Koonthalukku
From Saradha · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Saradha1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Koondhalukku malar koduthaal | She gave a flower for the tresses |
| Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal | She placed a thilagam on the cool face |
| Kodutha malar vaadumunnae | Before the given flower could wither |
| Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa | The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord! |
| Male | |
| Koondhalukku malar koduthaal | She gave a flower for the tresses |
| Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal | She placed a thilagam on the cool face |
| Kodutha malar vaadumunnae | Before the given flower could wither |
| Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa | The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord! |
| Male | |
| Kulirndha neeril kulirthaalum | Even if one bathes in cool water |
| Gunamum kooda kulippadhillai | One's inner nature does not get cleansed |
| Kumbidum dheivam munnirundhaalum | Even if the worshiped deity stands right before |
| Idhayam edhaiyum marappadhillai | The heart forgets nothing |
| Male | |
| Aadaiyinaal udal maraithaalum | Even if one conceals the body with clothes |
| Aasaigal maraivadhillai | Desires never fade away |
| Arubadhu vayadhai irubadhu vayadhil | The age of sixty at the age of twenty |
| Yaarumae adaivadhillai | No one ever reaches |
| Yaarumae adaivadhillai | No one ever reaches |
| Male | |
| Koondhalukku malar koduthaal | She gave a flower for the tresses |
| Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal | She placed a thilagam on the cool face |
| Kodutha malar vaadumunnae | Before the given flower could wither |
| Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa | The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord! |
| Male | |
| Kangal irundhum kaatchi illaamal | Having eyes yet lacking sight |
| Kalangi vaadum uyir ingae | Here lies a soul grieving and withering |
| Porul kaiyilirundhum pasi ariyaamal | Having wealth in hand yet unable to satisfy hunger |
| Kadhari azhum uyir angae | There lies a soul wailing aloud |
| Male | |
| Sondham irundhum thunai seraamal | Having relations yet unable to unite with a partner |
| Thudi thudikkum uyir ingae | Here lies a soul suffering in angst |
| Thunaiyaai irukka vazhi irundhum | Though there is a way to offer support |
| Thuvaludhae uyir angae | There lies a soul drooping in despair |
| Thuvaludhae uyir angae | There lies a soul drooping in despair |
| Male | |
| Patta maramae… | Oh withered tree... |
| Pazhudhadaindha oviyamae | Oh damaged painting |
| Kattiyadhor thaaliyindri | Without tying a sacred thali |
| Kaarigaikku thandhadhenna | What was given to this woman? |
| Male | |
| Anaikkaadha karangalukku thunai edharkku | Why a companion for hands that do not embrace? |
| Arundhaadha mudavanukku paal edharkku | Why milk for a disabled person who cannot drink? |
| Suvaikkaadha marakkilaikku vaai edharkku | Why a mouth for a wooden branch that cannot taste? |
| Sugam theriyaa kurudanukku vaazhvedharkku.. | Why a life for a blind person who knows no happiness? |
கூந்தலுக்கு மலர் கொடுத்தாள்
குளிர் முகத்தில் திலகமிட்டாள்
கொடுத்த மலர் வாடுமுன்னே
கொண்ட மலர் வாடுதையா
She gave a flower for the tresses
She placed a thilagam on the cool face
Before the given flower could wither
The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord!
கூந்தலுக்கு மலர் கொடுத்தாள்
குளிர் முகத்தில் திலகமிட்டாள்
கொடுத்த மலர் வாடுமுன்னே
கொண்ட மலர் வாடுதையா
She gave a flower for the tresses
She placed a thilagam on the cool face
Before the given flower could wither
The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord!
குளிர்ந்த நீரில் குளித்தாலும்
குணமும் கூடக் குளிப்பதில்லை
கும்பிடும் தெய்வம் முன்னிருந்தாலும்
இதயம் எதையும் மறப்பதில்லை
Even if one bathes in cool water
One's inner nature does not get cleansed
Even if the worshiped deity stands right before
The heart forgets nothing
ஆடையினால் உடல் மறைத்தாலும்
ஆசைகள் மறைவதில்லை
அறுபது வயதை இருபது வயதில்
யாருமே அடைவதில்லை
யாருமே அடைவதில்லை
Even if one conceals the body with clothes
Desires never fade away
The age of sixty at the age of twenty
No one ever reaches
No one ever reaches
கூந்தலுக்கு மலர் கொடுத்தாள்
குளிர் முகத்தில் திலகமிட்டாள்
கொடுத்த மலர் வாடுமுன்னே
கொண்ட மலர் வாடுதையா
She gave a flower for the tresses
She placed a thilagam on the cool face
Before the given flower could wither
The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord!
கண்களிருந்தும் காட்சியில்லாமல்
கலங்கி வாடும் உயிரிங்கே
பொருள் கையிலிருந்தும் பசியறியாமல்
கதறியழும் உயிர் அங்கே
Having eyes yet lacking sight
Here lies a soul grieving and withering
Having wealth in hand yet unable to satisfy hunger
There lies a soul wailing aloud
சொந்தமிருந்து துணை சேராமல்
துடிதுடிக்கும் உயிர் இங்கே
துணையாய் இருக்க வழி இருந்தும்
துவளுதே உயிர் அங்கே
துவளுதே உயிர் அங்கே
Having relations yet unable to unite with a partner
Here lies a soul suffering in angst
Though there is a way to offer support
There lies a soul drooping in despair
There lies a soul drooping in despair
பட்ட மரமே.......
பழுதடைந்த ஓவியமே
கட்டியதோர் தாலியின்றி
காரிகைக்குத் தந்ததென்ன
Oh withered tree...
Oh damaged painting
Without tying a sacred thali
What was given to this woman?
அணைக்காத கரங்களுக்குத் துணை எதற்கு
அருந்தாத முடவனுக்குப் பால் எதற்கு
சுவைக்காக மரக்கிளைக்கு வாய் எதற்கு
சுகம் தெரியாக் குருடனுக்கு வாழ்வெதற்கு
Why a companion for hands that do not embrace?
Why milk for a disabled person who cannot drink?
Why a mouth for a wooden branch that cannot taste?
Why a life for a blind person who knows no happiness?
Koondhalukku malar koduthaal
She gave a flower for the tresses
Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal
She placed a thilagam on the cool face
Kodutha malar vaadumunnae
Before the given flower could wither
Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa
The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord!
Koondhalukku malar koduthaal
She gave a flower for the tresses
Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal
She placed a thilagam on the cool face
Kodutha malar vaadumunnae
Before the given flower could wither
Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa
The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord!
Kulirndha neeril kulirthaalum
Even if one bathes in cool water
Gunamum kooda kulippadhillai
One's inner nature does not get cleansed
Kumbidum dheivam munnirundhaalum
Even if the worshiped deity stands right before
Idhayam edhaiyum marappadhillai
The heart forgets nothing
Aadaiyinaal udal maraithaalum
Even if one conceals the body with clothes
Aasaigal maraivadhillai
Desires never fade away
Arubadhu vayadhai irubadhu vayadhil
The age of sixty at the age of twenty
Yaarumae adaivadhillai
No one ever reaches
Yaarumae adaivadhillai
No one ever reaches
Koondhalukku malar koduthaal
She gave a flower for the tresses
Kulir mugathil thilagam ittaal
She placed a thilagam on the cool face
Kodutha malar vaadumunnae
Before the given flower could wither
Konda malar vaadudhaiyaa
The beloved flower is withering away, oh lord!
Kangal irundhum kaatchi illaamal
Having eyes yet lacking sight
Kalangi vaadum uyir ingae
Here lies a soul grieving and withering
Porul kaiyilirundhum pasi ariyaamal
Having wealth in hand yet unable to satisfy hunger
Kadhari azhum uyir angae
There lies a soul wailing aloud
Sondham irundhum thunai seraamal
Having relations yet unable to unite with a partner
Thudi thudikkum uyir ingae
Here lies a soul suffering in angst
Thunaiyaai irukka vazhi irundhum
Though there is a way to offer support
Thuvaludhae uyir angae
There lies a soul drooping in despair
Thuvaludhae uyir angae
There lies a soul drooping in despair
Patta maramae…
Oh withered tree...
Pazhudhadaindha oviyamae
Oh damaged painting
Kattiyadhor thaaliyindri
Without tying a sacred thali
Kaarigaikku thandhadhenna
What was given to this woman?
Anaikkaadha karangalukku thunai edharkku
Why a companion for hands that do not embrace?
Arundhaadha mudavanukku paal edharkku
Why milk for a disabled person who cannot drink?
Suvaikkaadha marakkilaikku vaai edharkku
Why a mouth for a wooden branch that cannot taste?
Sugam theriyaa kurudanukku vaazhvedharkku..
Why a life for a blind person who knows no happiness?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'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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