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Lyrics & meaning

Kathalukku Naalu Kangal

From Rathinapuri Ilavarasi · 1960

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
T. R. Mahalingam
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Rathinapuri Ilavarasi1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kallaal idhayam veithuCreating a heart out of stone,
Kadum vishathaal kann amaithuCreating eyes filled with severe poison,
Kanakkillaa poigalukkuFor countless lies,
Kaaranamaai naakamaithuCreating a tongue as the cause,
Kalla uruvamaithuCreating a deceitful form,
Kanna kol kaiyamaithuEquipping hands with a thief's crowbar,
Nallvar endrae silaraiAs good people, a few,
Ulagam nadamaada vittadhada..aaa..aaa..The world has allowed them to walk around... aaa... aaa...
Male
Kaadhalukku naalu kangalLove has four eyes,
Kalvanukku rendu akngalA thief has two eyes,
Kaamugarin uruvathilaeIn the form of the lustful,
Kannum illai kaadhum illaiThere are neither eyes nor ears,
Kaamugarin uruvathilaeIn the form of the lustful,
Kannum illai kaadhum illaiThere are neither eyes nor ears,
Kaadhalukku naalu kangalLove has four eyes.
Male
Needhiyin edhirigalaaiAs enemies of justice,
nilaimaari thiribavargal..aaa..aaa…Those who wander, changing their stance... aaa... aaa...
Needhiyin edhirigalaaiAs enemies of justice,
nilaimaari thiribavargal.Those who wander, changing their stance.
Paadhaiyil nadappadhillaiThey do not walk on the righteous path,
paramanaiyum madhippadhillaiThey do not respect even the Supreme Lord,
Paadhagam konjam millaiThere is no limit to their wickedness,
panbumillai muraiyum illaiThey possess neither character nor decorum,
Paadhagam konjam millaiThere is no limit to their wickedness,
panbumillai muraiyum illaiThey possess neither character nor decorum.
Paedhai pengal idhaiNaive women,
perumbaalum unarvadhillaiMostly do not realize this.
Male
Kaadhalukku naalu kangalLove has four eyes,
Kalvanukku rendu akngalA thief has two eyes,
Kaamugarin uruvathilaeIn the form of the lustful,
Kannum illai kaadhum illaiThere are neither eyes nor ears,
Kaamugarin uruvathilaeIn the form of the lustful,
Kannum illai kaadhum illaiThere are neither eyes nor ears,
Kaadhalukku naalu kangalLove has four eyes.
Male
Baedham illai enbaarThey say there is no discrimination,
vedhaandham pesiduvaarThey preach lofty philosophy,
Baedham illai enbaarThey say there is no discrimination,
vedhaandham pesiduvaarThey preach lofty philosophy.
Pettravalai thaai enbaarThey call the birth mother a mother,
mattravalai paei enbaarThey call any other woman a demon,
Kaadhal aram enbaarThey say love is righteousness,
karpin vilai ennavenbaarThey ask what the price of chastity is,
Kaadhal aram enbaarThey say love is righteousness,
karpin vilai ennavenbaarThey ask what the price of chastity is.
Kannmoodi maandhar idhaiBlindly ignorant human beings,
kadaisi varai arivadhillaiDo not realize this until the very end.
Male
Kaadhalukku naalu kangalLove has four eyes,
Kalvanukku rendu akngalA thief has two eyes,
Kaamugarin uruvathilaeIn the form of the lustful,
Kannum illai kaadhum illaiThere are neither eyes nor ears,
Kaamugarin uruvathilaeIn the form of the lustful,
Kannum illai kaadhum illaiThere are neither eyes nor ears,
Kaadhalukku naalu kangalLove has four eyes.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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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