Kathirunthen Kanava
From Dharma Pathini · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Dharma Pathini1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaathirunthen kanavaa | I waited, my husband... |
| Kaanbathellam kanavaa | Is everything I see just a dream? |
| Veyilil neeyum | You, in the scorching heat, |
| Mazhaiyaai vanthaai | Came like the cool rain. |
| Uyirae meendum | My soul, once again, |
| Uravai thandhaai | You restored our bond. |
| Kanneer thudaikka | To wipe away my tears, |
| Kannaa vaaa… | Come, my beloved... |
| Female | |
| Kaathirunthen kanavaa | I waited, my husband... |
| Kaanbathellam kanavaa | Is everything I see just a dream? |
| Female | |
| Seethai meedhu | When blame was cast, |
| Pazhi varumbothu | Upon Sita, |
| Dasaratha raamanum | Dasaratha's Rama, |
| Thee valarththaan | Kindled the trial of fire. |
| Female | |
| Pedhai meedhu | When blame fell, |
| Pazhi vantha podhu | Upon this innocent woman, |
| Naan kanda raamanum | The Rama that I saw, |
| Poo valarththaan | Cultivated flowers of love. |
| Female | |
| Ivalin nenjam maarumaa | Will this woman's heart ever stray? |
| Neruppil thoosi se…ruma | Can dust ever settle inside fire? |
| Ival nenjil oru baaram | There is a burden in her heart, |
| Kanneerae parigaaram | And tears are the only remedy. |
| Azhagae…aeee…… | Oh beautiful one... |
| Female | |
| Kaathirunthen kanavaa | I waited, my husband... |
| Kaanbathellam kanavaa | Is everything I see just a dream? |
| Female | |
| Dharmathin ellai | The boundaries of righteousness, |
| Thaandavum illai | Were never crossed. |
| Thaalikku ingoru | For the sacred thread here, |
| Tholvi illai | There is no defeat. |
| Female | |
| Kondavan ennai | When the husband who wedded me, |
| Kumbidum pothu | Bows to me in trust, |
| Saamikkum ennidam | Even God himself, |
| Kelvi illai | Has no questions for me. |
| Female | |
| Kanavan endhan | My husband is my, |
| Ve…liyae | Shield and protection. |
| Ini mel illai gae…liyae | There shall be no mockery anymore. |
| Female | |
| Maru jenmam varumbothum | Even when another rebirth comes, |
| Thunai vanthaal adhu podhum | It is enough if he comes as my companion. |
| Thunai vaaa…aaaaa….. | Come as my companion... |
| Female | |
| Kaathirunthen kanavaa | I waited, my husband... |
| Kaanbathellam kanavaa | Is everything I see just a dream? |
| Veyilil neeyum | You, in the scorching heat, |
| Mazhaiyaai vanthaai | Came like the cool rain. |
| Uyirae meendum | My soul, once again, |
| Uravai thandhaai | You restored our bond. |
| Kanneer thudaikka | To wipe away my tears, |
| Kannaa vaaa… | Come, my beloved... |
| Female | |
| Kaathirunthen kanavaa | I waited, my husband... |
| Kaanbathellam kanavaa | Is everything I see just a dream? |
காத்திருந்தேன்
கனவா காண்பதெல்லாம்
கனவா வெயிலில் நீயும்
மழையாய் வந்தாய் உயிரே
மீண்டும் உறவை தந்தாய்
கண்ணீர் துடைக்க கண்ணா
வா
I waited, my husband...
Is everything I see just a dream?
You, in the scorching heat,
Came like the cool rain.
My soul, once again,
You restored our bond.
To wipe away my tears,
Come, my beloved...
காத்திருந்தேன்
கனவா காண்பதெல்லாம்
கனவா
I waited, my husband...
Is everything I see just a dream?
சீதை மீது பழி
வரும்போது தசரத
ராமனும் தீ வளர்த்தேன்
When blame was cast,
Upon Sita,
Dasaratha's Rama,
Kindled the trial of fire.
பேதை மீது பழி
வந்த போது நான் கண்ட
ராமனும் பூ வளர்த்தான்
When blame fell,
Upon this innocent woman,
The Rama that I saw,
Cultivated flowers of love.
இவளின் நெஞ்சம்
மாறுமா நெருப்பில் தூசி
சேருமா இவள் நெஞ்சில்
ஒரு பாரம் கண்ணீரே
பரிகாரம் அழகே
Will this woman's heart ever stray?
Can dust ever settle inside fire?
There is a burden in her heart,
And tears are the only remedy.
Oh beautiful one...
காத்திருந்தேன்
கனவா காண்பதெல்லாம்
கனவா
I waited, my husband...
Is everything I see just a dream?
தர்மத்தின் எல்லை
தாண்டவும் இல்லை தாலிக்கு
இங்கொரு தோல்வி இல்லை
The boundaries of righteousness,
Were never crossed.
For the sacred thread here,
There is no defeat.
கொண்டவன்
என்னை கும்பிடும் போது
சாமிக்கும் என்னிடம்
கேள்வி இல்லை
When the husband who wedded me,
Bows to me in trust,
Even God himself,
Has no questions for me.
கணவன் எந்தன்
வேலியே இனிமேல்
இல்லை கேலியே
My husband is my,
Shield and protection.
There shall be no mockery anymore.
மறு ஜென்மம்
வரும் போதும் துணை
வந்தால் அது போதும்
துணை வா
Even when another rebirth comes,
It is enough if he comes as my companion.
Come as my companion...
காத்திருந்தேன்
கனவா காண்பதெல்லாம்
கனவா வெயிலில் நீயும்
மழையாய் வந்தாய் உயிரே
மீண்டும் உறவை தந்தாய்
கண்ணீர் துடைக்க கண்ணா
வா
I waited, my husband...
Is everything I see just a dream?
You, in the scorching heat,
Came like the cool rain.
My soul, once again,
You restored our bond.
To wipe away my tears,
Come, my beloved...
காத்திருந்தேன்
கனவா காண்பதெல்லாம்
கனவா
I waited, my husband...
Is everything I see just a dream?
Kaathirunthen kanavaa
I waited, my husband...
Kaanbathellam kanavaa
Is everything I see just a dream?
Veyilil neeyum
You, in the scorching heat,
Mazhaiyaai vanthaai
Came like the cool rain.
Uyirae meendum
My soul, once again,
Uravai thandhaai
You restored our bond.
Kanneer thudaikka
To wipe away my tears,
Kannaa vaaa…
Come, my beloved...
Kaathirunthen kanavaa
I waited, my husband...
Kaanbathellam kanavaa
Is everything I see just a dream?
Seethai meedhu
When blame was cast,
Pazhi varumbothu
Upon Sita,
Dasaratha raamanum
Dasaratha's Rama,
Thee valarththaan
Kindled the trial of fire.
Pedhai meedhu
When blame fell,
Pazhi vantha podhu
Upon this innocent woman,
Naan kanda raamanum
The Rama that I saw,
Poo valarththaan
Cultivated flowers of love.
Ivalin nenjam maarumaa
Will this woman's heart ever stray?
Neruppil thoosi se…ruma
Can dust ever settle inside fire?
Ival nenjil oru baaram
There is a burden in her heart,
Kanneerae parigaaram
And tears are the only remedy.
Azhagae…aeee……
Oh beautiful one...
Kaathirunthen kanavaa
I waited, my husband...
Kaanbathellam kanavaa
Is everything I see just a dream?
Dharmathin ellai
The boundaries of righteousness,
Thaandavum illai
Were never crossed.
Thaalikku ingoru
For the sacred thread here,
Tholvi illai
There is no defeat.
Kondavan ennai
When the husband who wedded me,
Kumbidum pothu
Bows to me in trust,
Saamikkum ennidam
Even God himself,
Kelvi illai
Has no questions for me.
Kanavan endhan
My husband is my,
Ve…liyae
Shield and protection.
Ini mel illai gae…liyae
There shall be no mockery anymore.
Maru jenmam varumbothum
Even when another rebirth comes,
Thunai vanthaal adhu podhum
It is enough if he comes as my companion.
Thunai vaaa…aaaaa…..
Come as my companion...
Kaathirunthen kanavaa
I waited, my husband...
Kaanbathellam kanavaa
Is everything I see just a dream?
Veyilil neeyum
You, in the scorching heat,
Mazhaiyaai vanthaai
Came like the cool rain.
Uyirae meendum
My soul, once again,
Uravai thandhaai
You restored our bond.
Kanneer thudaikka
To wipe away my tears,
Kannaa vaaa…
Come, my beloved...
Kaathirunthen kanavaa
I waited, my husband...
Kaanbathellam kanavaa
Is everything I see just a dream?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kaathirunthen Kanavaa' from Dharma Pathini (1986) expresses a devoted wife's relief, joy, and emotional liberation after her innocence is recognized by her husband. She compares her husband's arrival during her agonizing ordeal to comforting rain amidst intense heat. She reflects on how her husband proved to be even gentler than Lord Rama—where Rama tested Sita with fire upon public suspicion, her husband embraced her with love and grace like flowers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Wordplay / Pun (Sleshani)
“Kaathirunthen kanavaa / Kaanbathellam kanavaa”
The word 'kanavaa' functions as a double wordplay: 'kanavā' (oh husband) and 'kanavā' (is it a dream?), blurring reality and yearning.
Metaphor (Uvamanai)
“Veyilil neeyum / Mazhaiyaai vanthaai”
The contrast between harsh sunlight ('veyil') and comforting rain ('mazhai') metaphorically represents suffering and divine relief.
Allusion (Puranic Reference)
“Seethai meedhu / Pazhi varumbothu / Dasaratha raamanum / Thee valarththaan”
Refers to Lord Rama's fire trial (Agnipravesham) of Sita from the Ramayana, contrasting it with her husband's compassionate nature.
Rhetorical Question (Vinai-vizhi)
“Neruppil thoosi se…ruma”
A rhetorical question highlighting absolute purity; just as dust cannot exist within fire, impurity cannot touch her heart.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu and sung impeccably by S. Janaki, this song highlights the quintessential emotional depth of 1980s Tamil cinema melodramas centered on marital devotion and purity.
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