Kanavugalthan Vazhvada
From Aavathellam Pennale · 1965
- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singer
- A. M. Raja
- Music director
- Jeevan
- Details
- Aavathellam Pennale1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadal soozhndha vaiya melae | Upon this ocean-encircled world |
| Chorus :Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Kanalaagum aavi polae | Male: Like vapor turned into heat |
| Chorus :Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Manamaengi povadhoo innaalae | Male: Why does the heart yearn today? |
| Male | |
| Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada | Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend? |
| Kaalam polladhada | Time is cruel, my friend |
| Un vaazhvai enni paarada | Reflect upon your life and see, my friend |
| Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada | Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend? |
| Kaalam polladhada | Time is cruel, my friend |
| Un vaazhvai enni paarada | Reflect upon your life and see, my friend |
| Male | |
| Nirantharamaai endrum seemangal vaazhndhadhillai | Great kingdoms have never lasted forever |
| Chorus :Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Nirantharamaai endrum seemangal vaazhndhadhillai | Male: Great kingdoms have never lasted forever |
| Ninaipathu polae naam pera mudivathillai | We cannot attain everything as we desire |
| Chorus :Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Ninaipathu polae naam pera mudivathillai | Male: We cannot attain everything as we desire |
| Bayangara kobamadhaal paazhaagum vaazhkaiyada | Life gets ruined due to terrible anger, my friend |
| Bayangara kobamadhaal paazhaagum vaazhkaiyada | Life gets ruined due to terrible anger, my friend |
| Male | |
| Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada | Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend? |
| Kaalam polladhada | Time is cruel, my friend |
| Un vaazhvai enni paarada | Reflect upon your life and see, my friend |
| Male | |
| Uravudan nesangalum piraviyin paasangalum | Affections of relationships and bonds of birth |
| Uravudan nesangalum piraviyin paasangalum | Affections of relationships and bonds of birth |
| Gopura maligaiyum kulathin perumaigalum | Towering palaces and the pride of lineage |
| Gopura maligaiyum kulathin perumaigalum | Towering palaces and the pride of lineage |
| Nilai thadu maarinaal yaavum thootridumae | If status wavers, everything will mock and fall away |
| Chorus :Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Neer mel kaanum oviyam vaazhvae | Male: Life is like a painting drawn upon water |
| Vathaithidum vedhanai nee kanda sodhanai | The tormenting pain is the trial you faced |
| Vathaithidum vedhanai nee kanda sodhanai | The tormenting pain is the trial you faced |
| Chorus | |
| Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada | Male: Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend? |
| Kaalam polladhada | Time is cruel, my friend |
| Un vaazhvai enni paarada | Reflect upon your life and see, my friend |
| Chorus | |
| Aaa….aa…. | Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa.... |
| Male :Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada | Male: Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend? |
| Kaalam polladhada | Time is cruel, my friend |
| Un vaazhvai enni paarada | Reflect upon your life and see, my friend |
கடல் சூழ்ந்த வைய மேலே
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
கானலாகும் ஆவி போலே
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
மனமேங்கி போவதோ இந்நாளே....
Upon this ocean-encircled world
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: Like vapor turned into heat
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: Why does the heart yearn today?
கனவுகள் தான் வாழ்வடா
காலம் பொல்லாததடா
வாழ்வை எண்ணிப் பாரடா
கனவுகள் தான் வாழ்வடா.....
காலம் பொல்லாததடா
வாழ்வை எண்ணிப் பாரடா
Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Time is cruel, my friend
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Time is cruel, my friend
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
நிரந்தமாய் என்றும் சீமான்கள் வாழ்ந்ததில்லை
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
Great kingdoms have never lasted forever
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: Great kingdoms have never lasted forever
We cannot attain everything as we desire
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: We cannot attain everything as we desire
Life gets ruined due to terrible anger, my friend
Life gets ruined due to terrible anger, my friend
நிரந்தமாய் என்றும் சீமான்கள் வாழ்ந்ததில்லை
நினைப்பது போலே நாம் பெற முடிவதில்லை
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....
Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Time is cruel, my friend
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
நினைப்பது போலே நாம் பெற முடிவதில்லை
பயங்கர கோபமதால் பாழாகும் வாழ்க்கையடா
பயங்கர கோபமதால் பாழாகும் வாழ்க்கையடா
Affections of relationships and bonds of birth
Affections of relationships and bonds of birth
Towering palaces and the pride of lineage
Towering palaces and the pride of lineage
If status wavers, everything will mock and fall away
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: Life is like a painting drawn upon water
The tormenting pain is the trial you faced
The tormenting pain is the trial you faced
கனவுகள் தான் வாழ்வடா.....
காலம் பொல்லாததடா
வாழ்வை எண்ணிப் பாரடா
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Time is cruel, my friend
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
உறவுடன் நேசங்களும் பிறவியின் பாசங்களும்
உறவுடன் நேசங்களும் பிறவியின் பாசங்களும்
கோபுர மாளிகையும் குலத்தின் பெருமைகளும்
கோபுர மாளிகையும் குலத்தின் பெருமைகளும்
நிலை தடுமாறினால் யாவும் தூற்றிடுமே
குழு :
ஆஅ....ஆஅ......
நீர் மேல் காணும் ஓவியம் வாழ்வே
வதைத்திடும் வேதனை நீ கண்ட சாதனை...
வதைத்திடும் வேதனை நீ கண்ட சாதனை...
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male: Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Time is cruel, my friend
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
ஆஅ....ஆஅ......
கனவுகள் தான் வாழ்வடா.....
காலம் பொல்லாததடா
வாழ்வை எண்ணிப் பாரடா
ஆஅ....ஆஅ......
கனவுகள் தான் வாழ்வடா.....
காலம் பொல்லாததடா
வாழ்வை எண்ணிப் பாரடா
Kadal soozhndha vaiya melae
Upon this ocean-encircled world
Chorus :Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Kanalaagum aavi polae
Male: Like vapor turned into heat
Chorus :Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Manamaengi povadhoo innaalae
Male: Why does the heart yearn today?
Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada
Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Kaalam polladhada
Time is cruel, my friend
Un vaazhvai enni paarada
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada
Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Kaalam polladhada
Time is cruel, my friend
Un vaazhvai enni paarada
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
Nirantharamaai endrum seemangal vaazhndhadhillai
Great kingdoms have never lasted forever
Chorus :Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Nirantharamaai endrum seemangal vaazhndhadhillai
Male: Great kingdoms have never lasted forever
Ninaipathu polae naam pera mudivathillai
We cannot attain everything as we desire
Chorus :Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Ninaipathu polae naam pera mudivathillai
Male: We cannot attain everything as we desire
Bayangara kobamadhaal paazhaagum vaazhkaiyada
Life gets ruined due to terrible anger, my friend
Bayangara kobamadhaal paazhaagum vaazhkaiyada
Life gets ruined due to terrible anger, my friend
Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada
Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Kaalam polladhada
Time is cruel, my friend
Un vaazhvai enni paarada
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
Uravudan nesangalum piraviyin paasangalum
Affections of relationships and bonds of birth
Uravudan nesangalum piraviyin paasangalum
Affections of relationships and bonds of birth
Gopura maligaiyum kulathin perumaigalum
Towering palaces and the pride of lineage
Gopura maligaiyum kulathin perumaigalum
Towering palaces and the pride of lineage
Nilai thadu maarinaal yaavum thootridumae
If status wavers, everything will mock and fall away
Chorus :Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Neer mel kaanum oviyam vaazhvae
Male: Life is like a painting drawn upon water
Vathaithidum vedhanai nee kanda sodhanai
The tormenting pain is the trial you faced
Vathaithidum vedhanai nee kanda sodhanai
The tormenting pain is the trial you faced
Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada
Male: Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Kaalam polladhada
Time is cruel, my friend
Un vaazhvai enni paarada
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
Aaa….aa….
Chorus vocalizing: Aaa....aa....
Male :Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada
Male: Is life merely a collection of dreams, my friend?
Kaalam polladhada
Time is cruel, my friend
Un vaazhvai enni paarada
Reflect upon your life and see, my friend
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song reflects on the transience and impermanence of human life, power, and earthly attachments. It emphasizes that life often feels like a passing dream governed by relentless time, reminding the listener to ponder their own existence carefully. It highlights how great kingdoms do not endure forever, uncontrolled anger destroys lives, and status or lineage offer no permanent security. Life is poetically compared to a painting drawn on water, ephemeral and delicate, urging introspection over material pride.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Male :Neer mel kaanum oviyam vaazhvae”
Life is explicitly compared to a drawing made on top of water ('Neer mel kaanum oviyam'), highlighting its fleeting and impermanent nature.
Initial Alliteration (Monai)
“Kanavugal thaan vaazhvaada / Kaalam polladhada”
Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' across lines ('Kanavugal', 'Kaalam') creates a rhythmic cadence in the chorus.
Metaphor / Imagery
“Male :Kanalaagum aavi polae”
The imagery of 'Kanalaagum aavi' (vapor turning into fire/heat) conveys deep emotional agony and restless longing.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song from the 1965 film 'Aavathellam Pennale' features lyrics by Puratchi Dasan and music composed by Jeevan. Sung by the acclaimed playback singer A. M. Raja, this track stands out as a memorable philosophical monologue on human impermanence.
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