Kanagathe Gugai
From Digambara Samiyar · 1950
- Lyricist
- Ka. Mu. Sheriff
- Singer
- A. P. Komala
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Digambara Samiyar1950
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanagathae kugai naduvae maan ondru | Like a deer trapped inside a cave in the deep forest |
| Puliyidathae agappattar polae | Caught in the clutches of a tiger |
| Naanum ingae naligindrenae | I am suffering here all alone |
| Female | |
| Yenindha penn jenmam eduthaen jegadheesa | Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman? |
| Yenindha penn jenmam eduthaen jegadheesa | Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman? |
| Yenindha penn jenmam | Why this birth as a woman? |
| Female | |
| Perum kadalil soorai kaatril | In a vast ocean, amidst a raging cyclone |
| Alai modhum thoni pola | Like a boat tossed around by crashing waves |
| Perum kadalil soorai kaatril | In a vast ocean, amidst a raging cyclone |
| Alai modhum thoni pola | Like a boat tossed around by crashing waves |
| Karai saerum maargam kaanaadhu | Unable to find a way to reach the shore |
| Kedhi kalangugindrenae | I am utterly distressed and lost about my fate |
| Karai saerum maargam kaanaadhu | Unable to find a way to reach the shore |
| Kedhi kalangugindrenae | I am utterly distressed and lost about my fate |
| En ennam yaavum paazhadainthu | Will all my thoughts and dreams go to waste |
| Mannum aagumoo | And turn into dust? |
| Female | |
| Yenindha penn jenmam eduthaen jegadheesa | Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman? |
கானகத்தே குகை நடுவே மான் ஒன்று
புலியிடத்தே அகப்பட்டார் போலே
நானும் இங்கே நலிகின்றேனே
Like a deer trapped inside a cave in the deep forest
Caught in the clutches of a tiger
I am suffering here all alone
ஏனிந்த பெண் ஜென்மம் எடுத்தேன் ஜெகதீசா
ஏனிந்த பெண் ஜென்மம் எடுத்தேன் ஜெகதீசா
ஏனிந்த பெண் ஜென்மம்
Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman?
Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman?
Why this birth as a woman?
பெரும் கடலில் சூறைக் காற்றில்
அலை மோதும் தோணி போலே
பெரும் கடலில் சூறைக் காற்றில்
அலை மோதும் தோணி போலே
கரை சேரும் மார்க்கம் காணாது
கெதி கலங்குகின்றேனே
கரை சேரும் மார்க்கம் காணாது
கெதி கலங்குகின்றேனே
என் எண்ணம் யாவும் பாழடைந்து
மண்ணும் ஆகுமோ........
In a vast ocean, amidst a raging cyclone
Like a boat tossed around by crashing waves
In a vast ocean, amidst a raging cyclone
Like a boat tossed around by crashing waves
Unable to find a way to reach the shore
I am utterly distressed and lost about my fate
Unable to find a way to reach the shore
I am utterly distressed and lost about my fate
Will all my thoughts and dreams go to waste
And turn into dust?
ஏனிந்த பெண் ஜென்மம் எடுத்தேன் ஜெகதீசா
Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman?
Kanagathae kugai naduvae maan ondru
Like a deer trapped inside a cave in the deep forest
Puliyidathae agappattar polae
Caught in the clutches of a tiger
Naanum ingae naligindrenae
I am suffering here all alone
Yenindha penn jenmam eduthaen jegadheesa
Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman?
Yenindha penn jenmam eduthaen jegadheesa
Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman?
Yenindha penn jenmam
Why this birth as a woman?
Perum kadalil soorai kaatril
In a vast ocean, amidst a raging cyclone
Alai modhum thoni pola
Like a boat tossed around by crashing waves
Perum kadalil soorai kaatril
In a vast ocean, amidst a raging cyclone
Alai modhum thoni pola
Like a boat tossed around by crashing waves
Karai saerum maargam kaanaadhu
Unable to find a way to reach the shore
Kedhi kalangugindrenae
I am utterly distressed and lost about my fate
Karai saerum maargam kaanaadhu
Unable to find a way to reach the shore
Kedhi kalangugindrenae
I am utterly distressed and lost about my fate
En ennam yaavum paazhadainthu
Will all my thoughts and dreams go to waste
Mannum aagumoo
And turn into dust?
Yenindha penn jenmam eduthaen jegadheesa
Oh Lord of the Universe, why was I born as a woman?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
In this poignant song from the 1950 film Digambara Samiyar, the protagonist deeply laments her helplessness and questions the hardship of her existence as a woman. She uses vivid similes to express her sorrow, comparing herself first to a trapped deer in a forest cave about to be devoured by a tiger, and then to a fragile boat violently tossed by stormy waves in the middle of a boundless sea without a way to reach safety. Devastated by despair and feeling her destiny crumbling to dust, she cries out to the Almighty (Jegadheesa) seeking answers for her plight.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Puliyidathae agappattar polae”
Compares the protagonist's helpless trapped situation to a deer caught by a tiger in a forest cave ('polae').
Simile (Upamai)
“Alai modhum thoni pola”
Compares her soul's suffering amidst troubles to a small boat tossed by ocean waves in a cyclone ('pola').
Imagery (Katchi Inbam)
“Perum kadalil soorai kaatril”
Evokes turbulent imagery of a massive stormy ocean to symbolize existential chaos and helplessness.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Karai saerum maargam kaanaadhu / Kedhi kalangugindrenae”
Use of the 'K' consonant sound across words ('Karai', 'kaanaadhu', 'Kedhi', 'kalangugindrenae') creating a rhythmic melancholy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Digambara Samiyar (1950) was a hit Tamil adaptation of Vaduvoor K. Duraiswamy Iyengar's detective novel, produced by Modern Theatres. The movie featured music by G. Ramanathan, whose melodious and emotionally resonant compositions helped establish the dramatic tone of early Tamil cinema.
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