Karpanaiyil Mithanthapadi
From Oru Kudumbathin Kathai · 1975
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Oru Kudumbathin Kathai1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi | Floating in imagination |
| Kanavugal valarnthapadi | As dreams continue to grow |
| Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal | The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling |
| Female | |
| Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi | Floating in imagination |
| Kanavugal valarnthapadi | As dreams continue to grow |
| Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal | The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling |
| Female | |
| Ival kaavalukku nindra kodi | This vine-like woman who stood as a guard |
| Kannirakkam maranthapadi | Forgetting all mercy and compassion |
| Kaavalukku nindra kodi | The vine-like woman who stood as a guard |
| Kannirakkam maranthapadi | Forgetting all mercy and compassion |
| Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal | Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow |
| Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal | Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow |
| Female | |
| Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi | Floating in imagination |
| Kanavugal valarnthapadi | As dreams continue to grow |
| Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal | The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling |
| Female | |
| Thaayaarin sumai ellaam | A mother's burden lasts |
| Aiyirandu maadham varai | Up to ten months of pregnancy |
| Thanthaiyin sumai ellaam | A father's burden lasts |
| Thaan iruntha kaalam varai | As long as his lifetime remains |
| Female | |
| Thaayaarin sumai ellaam | A mother's burden lasts |
| Aiyirandu maadham varai | Up to ten months of pregnancy |
| Thanthaiyin sumai ellaam | A father's burden lasts |
| Thaan iruntha kaalam varai | As long as his lifetime remains |
| Female | |
| Mannavan sumaiyellaam | A husband's burden lasts |
| Mooththaval vaazhnthavarai | Until the elder woman lives |
| Mannavan sumaiyellaam | A husband's burden lasts |
| Mooththaval vaazhnthavarai | Until the elder woman lives |
| Chinnaval sumaikalellaam | But for all the burdens of the younger girl |
| Ethanai kaalam varai | For how long will they last? |
| Ethanai kaalam varai | For how long will they last? |
| Female | |
| Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi | Floating in imagination |
| Kanavugal valarnthapadi | As dreams continue to grow |
| Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal | The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling |
| Female | |
| Thottu thottu eththanaiyo | One after another, touching upon her |
| Thollaigal vanthathammaa | How many troubles have arrived, oh dear |
| Kattupattu aththanaikkum | Abiding by all rules and constraints |
| Kanni manam nindrathammaaa | The maiden's heart stood firm, oh dear |
| Female | |
| Pattavarai pothumendru | Deciding that what she suffered is enough |
| Padaiththavan viduvaano | Will the Creator let her go? |
| Pattavarai pothumendru | Deciding that what she suffered is enough |
| Padaiththavan viduvaano | Will the Creator let her go? |
| Illai illai inumundu | "No, no, there is still more to come" |
| Endravan ninaippaano | Will He think like that instead? |
| Endravan ninaippaano | Will He think like that instead? |
| Female | |
| Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi | Floating in imagination |
| Kanavugal valarnthapadi | As dreams continue to grow |
| Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal | The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling |
| Female | |
| Ival kaavalukku nindra kodi | This vine-like woman who stood as a guard |
| Kannirakkam maranthapadi | Forgetting all mercy and compassion |
| Kaavalukku nindra kodi | The vine-like woman who stood as a guard |
| Kannirakkam maranthapadi | Forgetting all mercy and compassion |
| Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal | Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow |
| Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal | Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow |
கற்பனையில் மிதந்தபடி
கனவுகள் வளர்ந்தபடி
கண்ணுறங்கும் பருவக்கொடி சிரிக்கிறாள்
Floating in imagination
As dreams continue to grow
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
கற்பனையில் மிதந்தபடி
கனவுகள் வளர்ந்தபடி
கண்ணுறங்கும் பருவக்கொடி சிரிக்கிறாள்
Floating in imagination
As dreams continue to grow
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
இவள் காவலுக்கு நின்ற கொடி
கண்ணுறக்கம் மறந்தபடி
காவலுக்கு நின்ற கொடி
கண்ணுறக்கம் மறந்தபடி
கண்ணீரில் நனைந்தபடி துடிக்கிறாள்
கண்ணீரில் நனைந்தபடி துடிக்கிறாள்
This vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
The vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
கற்பனையில் மிதந்தபடி
கனவுகள் வளர்ந்தபடி
கண்ணுறங்கும் பருவக்கொடி சிரிக்கிறாள்
Floating in imagination
As dreams continue to grow
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
தாயாரின் சுமை எல்லாம்
ஐயிரண்டு மாதம் வரை
தந்தையின் சுமை எல்லாம்
தான் இருந்த காலம் வரை
A mother's burden lasts
Up to ten months of pregnancy
A father's burden lasts
As long as his lifetime remains
தாயாரின் சுமை எல்லாம்
ஐயிரண்டு மாதம் வரை
தந்தையின் சுமை எல்லாம்
தான் இருந்த காலம் வரை
A mother's burden lasts
Up to ten months of pregnancy
A father's burden lasts
As long as his lifetime remains
மன்னவன் சுமையெல்லாம்
மூத்தவள் வாழ்ந்தவரை
மன்னவன் சுமையெல்லாம்
மூத்தவள் வாழ்ந்தவரை
சின்னவள் சுமைகளெல்லாம்
எத்தனை காலம் வரை
எத்தனை காலம் வரை
A husband's burden lasts
Until the elder woman lives
A husband's burden lasts
Until the elder woman lives
But for all the burdens of the younger girl
For how long will they last?
For how long will they last?
கற்பனையில் மிதந்தபடி
கனவுகள் வளர்ந்தபடி
கண்ணுறங்கும் பருவக்கொடி சிரிக்கிறாள்
Floating in imagination
As dreams continue to grow
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
தொட்டு தொட்டு எத்தனையோ
தொல்லைகள் வந்ததம்மா
கட்டுப்பட்டு அத்தனைக்கும்
கன்னிமனம் நின்றதம்மா
One after another, touching upon her
How many troubles have arrived, oh dear
Abiding by all rules and constraints
The maiden's heart stood firm, oh dear
தொட்டு தொட்டு எத்தனையோ
தொல்லைகள் வந்ததம்மா
கட்டுப்பட்டு அத்தனைக்கும்
கன்னிமனம் நின்றதம்மா
Deciding that what she suffered is enough
Will the Creator let her go?
Deciding that what she suffered is enough
Will the Creator let her go?
"No, no, there is still more to come"
Will He think like that instead?
Will He think like that instead?
பட்டவரை போதுமென்று
படைத்தவன் விடுவானோ
பட்டவரை போதுமென்று
படைத்தவன் விடுவானோ
இல்லை இல்லை இன்னுமுண்டு
என்றவன் நினைப்பானோ
என்றவன் நினைப்பானோ
Floating in imagination
As dreams continue to grow
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
கற்பனையில் மிதந்தபடி
கனவுகள் வளர்ந்தபடி
கண்ணுறங்கும் பருவக்கொடி சிரிக்கிறாள்
This vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
The vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
இவள் காவலுக்கு நின்ற கொடி
கண்ணுறக்கம் மறந்தபடி
காவலுக்கு நின்ற கொடி
கண்ணுறக்கம் மறந்தபடி
கண்ணீரில் நனைந்தபடி துடிக்கிறாள்
கண்ணீரில் நனைந்தபடி துடிக்கிறாள்
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Floating in imagination
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
As dreams continue to grow
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Floating in imagination
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
As dreams continue to grow
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
Ival kaavalukku nindra kodi
This vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
Kaavalukku nindra kodi
The vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Floating in imagination
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
As dreams continue to grow
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
Thaayaarin sumai ellaam
A mother's burden lasts
Aiyirandu maadham varai
Up to ten months of pregnancy
Thanthaiyin sumai ellaam
A father's burden lasts
Thaan iruntha kaalam varai
As long as his lifetime remains
Thaayaarin sumai ellaam
A mother's burden lasts
Aiyirandu maadham varai
Up to ten months of pregnancy
Thanthaiyin sumai ellaam
A father's burden lasts
Thaan iruntha kaalam varai
As long as his lifetime remains
Mannavan sumaiyellaam
A husband's burden lasts
Mooththaval vaazhnthavarai
Until the elder woman lives
Mannavan sumaiyellaam
A husband's burden lasts
Mooththaval vaazhnthavarai
Until the elder woman lives
Chinnaval sumaikalellaam
But for all the burdens of the younger girl
Ethanai kaalam varai
For how long will they last?
Ethanai kaalam varai
For how long will they last?
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Floating in imagination
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
As dreams continue to grow
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
Thottu thottu eththanaiyo
One after another, touching upon her
Thollaigal vanthathammaa
How many troubles have arrived, oh dear
Kattupattu aththanaikkum
Abiding by all rules and constraints
Kanni manam nindrathammaaa
The maiden's heart stood firm, oh dear
Pattavarai pothumendru
Deciding that what she suffered is enough
Padaiththavan viduvaano
Will the Creator let her go?
Pattavarai pothumendru
Deciding that what she suffered is enough
Padaiththavan viduvaano
Will the Creator let her go?
Illai illai inumundu
"No, no, there is still more to come"
Endravan ninaippaano
Will He think like that instead?
Endravan ninaippaano
Will He think like that instead?
Karpanaiyil mithanthapadi
Floating in imagination
Kanavugal valarnthapadi
As dreams continue to grow
Kannurangum paruvakodi sirikkiraal
The young creeper-like woman who sleeps is smiling
Ival kaavalukku nindra kodi
This vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
Kaavalukku nindra kodi
The vine-like woman who stood as a guard
Kannirakkam maranthapadi
Forgetting all mercy and compassion
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
Kanneeril nanainthapadi thudikkiraal
Drenched in tears, she quivers in sorrow
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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