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Oru Kudumbathin Kathai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Karpanaiyil Mithanthapadi

From Oru Kudumbathin Kathai · 1975

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Oru Kudumbathin Kathai
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
4 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
Ival kaavalukku nindra kodi
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Kaavalukku nindra kodi
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
Thaayaarin sumai ellaam
Aiyirandu maadham varai
Thanthaiyin sumai ellaam
Thaan iruntha kaalam varai
Thaayaarin sumai ellaam
Aiyirandu maadham varai
Thanthaiyin sumai ellaam
Thaan iruntha kaalam varai
Mannavan sumaiyellaam
Mooththaval vaazhnthavarai
Mannavan sumaiyellaam
Mooththaval vaazhnthavarai
Chinnaval sumaikalellaam
Ethanai kaalam varai
Ethanai kaalam varai
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
Thottu thottu eththanaiyo
Thollaigal vanthathammaa
Kattupattu aththanaikkum
Kanni manam nindrathammaaa
Pattavarai pothumendru
Padaiththavan viduvaano
Pattavarai pothumendru
Padaiththavan viduvaano
Illai illai inumundu
Endravan ninaippaano
Endravan ninaippaano
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
Ival kaavalukku nindra kodi
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Kaavalukku nindra kodi
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Floating in her imagination,
as her dreams keep growing,
the sleeping young girl smiles.
Floating in her imagination,
as her dreams keep growing,
the sleeping young girl smiles.
The one standing guard over her,
with mercy nowhere to be found,
the one standing guard over her,
with mercy nowhere to be found,
trembles, soaked in tears.
Trembles, soaked in tears.
Floating in her imagination,
as her dreams keep growing,
the sleeping young girl smiles.
A mother's burden lasts
only for ten months.
A father's burden lasts
only as long as he lives.
A mother's burden lasts
only for ten months.
A father's burden lasts
only as long as he lives.
A husband's burden lasted
only while the elder sister lived.
A husband's burden lasted
only while the elder sister lived.
How long will the burdens
of this younger sister go on?
For how long will they go on?
Floating in her imagination,
as her dreams keep growing,
the sleeping young girl smiles.
One after another,
so many troubles came.
Bearing it all,
her innocent heart stood strong.
Thinking she has suffered enough,
will the Creator let her be?
Thinking she has suffered enough,
will the Creator let her be?
Or will He think,
"No, no, there is more to come"?
Will He think that instead?
Floating in her imagination,
as her dreams keep growing,
the sleeping young girl smiles.
The one standing guard over her,
with mercy nowhere to be found,
the one standing guard over her,
with mercy nowhere to be found,
trembles, soaked in tears.
Trembles, soaked in tears.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi' expresses the emotional turmoil and selfless sacrifices of a young woman within a family context. It contrasts her innocent, cheerful dreams with the harsh reality of her heavy burdens and endless troubles. The lyrics philosophically evaluate the finite nature of various family members' burdens—a mother's burden lasts ten months during pregnancy, a father's lasts his lifetime, and a husband's lasts as long as his elder family obligations—and poignantly questions how long a young woman must endure her endless sorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

“Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi / Kanavugal valarnthapadi”

Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' across consecutive words and lines (Karpanaiyil, Kanavugal, Kannurangum, Kaavalukku, Kanneeril) creates a rhythmic phonetic melody.

Metaphor (Uvameyam)

“Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal”

Comparing the young woman to a delicate climbing vine ('paruvakodi', 'kodi'), highlighting her vulnerability, grace, and dependence on support.

Rhetorical Question

“Ethanai kaalam varai / Padaiththavan viduvaano”

The lyricist uses rhetorical questions to emphasize the cruelty of fate and highlight the unending suffering faced by the protagonist.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Kudumbathin Kathai' (1975) featured music by the veteran duo Shankar-Ganesh and showcased P. Susheela's melancholic vocal rendering, which perfectly suited Vaali's introspective and emotional verse structure.

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