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Vetri Padigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavu Palithathu Kadhavu

From Vetri Padigal · 1991

Lyricist
Siva
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vetri Padigal
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
15 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Listen there are only
Three words in english
You want to know that i love you
There is no way to go
Kanavu palithadhu kadhavu thirakkudhu
Medalai sumandha maarbil
Poo madalai anindhu pazhagu
Pirambai suzhatri veesu
Andha karumbu thanusai thaedu
Nagara kaavala ennai viratta mudinjutha
Idhaya sirai irukku idhil kambhi enna vaa
Kanavu palithadhu kadhavu thirakkudhu
Kanavu palithadhu kadhavu thirakkudhu
…………………….
Raasa unnodu rasichu pazhagaama
Manasu neraiyavillaiyae
Laesa paarthaalum nerukkam kidaikkadha
Nenappu porukkavillaiyae
Kavalkaararae vaanga kanavu solaiyai thaanga
Nesam kaatinaa podhum pasa raagamaai oorum
Male :Nilavai izhukkalaama oliyil kulikkalaama
Alandhu mudikkalaama asanju kodukkalaama
Female :Unadhu kadhaiyum enadhu kadhaiyum
Porundhiyadhae
Kanavu palithadha kadhavu thirandhadha
Kanavu palithadha kadhavu thirandhadha
…………………………….
Koothum illaadha paattu padikkadha
Vaazhkai inithu viduma
Noolae illaama thiriyai asaikkirathu
Saelai neidhu tharuma
Kaadhal ondru thaan vaazhkkai
Manadhin magarandha serkkai
Aani verilae pookkal
Ngyaana boomiyil naatkal
Kilaiyai vilakkalaama malarai parikkalaama
Nadanthu mudinja piragu kanakku edukkalaama
Siriya kadhaiyai mudinja varaikkum thodaranamae
Kanavu palithadhu kadhavu thirakkudhu
Medalai sumandha maarbil
Poo madalai anindhu pazhagu
Pirambai suzhatri veesu
Andha karumbu thanusai thaedu
Male :Nagara azhagiyae ini nagara mudiyuma ho ho
Idhaya siraiyilae nee nazhuva mudiyuma haa
Kanavu palithadhu kadhavu thirakkudhu
Male :Kanavu palithadha kadhavu thirandhadha
Listen, there are only
Three words in English:
"You want to know that I love you,"
There is nowhere else to go.
The dream has come true, the door is opening.
On the chest that bore medals,
Get used to wearing garlands of flowers.
Twirl and swing your cane,
Search for that bow made of sugarcane.
O city guard, were you able to chase me away?
The heart's prison is here; what need for iron bars? Come!
The dream has come true, the door is opening.
The dream has come true, the door is opening.
...
O King, without delighting in your company,
My heart is not fulfilled.
Even if you give a slight glance, won't closeness follow?
My restless thoughts cannot bear the longing!
O guard, come and uphold this garden of dreams.
Showing love is enough; affection will stream like a sweet melody.
Male: Shall we pull down the moon and bathe in its light?
Shall we measure it all out and yield to each other?
Female: Your story and my story
Have matched together!
Did the dream come true? Did the door open?
Did the dream come true? Did the door open?
...
Without drama and an unsung song,
Will life ever become sweet?
Stirring a wick without any thread,
Will it weave a saree for you?
Love alone is life,
The pollination of the heart.
Flowers blooming at the taproot,
Days spent on the earth of wisdom.
Shall we move the branch aside and pluck the flower?
After everything has happened, shall we keep count?
We must continue this short story as long as we can!
The dream has come true, the door is opening.
On the chest that bore medals,
Get used to wearing garlands of flowers.
Twirl and swing your cane,
Search for that bow made of sugarcane.
Male: O city beauty, can you move away now? Ho ho!
Can you slip away from the prison of the heart? Haa!
The dream has come true, the door is opening.
Male: Did the dream come true? Did the door open?
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a romantic interplay between two lovers who metaphorically view love as a playful lockup and prison. The female lead taunts the male lead (a guard/officer figure), suggesting that his heroic chest decorated with medals should now wear soft flower garlands of romance. She invites him into the 'prison of her heart' where there are no real iron bars, claiming that love completes life's true purpose. The male lead responds playfully, joining in the fantasy of pulling down the moon and sharing a life full of passion and poetic harmony. Through vibrant allegories of nature, sugarcane bows, and woven fabrics, the lovers celebrate their union, declaring that love is the true essence of living.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Idhaya sirai irukku idhil kambhi enna vaa”

Compares the heart to a prison ('Idhaya sirai'), suggesting being trapped delightfully in love.

Cultural Imagery & Mythology

“Andha karumbu thanusai thaedu”

Refers to 'Karumbu thanusu' (sugarcane bow), which is the traditional bow carried by Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love.

Iyaibu (Rhyming end scheme)

“Nilavai izhukkalaama oliyil kulikkalaama”

Uses matching rhyming endings 'izhukkalaama', 'kulikkalaama', 'mudikkalaama', 'kodukkalaama' to build rhythmic flow.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Manadhin magarandha serkkai”

Compares love to 'magarandha serkkai' (pollen transfer / cross-pollination of minds), symbolising fertility and natural blending.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track opens with an English spoken-word preamble before transitioning into traditional Tamil romantic lyrics penned by lyricist Siva for the 1991 film 'Vetri Padigal'.

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