Kathadichi Ilai Vizhuntha
From Sonnathai Seiven · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Sonnathai Seiven1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa…. | If a leaf falls when the wind blows... |
| Kaaththoda sakthi illae | It is not because of the wind's strength. |
| Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa…. | If a leaf falls when the wind blows... |
| Kaaththoda sakthi illae | It is not because of the wind's strength. |
| Ilai iruntha iruppu athu thangachi | The leaf was already about to fall, little sister, |
| Nee yaeththukkalae thoththuvidum un katchi | Accept this reality, or your side will lose. |
| Male | |
| Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa…. | If a leaf falls when the wind blows... |
| Kaaththoda sakthi illae | It is not because of the wind's strength. |
| Male | |
| Aagaayaththai paaththu suttu | If you shoot aimlessly into the sky |
| Adhula oru kili vizhunthaa | And a bird happens to fall from it, |
| Appuramaa sutomunny perillae | It doesn't mean you are an expert marksman; |
| Adhai adhirshtamunnu solluvaanga oorilae | The town will simply call it pure luck. |
| Male | |
| Unakku vantha neramathu uchaththula vachchathadi | Good times came for you and elevated you to the peak, girl, |
| Avanukkoru neram varum paaththukko | His time will come too, just watch. |
| Appo avan koduththa adhaiyum | When he pays it back then, |
| Neeyum vaangikko | You too will have to receive it. |
| Male | |
| Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa…. | If a leaf falls when the wind blows... |
| Kaaththoda sakthi illae | It is not because of the wind's strength. |
| Male | |
| Kovilukkul kulaththa vachchi | Keeping a pond enclosed inside a temple, |
| Kudaththukkullae vilakka vachci | Hiding a burning lamp inside a pot, |
| Saaththuvathil magimai illae therinjukko | There is no greatness in keeping them concealed, realize this. |
| Adhai yaeththinaaththaan perumai varum purinjukko | Only when lit up and revealed will true honor come, understand this. |
| Male | |
| Gandhi mahan sirai irunthaar | The great Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned, |
| Kannan avan adhil piranthaan | Lord Krishna was born in a prison, |
| Gandhi mahan sirai irunthaar | The great Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned, |
| Kannan avan adhil piranthaan | Lord Krishna was born in a prison, |
| Gandhiyoda kannan enna thirudanaa | Are Gandhi and Krishna thieves just because of that? |
| Antha kadavul enna unnai pola kurudanaa | Is God blind like you? |
| Male | |
| Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa…. | If a leaf falls when the wind blows... |
| Kaaththoda sakthi illae | It is not because of the wind's strength. |
| Male | |
| Poi solli jeyichavarum | Those who won by telling lies, |
| Poli porulai vittravarum | Those who sold counterfeit goods, |
| Ayyanidam oru samayam poganum | Must face the Almighty Lord one day, |
| Appo avaridamthaan kanakku solli aaganum | And they will have to give an account to Him. |
| Male | |
| Poi solli jeyichavarum | Those who won by telling lies, |
| Poli porulai vittravarum | Those who sold counterfeit goods, |
| Ayyanidam oru samayam poganum | Must face the Almighty Lord one day, |
| Appo avaridamthaan kanakku solli aaganum | And they will have to give an account to Him. |
| Male | |
| Aaththukkullae thangangalai | If someone throws handfuls of gold |
| Alli alli pottuvittaal | Into the middle of a river, |
| Pottavanthaan edukka venum | Only the person who dropped it can retrieve it. |
| Keladi paava punniyaththai nampugira bhoomidi | Listen girl, this is a world that believes in sin and virtue. |
| Male | |
| Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa…. | If a leaf falls when the wind blows... |
| Kaaththoda sakthi illae | It is not because of the wind's strength. |
| Ilai iruntha iruppu athu thangachi | The leaf was already about to fall, little sister, |
| Nee yaeththukkalae thoththuvidum un katchi | Accept this reality, or your side will lose. |
| Ilai iruntha iruppu athu thangachi | The leaf was already about to fall, little sister, |
| Nee yaeththukkalae thoththuvidum un katchi | Accept this reality, or your side will lose. |
காத்தடிச்சி இலை விழுந்தா....ஆ.....
காத்தோட சக்தி இல்லே
காத்தடிச்சி இலை விழுந்தா....ஆ.....
காத்தோட சக்தி இல்லே
இலை இருந்த இருப்பு அது தங்கச்சி
நீ ஏத்துக்கலே தோத்துவிடும் உன் கட்சி
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
It is not because of the wind's strength.
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
It is not because of the wind's strength.
The leaf was already about to fall, little sister,
Accept this reality, or your side will lose.
காத்தடிச்சி இலை விழுந்தா....ஆ.....
காத்தோட சக்தி இல்லே
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
It is not because of the wind's strength.
ஆகாயத்தை பாத்து சுட்டு
அதுல ஒரு கிளி விழுந்தா
அப்புறமா சுட்டோமுன்னு பேரில்லே
அதை அதிர்ஷ்டமுன்னு சொல்லுவாங்க ஊரிலே
If you shoot aimlessly into the sky
And a bird happens to fall from it,
It doesn't mean you are an expert marksman;
The town will simply call it pure luck.
உனக்கு வந்த நேரமது உச்சத்துல வச்சதடி
அவனுக்கொரு நேரம் வரும் பாத்துக்கோ
அப்போ அவன் கொடுத்த அதையும்
நீயும் வாங்கிக்கோ
Good times came for you and elevated you to the peak, girl,
His time will come too, just watch.
When he pays it back then,
You too will have to receive it.
காத்தடிச்சி இலை விழுந்தா....ஆ.....
காத்தோட சக்தி இல்லே
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
It is not because of the wind's strength.
கோவிலுக்குள் குளத்த வச்சி
குடத்துக்குள்ளே விளக்க வச்சி
சாத்துவதில் மகிமை இல்லே தெரிஞ்சுக்கோ
அதை ஏத்தினாத்தான் பெருமை வரும் புரிஞ்சுக்கோ
Keeping a pond enclosed inside a temple,
Hiding a burning lamp inside a pot,
There is no greatness in keeping them concealed, realize this.
Only when lit up and revealed will true honor come, understand this.
காந்தி மகான் சிறை இருந்தார்
கண்ணன் அவன் அதில் பிறந்தான்
காந்தி மகான் சிறை இருந்தார்
கண்ணன் அவன் அதில் பிறந்தான்
காந்தியோட கண்ணன் என்ன திருடனா
அந்தக் கடவுள் என்ன உன்னைப் போல குருடனா
The great Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned,
Lord Krishna was born in a prison,
The great Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned,
Lord Krishna was born in a prison,
Are Gandhi and Krishna thieves just because of that?
Is God blind like you?
காத்தடிச்சி இலை விழுந்தா....ஆ.....
காத்தோட சக்தி இல்லே
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
It is not because of the wind's strength.
பொய் சொல்லி ஜெயிச்சவரும்
போலி பொருளை விற்றவரும்
அய்யனிடம் ஒரு சமயம் போகணும்
அப்போ அவரிடம்தான் கணக்கு சொல்லி ஆகணும்
Those who won by telling lies,
Those who sold counterfeit goods,
Must face the Almighty Lord one day,
And they will have to give an account to Him.
பொய் சொல்லி ஜெயிச்சவரும்
போலி பொருளை விற்றவரும்
அய்யனிடம் ஒரு சமயம் போகணும்
அப்போ அவரிடம்தான் கணக்கு சொல்லி ஆகணும்
Those who won by telling lies,
Those who sold counterfeit goods,
Must face the Almighty Lord one day,
And they will have to give an account to Him.
ஆத்துக்குள்ளே தங்கங்களை
அள்ளி அள்ளி போட்டுவிட்டால்
போட்டவன்தான் எடுக்க வேணும்
கேளடி பாவ புண்ணியத்தை நம்புகிற பூமிடி
If someone throws handfuls of gold
Into the middle of a river,
Only the person who dropped it can retrieve it.
Listen girl, this is a world that believes in sin and virtue.
காத்தடிச்சி இலை விழுந்தா....ஆ.....
காத்தோட சக்தி இல்லே
இலை இருந்த இருப்பு அது தங்கச்சி
நீ ஏத்துக்கலே தோத்துவிடும் உன் கட்சி
இலை இருந்த இருப்பு அது தங்கச்சி
நீ ஏத்துக்கலே தோத்துவிடும் உன் கட்சி
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
It is not because of the wind's strength.
The leaf was already about to fall, little sister,
Accept this reality, or your side will lose.
The leaf was already about to fall, little sister,
Accept this reality, or your side will lose.
Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa….
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
Kaaththoda sakthi illae
It is not because of the wind's strength.
Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa….
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
Kaaththoda sakthi illae
It is not because of the wind's strength.
Ilai iruntha iruppu athu thangachi
The leaf was already about to fall, little sister,
Nee yaeththukkalae thoththuvidum un katchi
Accept this reality, or your side will lose.
Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa….
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
Kaaththoda sakthi illae
It is not because of the wind's strength.
Aagaayaththai paaththu suttu
If you shoot aimlessly into the sky
Adhula oru kili vizhunthaa
And a bird happens to fall from it,
Appuramaa sutomunny perillae
It doesn't mean you are an expert marksman;
Adhai adhirshtamunnu solluvaanga oorilae
The town will simply call it pure luck.
Unakku vantha neramathu uchaththula vachchathadi
Good times came for you and elevated you to the peak, girl,
Avanukkoru neram varum paaththukko
His time will come too, just watch.
Appo avan koduththa adhaiyum
When he pays it back then,
Neeyum vaangikko
You too will have to receive it.
Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa….
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
Kaaththoda sakthi illae
It is not because of the wind's strength.
Kovilukkul kulaththa vachchi
Keeping a pond enclosed inside a temple,
Kudaththukkullae vilakka vachci
Hiding a burning lamp inside a pot,
Saaththuvathil magimai illae therinjukko
There is no greatness in keeping them concealed, realize this.
Adhai yaeththinaaththaan perumai varum purinjukko
Only when lit up and revealed will true honor come, understand this.
Gandhi mahan sirai irunthaar
The great Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned,
Kannan avan adhil piranthaan
Lord Krishna was born in a prison,
Gandhi mahan sirai irunthaar
The great Mahatma Gandhi was imprisoned,
Kannan avan adhil piranthaan
Lord Krishna was born in a prison,
Gandhiyoda kannan enna thirudanaa
Are Gandhi and Krishna thieves just because of that?
Antha kadavul enna unnai pola kurudanaa
Is God blind like you?
Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa….
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
Kaaththoda sakthi illae
It is not because of the wind's strength.
Poi solli jeyichavarum
Those who won by telling lies,
Poli porulai vittravarum
Those who sold counterfeit goods,
Ayyanidam oru samayam poganum
Must face the Almighty Lord one day,
Appo avaridamthaan kanakku solli aaganum
And they will have to give an account to Him.
Poi solli jeyichavarum
Those who won by telling lies,
Poli porulai vittravarum
Those who sold counterfeit goods,
Ayyanidam oru samayam poganum
Must face the Almighty Lord one day,
Appo avaridamthaan kanakku solli aaganum
And they will have to give an account to Him.
Aaththukkullae thangangalai
If someone throws handfuls of gold
Alli alli pottuvittaal
Into the middle of a river,
Pottavanthaan edukka venum
Only the person who dropped it can retrieve it.
Keladi paava punniyaththai nampugira bhoomidi
Listen girl, this is a world that believes in sin and virtue.
Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa….aa….
If a leaf falls when the wind blows...
Kaaththoda sakthi illae
It is not because of the wind's strength.
Ilai iruntha iruppu athu thangachi
The leaf was already about to fall, little sister,
Nee yaeththukkalae thoththuvidum un katchi
Accept this reality, or your side will lose.
Ilai iruntha iruppu athu thangachi
The leaf was already about to fall, little sister,
Nee yaeththukkalae thoththuvidum un katchi
Accept this reality, or your side will lose.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaaththadichchi Ilai Vizhunthaa from Sonnathai Seiven (1977) is a philosophical Tamil song composed by V. Kumar and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan, with lyrics by Kannadasan. The song warns against arrogance and mistaken credit, using simple natural analogies to convey deep life truths. It explains that a leaf falling when a breeze blows is due to the leaf's readiness to drop, not the strength of the wind—just as coincidence or luck should not be mistaken for personal skill or power. Kannadasan touches on themes of karma, moral accountability, and divine justice. Drawing references from Lord Krishna and Mahatma Gandhi, he points out that external circumstances do not define one's righteousness. Ultimately, the song serves as a reminder that temporary victories gained through deceit will eventually be evaluated by divine authority on an earth governed by cause and effect.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kaaththadichchi ilai vizhunthaa / Kaaththoda sakthi illae”
Kannadasan uses the image of a dry leaf falling during a breeze to symbolize how people attribute natural or inevitable occurrences to their own power.
Second-letter Rhyme (Ethukai)
“Poi solli jeyichavarum / Poli porulai vittravarum”
The second consonant 'i' rhymes between 'Poi' and 'Poli', adding rhythmic harmony and emphasis to deceitful actions.
Allusion (Historical & Mythological Reference)
“Gandhi mahan sirai irunthaar / Kannan avan adhil piranthaan”
Refers to Mahatma Gandhi and Lord Krishna to emphasize that being in prison does not automatically make someone a criminal or diminish their character.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyricist Kannadasan was well-known for weaving deep Vedantic and moral philosophy into colloquial Tamil song lyrics. The melody by V. Kumar features a folk-infused rhythm that complements T. M. Soundararajan's expressive delivery.
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