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Rathinapuri Ilavarasi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kathalukku Naalu Kangal

From Rathinapuri Ilavarasi · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Rathinapuri Ilavarasi
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
3 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kallaal idhayam veithu
Kadum vishathaal kann amaithu
Kanakkillaa poigalukku
Kaaranamaai naakamaithu
Kalla uruvamaithu
Kanna kol kaiyamaithu
Nallvar endrae silarai
Ulagam nadamaada vittadhada..aaa..aaa..
Kaadhalukku naalu kangal
Kalvanukku rendu akngal
Kaamugarin uruvathilae
Kannum illai kaadhum illai
Kaamugarin uruvathilae
Kannum illai kaadhum illai
Kaadhalukku naalu kangal
Needhiyin edhirigalaai
nilaimaari thiribavargal..aaa..aaa…
Needhiyin edhirigalaai
nilaimaari thiribavargal.
Paadhaiyil nadappadhillai
paramanaiyum madhippadhillai
Paadhagam konjam millai
panbumillai muraiyum illai
Paadhagam konjam millai
panbumillai muraiyum illai
Paedhai pengal idhai
perumbaalum unarvadhillai
Kaadhalukku naalu kangal
Kalvanukku rendu akngal
Kaamugarin uruvathilae
Kannum illai kaadhum illai
Kaamugarin uruvathilae
Kannum illai kaadhum illai
Kaadhalukku naalu kangal
Baedham illai enbaar
vedhaandham pesiduvaar
Baedham illai enbaar
vedhaandham pesiduvaar
Pettravalai thaai enbaar
mattravalai paei enbaar
Kaadhal aram enbaar
karpin vilai ennavenbaar
Kaadhal aram enbaar
karpin vilai ennavenbaar
Kannmoodi maandhar idhai
kadaisi varai arivadhillai
Kaadhalukku naalu kangal
Kalvanukku rendu akngal
Kaamugarin uruvathilae
Kannum illai kaadhum illai
Kaamugarin uruvathilae
Kannum illai kaadhum illai
Kaadhalukku naalu kangal
With a heart made of stone,
with eyes filled with deadly poison,
providing a tongue
to utter countless lies,
giving them a deceptive disguise,
and placing a burglar's crowbar in their hands,
this world has let some people roam about,
calling them good men, oh friend!
Love has four eyes,
a thief has two eyes,
but in the bodies of the lustful,
there are neither eyes nor ears!
In the bodies of the lustful,
there are neither eyes nor ears!
Love has four eyes.
Becoming enemies of justice,
those who wander on the wrong path
becoming enemies of justice,
those who wander on the wrong path
do not walk the righteous road,
nor do they respect the Almighty.
Their wickedness knows no bounds,
they have neither decency nor good conduct.
Their wickedness knows no bounds,
they have neither decency nor good conduct.
Innocent women
mostly fail to realize this!
Love has four eyes,
a thief has two eyes,
but in the bodies of the lustful,
there are neither eyes nor ears!
In the bodies of the lustful,
there are neither eyes nor ears!
Love has four eyes.
They preach that all are equal,
and spout high philosophy!
They preach that all are equal,
and spout high philosophy!
They honor the mother who bore them,
yet call any other woman a demon!
They say that love is virtue,
and ask what the worth of purity is!
They say that love is virtue,
and ask what the worth of purity is!
Blinded people
never understand this till the very end!
Love has four eyes,
a thief has two eyes,
but in the bodies of the lustful,
there are neither eyes nor ears!
In the bodies of the lustful,
there are neither eyes nor ears!
Love has four eyes.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song from 'Rathinapuri Ilavarasi' (1960), written by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram and rendered by T. R. Mahalingam under Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy's music, serves as a sharp critique of moral hypocrisy and lust. The poet contrasts true love—where two lovers share four eyes looking toward a unified life—with a thief who operates with two eyes looking out for gain, and lustful men who act without eyes or ears to conscience or reason. The lyrics expose how deceptive men conceal evil behind noble guises, preach high philosophy, yet disrespect women and ruin lives. Kalyanasundaram warns naive women and blind society about the pervasive nature of such deceitful individuals who operate without fear of law or God.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Monai (Alliteration)

“Kaadhalukku naalu kangal / Kalvanukku rendu akngal”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' across lines to create rhythmic emphasis.

Edhugai (Assonance / Second-letter Rhyming)

“Paadhaiyil nadappadhillai / paramanaiyum madhippadhillai”

Matching of the second consonant 'dha' across consecutive lines.

Metaphor

“Kaamugarin uruvathilae / Kannum illai kaadhum illai”

Describing lustful men as lacking eyes and ears metaphorically conveys their complete blindness and deafness to morality and reason.

Did you know?

Trivia

Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram was renowned for weaving social commentary and Marxist critique into mainstream Tamil cinema lyrics. Sung by T. R. Mahalingam with his iconic high-pitched classical delivery, this song showcases the lyricist's trademark style of calling out moral hypocrisy and warning women against predatory behavior in society.

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