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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Koonthalukku

From Saradha · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Saradha
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
27 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Koondhalukku malar koduthaal
Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal
Kodutha malar vaadumunnae
Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa
Koondhalukku malar koduthaal
Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal
Kodutha malar vaadumunnae
Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa
Kulirndha neeril kulirthaalum
Gunamum kooda kulippadhillai
Kumbidum dheivam munnirundhaalum
Idhayam edhaiyum marappadhillai
Aadaiyinaal udal maraithaalum
Aasaigal maraivadhillai
Arubadhu vayadhai irubadhu vayadhil
Yaarumae adaivadhillai
Yaarumae adaivadhillai
Koondhalukku malar koduthaal
Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal
Kodutha malar vaadumunnae
Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa
Kangal irundhum kaatchi illaamal
Kalangi vaadum uyir ingae
Porul kaiyilirundhum pasi ariyaamal
Kadhari azhum uyir angae
Sondham irundhum thunai seraamal
Thudi thudikkum uyir ingae
Thunaiyaai irukka vazhi irundhum
Thuvaludhae uyir angae
Thuvaludhae uyir angae
Patta maramae…
Pazhudhadaindha oviyamae
Kattiyadhor thaaliyindri
Kaarigaikku thandhadhenna
Anaikkaadha karangalukku thunai edharkku
Arundhaadha mudavanukku paal edharkku
Suvaikkaadha marakkilaikku vaai edharkku
Sugam theriyaa kurudanukku vaazhvedharkku..
She adorned her hair with flowers,
She placed a tilak on her gentle face,
But before those flowers could fade,
The flower of her youth is withering away!
She adorned her hair with flowers,
She placed a tilak on her gentle face,
But before those flowers could fade,
The flower of her youth is withering away!
Even when bathing in cold water,
The burning within does not cool down.
Even when standing before the God we worship,
The heart forgets none of its sorrow.
Though clothes can cover the body,
Deep desires cannot be hidden.
Reaching old age at twenty—
No one should ever meet such a fate!
No one should ever meet such a fate!
She adorned her hair with flowers,
She placed a tilak on her gentle face,
But before those flowers could fade,
The flower of her youth is withering away!
With eyes that see, yet left in the dark,
Here is a life grieving in despair.
With plenty in hand, yet starving in sorrow,
There is a soul crying out in agony.
Having a spouse, yet unable to unite,
Here is a life writhing in pain.
With every reason to be her partner,
There, a helpless soul wilts in grief.
There, a helpless soul wilts in grief.
O barren tree...
O ruined painting...
Besides tying the sacred wedding knot (thali),
What did you ever give this woman?
Why give a companion to arms that cannot embrace?
Why give milk to a crippled man who cannot drink it?
Why give a mouth to a tree branch to taste?
Why give life to a blind man who cannot know joy?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Koondhalukku Malar Koduthaal' from Saradha (1962) is a deeply poignant song that reflects on grief, tragic ironies, and unfulfilled existence. It contrasts outward adornments and superficial normalcy with inner agony and despair. The lyricist highlights how external actions cannot alter destiny or cleanse deep-seated emotional pain. Through vivid imagery, Kannadasan presents tragic paradoxes: eyes that cannot see, wealth that cannot satisfy hunger, and relationships devoid of true union. The final verses mournfully question the utility of life's blessings when one is robbed of the capacity to experience love and happiness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Koondhalukku malar koduthaal / Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'K' in 'Koondhalukku', 'Kulir', 'Kodutha', and 'Konda'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Patta maramae… / Pazhudhadaindha oviyamae”

Comparing a broken woman's life to a withered tree ('Patta maramae') and a ruined painting ('Pazhudhadaindha oviyamae').

Paradox / Antithesis

“Kangal irundhum kaatchi illaamal / Kalangi vaadum uyir ingae”

Juxtaposition of opposites, such as having sight organs without actual vision, or wealth without satiety.

Rhetorical Questions (Anaphora)

“Anaikkaadha karangalukku thunai edharkku / Arundhaadha mudavanukku paal edharkku”

Repeated use of 'edharkku' (why/what for) at the end of consecutive lines to emphasize existential helplessness.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Saradha' (1962) was directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan, starring S. S. Rajendran and C. R. Vijayakumari. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics were penned by Kannadasan, capturing the tragic emotional core of the film's storyline.

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