Karaiyeru Meen Vilaiyaadum
From Thirumal Perumai · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thirumal Perumai1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kodi yeri puli vilaiyaada | As the tiger flag flies high and sways, |
| Kundraeri pugazh vilaiyaada | As fame climbs the hilltops and flourishes, |
| Female | |
| Kodi yeri puli vilaiyaada | As the tiger flag flies high and sways, |
| Kundraeri pugazh vilaiyaada | As fame climbs the hilltops and flourishes, |
| Female | |
| Madi yeri mazhalaiyar aadum | Where toddlers climb onto laps and play, |
| Mannavan vaazhga | Long live the king! |
| Female | |
| Ponnai maraiyaamal vaari vazhangum | Who generously bestows gold without withholding any, |
| Thennavan vaazhga | Long live the ruler of the South! |
| Male | |
| Konjum thamizhil pulavargal | As poets in lisping, sweet Tamil, |
| Kavidhai paada | Sing elegant poetry, |
| Female | |
| Dhaadhaa nidhani panidhamaapa | Dha-dha ni-dha-ni pa-ni-dha-ma-pa, |
| Gamani dhaadhaa | Ga-ma-ni dha-dha, |
| Female | |
| Gopura kalaiyin sirpangal nadanamaada | As sculptures of temple tower artistry perform dance, |
| Female | |
| Neenineeni nisa dhasaneedha | Ni-ni-ni-ni ni-sa dha-sa-ni-dha, |
| Manidha saasaa | Ma-ni-dha sa-sa, |
| Female | |
| Anjum pagaivar anji nadungi oda | As fearful enemies run away trembling in dread, |
| Female | |
| Reeree gariga sagari nirisa dhani sagaree | Ri-ri ga-ri-ga sa-ga-ri ni-ri-sa dha-ni sa-ga-ri, |
| Female | |
| Vaazhiya needu | May you live long for ages, |
| Female | |
| Kaaviri naadu | O fertile land of Kaveri! |
| Female | |
| Rathina magudam | Adorned with a ruby crown, |
| Female | |
| Navamaniyodu | Along with nine precious gems, |
| Female | |
| Naal vagai saenai | Possessing a four-fold army, |
| Female | |
| Nalam perum naadu | A land rich in prosperity, |
| Female | |
| Kanniyar idaiyum vanna kodiyum | The slender waists of maidens and colorful flags, |
| Female | |
| Annam pol varum azhagiya nadaiyum | And beautiful walks graceful like a swan, |
| Female | |
| Thendralilaadum thennavan naadu | Sway in the gentle breeze of the Southern King's land, |
| Female | |
| Thithitthirukkum muthamizh naadu | The sweet land of three-fold Tamil, |
| Female | |
| Vaazhiya needu | May you live long for ages, |
| Female | |
| Kaaviri naadu | O fertile land of Kaveri! |
கரையேறி மீன் விளையாடும்
காவிரி நாடு
எங்கள் உறையூரின் காவலனே
நீ வாழிய நீடு
கரையேறி மீன் விளையாடும்
காவிரி நாடு
எங்கள் உறையூரின் காவலனே
நீ வாழிய நீடு
As the tiger flag flies high and sways,
As fame climbs the hilltops and flourishes,
கொடியேற்றி புலி விளையாட
குன்றேறி புகழ் விளையாட
As the tiger flag flies high and sways,
As fame climbs the hilltops and flourishes,
கொடியேற்றி புலி விளையாட
குன்றேறி புகழ் விளையாட
Where toddlers climb onto laps and play,
Long live the king!
மடியேறி மழலையர் ஆடும்
மன்னவன் வாழ்க
Who generously bestows gold without withholding any,
Long live the ruler of the South!
பொன்னை மறையாமல் வாரி வழங்கும்
தென்னவன் வாழ்க
As poets in lisping, sweet Tamil,
Sing elegant poetry,
கரையேறி மீன் விளையாடும்
காவிரி நாடு
எங்கள் உறையூரின் காவலனே
நீ வாழிய நீடு
Dha-dha ni-dha-ni pa-ni-dha-ma-pa,
Ga-ma-ni dha-dha,
கொஞ்சும் தமிழ் புலவர்கள்
கவிதை பாட
As sculptures of temple tower artistry perform dance,
தாதா நிதநி பநிதமபா
கமநி தாதா
Ni-ni-ni-ni ni-sa dha-sa-ni-dha,
Ma-ni-dha sa-sa,
கோபுரக் கலையில் சிற்பங்கள் நடனமாட
As fearful enemies run away trembling in dread,
நீநிநீநி நிஸ தசநீத
மநித சாசா
Ri-ri ga-ri-ga sa-ga-ri ni-ri-sa dha-ni sa-ga-ri,
அஞ்சும் பகைவர் அஞ்சி நடுங்கி ஓட
May you live long for ages,
ரீரீ கரிக ஸகரி நிரிஸ தநி ஸகரி
O fertile land of Kaveri!
அன்னக் கொடியார் மங்கலம் பாட
Adorned with a ruby crown,
வாழிய நீடு
Along with nine precious gems,
காவிரி நாடு
Possessing a four-fold army,
கரையேறி மீன் விளையாடும்
காவிரி நாடு
எங்கள் உறையூரின் காவலனே
நீ வாழிய நீடு
A land rich in prosperity,
முத்து பந்தல் பட்டி மண்டபம்
முன்னும் பின்னும் மரகத வாசல்
The slender waists of maidens and colorful flags,
இரத்தின மகுடம்
And beautiful walks graceful like a swan,
நவமணியோடு
Sway in the gentle breeze of the Southern King's land,
நால்வகை சேனை
The sweet land of three-fold Tamil,
நலம் பெறும் நாடு
May you live long for ages,
கன்னியர் இடையும் வண்ணக் கொடியும்
O fertile land of Kaveri!
அன்னம்போல் வரும் அழகிய நடையும்
தென்றலில் ஆடும் தென்னவன் நாடு
தித்தித்திருக்கும் முத்தமிழ் வீடு
வாழிய நீடு
காவிரி நாடு
வாழிய நீடு
காவிரி நாடு
{கரையேறி மீன் விளையாடும்
காவிரி நாடு
எங்கள் உறையூரின் காவலனே
நீ வாழிய நீடு} (2)
Kodi yeri puli vilaiyaada
As the tiger flag flies high and sways,
Kundraeri pugazh vilaiyaada
As fame climbs the hilltops and flourishes,
Kodi yeri puli vilaiyaada
As the tiger flag flies high and sways,
Kundraeri pugazh vilaiyaada
As fame climbs the hilltops and flourishes,
Madi yeri mazhalaiyar aadum
Where toddlers climb onto laps and play,
Mannavan vaazhga
Long live the king!
Ponnai maraiyaamal vaari vazhangum
Who generously bestows gold without withholding any,
Thennavan vaazhga
Long live the ruler of the South!
Konjum thamizhil pulavargal
As poets in lisping, sweet Tamil,
Kavidhai paada
Sing elegant poetry,
Dhaadhaa nidhani panidhamaapa
Dha-dha ni-dha-ni pa-ni-dha-ma-pa,
Gamani dhaadhaa
Ga-ma-ni dha-dha,
Gopura kalaiyin sirpangal nadanamaada
As sculptures of temple tower artistry perform dance,
Neenineeni nisa dhasaneedha
Ni-ni-ni-ni ni-sa dha-sa-ni-dha,
Manidha saasaa
Ma-ni-dha sa-sa,
Anjum pagaivar anji nadungi oda
As fearful enemies run away trembling in dread,
Reeree gariga sagari nirisa dhani sagaree
Ri-ri ga-ri-ga sa-ga-ri ni-ri-sa dha-ni sa-ga-ri,
Vaazhiya needu
May you live long for ages,
Kaaviri naadu
O fertile land of Kaveri!
Rathina magudam
Adorned with a ruby crown,
Navamaniyodu
Along with nine precious gems,
Naal vagai saenai
Possessing a four-fold army,
Nalam perum naadu
A land rich in prosperity,
Kanniyar idaiyum vanna kodiyum
The slender waists of maidens and colorful flags,
Annam pol varum azhagiya nadaiyum
And beautiful walks graceful like a swan,
Thendralilaadum thennavan naadu
Sway in the gentle breeze of the Southern King's land,
Thithitthirukkum muthamizh naadu
The sweet land of three-fold Tamil,
Vaazhiya needu
May you live long for ages,
Kaaviri naadu
O fertile land of Kaveri!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a grand panegyric praising a king and the eternal glory of his kingdom along the Kaveri river. It depicts a prosperous, culturally vibrant realm where royal tiger flags flutter high, children play happily on their parents' laps, and poets compose sweet Tamil verse. The king is celebrated for his boundless charity, his formidable army that strikes terror in enemies, and his patronage of temple arts and architecture. Interspersed with Carnatic solfa syllables (swaras), the lyrics capture the rhythm, beauty, and grace of the Southern land. Kannadasan weaves together imagery of nature, art, divine music, and martial strength, concluding with a prayer for the everlasting endurance and flourishing of the Kaveri region.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Annam pol varum azhagiya nadaiyum”
Compares the graceful walk of maidens to that of a swan ('Annam pol').
Initial Alliteration (Monaai)
“Madi yeri mazhalaiyar aadum / Mannavan vaazhga”
Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across words ('Madi', 'mazhalaiyar', 'Mannavan').
Swaraksharam / Musical Solkattu Integration
“Dhaadhaa nidhani panidhamaapa”
Integration of rhythmic Carnatic musical notation (swaras) as poetic verse structure.
Anaphora / Refrain
“Vaazhiya needu / Kaaviri naadu”
Repetition of benedictory lines celebrating the land and king ('Vaazhiya needu / Kaaviri naadu').
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed with unknown credits in some song indexes, 'Thirumal Perumai' (1968) features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by the celebrated poet Kannadasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya in lead roles.
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