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Kavalai Illaadha Manithan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kavalai Illaadha Manidhan

From Kavalai Illaadha Manithan · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
J. P. Chandrababu
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Kavalai Illaadha Manithan
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
19 Mar 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Kavalai illaadha manidhan
Kavalai illaadha manidhan
Kavalai illaadha manidhan
Ulagaththai arindhavan
Thunindhavan avanae
Kavalai illaadha manidhan
Ulagaththai arindhavan
Thunindhavan avanae
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Povadhai kandu kalangaamal
Varuvadhai kandu mayangaamal
Povadhai kandu kalangaamal
Varuvadhai kandu mayangaamal
Mei thalaraamal kai nadungaamal
Unamiyai poiyai unarndhavanae
Ulagaththai arindhavan
Thunindhavan avanae
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Vaazhkkai enbadhu naadagamae
Vandhu ponavar aayiramae
Kondu sendravar yaarum illai
Koduthu ponathum ninaivum illai
Andha naadagam innum mudiyavillai
Marunaalaikku varuvadhum theriyavillai
Ulagaththai arindhavan
Thunindhavan avanae
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Hahahahaa hahahaha haa
Hahahahaa hahahaha haa
Thall laelum thal lae lum
Lae lum lae lum raaa
Vaazhvai arindhavan samsaari
Vaazha bayandhavan sanyaasi
Kanneer vadippavan moodanadaa
Kaalaththai vendravan veeranadaa
Nal inbaththai thaedi uravaadu
Nee ezhundhidu manidha vilaiyaadu
Ulagaththai arindhavan
Thunindhavan avanae
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Ulagaththai arindhavan
Thunindhavan avanae
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Kavalai illaadha manidhan…..
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
Kavalai illaadha manidhan….
A man without worries...
A man without worries...
A man without worries,
A man without worries,
A man without worries,
The one who understands the world,
The one who has real courage,
Is the man without worries.
The one who understands the world,
The one who has real courage,
Is the man without worries...
Without grieving over what is lost,
Without being blinded by what comes,
Without grieving over what is lost,
Without being blinded by what comes,
Without a weary body or trembling hands,
The one who realizes truth from falsehood,
The one who understands the world,
The one who has real courage,
Is the man without worries...
Life is nothing but a stage play,
Thousands have come and gone.
No one took anything along when they left,
Nor is there any memory of what they gave.
That play has not ended yet,
And no one knows what tomorrow brings.
The one who understands the world,
The one who has real courage,
Is the man without worries...
Hahahaha hahahaha ha
Hahahaha hahahaha ha
Thal lelum thal le lum
Le lum le lum raaa
The one who knows life lives in the world,
The one afraid of life becomes a monk,
The one who sheds tears is a fool,
The one who conquers time is a hero!
Seek good joy and embrace life,
Rise up, human, and play your part!
The one who understands the world,
The one who has real courage,
Is the man without worries...
The one who understands the world,
The one who has real courage,
Is the man without worries...
A man without worries...
A man without worries...
A man without worries...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song from the 1960 movie 'Kavalai Illaadha Manithan', penned by the acclaimed poet Kannadasan, describes the true nature of a worry-free human being. It emphasizes that a person who truly understands the world remains unperturbed by both gain and loss, staying firm in mind and body while discerning truth from falsehood. The song portrays life as a drama where countless people come and go without carrying any material wealth into the afterlife. Furthermore, the lyrics challenge conventional wisdom by asserting that a true householder understands life while an ascetic is merely fleeing from it. It urges humans to stop weeping over troubles, face time courageously, and actively engage in life with joy and confidence. Overall, it serves as a powerful call to embrace life fearlessly with wisdom and resilience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

“Povadhai kandu kalangaamal / Varuvadhai kandu mayangaamal”

Repetition of the initial consonant/vowel sounds in words within the same line, such as 'Povadhai' and 'Varuvadhai' or 'Vaazhvai' and 'Vaazha'.

Etukai (Rhyming)

“Vaazhvai arindhavan samsaari / Vaazha bayandhavan sanyaasi”

Repetition of the second letter across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic rhyming in Tamil poetry (e.g., 'Povadhai' and 'Varuvadhai', 'Vaazhvai' and 'Vaazha').

Metaphor

“Vaazhkkai enbadhu naadagamae”

Comparing life to a drama ('Vaazhkkai enbadhu naadagamae') to convey its transient and performance-like nature.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kavalai Illaadha Manithan' (1960) stars Chandrababu in the lead role alongside Gemini Ganesan. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song showcase his signature philosophical style, which offers deep practical wisdom on life and detachment.

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