Kavalkara Kavalkara
From Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara | Oh guard, oh guard! |
| Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara | Oh guard who protects the forest! |
| Naadhiyatha naattai ingae | Here in this orphaned country, |
| Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa | Who is going to come and protect it? |
| Male | |
| Ezha padum paadu | The plight that the poor suffer, |
| Engalukku yaaru | Who is there for us? |
| Indha nila maarum kaalam thaan | When will the time come |
| Eppozhudhu | For this state of affairs to change? |
| Male | |
| Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara | Oh guard, oh guard! |
| Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara | Oh guard who protects the forest! |
| Male | |
| Mannilae nanjai undu | On this earth, there is fertile wetland, |
| Punjaiyum karutha kaadum undu | There is dry land and dense dark forest too. |
| Mannilae kottum mazha | The rain that pours upon the earth |
| Nanjaikkum mattumae peivadhillai | Does not fall only for the fertile wetlands. |
| Male | |
| Thannikkum kaathukkum thaan | For water and for wind, |
| Baedhangal enbadhu endrumae illae | No discrimination or inequality ever exists. |
| Mannilae makkalilae | Yet among the people on this earth, |
| Yettra irakkangal maaravillae | Social inequalities have never changed. |
| Male | |
| Naadhiyum attra | For the helpless |
| Ezhaigatkku jaadhi edhukku | Poor, what is the need for caste? |
| Needhiyum attra naattil | In a country devoid of justice, |
| Naamum vaazhvadhu edharkku | Why should we even continue to live? |
| Idhu maara naadu thaera | For this to change and for the nation to prosper, |
| Nalla vazhithaan kaattidappaa | Please show us a righteous path, oh man! |
| Male | |
| Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara | Oh guard, oh guard! |
| Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara | Oh guard who protects the forest! |
| Naadhiyatha naattai ingae | Here in this orphaned country, |
| Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa | Who is going to come and protect it? |
| Male | |
| Nalla payir kaapadharkku | To protect good crops, |
| Thottathukkum oru vaeli undu | Even a garden has a fence around it. |
| Vaeliyaiyum thaandi vandhu | Yet crossing beyond that fence, |
| Aadum maadum angu meivadhundu | Goats and cattle graze inside. |
| Male | |
| Manushan vaeli ittaa | If a human erects a fence, |
| Aadum maadum meera nyaayam undu | Animals trespassing it makes sense. |
| Vaeliyae thinbatharkku | If the fence itself eats the crop, |
| Vaeliyum kaavalum ennathukku | What is the purpose of the fence and its guard? |
| Male | |
| Mathavanukku buthi solla | To preach wisdom to others, |
| Buthi irukku | Everyone possesses intellect. |
| Thanna thirutha | To reform oneself, |
| Buthimathi enga irukku | Where is that true wisdom? |
| Idhu maara naadu thaera | For this to change and for the nation to prosper, |
| Nalla vazhithaan kaattidappaa | Please show us a righteous path, oh man! |
| Male | |
| Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara | Oh guard, oh guard! |
| Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara | Oh guard who protects the forest! |
| Naadhiyatha naattai ingae | Here in this orphaned country, |
| Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa | Who is going to come and protect it? |
| Male | |
| Ezha padum paadu | The plight that the poor suffer, |
| Engalukku yaaru | Who is there for us? |
| Indha nila maarum kaalam thaan | When will the time come |
| Eppozhudhu | For this state of affairs to change? |
| Male | |
| Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara | Oh guard, oh guard! |
| Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara | Oh guard who protects the forest! |
| Naadhiyatha naattai ingae | Here in this orphaned country, |
| Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa | Who is going to come and protect it? |
முனங்கல் :
...................
Oh guard, oh guard!
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Here in this orphaned country,
Who is going to come and protect it?
காவல்காரா காவல்காரா
காடு காக்கும் காவல்காரா
நாதியத்த நாட்டை இங்கே
யாரு வந்து காக்க போறா
The plight that the poor suffer,
Who is there for us?
When will the time come
For this state of affairs to change?
ஏழ படும்பாடு
எங்களுக்கு யாரு
இந்த நில மாறும் காலம்தான்
எப்பொழுது
Oh guard, oh guard!
Oh guard who protects the forest!
காவல்காரா காவல்காரா
காடு காக்கும் காவல்காரா
On this earth, there is fertile wetland,
There is dry land and dense dark forest too.
The rain that pours upon the earth
Does not fall only for the fertile wetlands.
மண்ணிலே நஞ்சை உண்டு
புஞ்சையும் கருத்த காடும் உண்டு
மண்ணிலே கொட்டும் மழ
நஞ்சைக்கும் மட்டுமே பெய்வதில்லே
For water and for wind,
No discrimination or inequality ever exists.
Yet among the people on this earth,
Social inequalities have never changed.
தண்ணிக்கும் காத்துக்கும்தான்
பேதங்கள் என்பது என்றும் இல்லே
மண்ணிலே மக்களிலே
ஏற்ற இறக்கங்கள் மாறவில்லே
For the helpless
Poor, what is the need for caste?
In a country devoid of justice,
Why should we even continue to live?
For this to change and for the nation to prosper,
Please show us a righteous path, oh man!
நாதியும் அற்ற
ஏழைகட்கு ஜாதி எதுக்கு
நீதியும் அற்ற நாட்டில்
நாமும் வாழ்வதெதற்க்கு
இது மாற நாடு தேற
நல்ல வழிதான் காட்டிடப்பா
Oh guard, oh guard!
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Here in this orphaned country,
Who is going to come and protect it?
காவல்காரா காவல்காரா
காடு காக்கும் காவல்காரா
நாதியத்த நாட்டை இங்கே
யாரு வந்து காக்க போறா
To protect good crops,
Even a garden has a fence around it.
Yet crossing beyond that fence,
Goats and cattle graze inside.
நல்ல பயிர் காப்பதற்க்கு
தோட்டதுக்கும் ஒரு வேலி உண்டு
வேலியையும் தாண்டி வந்து
ஆடும் மாடும் அங்கு மேய்வதுண்டு
If a human erects a fence,
Animals trespassing it makes sense.
If the fence itself eats the crop,
What is the purpose of the fence and its guard?
மனுஷன் வேலி இட்டா
ஆடும் மாடும் மீற நியாயமுண்டு
வேலியே தின்பதற்க்கு
வேலியும் காவலும் என்னத்துக்கு
To preach wisdom to others,
Everyone possesses intellect.
To reform oneself,
Where is that true wisdom?
For this to change and for the nation to prosper,
Please show us a righteous path, oh man!
மத்தவனுக்கு புத்தி சொல்ல
புத்தியிருக்கு
தன்னத் திருத்த
புத்திமதி எங்க இருக்கு
இது மாற நாடு தேற
நல்ல வழிதான் காட்டிடப்பா
Oh guard, oh guard!
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Here in this orphaned country,
Who is going to come and protect it?
காவல்காரா காவல்காரா
காடு காக்கும் காவல்காரா
நாதியத்த நாட்டை இங்கே
யாரு வந்து காக்க போறா
The plight that the poor suffer,
Who is there for us?
When will the time come
For this state of affairs to change?
ஏழ படும்பாடு
எங்களுக்கு யாரு
இந்த நில மாறும் காலம்தான்
எப்பொழுது
Oh guard, oh guard!
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Here in this orphaned country,
Who is going to come and protect it?
காவல்காரா காவல்காரா
காடு காக்கும் காவல்காரா
நாதியத்த நாட்டை இங்கே
யாரு வந்து காக்க போறா
Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara
Oh guard, oh guard!
Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Naadhiyatha naattai ingae
Here in this orphaned country,
Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa
Who is going to come and protect it?
Ezha padum paadu
The plight that the poor suffer,
Engalukku yaaru
Who is there for us?
Indha nila maarum kaalam thaan
When will the time come
Eppozhudhu
For this state of affairs to change?
Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara
Oh guard, oh guard!
Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Mannilae nanjai undu
On this earth, there is fertile wetland,
Punjaiyum karutha kaadum undu
There is dry land and dense dark forest too.
Mannilae kottum mazha
The rain that pours upon the earth
Nanjaikkum mattumae peivadhillai
Does not fall only for the fertile wetlands.
Thannikkum kaathukkum thaan
For water and for wind,
Baedhangal enbadhu endrumae illae
No discrimination or inequality ever exists.
Mannilae makkalilae
Yet among the people on this earth,
Yettra irakkangal maaravillae
Social inequalities have never changed.
Naadhiyum attra
For the helpless
Ezhaigatkku jaadhi edhukku
Poor, what is the need for caste?
Needhiyum attra naattil
In a country devoid of justice,
Naamum vaazhvadhu edharkku
Why should we even continue to live?
Idhu maara naadu thaera
For this to change and for the nation to prosper,
Nalla vazhithaan kaattidappaa
Please show us a righteous path, oh man!
Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara
Oh guard, oh guard!
Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Naadhiyatha naattai ingae
Here in this orphaned country,
Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa
Who is going to come and protect it?
Nalla payir kaapadharkku
To protect good crops,
Thottathukkum oru vaeli undu
Even a garden has a fence around it.
Vaeliyaiyum thaandi vandhu
Yet crossing beyond that fence,
Aadum maadum angu meivadhundu
Goats and cattle graze inside.
Manushan vaeli ittaa
If a human erects a fence,
Aadum maadum meera nyaayam undu
Animals trespassing it makes sense.
Vaeliyae thinbatharkku
If the fence itself eats the crop,
Vaeliyum kaavalum ennathukku
What is the purpose of the fence and its guard?
Mathavanukku buthi solla
To preach wisdom to others,
Buthi irukku
Everyone possesses intellect.
Thanna thirutha
To reform oneself,
Buthimathi enga irukku
Where is that true wisdom?
Idhu maara naadu thaera
For this to change and for the nation to prosper,
Nalla vazhithaan kaattidappaa
Please show us a righteous path, oh man!
Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara
Oh guard, oh guard!
Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Naadhiyatha naattai ingae
Here in this orphaned country,
Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa
Who is going to come and protect it?
Ezha padum paadu
The plight that the poor suffer,
Engalukku yaaru
Who is there for us?
Indha nila maarum kaalam thaan
When will the time come
Eppozhudhu
For this state of affairs to change?
Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara
Oh guard, oh guard!
Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara
Oh guard who protects the forest!
Naadhiyatha naattai ingae
Here in this orphaned country,
Yaaru vandhu kaakka poraa
Who is going to come and protect it?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply philosophical and socially conscious lament sung from the perspective of the marginalized working class. Addressing an allegorical 'guard' (symbolizing rulers, law enforcers, or leaders of society), the speaker questions who will protect a nation left orphaned by institutional corruption and social division. The lyrics draw parallels with nature—noting that rain, air, and water treat wet lands and dry lands equally without discrimination—to critique human societal divides such as caste and economic inequality. The second stanza uses the powerful Tamil proverb metaphor of 'the fence eating the crop' (Vaeliyae thinbadhu) to condemn corrupt authorities who exploit the very people they are meant to safeguard. The song concludes with a call for self-reflection and true leadership, questioning when society will finally break free from hypocrisy and injustice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara / Naadhiyatha naattai ingae”
Repetition of the second consonant sound 'dhu' in adjacent lines ('Kaadu' / 'Naadhiyatha').
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Kaavalkkaara kaavalkkaara / Kaadu kakkum kaavalkkaara”
Repetition of the initial letter 'K' in words within the same line.
Metaphor & Proverb (Vaeli Payirai Maelvadhu)
“Vaeliyae thinbatharkku / Vaeliyum kaavalum ennathukku”
Uses the traditional Tamil idiom of 'the fence eating the crop' as a metaphor for corruption among protectors and leaders.
Personification of Nature
“Thannikkum kaathukkum thaan / Baedhangal enbadhu endrumae illae”
Attributes the moral quality of impartiality to natural elements like rain, wind, and water to contrast with human bias.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Kaavalkkaara Kaavalkkaara' was composed and sung by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja himself for the Vijayakanth-starrer 'Poonthotta Kaavalkaaran' (1988). The movie was a massive commercial success, and Ilaiyaraaja's raw, evocative vocal delivery brought immense emotional weight to Gangai Amaran's socio-political lyrics.
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