango, and Bharathi
Varisaiyai naan kanden
I have witnessed such a lineup of poets
Andha varisaiyil ullavar mattumalla
Not only those who belong to that lineage
Ada naanum yaemaandhaen
Alas, I too was fooled!
Aathiram enbadhu pengalukkellaam
The anger of women after all
Aduppadi varai thaanae
Lasts only up to the kitchen hearth
Oru aadhikka naayagan saadhikka vandhaal
When a dominant man arrives to achieve
Adangudhal murai thaanae
Submission is their proper duty
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Ilam kanniyarai oru malar endraanae
He called young maidens a soft flower
Karpanai seidhaanae
He merely imagined it so
Kamban yaemaandhaan
Kamban was fooled
Ha ha kamban yaemaandhaan…
Ha ha, Kamban was fooled...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kamban Yaemaandhaan' is a cynical and satirical reflection on the romantic illusions created by grand classical Tamil poets like Kamban, Thiruvalluvar, Ilango Adigal, and Subramania Bharati. The protagonist argues that these legendary bards idealised women as gentle flowers, sweet milk, and bright lamps, ignoring their potential for anger and destruction. He laments that he too fell into the same trap of romantic fantasy created by classical poetry before declaring that a woman's anger is temporary and limited to domestic boundaries.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irony / Satire (நையாண்டி)
“Kamban yaemaandhaan”
The entire refrain humorously undermines the legendary status of Kamban, claiming the great epic poet was naive and tricked by female beauty.
Metaphor / Rhetorical Question (உவமை & வினா)
“Aval arunjuvai paalena yaen sonnaan / Adhu kodhippadhinaal thaano”
Subverts the classical metaphor of eyes as arrows and milk as sweetness by reinterpreting them as weapons that pierce and anger that boils over.
Initial Rhyme / Monai (மோனை)
“Aathiram enbadhu pengalukkellaam / Aduppadi varai thaanae”
Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'Aa' across lines for rhythmic emphasis.
Allusion (இலக்கியக் குறிப்பு)
“Valluvan ilango bharathi endroru”
Directly cites classical and modern Tamil literary figures—Thiruvalluvar, Ilango Adigal, and Subramania Bharati—to critique romantic literary traditions.
Did you know?
Trivia
From the film 'Nizhal Nijamagiradhu' (1978) directed by K. Balachander, this iconic track was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, penned by Kannadasan, and rendered by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam for Kamal Haasan's character.
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