Kavithaikku Porul
From Duet · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Duet1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kavithaikku porul thandha | Are you the goddess of arts who gave meaning to poetry? |
| Kalaivaani neeyaa | Are you Kalaivaani? |
| En kanavodu ketkindra | Are you the tinkling anklets |
| Kaarsalangai neeyaa | that I hear in my dreams? |
| Pechukku uyir thandha | Are you the sounds |
| Sapthangal neeyaa | that gave life to speech? |
| Ennai pesaamal seigindra | Are you the silence |
| Mounangal neeyaa | that makes me speechless? |
| Female | |
| Saththangal illaadha | Are you the music |
| Sangeetham neeyaa | that has no sound? |
| Ennai saagaamal seigindra | Are you the life-saving herb |
| Sanjeevi neeyaa | that keeps me from dying? |
| Paruvathin thottathil | Are you the first flower |
| Mudhal poovum neeyaa | in the garden of youth? |
| En paalaivanam kaangindra | Are you the first rain |
| Mudhal mazhaiyum neeyaa | that my desert beholds? |
| Male | |
| Iravodu naan kaanum | You are the halo of light |
| Oli vattam needhaan | that I see along with the night |
| En iru kannil therigindra | You are the single vision |
| Oru kaatchi needhaan | that appears in both my eyes |
| Male | |
| Vaarthaikkul oodaadum | You are the inner meaning |
| Ul artham needhaan | that flows within words |
| En vaadhiyathil isaiyaagum | You are the breath of life |
| Uyir moochum needhaan | that turns into music in my instrument |
| Male | |
| Thoorathil mayil iragaal | You are the one who touched me from afar |
| Thottavalum needhaan | with a peacock feather |
| En pakkathil agniyaai | You are the one who burned me like fire |
| Suttavalum needhaan | when standing right beside me |
| Male | |
| Kaadhalukku kan thirandhu | You are the one who opened her eyes |
| Vaiththavalum needhaan | to introduce love |
| Naan kaadhaliththaal | Yet when I fell in love, |
| Kan moodi kondavalum needhaan | you are the one who closed her eyes |
கவிதைக்கு பொருள் தந்த
கலைவாணி நீயா
என் கனவோடு கேட்கின்ற
காற்சலங்கை நீயா
பேச்சுக்கு உயிர் தந்த
சப்தங்கள் நீயா
எனை பேசாமல் செய்கின்ற
மௌனங்கள் நீயா
Are you the goddess of arts who gave meaning to poetry?
Are you Kalaivaani?
Are you the tinkling anklets
that I hear in my dreams?
Are you the sounds
that gave life to speech?
Are you the silence
that makes me speechless?
சத்தங்கள் இல்லாத
சங்கீதம் நீயா
எனை சாகாமல் செய்கின்ற
சஞ்சீவி நீயா
பருவத்தின் தோட்டத்தில்
முதற்பூவும் நீயா
என் பாலைவனம் காண்கின்ற
முதல் மழையும் நீயா
Are you the music
that has no sound?
Are you the life-saving herb
that keeps me from dying?
Are you the first flower
in the garden of youth?
Are you the first rain
that my desert beholds?
இரவோடு நான் காணும்
ஒளிவட்டம் நீதான்
என் இருகண்ணில் தெரிகின்ற
ஒரு காட்சி நீதான்
You are the halo of light
that I see along with the night
You are the single vision
that appears in both my eyes
வார்த்தைக்குள் ஊடாடும்
உள் அர்த்தம் நீதான்
என் வாத்தியத்தில் இசையாகும்
உயிர்மூச்சும் நீதான்
You are the inner meaning
that flows within words
You are the breath of life
that turns into music in my instrument
தூரத்தில் மயிலிறகால்
தொட்டவளும் நீதான்
என் பக்கத்தில் அக்கினியாய்ச்
சுட்டவளும் நீதான்
You are the one who touched me from afar
with a peacock feather
You are the one who burned me like fire
when standing right beside me
காதலுக்கு கண்திறந்து
வைத்தவளும் நீதான்
நான் காதலித்தால் கண்மூடிக்
கொண்டவளும் நீதான்
You are the one who opened her eyes
to introduce love
Yet when I fell in love,
you are the one who closed her eyes
Kavithaikku porul thandha
Are you the goddess of arts who gave meaning to poetry?
Kalaivaani neeyaa
Are you Kalaivaani?
En kanavodu ketkindra
Are you the tinkling anklets
Kaarsalangai neeyaa
that I hear in my dreams?
Pechukku uyir thandha
Are you the sounds
Sapthangal neeyaa
that gave life to speech?
Ennai pesaamal seigindra
Are you the silence
Mounangal neeyaa
that makes me speechless?
Saththangal illaadha
Are you the music
Sangeetham neeyaa
that has no sound?
Ennai saagaamal seigindra
Are you the life-saving herb
Sanjeevi neeyaa
that keeps me from dying?
Paruvathin thottathil
Are you the first flower
Mudhal poovum neeyaa
in the garden of youth?
En paalaivanam kaangindra
Are you the first rain
Mudhal mazhaiyum neeyaa
that my desert beholds?
Iravodu naan kaanum
You are the halo of light
Oli vattam needhaan
that I see along with the night
En iru kannil therigindra
You are the single vision
Oru kaatchi needhaan
that appears in both my eyes
Vaarthaikkul oodaadum
You are the inner meaning
Ul artham needhaan
that flows within words
En vaadhiyathil isaiyaagum
You are the breath of life
Uyir moochum needhaan
that turns into music in my instrument
Thoorathil mayil iragaal
You are the one who touched me from afar
Thottavalum needhaan
with a peacock feather
En pakkathil agniyaai
You are the one who burned me like fire
Suttavalum needhaan
when standing right beside me
Kaadhalukku kan thirandhu
You are the one who opened her eyes
Vaiththavalum needhaan
to introduce love
Naan kaadhaliththaal
Yet when I fell in love,
Kan moodi kondavalum needhaan
you are the one who closed her eyes
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poem is a passionate declaration of love and creative inspiration, where the narrator views his beloved as his ultimate muse. He compares her to divine art, life-giving herbs, hidden meanings within poetry, and the very breath that powers his musical instrument. The verses capture both the soothing and overwhelming aspects of love through vivid, paradoxical imagery.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Epiphora (Repetition)
“Kalaivaani neeyaa / Oru kaatchi needhaan”
The rhythmic ending of lines with the interrogative suffix '-neeyaa' (Are you?) in the first stanza and the assertive '-needhaan' (It is you) in the second stanza creates a powerful hypnotic flow.
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Saththangal illaadha Sangeetham neeyaa”
The lyricist contrasts silent music ('saththangal illaadha sangeetham') and gentle distant touch with burning close proximity to highlight love's paradoxical nature.
Metaphor
“En paalaivanam kaangindra Mudhal mazhaiyum neeyaa”
The beloved is metaphorically equated to 'Sanjeevi' (a mythical life-saving herb) and the 'first rain' in a parched desert.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic poem features in K. Balachander's 1994 musical drama 'Duet', composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The film heavily features the saxophone played by maestro Kadri Gopalnath, matching the instrumental motifs referenced in the lyrics.
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