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Naan Valartha Thangai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Katpin Ilakkaname

From Naan Valartha Thangai · 1958

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singer
Ghantasala
Music director
Pondiyala Srinivasan
Movie name
Naan Valartha Thangai
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
12 Aug 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karppin ilakkanamae
Kalangamilladha thilagamae
Deepamae penn deivam
Un kannilae neer peruga
Kavalaiyilae manam uruga
Kadum payanam povadhengae
Perum paasamae izhandhu
Manam paadhiyilae odindhu
Unadhaasai kalasamae norungiyadha
Perum paasamae izhandhu
Sondhamum bandhamum
Sugangalum anbum
Soozhndhu kondae dhinam paarattum
Inbam endruunai namba vaithathumae
Idaiyinil yemattrum
Idhil ethanai maarattam
Perum paasamae izhandhu
Manam paadhiyilae odindhu
Unadhaasai kalasamae norungiyadha
Perum paasamae izhandhu
Kaalathin kaigalil vandiyum maadum
Kanda thisaiyil adhan manam pol oodum
Engu serumo enna aagumo
Ingillaiyoo kavanam edhuvarai un payanam
Perum paasamae izhandhu
Manam paadhiyilae odindhu
Unadhaasai kalasamae norungiyadha
Perum paasamae izhandhu
O embodiment of virtue,
O spotless jewel of purity,
A living lamp, a goddess among women,
With tears welling up in your eyes,
And your heart melting in deep sorrow,
Where are you heading on this harsh journey?
Having lost such deep affection,
With your heart broken halfway through,
Has the sacred vessel of your dreams shattered?
Having lost such deep affection,
Relatives and close family ties,
Comforts, pleasures, and tender love,
Surrounded you and praised you each day,
Making you believe that life was only joy,
Only to deceive you along the way,
How many cruel deceptions are hidden here!
Having lost such deep affection,
With your heart broken halfway through,
Has the sacred vessel of your dreams shattered?
Having lost such deep affection,
The cart and the oxen are in the hands of Time,
Running in any direction just as they please,
Where will they end up, and what will become of them?
With no heed to where you are heading, how far will your journey go?
Having lost such deep affection,
With your heart broken halfway through,
Has the sacred vessel of your dreams shattered?
Having lost such deep affection,
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses profound grief and compassion for a virtuous woman undergoing severe distress and betrayal. The lyricist praises her noble character while sorrowfully questioning her endless, uncertain journey undertaken with tears and a broken heart. It reflects on how worldly relationships and transient comforts flatter people initially only to deceive them mid-way. The song further uses a powerful philosophical metaphor comparing human life to a bullock cart driven blindly by Time, moving unpredictably towards an unknown destination. Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram's evocative lyrics capture the essence of existential helplessness and emotional heartbreak.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Unadhaasai kalasamae norungiyadha”

'Unadhaasai kalasamae' compares the woman's hopes and dreams to a sacred pot (Kalasam) that has shattered into pieces.

Allegory / Metaphor

“Kaalathin kaigalil vandiyum maadum”

'Kaalathin kaigalil vandiyum maadum' allegorizes human life and destiny as a cart driven arbitrarily by the hands of Time.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Sondhamum bandhamum / Sugangalum anbum / Soozhndhu kondae dhinam paarattum”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'S' ('Sondhamum', 'Sugangalum', 'Soozhndhu') creates a rhythmic, musical flow.

Refrain / Anaphora

“Perum paasamae izhandhu”

The line 'Perum paasamae izhandhu' is repeated continuously as a haunting refrain to emphasize emotional loss.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naan Valartha Thangai' (1958) was directed by Ch. Narayanamurthy and starred Malayalam superstar Prem Nazir in a rare Tamil appearance. The music was composed by Pendyala Nageswara Rao (often credited in Tamil film press as Pondiyala Srinivasan), featuring legendary Telugu/Tamil playback singer Ghantasala delivering Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram's deeply emotional lyrics.

Keep listening

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Vizhudhu Vittu Thazhaithongi1949
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Thatti Parithaar1954
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From the same album

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View album
Indhiyaavin Raajathaani Dilli1958
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Ottu Mambazhathai Pole1958
Naan Valartha ThangaiCheerful
Aangal Maname Appadithan1958
Naan Valartha ThangaiPlayful
Paarthaya Manidanin1958
Naan Valartha ThangaiContemplative
Inba Mugam Ondru1958
Naan Valartha ThangaiRomantic

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