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Kaathiruntha Kangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanpadume

From Kaathiruntha Kangal · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music directors
M. S. Vishwanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Kaathiruntha Kangal
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
15 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Kan padumae pirar kan padumae
Nee veliyae varalaamaa
Un kattazhagaana meniyai ooraar
Kannukku tharalaamaa} (2)
Pun padumae pun padumae
Punnagai seiyalaamaa
Bhoomiyilae deviyai pol
Oorvalam varalaamaa
Kan padumae pirar kan padumae
Nee veliyae varalaamaa
Un kattazhagaana meniyai ooraar
Kannukku tharalaamaa
{Aadavar edhirae sellaadhae
Ambenum vizhiyaal kollaadhae} (2)
Kaarirul polum koondhalai kondu
Kanni un mugathai moodu
Thamizh kaaviyam kaattum oviya pennae
Megathukkullae odu
Kan padumae pirar kan padumae
Nee veliyae varalaamaa
Un kattazhagaana meniyai ooraar
Kannukku tharalaamaa
{Kannaadi munnaal nillaadhae
Un kannalum unnai kaanaadhae} (2)
Mangai un azhagai maadhar kandaalum
Mayangiduvaar konja neram
Indha maanidar ulagil vaazhgira varaikkum
Thaniyae varuvadhu paavam
Kan padumae pirar kan padumae
Nee veliyae varalaamaa
Un kattazhagaana meniyai ooraar
Kannukku tharalaamaa
The evil eye will fall on you, others will cast their eyes on you,
Should you really come outside?
Your stunning, shapely figure to the townsfolk,
Should you offer it to their eyes?
Hearts will ache, wounds will be made,
Should you smile like that?
Like a goddess upon this earth,
Should you parade around?
The evil eye will fall on you, others will cast their eyes on you,
Should you really come outside?
Your stunning, shapely figure to the townsfolk,
Should you offer it to their eyes?
Do not walk before men,
Do not strike them dead with your arrow-like eyes.
With your pitch-black hair,
Young girl, cover your face!
O girl like a painting from Tamil epics,
Run and hide inside the clouds!
The evil eye will fall on you, others will cast their eyes on you,
Should you really come outside?
Your stunning, shapely figure to the townsfolk,
Should you offer it to their eyes?
Do not stand before the mirror,
Do not look even at yourself with your own eyes!
Even if other women gaze upon your beauty,
They too would be left spellbound for a while.
As long as you live in this world of mortals,
Stepping out all alone is a crime.
The evil eye will fall on you, others will cast their eyes on you,
Should you really come outside?
Your stunning, shapely figure to the townsfolk,
Should you offer it to their eyes?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Tamil song expresses a lover's adoration and protective anxiety regarding his beloved's divine beauty. Fearing that the 'evil eye' (kan dristi) of onlookers will harm her, he playfully cautions her against stepping out in public, smiling freely, or walking in front of men. He describes her grace as that of an epic Tamil painting and a goddess walking on earth, warning that her charm is so overwhelming that even other women would swoon upon seeing her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Bhoomiyilae deviyai pol / Kaarirul polum koondhalai kondu”

Compares the maiden to a goddess ('deviyai pol') and her hair to dense dark clouds/darkness ('Kaarirul polum koondhal').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Ambenum vizhiyaal kollaadhae”

Metaphorically compares her sharp, piercing eyes to lethal arrows ('Ambenum vizhi').

Initial Rhyme (Monai)

“Aadavar edhirae sellaadhae / Ambenum vizhiyaal kollaadhae”

Usage of matching initial consonants/vowels in consecutive lines ('Aadavar' / 'Ambenum').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

“Mangai un azhagai maadhar kandaalum / Mayangiduvaar konja neram”

Exaggerating her beauty to say even other women would faint upon seeing her, and advising her not to even look in the mirror.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from 'Kaathiruntha Kangal' (1962) was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics penned by Kannadasan and sung by P. B. Sreenivas. The movie stars Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, and Devika in lead roles.

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