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Thaaye Unakkaga album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaveriyil Thames

From Thaaye Unakkaga · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thaaye Unakkaga
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
16 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaaveriyil thames nadhi kalandhu vittadhu
Kandaangi kavunukullae maraindhu vittadhu
Kovai pazham cherryodu kanindhu vittadhu
Kuvalai malar lillyodu kuvindhu vittadhu
Naagareegam merkku nokki nadanthu vittadhu
Naanam endra vaarthai indru maraindhu vittadhu
Vegamaana vaazhkkai indru valarndhu vittadhu
Vesham podum kottam indru malindhu vittadhu
Kaaveriyil thames nadhi kalandhu vittadhu
Kandaangi kavunukullae maraindhu vittadhu
Kovai pazham cherryodu kanindhu vittadhu
Kuvalai malar lillyodu kuvindhu vittadhu
Manjal poosum pennai indru madhipavar illai
Maiyidatha kangal thammai parpavar illai
Anjugindra penmai ennum adakkamum illai
Aduthu varum thalaimuraikku amaidhiyum illai
Manjal poosum pennai indru madhipavar illai
Maiyidatha kangal thammai parpavar illai
Anjugindra penmai ennum adakkamum illai
Aduthu varum thalaimuraikku amaidhiyum illai
Kaaveriyil thames nadhi kalandhu vittadhu
Kandaangi kavunukullae maraindhu vittadhu
Kovai pazham cherryodu kanindhu vittadhu
Kuvalai malar lillyodu kuvindhu vittadhu
The River Thames has mingled into the Kaveri,
The traditional Kandangi saree has vanished inside a gown,
The red Kovai fruit has ripened with the cherry,
The blue water lily has blended with the lily,
Modern culture has marched towards the West,
The very word 'modesty' has vanished today,
A fast-paced life has grown today,
The crowd of pretenders has multiplied today,
The River Thames has mingled into the Kaveri,
The traditional Kandangi saree has vanished inside a gown,
The red Kovai fruit has ripened with the cherry,
The blue water lily has blended with the lily,
No one respects a woman who applies turmeric today,
No one looks at eyes that wear no kohl,
The timid modesty of womanhood is gone,
And there is no peace for the coming generation,
No one respects a woman who applies turmeric today,
No one looks at eyes that wear no kohl,
The timid modesty of womanhood is gone,
And there is no peace for the coming generation,
The River Thames has mingled into the Kaveri,
The traditional Kandangi saree has vanished inside a gown,
The red Kovai fruit has ripened with the cherry,
The blue water lily has blended with the lily.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song serves as a poignant satirical commentary on the rapid westernization of Tamil culture and lifestyle during the mid-20th century. Kannadasan uses clever allegorical pairs—comparing native symbols like the Kaveri river, Kandaangi saree, turmeric, and local flowers with western counterparts like the Thames river, western gowns, cosmetics, and exotic fruits—to highlight how traditional values are being overtaken by western habits.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis (Maran) & Metaphor

“Kaaveriyil thames nadhi kalandhu vittadhu”

Juxtaposes traditional Tamil cultural elements directly against Western influence (e.g., Kaveri vs Thames, Kandaangi vs Gown) to represent cultural shift.

Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai)

“Kaaveriyil thames nadhi kalandhu vittadhu / Kandaangi kavunukullae maraindhu vittadhu”

The starting consonants in consecutive lines rhyme or match (Ka-Ka-Ko-Ku in lines 1-4, and Ma-Ma-An-Ad in lines 13-16).

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“kalandhu vittadhu / maraindhu vittadhu / kanindhu vittadhu / kuvindhu vittadhu”

Repetition of the phrase ending 'vittadhu' at the end of each line in the refrain, creating a rhythmic and persistent cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the 1965 patriotic/drama film 'Thaaye Unakkaga', this track features music by K. V. Mahadevan and energetic vocals by L. R. Eswari, perfectly fitting Kannadasan's social observation lyrics.

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