Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam
From Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam · 1981
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kudumbam oru kadhambam | A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers |
| Pala vannam pala vannam | Of many colors, many colors |
| Dhinamum madhi nayangum | Every day intellect/mind bends or struggles |
| Pala ennam pala ennam | With many thoughts, many thoughts |
| Male | |
| Devan oru paadhai devi oru paadhai | The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path |
| Kuzhanthai oru paadhai | The child has another path |
| Kaalam seiyum perum leelai | A great game played by time |
| Male | |
| Kudumbam oru kadhambam | A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers |
| Pala vannam | Of many colors |
| Dhinamum madhi nayangum | Every day intellect bends or struggles |
| Pala ennam | With many thoughts |
| Male | |
| Devan oru paadhai devi oru paadhai | The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path |
| Kuzhanthai oru paadhai | The child has another path |
| Kaalam seiyum perum leelai | A great game played by time |
| Male | |
| Manaiyaal pan seithaal | If the wife works for wages |
| Manavaalan vaazhalaam | The husband can survive |
| Adhilae varumaanam aanaalum avamaanam | Income comes from it, but so does dishonor/humiliation |
| Veedugal thorum ingu | In every house here |
| Idhuthaanae kelvi indru | Is this not the question today? |
| Male | |
| Vidinthaal oru ennam | As dawn breaks, a new thought arises |
| Ellorkkum thaniyullam | Everyone has an independent mind |
| Male | |
| Kudumbam oru kadhambam | A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers |
| Pala vannam pala vannam | Of many colors, many colors |
| Dhinamum madhi nayangum | Every day intellect bends or struggles |
| Pala ennam pala ennam | With many thoughts, many thoughts |
| Male | |
| Kanavan perithendru | Thinking the husband is superior |
| Mananthaargal mangaiyargal | Women used to get married |
| Uzhaippaal avalendru | Thinking she will contribute by labor |
| Mananthaargal naayagarkal | Husbands got married |
| Male | |
| Porulaathaaraththilae | In terms of economics |
| Porulthaanaa thaaram indru | Is a wife merely a financial asset today? |
| Porulaathaaraththilae | In terms of economics |
| Porulthaanaa thaaram indru | Is a wife merely a financial asset today? |
| Iruvar uzhaiththaalthaan | Only if both work |
| Innaalilae pasi theerum | Can hunger be satisfied in these times |
| Male | |
| Kudumbam oru kadhambam | A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers |
| Pala vannam | Of many colors |
| Dhinamum madhi nayangum | Every day intellect bends or struggles |
| Pala ennam | With many thoughts |
| Male | |
| Irandu kudhiraiyilae | Riding on two horses |
| Oru manithan povathenna | Why does a man travel like that? |
| Irandu ninaivugalil | In two different conflicting thoughts |
| Sila manithar vaazhvathenna | Why do some people live? |
| Male | |
| Kaalangalthorum | Across different eras |
| Avar sinthanaiyil maattramenna | What is this constant change in their thinking? |
| Manithan ninaikkindran | Man proposes / thinks |
| Iraivan athai maattrugindraan | God disposes / changes it |
| Male | |
| Kudumbam oru kadhambam | A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers |
| Pala vannam pala vannam | Of many colors, many colors |
| Dhinamum madhi nayangum | Every day intellect bends or struggles |
| Pala ennam pala ennam | With many thoughts, many thoughts |
| Male | |
| Devan oru paadhai devi oru paadhai | The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path |
| Kuzhanthai oru paadhai | The child has another path |
| Kaalam seiyum perum leelai | A great game played by time |
| Male | |
| Kudumbam oru kadhambam | A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers |
| Pala vannam | Of many colors |
| Dhinamum madhi nayangum | Every day intellect bends or struggles |
| Pala ennam | With many thoughts |
குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்
பல வண்ணம் பல வண்ணம்
தினமும் மதி மயங்கும்
பல எண்ணம் பல எண்ணம்
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Of many colors, many colors
Every day intellect/mind bends or struggles
With many thoughts, many thoughts
தேவன் ஒரு பாதை தேவி ஒரு பாதை
குழந்தை ஒரு பாதை
காலம் செய்யும் பெரும் லீலை
The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path
The child has another path
A great game played by time
குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்
பல வண்ணம்
தினமும் மதி மயங்கும்
பல எண்ணம்
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Of many colors
Every day intellect bends or struggles
With many thoughts
தேவன் ஒரு பாதை தேவி ஒரு பாதை
குழந்தை ஒரு பாதை
காலம் செய்யும் பெரும் லீலை
The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path
The child has another path
A great game played by time
மனையாள் பணி செய்தால்
மணவாளன் வாழலாம்
அதிலே வருமானம் ஆனாலும் அவமானம்
வீடுகள் தோறும் இங்கு
இதுதானே கேள்வி இன்று
If the wife works for wages
The husband can survive
Income comes from it, but so does dishonor/humiliation
In every house here
Is this not the question today?
விடிந்தால் ஒரு எண்ணம்
எல்லோர்க்கும் தனியுள்ளம்
As dawn breaks, a new thought arises
Everyone has an independent mind
குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்
பல வண்ணம் பல வண்ணம்
தினமும் மதி மயங்கும்
பல எண்ணம் பல எண்ணம்
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Of many colors, many colors
Every day intellect bends or struggles
With many thoughts, many thoughts
கணவன் பெரிதென்று
மணந்தார்கள் மங்கையர்கள்
உழைப்பாள் அவளென்று
மணந்தார்கள் நாயகர்கள்
Thinking the husband is superior
Women used to get married
Thinking she will contribute by labor
Husbands got married
பொருளாதாரத்திலே
பொருள்தானா தாரம் இன்று
பொருளாதாரத்திலே
பொருள்தானா தாரம் இன்று
இருவர் உழைத்தால்தான்
இந்நாளிலே பசி தீரும்
In terms of economics
Is a wife merely a financial asset today?
In terms of economics
Is a wife merely a financial asset today?
Only if both work
Can hunger be satisfied in these times
குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்
பல வண்ணம்
தினமும் மதி மயங்கும்
பல எண்ணம்
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Of many colors
Every day intellect bends or struggles
With many thoughts
இரண்டு குதிரையிலே
ஒரு மனிதன் போவதென்ன
இரண்டு நினைவுகளில்
சில மனிதர் வாழ்வதென்ன
Riding on two horses
Why does a man travel like that?
In two different conflicting thoughts
Why do some people live?
காலங்கள்தோறும்
அவர் சிந்தனையில் மாற்றமென்ன
மனிதன் நினைக்கின்றான்
இறைவன் அதை மாற்றுகின்றான்
Across different eras
What is this constant change in their thinking?
Man proposes / thinks
God disposes / changes it
குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்
பல வண்ணம் பல வண்ணம்
தினமும் மதி மயங்கும்
பல எண்ணம் பல எண்ணம்
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Of many colors, many colors
Every day intellect bends or struggles
With many thoughts, many thoughts
தேவன் ஒரு பாதை தேவி ஒரு பாதை
குழந்தை ஒரு பாதை
காலம் செய்யும் பெரும் லீலை
The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path
The child has another path
A great game played by time
குடும்பம் ஒரு கதம்பம்
பல வண்ணம்
தினமும் மதி மயங்கும்
பல எண்ணம்
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Of many colors
Every day intellect bends or struggles
With many thoughts
Kudumbam oru kadhambam
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Pala vannam pala vannam
Of many colors, many colors
Dhinamum madhi nayangum
Every day intellect/mind bends or struggles
Pala ennam pala ennam
With many thoughts, many thoughts
Devan oru paadhai devi oru paadhai
The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path
Kuzhanthai oru paadhai
The child has another path
Kaalam seiyum perum leelai
A great game played by time
Kudumbam oru kadhambam
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Pala vannam
Of many colors
Dhinamum madhi nayangum
Every day intellect bends or struggles
Pala ennam
With many thoughts
Devan oru paadhai devi oru paadhai
The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path
Kuzhanthai oru paadhai
The child has another path
Kaalam seiyum perum leelai
A great game played by time
Manaiyaal pan seithaal
If the wife works for wages
Manavaalan vaazhalaam
The husband can survive
Adhilae varumaanam aanaalum avamaanam
Income comes from it, but so does dishonor/humiliation
Veedugal thorum ingu
In every house here
Idhuthaanae kelvi indru
Is this not the question today?
Vidinthaal oru ennam
As dawn breaks, a new thought arises
Ellorkkum thaniyullam
Everyone has an independent mind
Kudumbam oru kadhambam
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Pala vannam pala vannam
Of many colors, many colors
Dhinamum madhi nayangum
Every day intellect bends or struggles
Pala ennam pala ennam
With many thoughts, many thoughts
Kanavan perithendru
Thinking the husband is superior
Mananthaargal mangaiyargal
Women used to get married
Uzhaippaal avalendru
Thinking she will contribute by labor
Mananthaargal naayagarkal
Husbands got married
Porulaathaaraththilae
In terms of economics
Porulthaanaa thaaram indru
Is a wife merely a financial asset today?
Porulaathaaraththilae
In terms of economics
Porulthaanaa thaaram indru
Is a wife merely a financial asset today?
Iruvar uzhaiththaalthaan
Only if both work
Innaalilae pasi theerum
Can hunger be satisfied in these times
Kudumbam oru kadhambam
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Pala vannam
Of many colors
Dhinamum madhi nayangum
Every day intellect bends or struggles
Pala ennam
With many thoughts
Irandu kudhiraiyilae
Riding on two horses
Oru manithan povathenna
Why does a man travel like that?
Irandu ninaivugalil
In two different conflicting thoughts
Sila manithar vaazhvathenna
Why do some people live?
Kaalangalthorum
Across different eras
Avar sinthanaiyil maattramenna
What is this constant change in their thinking?
Manithan ninaikkindran
Man proposes / thinks
Iraivan athai maattrugindraan
God disposes / changes it
Kudumbam oru kadhambam
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Pala vannam pala vannam
Of many colors, many colors
Dhinamum madhi nayangum
Every day intellect bends or struggles
Pala ennam pala ennam
With many thoughts, many thoughts
Devan oru paadhai devi oru paadhai
The god (husband) has one path, the goddess (wife) has another path
Kuzhanthai oru paadhai
The child has another path
Kaalam seiyum perum leelai
A great game played by time
Kudumbam oru kadhambam
A family is like a mixed bouquet of flowers
Pala vannam
Of many colors
Dhinamum madhi nayangum
Every day intellect bends or struggles
Pala ennam
With many thoughts
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam' explores the complexities, contradictions, and evolving dynamics of modern family life. Written by Kannadasan and set to music by M. S. Viswanathan, the song metaphorically equates a family to a 'kadhambam'—a garland composed of varied flowers—symbolizing diverse personalities, opinions, and life paths residing under one roof. It reflects on societal shifts where economic realities force both husbands and wives to work, creating financial support yet triggering ego clashes, changing expectations, and social dilemmas. Ultimately, the song highlights how human intentions are reshaped by time, fate, and economic pressures, capturing the bitter-sweet essence of family relationships with profound philosophical depth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Kudumbam oru kadhambam”
Comparing family to 'Kadhambam' (a mixed floral garland) to signify diverse personalities grouped together.
Repetition (Anaphora/Anadiplosis)
“Pala vannam pala vannam”
Repetition of 'Pala vannam' and 'Pala ennam' creates rhythm and reinforces multiplicity.
Metaphor
“Irandu kudhiraiyilae Oru manithan povathenna”
Riding two horses at once symbolizes leading a divided life or juggling conflicting thoughts and responsibilities.
Eltru / Monnai (Tamil Alliteration)
“Manaiyaal pan seithaal Manavaalan vaazhalaam”
Matching initial sounds in consecutive words such as 'Manaiyaal' / 'Manavaalan' and 'Porulaathaaraththilae' / 'Porulthaanaa'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is the title track of the 1981 film 'Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam' directed by S. P. Muthuraman, based on Visu's popular stage play. Visu himself starred in the movie, which dealt with middle-class domestic issues, working wives, and generational differences.
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