Karuneela Malai
From Thaaye Unakkaga · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thaaye Unakkaga1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal | The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain, |
| Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan | While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir. |
| Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal | She waited, yearning for her son to return, |
| Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal | Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently. |
| Male | |
| Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal | The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain, |
| Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan | While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir. |
| Male | |
| Paaloottum podhilaval ninaithaala | Did she imagine this while nursing him with milk? |
| Pillai bharatham kaakkum endru valarthaala | Did she raise him knowing her child would defend India? |
| Paaloottum podhilaval ninaithaala | Did she imagine this while nursing him with milk? |
| Pillai bharatham kaakkum endru valarthaala | Did she raise him knowing her child would defend India? |
| Male | |
| Thaalattu paatil adhai isaithaala | Did she compose that vision into her lullaby songs? |
| Pillai thaainaadu kaakum endru padithaala | Did she sing that her child would protect the motherland? |
| Thaalattu paatil adhai isaithaala | Did she compose that vision into her lullaby songs? |
| Pillai thaainaadu kaakum endru padithaala | Did she sing that her child would protect the motherland? |
| Male | |
| Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal | She waited, yearning for her son to return, |
| Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal | Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently. |
| Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal | The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain, |
| Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan | While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir. |
| Male | |
| Kunguma poopoondra manamagalai | A bride as delicate and bright as a saffron flower, |
| Than kulathukku vaazhvu tharum marumagalai | A daughter-in-law who would bring prosperity to her lineage, |
| Kunguma poopoondra manamagalai | A bride as delicate and bright as a saffron flower, |
| Than kulathukku vaazhvu tharum marumagalai | A daughter-in-law who would bring prosperity to her lineage, |
| Male | |
| Kannaara kaanbatharkku vaadi nindraal | She withered away longing to see her with her own eyes, |
| Andha kanavodu thaan ulagil vaazhnthirunthaal | She lived in this world holding on to that single dream. |
| Kannaara kaanbatharkku vaadi nindraal | She withered away longing to see her with her own eyes, |
| Andha kanavodu thaan ulagil vaazhnthirunthaal | She lived in this world holding on to that single dream. |
| Male | |
| Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal | She waited, yearning for her son to return, |
| Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal | Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently. |
| Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal | The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain, |
| Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan | While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir. |
| Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal | She waited, yearning for her son to return, |
| Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal | Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently. |
கருநீல மலை மேலே தாயிருந்தாள்
காஷ்மீரப் பனிமலையில் மகன் இருந்தான்
வர வேண்டும் பிள்ளை என்று காத்திருந்தாள்
வழி மீது விழி வைத்து பார்த்திருந்தாள்
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
கருநீல மலை மேலே தாயிருந்தாள்
காஷ்மீரப் பனிமலையில் மகன் இருந்தான்
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
பாலூட்டும் போதிலவள் நினைத்தாளா
பிள்ளை பாரதம் காக்குமென்று வளர்த்தாளா
பாலூட்டும் போதிலவள் நினைத்தாளா
பிள்ளை பாரதம் காக்குமென்று வளர்த்தாளா
Did she imagine this while nursing him with milk?
Did she raise him knowing her child would defend India?
Did she imagine this while nursing him with milk?
Did she raise him knowing her child would defend India?
தாலாட்டுப் பாட்டிலதை இசைத்தாளா
பிள்ளை தாய்நாடு காக்குமென்று படித்தாளா
தாலாட்டுப் பாட்டிலதை இசைத்தாளா
பிள்ளை தாய்நாடு காக்குமென்று படித்தாளா
Did she compose that vision into her lullaby songs?
Did she sing that her child would protect the motherland?
Did she compose that vision into her lullaby songs?
Did she sing that her child would protect the motherland?
வர வேண்டும் பிள்ளை என்று காத்திருந்தாள்
வழி மீது விழி வைத்து பார்த்திருந்தாள்
கருநீல மலை மேலே தாயிருந்தாள்
காஷ்மீரப் பனிமலையில் மகன் இருந்தான்
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
குங்குமப் பூப்போன்ற மணமகளை
தன் குலத்துக்கு வாழ்வு தரும் மருமகளை
குங்குமப் பூப்போன்ற மணமகளை
தன் குலத்துக்கு வாழ்வு தரும் மருமகளை
A bride as delicate and bright as a saffron flower,
A daughter-in-law who would bring prosperity to her lineage,
A bride as delicate and bright as a saffron flower,
A daughter-in-law who would bring prosperity to her lineage,
கண்ணாரக் காண்பதற்கு வாடி நின்றாள்
அந்த கனவோடு தான் உலகில் வாழ்ந்திருந்தாள்
கண்ணாரக் காண்பதற்கு வாடி நின்றாள்
அந்த கனவோடு தான் உலகில் வாழ்ந்திருந்தாள்
She withered away longing to see her with her own eyes,
She lived in this world holding on to that single dream.
She withered away longing to see her with her own eyes,
She lived in this world holding on to that single dream.
வர வேண்டும் பிள்ளை என்று காத்திருந்தாள்
வழி மீது விழி வைத்து பார்த்திருந்தாள்
கருநீல மலை மேலே தாயிருந்தாள்
காஷ்மீரப் பனிமலையில் மகன் இருந்தான்
வர வேண்டும் பிள்ளை என்று காத்திருந்தாள்
வழி மீது விழி வைத்து பார்த்திருந்தாள்
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
Paaloottum podhilaval ninaithaala
Did she imagine this while nursing him with milk?
Pillai bharatham kaakkum endru valarthaala
Did she raise him knowing her child would defend India?
Paaloottum podhilaval ninaithaala
Did she imagine this while nursing him with milk?
Pillai bharatham kaakkum endru valarthaala
Did she raise him knowing her child would defend India?
Thaalattu paatil adhai isaithaala
Did she compose that vision into her lullaby songs?
Pillai thaainaadu kaakum endru padithaala
Did she sing that her child would protect the motherland?
Thaalattu paatil adhai isaithaala
Did she compose that vision into her lullaby songs?
Pillai thaainaadu kaakum endru padithaala
Did she sing that her child would protect the motherland?
Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
Kunguma poopoondra manamagalai
A bride as delicate and bright as a saffron flower,
Than kulathukku vaazhvu tharum marumagalai
A daughter-in-law who would bring prosperity to her lineage,
Kunguma poopoondra manamagalai
A bride as delicate and bright as a saffron flower,
Than kulathukku vaazhvu tharum marumagalai
A daughter-in-law who would bring prosperity to her lineage,
Kannaara kaanbatharkku vaadi nindraal
She withered away longing to see her with her own eyes,
Andha kanavodu thaan ulagil vaazhnthirunthaal
She lived in this world holding on to that single dream.
Kannaara kaanbatharkku vaadi nindraal
She withered away longing to see her with her own eyes,
Andha kanavodu thaan ulagil vaazhnthirunthaal
She lived in this world holding on to that single dream.
Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal
The mother lived atop the dark blue mountain,
Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan
While her son stayed in the snowy mountains of Kashmir.
Vara vendum pillai endru kaathirunthaal
She waited, yearning for her son to return,
Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal
Fixing her eyes upon the path, watching intently.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Karuneela Malai Melae' expresses the poignant contrast between a mother's quiet life in the Nilgiris ('dark blue mountains') and her son's brave service stationed in the freezing border mountains of Kashmir. Through reflective questions, lyricist Kannadasan asks whether the mother intuitively foresaw her son's patriotic calling when she nursed him or sang him lullabies, instilling in him a sense of duty toward Mother India. Alongside her pride is her heartbreaking sacrifice: she longs to see her son return and settle down with a virtuous bride, holding onto this simple domestic dream even as she waits endlessly by the path. Seerkazhi Govindarajan's powerful vocals elevate the emotional weight, blending maternal affection with patriotic honor.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile / Metaphor (Upama / Uwamai)
“Kunguma poopoondra manamagalai Vidhu tharum marumagalai Kaividalamaa...”
Poetic device
“Kunguma poopoondra manamagalai”
Compares the prospective bride to a saffron flower ('Kunguma poo'), symbolizing purity, beauty, and auspicious new beginnings for the family.
Idiomatic Visual Imagery (Atiporut-todar)
“Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal”
Poetic device
“Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu paarthirunthaal”
The phrase 'Vazhi meedhu vizhi vaithu' literally means placing one's eyes on the path, a deeply poetic Tamil idiom expressing eager and ceaseless anticipation.
Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaa Alangaaram)
“Paaloottum podhilaval ninaithaala / Pillai bharatham kaakkum endru valarthaala”
Poetic device
“Paaloottum podhilaval ninaithaala”
Kannadasan employs rhetorical questions to ponder maternal instinct and the noble destiny of a soldier's mother.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal / Kashmira pani malaiyil magan irundhaan”
Poetic device
“Karuneela malai melae thaai irundhaal”
Juxtaposes the warm dark blue hills of South India where the mother resides with the freezing snow-capped mountains of Kashmir in the North where the soldier son serves.
Did you know?
Trivia
Released during a period marked by regional border conflicts in the 1960s, 'Thaaye Unakkaga' (1965) was a deeply patriotic film. This song gained immense popularity across Tamil Nadu for stirring nationalistic sentiment while keeping maternal sacrifice at its core, expertly rendered by legendary singer Seerkazhi Govindarajan under K. V. Mahadevan's music direction.
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