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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kann Koduthadhu Polae

From Kavalai Illaadha Manithan · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Jikki
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Kavalai Illaadha Manithan1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ooo…hooo…oo.hoo…oo.hoi…Ooo…hooo…oo.hoo…oo.hoi…
Chorus :Hoo ooo ooo ooo ooo oooChorus: Hoo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo
Chorus
Kann koduthathu polae unakkuJust as if giving sight to you,
Penn koduthom saamiWe gave you a woman in marriage, oh sir,
Ahaa saamiAhaa, oh sir!
Avalai kai vidama kaalam ellamWithout abandoning her all through life,
Kakka venum saamiYou must protect her, oh sir.
Ahaa saamiAhaa, oh sir!
Female
Jaadhi vittu jaathi kondaInter-caste marriages across social boundaries,
Poruppadhillae boomiThe world does not easily tolerate.
Chorus :Jaadhi vittu jaathi kondaChorus: Inter-caste marriages across social boundaries,
Poruppadhillae boomiThe world does not easily tolerate.
Male
Aa..samuga pazhakaththai neeAh, this societal habit and prejudice,
Maaththiputtae saamiYou have broken and changed, oh sir!
Chorus :Samuga pazhakaththai neeChorus: This societal habit and prejudice,
Maaththiputtae saamiYou have broken and changed, oh sir!
Chorus
Kann koduthathu polae unakkuJust as if giving sight to you,
Penn koduthom saamiWe gave you a woman in marriage, oh sir,
Ahaa saamiAhaa, oh sir!
Avalai kai vidama kaalam ellamWithout abandoning her all through life,
Kakka venum saamiYou must protect her, oh sir.
Ahaa saamiAhaa, oh sir!
Male
Vantha velai virundhu veikkaTo host a grand feast upon your arrival,
Vazhiyum illa saamiWe have no financial means, oh sir.
Enga vaasalilae nimirindhu vanthaIf you walk upright into our humble doorway,
Thalai idikkum saamiYour head will hit the entrance, oh sir.
Chorus
Saamiyoo saamiyooOh sir! Oh sir!
Saamiyoo saamiyooOh sir! Oh sir!
Female
Sam sam sam samChorus :SaamiSam sam sam sam Chorus: Oh sir!
Both :Avalai kai vidama kaalam ellamBoth: Without abandoning her all through life,
Kakka venum saamiYou must protect her, oh sir.
Chorus :Ahaa saamiChorus: Ahaa, oh sir!
Chorus
Kann koduthathu polae unakkuJust as if giving sight to you,
Penn koduthom saamiWe gave you a woman in marriage, oh sir,
Ahaa saamiAhaa, oh sir!
Avalai kai vidama kaalam ellamWithout abandoning her all through life,
Kakka venum saamiYou must protect her, oh sir.
Ahaa saamiAhaa, oh sir!
Female
Naagareega paiyum maiyumModern urban makeup and fancy vanity,
Naanga paarthathillaWe have never known or seen.
Both :Namma naattu makkal kula vazhakkamBoth: The traditional values and customs of our nation's folk,
Marandhu ponadhillaWe have never forgotten.
Chorus
Saamiyoo saamiyooOh sir! Oh sir!
Saamiyoo saamiyooOh sir! Oh sir!
Male
Katthadhu konjam mathathu panjamWhat we learned is little, and poverty is immense,
Kalangam illae saamiYet there is no blemish in our hearts, oh sir.
Both :Nee kai kodutha naanga koodaBoth: If you extend a guiding hand, even we,
Kaththu nadappom saami
Female
Sam sam sam samChorus :Saami
Both :Avalai kai vidama kaalam ellam
Kakka venum saami
Chorus :Ahaa saami
Chorus
Kann koduthathu polae unakku
Penn koduthom saami
Ahaa saami
Avalai kai vidama kaalam ellam
Kakka venum saami
Ahaa saami

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This folk-style song from the 1960 movie 'Kavalai Illaadha Manithan' is sung by simple, rustic village folk addressing a progressive gentleman who has married a girl from their community across caste barriers. The villagers express deep gratitude and respect to him for breaking societal taboos and giving their daughter a dignified life, metaphorically comparing the marriage to restoring sight to a blind person.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uwamai)

Kann koduthathu polae unakku / Penn koduthom saami

Compares giving a bride in marriage to giving sight ('Kann koduthathu polae ... Penn koduthom').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kann koduthathu polae unakku / Penn koduthom saami

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' in 'Kann' and 'Penn' (and 'Kakka').

Emonai / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Penn koduthom saami / Kakka venum saami

Repetition of the honorific ending word 'saami' at the end of consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kavalai Illaadha Manithan' (1960) starring Chandrababu and T. R. Mahalingam featured music by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and poignant socio-reformist lyrics written by Kavignar Kannadasan, highlighting rural innocence and social equality.

Keep listening

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