Kaviyam Padava Thendrale
From Idhayathai Thirudathe · 1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaaviyam paadava thendralae | Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze? |
| Pudhu malar poothidum velai | At this moment when a new flower blossoms, |
| Inithaana pozhuthu enathaagumo | Will this sweet moment ever become mine? |
| Puriyaatha puthirthaan ethirkaalamo | Is the future merely an unsolved puzzle? |
| Paadum neela poonguyil | The singing blue cuckoo bird, |
| Mounamaana velaiyil | In a quiet, silent hour, |
| Male | |
| Kaaviyam paadava thendralae | Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze? |
| Kaaviyam paadava thendralae | Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze? |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………………….. | |
| Male | |
| Vilainthathor vasanthamae | Oh, the spring season that has arrived, |
| Pudhu chudar polinthida | As a new spark radiates bright, |
| Manathilorr niraasaiyae | A sense of hopeless despair in the heart, |
| Irutilae mayangida | Swooning away into the dark, |
| Male | |
| Vaazhginra naatkalae | The days that I am living, |
| Sogangal enbathai | Are made of sorrows, |
| Kanneeril theetinen | I sketched them with my tears, |
| Kelungal en kadhai | Please listen to my story, |
| Kalainthu pogum kaanal neerithu | This is a mirage that will vanish away. |
| Male | |
| Kaaviyam paadava thendralae | Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze? |
| Pudhu malar poothidum velai | At this moment when a new flower blossoms, |
| Inithaana pozhuthu enathaagumo | Will this sweet moment ever become mine? |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………. | |
| Male | |
| Pularnthathor pozhuthu ithuvo | Is this the time that has just dawned? |
| Pullinathin mahothsavam | A grand celebration of the winged birds, |
| Ivai mozhi isaitharum | They give voice to the language of music, |
| Surangalin manoharam | The enchanting beauty of musical notes, |
| Male | |
| Puthu prabanjamae | A brand new universe, |
| Malarntha neramae | At the moment it bloomed, |
| Ammaadi sorgamthaan | Oh my, is it paradise itself, |
| Munnaadi vanthatho | That has appeared before me? |
| Kasanthu pona kaatchi illaiyae | There are no bitter sights here. |
காவியம் பாடவா
தென்றலே புது மலர் பூத்திடும்
வேளை இனிதான பொழுது
எனதாகுமோ புரியாத புதிர்தான்
எதிர்காலமோ பாடும் நீலப்
பூங்குயில் மௌனமான
வேளையில்
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
At this moment when a new flower blossoms,
Will this sweet moment ever become mine?
Is the future merely an unsolved puzzle?
The singing blue cuckoo bird,
In a quiet, silent hour,
காவியம் பாடவா
தென்றலே காவியம் பாடவா
தென்றலே
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
.................................
விளைந்ததோர்
வசந்தமே புது சுடர் பொழிந்திட
மனத்திலோர் நிராசையே
இருட்டிலே மயங்கிட
Oh, the spring season that has arrived,
As a new spark radiates bright,
A sense of hopeless despair in the heart,
Swooning away into the dark,
வாழ்கின்ற நாட்களே
சோகங்கள் என்பதை
கண்ணீரில் தீட்டினேன்
கேளுங்கள் என்கதை
கலைந்து போகும் கானல்
நீரிது
The days that I am living,
Are made of sorrows,
I sketched them with my tears,
Please listen to my story,
This is a mirage that will vanish away.
காவியம் பாடவா
தென்றலே புது மலர் பூத்திடும்
வேளை இனிதான பொழுது
எனதாகுமோ
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
At this moment when a new flower blossoms,
Will this sweet moment ever become mine?
.................................
புலர்ந்ததோா்
பொழுதிதுவோ
புள்ளினத்தின் மகோத்ஸவம்
இவை மொழி இசை தரும்
சுரங்களின் மனோகரம்
Is this the time that has just dawned?
A grand celebration of the winged birds,
They give voice to the language of music,
The enchanting beauty of musical notes,
புதுப் பிரபஞ்சமே
மலர்ந்த நேரமே
அம்மாடி சொர்கம்தான்
முன்னாடி வந்ததோ
கசந்து போன காட்சி
இல்லையே
A brand new universe,
At the moment it bloomed,
Oh my, is it paradise itself,
That has appeared before me?
There are no bitter sights here.
குழந்தைகள் :
காவியம் பாடவா
தென்றலே புது மலர் பூத்திடும்
வேளை இனிதான பொழுது
எனதாகுமோ புரியாத புதிர்தான்
எதிர்காலமோ காவியம் பாடவா
தென்றலே
Kaaviyam paadava thendralae
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
Pudhu malar poothidum velai
At this moment when a new flower blossoms,
Inithaana pozhuthu enathaagumo
Will this sweet moment ever become mine?
Puriyaatha puthirthaan ethirkaalamo
Is the future merely an unsolved puzzle?
Paadum neela poonguyil
The singing blue cuckoo bird,
Mounamaana velaiyil
In a quiet, silent hour,
Kaaviyam paadava thendralae
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
Kaaviyam paadava thendralae
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
………………………………..
Vilainthathor vasanthamae
Oh, the spring season that has arrived,
Pudhu chudar polinthida
As a new spark radiates bright,
Manathilorr niraasaiyae
A sense of hopeless despair in the heart,
Irutilae mayangida
Swooning away into the dark,
Vaazhginra naatkalae
The days that I am living,
Sogangal enbathai
Are made of sorrows,
Kanneeril theetinen
I sketched them with my tears,
Kelungal en kadhai
Please listen to my story,
Kalainthu pogum kaanal neerithu
This is a mirage that will vanish away.
Kaaviyam paadava thendralae
Shall I sing an epic poem, O gentle breeze?
Pudhu malar poothidum velai
At this moment when a new flower blossoms,
Inithaana pozhuthu enathaagumo
Will this sweet moment ever become mine?
……………………………….
Pularnthathor pozhuthu ithuvo
Is this the time that has just dawned?
Pullinathin mahothsavam
A grand celebration of the winged birds,
Ivai mozhi isaitharum
They give voice to the language of music,
Surangalin manoharam
The enchanting beauty of musical notes,
Puthu prabanjamae
A brand new universe,
Malarntha neramae
At the moment it bloomed,
Ammaadi sorgamthaan
Oh my, is it paradise itself,
Munnaadi vanthatho
That has appeared before me?
Kasanthu pona kaatchi illaiyae
There are no bitter sights here.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kaaviyam Paadava Thendralae' from 'Idhayathai Thirudathe' (1989) is a poignant yet evocative contemplation on life, love, and fate. The protagonist addresses the gentle breeze, questioning whether the sweet moments of life will truly belong to them or if the future remains an unfathomable enigma. The lyrics move between sorrowful reflections of despair and tears represented as a vanishing mirage, to moments of profound natural bliss where bird song and music make the world feel like an earthly paradise.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Kaaviyam paadava thendralae”
Addressing the gentle breeze ('thendralae') as a listener and companion to whom an epic poem can be sung.
Metaphor
“Kalainthu pogum kaanal neerithu”
Comparing life's fleeting and uncertain nature to a mirage ('kaanal neer') that disappears.
Emoni / Rhyme (Monoreyme & Alliteration)
“Pularnthathor pozhuthu ithuvo / Pullinathin mahothsavam”
Use of matching internal rhyme and rhythmic sound patterns like 'pularnthathor' and 'pullinathin'.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Idhayathai Thirudathe' is the Tamil dubbed version of Mani Ratnam's iconic Telugu romantic drama 'Geethanjali' (1989). The soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja was a massive chartbuster across both languages, with Vaali penning the memorable Tamil lyrics.
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