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Thanga Malar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kann Kavarum Bommaiyadi

From Thanga Malar · 1969

Lyricist
Kavi Kunjaram
Singers
P. Susheela, L. R. Eswari, Chorus
Music director
T. G. Lingappa
Movie name
Thanga Malar
Movie release year
1969
Lyrics added on
16 Jul 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Kanniyarin thiramaiyadi
Kalai ezhilum kai thozhilum
Kalandhaadum pudhumaiyadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Kanniyarin thiramaiyadi
Kalai ezhilum kai thozhilum
Kalandhaadum pudhumaiyadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Ahimsaiyaalae vidudhalai kanda
Annal gandhiyai paaradi
Chorus :Namm annal gandhiyai paaradi
Female :Arasai veruthu anbai valartha
Amarar buththar thaanadi
Azhivu seiyum paaviyarkkum
Arul kaattum yesuvadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Kanniyarin thiramaiyadi
Kalai ezhilum kai thozhilum
Kalandhaadum pudhumaiyadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Palarum pugalum abhinayam kattum
Bharathanattiyam paaradi
Chorus :…………………….
Palarum pugalum abhinayam kattum
Bharathanattiyam paaradi
Malar kodi polae nelindhu aadum
Manipuri nadanam thaanadi
Malar kodi polae nelindhu aadum
Manipuri nadanam thaanadi
Kalai mozhiyaal kadhakaliyaal
Kadhai sollum kaatchiyadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Than nizhal saayadha thanjai gopuram
Tajmahal idhu thaanadi
Mannum kallum manidhargalaalae
Magimai adainthathai paaradi
Magimai adainthathai paaradi
Manidhargal mattum maaradha
Varumaiyil vaaduvadhenadi
Thannalamum pottigalum
Sitharaadum vindhaiyadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Kanniyarin thiramaiyadi
Kalai ezhilum kai thozhilum
Kalandhaadum pudhumaiyadi
Kann kavarum bommaiyadi
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
They show the skill of young women!
Artistic beauty and craftsmanship
Blend together in this wonder!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
They show the skill of young women!
Artistic beauty and craftsmanship
Blend together in this wonder!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
Through non-violence, he won freedom;
Look at our great leader Gandhi, my friend!
Chorus: Look at our great leader Gandhi, my friend!
Female: Giving up his kingdom, he nurtured love;
Look at the immortal Buddha, my friend!
Even to sinners who bring ruin,
Look at Jesus who shows mercy, my friend!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
They show the skill of young women!
Artistic beauty and craftsmanship
Blend together in this wonder!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
Praised by everyone, rich with expressive gestures,
Look at the Bharatanatyam dance, my friend!
Chorus: ...
Praised by everyone, rich with expressive gestures,
Look at the Bharatanatyam dance, my friend!
Swaying gently like a flowering vine,
Look at the Manipuri dance, my friend!
Swaying gently like a flowering vine,
Look at the Manipuri dance, my friend!
Through the artistic language of Kathakali,
Look at the spectacle that tells a story, my friend!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
The Thanjavur temple tower whose shadow never falls,
And look, here is the Taj Mahal, my friend!
See how simple mud and stone,
Attained great glory through human hands!
Look at how they attained such glory!
Yet why do human beings alone
Continue to suffer in unchanging poverty, my friend?
Where selfishness and rivalry
Play out so chaotically in this strange world!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
They show the skill of young women!
Artistic beauty and craftsmanship
Blend together in this wonder!
Look at these eye-catching dolls, my friend!
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kann kavarum bommaiyadi is a culturally rich and thoughtful composition from the film Thanga Malar (1969). The song celebrates handcrafted dolls created by young women, using these artistic figures to showcase iconic spiritual figures, classic Indian dance traditions, and architectural masterworks. The lyricist highlights Mahatma Gandhi for non-violence, Lord Buddha for renunciation and love, and Jesus Christ for compassion, alongside traditional dances like Bharatanatyam, Manipuri, and Kathakali, as well as grand monuments like the Thanjavur Brihadisvara Temple and the Taj Mahal. In its final movement, the song delivers a poignant social commentary: while humans possess the remarkable talent to transform simple earth and stone into magnificent art and monuments, human society ironically continues to suffer in poverty due to ingrained selfishness and destructive competition.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Kann kavarum bommaiyadi / Kanniyarin thiramaiyadi”

The second consonant 'nn' matches across consecutive lines, creating a classic Tamil poetic rhythm.

Simile (Upamai)

“Malar kodi polae nelindhu aadum”

Uses 'polae' (like) to compare the graceful movement of the Manipuri dancer to a flowering creeper swaying in the breeze.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kalai ezhilum kai thozhilum”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' across 'Kalai' and 'kai' enhances the melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. G. Lingappa for the 1969 movie Thanga Malar, this song serves both as a stage performance / doll display song and a philosophical commentary on art, history, and social inequality. The lyrics by Kavi Kunjaram beautifully weave together national integration, art forms across Indian states, and high moral philosophy.

Keep listening

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