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Thisai Maariya Paravaigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kizhakku Paravai

From Thisai Maariya Paravaigal · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thisai Maariya Paravaigal
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
29 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kizhakku paravai merkkil parakkuthu
Adhu kizhakku vaanai marakka paarkkuthu
Kizhakku paravai merkkil parakkuthu
Adhu kizhakku vaanai marakka paarkkuthu
Thanakkena oru maarkkam ullathu
Adhu samayam paarththu maarivittathu
Kaarirul theduthu nilavai
Adhu dhisai maariya paravai
Kaarirul theduthu nilavai
Adhu dhisai maariya paravai
Kaveri enna kollidam enna
Veru nadhigal alla
Vella maari varuvathalla
Entha kovilil sendru vanaginaalum
Aandavan per solla
Verum bedhangal thannai vella
Kaarirul theduthu nilavai
Adhu dhisai maariya paravai
Vaazhvu illai enbatharkku
Vellai aadai anivaal
Adhai hindu pennum arivaal
Vaazhvu illai enbatharkku
Vellai aadai anivaal
Adhai hindu pennum arivaal
Than inba vaazhvai thiyaagam seithu
Pirarukkaaga vaazhvaal
Oru thavarillaamal vaazhvaal
Kaarirul theduthu nilavai
Adhu dhisai maariya paravai
Kizhakkil udhikkum sooriyanae
Merkkil sendru maraivaan
Avan irandu dhisaiyum arivaan
Kizhakkil udhikkum sooriyanae
Merkkil sendru maraivaan
Avan irandu dhisaiyum arivaan
Entha mathaththil ulla manithan kooda
Mandiyittu thozhuvaan
Antha kartharthaanae bhagavaan
Kizhakku paravai merkkil parakkuthu
Adhu kizhakku vaanai marakka paarkkuthu
Thanakkena oru maarkkam ullathu
Adhu samayam paarththu maarivittathu
Kaarirul theduthu nilavai
Adhu dhisai maariya paravai…
The bird of the east is flying to the west,
It is trying to forget the eastern sky.
The bird of the east is flying to the west,
It is trying to forget the eastern sky.
It had a path of its own,
Yet when the moment came, it changed its course...
Deep darkness searches for the moon,
It is a bird that has changed its direction...
Deep darkness searches for the moon,
It is a bird that has changed its direction...
What is the Cauvery and what is the Kollidam?
They are not different rivers,
Nor are their rushing waters separate.
Whichever place of worship you go to pray,
Calling out the name of the Lord,
It is only to rise above all differences...
Deep darkness searches for the moon,
It is a bird that has changed its direction...
To show that she has renounced worldly life,
She dresses in white clothes,
A truth even a Hindu woman knows.
To show that she has renounced worldly life,
She dresses in white clothes,
A truth even a Hindu woman knows.
Sacrificing her joyful life,
She lives for the sake of others,
Leading a life without any fault...
Deep darkness searches for the moon,
It is a bird that has changed its direction...
The sun that rises in the east
Goes and sets in the west,
He knows both directions well.
The sun that rises in the east
Goes and sets in the west,
He knows both directions well.
A person belonging to any faith
Will kneel down in prayer,
For that Lord is God all the same...
The bird of the east is flying to the west,
It is trying to forget the eastern sky.
It had a path of its own,
Yet when the moment came, it changed its course...
Deep darkness searches for the moon,
It is a bird that has changed its direction...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful philosophical track from 'Thisai Maariya Paravaigal' uses the allegory of a bird changing its flight direction from East to West to reflect upon cross-cultural choices, religious harmony, and selfless sacrifice. Through poetic metaphors, Kannadasan draws parallels between rivers flowing into the same sea, Christian nuns wearing white juxtaposed with Hindu traditions of renunciation, and the sun spanning both the eastern and western skies. The song highlights that beyond religious and cultural boundaries, God is one, and true nobility lies in living selflessly for others.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kizhakku paravai merkkil parakkuthu”

The 'eastern bird flying west' serves as a central metaphor for a person transitioning between cultures, religions, or paths in life.

Contrast / Imagery

“Kaarirul theduthu nilavai”

The image of deep darkness seeking the moon represents a soul searching for hope, illumination, or truth amidst confusion.

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Kizhakku paravai merkkil parakkuthu”

The second letter 'zha' (ழ) rhymes across lines in 'Kizhakku' and 'Azhaghu' / structural rhythmic patterns.

Analogy

“Kaveri enna kollidam enna”

The rivers Kaveri and Kollidam are compared to demonstrate unity in diversity; though named differently, they belong to the same waters.

Did you know?

Trivia

Directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar, 'Thisai Maariya Paravaigal' was a acclaimed movie dealing with themes of social reform and inter-caste/inter-faith adoption. The movie won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Film, and Kannadasan's lyrics in this song are widely praised for their interfaith unity message.

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