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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kandathu Ondru Kettathu Ondru

From Seeman Petra Selvangal · 1962

Lyricist
Kavi Rajagopal
Singer
Seerkazhi Govindarajan
Music director
T. R. Pappa
Details
Seeman Petra Selvangal1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondruOne thing was seen, another was heard,
Kadhaiyum ver ondruAnd the true story is something else entirely.
Iru kangalum kaadhum aadiya naadagamThe drama played out by the two eyes and ears,
Kavalaiyil mudinthathu indruHas ended today in sorrow.
Kavalaiyil mudinthathu indruHas ended today in sorrow.
Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondruOne thing was seen, another was heard,
Kadhaiyum ver ondruAnd the true story is something else entirely.
Male
Kandavar bodhanai ennum nanjuThe poison called advice from bystanders,
Kalanthathu rathathilaeGot mixed into his blood.
Adhanaal unmaiyum poiyaaiBecause of that, even the truth took the shape of a lie,
Uruvam kondathu avanadhu nenjathileInside his heart.
Avanadhu nenjathileInside his heart.
Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondruOne thing was seen, another was heard,
Kadhaiyum ver ondruAnd the true story is something else entirely.
Male
Kalam vandhadhu ilaiyum udhirnthathuThe season arrived and the leaf fell off,
Kaatrin mel pazhi naerndhathuBut the blame fell upon the wind.
Kaatrin mel pazhi naerndhathuBut the blame fell upon the wind.
Kaagam amarndhadhu kaniyum vizhundhadhuThe crow perched and the fruit fell,
Karanam adhu vendraanadhaeAnd that coincidence was falsely blamed as the cause.
Karanam adhu vendraanadhaeAnd that coincidence was falsely blamed as the cause.
Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondruOne thing was seen, another was heard,
Kadhaiyum ver ondruAnd the true story is something else entirely.
Male
Sandhegam konda thandhaiyin paarvaiyilIn the eyes of a father filled with suspicion,
Maganum ver aanaanEven his own son became an outsider.
Maganum ver aanaanEven his own son became an outsider.
Adhanaal bandham migundhaBecause of that, the deeply bonded,
Annanum thambhiyum paar irul koor aanaarElder brother and younger brother became engulfed in deep darkness.
Paar irul koor aanaarBecame engulfed in deep darkness.
Male
Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondruOne thing was seen, another was heard,
Kadhaiyum ver ondruAnd the true story is something else entirely.
Iru kangalum kaadhum aadiya naadagamThe drama played out by the two eyes and ears,
Kavalaiyil mudinthathu indruHas ended today in sorrow.
Kavalaiyil mudinthathu indruHas ended today in sorrow.
Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondruOne thing was seen, another was heard,
Kadhaiyum ver ondruAnd the true story is something else entirely.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song reflects upon how human perceptions can be deeply misleading when filtered through misinterpretation, malicious advice, and unfounded suspicion. It highlights how what is seen by the eyes or heard by the ears does not always capture the reality of a situation. The lyrical narrative uses natural allegories—such as a leaf falling due to its season while the wind takes the blame, or a fruit falling coincidentally as a crow perches—to illustrate how people jump to wrong conclusions and attribute false causes to tragic events. Ultimately, the song warns against the destructive consequences of toxic advice and doubt. A father's suspicion estranges him from his son, and deeply bonded brothers are driven into sharp conflict. It serves as a philosophical commentary on how miscommunication and unchecked suspicion can shatter family relationships and turn lives into tragedy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Anaphora

Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondru

The lines 'Kandathu ondru kettadhu ondru / Kadhaiyum ver ondru' repeat regularly throughout the song to emphasize the central thesis that sensory perception often differs from truth.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kandavar bodhanai ennum nanju

Harmful advice is metaphorically described as poison ('bodhanai ennum nanju') that contaminates one's bloodstream and distorts truth.

Allegory / Proverbial Allusion (Kakataliya Nyaya)

Kaagam amarndhadhu kaniyum vizhundhadhu

The line uses the classical Sanskrit/Tamil idiom of the crow and fruit ('Kaagam amarndhadhu kaniyum vizhundhadhu') to symbolize false causality and erroneous assumptions.

Initial Alliteration (Monai)

Kalam vandhadhu ilaiyum udhirnthathu

The repetition of the 'Ka' syllable across consecutive poetic lines ('Kalam', 'Kaatrin', 'Kaagam', 'Karanam') creates rhythm and acoustic harmony.

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Trivia

Seeman Petra Selvangal (1962) was directed by P. V. Rama Rao and starred K. A. Thangavelu, S. S. Rajendran, and B. Saroja Devi. Rendered powerfully by Seerkazhi Govindarajan under T. R. Pappa's music composition, Kavi Rajagopal's lyrics brilliantly evoke classical allegories to comment on human misperceptions.

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