Kuthiraiyilee Naan
From Avar Enakke Sontham · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Avar Enakke Sontham1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa | I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa |
| Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku | In order to head towards the east |
| Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam | But that horse towards the west |
| Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa | Is staggering and walking along |
| Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal | And on that horse, my eyes |
| Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa | Are facing backwards |
| Male | |
| Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa | I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa |
| Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku | In order to head towards the east |
| Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam | But that horse towards the west |
| Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa | Is staggering and walking along |
| Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal | And on that horse, my eyes |
| Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa | Are facing backwards |
| Male | |
| Mullaiyilae kalli vandhaal | If a cactus grows amidst jasmine flowers |
| Kalliyilae mullai vandhaal | Or jasmine grows amidst cacti |
| Kollaiyilae yedho thappu kannaiyaa | There is something wrong in the backyard, my dear one |
| Angae podichu vidhai | Did you sow crushed seeds |
| Neeyaa pottaai ponnaiyaa | There yourself, golden one? |
| Male | |
| Panneerukkul venneer ittaai | You poured hot water into rose water |
| Venneerukkul panneer ittaai | You poured rose water into hot water |
| Panneerukkul venneer ittaai | You poured hot water into rose water |
| Venneerukkul panneer ittaai | You poured rose water into hot water |
| Enna indha irandu vaasam | What are these two scents? |
| Unakkae theriyumadaa | You yourself know it, my friend |
| Ohoho ithu thaano kudumba paasam | Oh ho ho, is this what family affection means? |
| Enakkum puriyumadaa | Even I understand it now |
| Male | |
| Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa | I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa |
| Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku | In order to head towards the east |
| Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam | But that horse towards the west |
| Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa | Is staggering and walking along |
| Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal | And on that horse, my eyes |
| Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa | Are facing backwards |
| Male | |
| Kaalaiyilae paal karandhu | Milking the cow in the morning |
| Vattiyilae pasuvai katti | Tying the cow in the shed |
| Melathudan sooda vandhen kannaiyaa | I came eagerly with celebratory music, my dear one |
| Andha kolathukkum | For that event as well |
| Saatchi nee thaan illaiyaa | Weren't you the witness? |
| Male | |
| Kulirum podhu mazhaiyum vandhu | If rain comes when it is cold |
| Kodhikkum podhu veiyil vandhaal | And scorching heat comes when it is boiling |
| Kulirum podhu mazhaiyum vandhu | If rain comes when it is cold |
| Kodhikkum podhu veiyil vandhaal | And scorching heat comes when it is boiling |
| Irandin meedhum kutram illai | Neither of the two is at fault |
| Yaar mael kutramadaa | Then whose fault is it? |
| Andha irandaiyumae nee iraithaai | You showered both of them |
| Un mel kutramadaa | The fault lies upon you |
| Male | |
| Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa | I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa |
| Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku | In order to head towards the east |
| Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam | But that horse towards the west |
| Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa | Is staggering and walking along |
| Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal | And on that horse, my eyes |
| Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa | Are facing backwards |
குதிரையிலே நான் அமர்ந்தேன் கண்ணா
கிழக்கு பக்கம் போவதற்கு குதிரையது
மேற்கு பக்கம் தள்ளாடி நடக்குதடா அந்தக்
குதிரையிலே எந்தன் கண்கள்
பின்னாடி இருக்குதடா
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
In order to head towards the east
But that horse towards the west
Is staggering and walking along
And on that horse, my eyes
Are facing backwards
குதிரையிலே நான் அமர்ந்தேன் கண்ணா
கிழக்கு பக்கம் போவதற்கு குதிரையது
மேற்கு பக்கம் தள்ளாடி நடக்குதடா அந்தக்
குதிரையிலே எந்தன் கண்கள்
பின்னாடி இருக்குதடா
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
In order to head towards the east
But that horse towards the west
Is staggering and walking along
And on that horse, my eyes
Are facing backwards
முல்லையிலே கள்ளி வந்தால்
கள்ளியிலே முல்லை வந்தால்
கொல்லையிலே ஏதோ தப்பு
கண்ணைய்யா.... அங்கே
கொடிக்கு விதை நீயா போட்டாய்
சொல்லையா
If a cactus grows amidst jasmine flowers
Or jasmine grows amidst cacti
There is something wrong in the backyard, my dear one
Did you sow crushed seeds
There yourself, golden one?
பன்னீருக்குள் வெந்நீர் இட்டாய்
வெந்நீருக்குள் பன்னீர் இட்டாய்
பன்னீருக்குள் வெந்நீர் இட்டாய்
வெந்நீருக்குள் பன்னீர் இட்டாய்
You poured hot water into rose water
You poured rose water into hot water
You poured hot water into rose water
You poured rose water into hot water
What are these two scents?
You yourself know it, my friend
Oh ho ho, is this what family affection means?
Even I understand it now
என்ன இந்த ரெண்டு வாசம்
உனக்கே தெரியுமடா
ஓஹோ..இதுதானோ குடும்ப பாசம்
எனக்கும் புரியுமடா
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
In order to head towards the east
But that horse towards the west
Is staggering and walking along
And on that horse, my eyes
Are facing backwards
குதிரையிலே நான் அமர்ந்தேன் கண்ணா
கிழக்கு பக்கம் போவதற்கு குதிரையது
மேற்கு பக்கம் தள்ளாடி நடக்குதடா அந்தக்
குதிரையிலே எந்தன் கண்கள்
பின்னாடி இருக்குதடா
Milking the cow in the morning
Tying the cow in the shed
I came eagerly with celebratory music, my dear one
For that event as well
Weren't you the witness?
காலையிலே பால் கறந்து
வண்டியிலே பசுவை கட்டி
மேளத்துடன் கூட வந்தேன்
கண்ணைய்யா.... அந்தக்
கோலத்துக்கும் காட்சி நீதான்
இல்லையா
If rain comes when it is cold
And scorching heat comes when it is boiling
If rain comes when it is cold
And scorching heat comes when it is boiling
Neither of the two is at fault
Then whose fault is it?
You showered both of them
The fault lies upon you
குளிரும்போது மழையும் வந்து
கொதிக்கும்போது வெய்யில் வந்தால்
குளிரும்போது மழையும் வந்து
கொதிக்கும்போது வெய்யில் வந்தால்
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
In order to head towards the east
But that horse towards the west
Is staggering and walking along
And on that horse, my eyes
Are facing backwards
இரண்டின் மீதும் குற்றமில்லை
யார் மேல் குற்றமோ
அந்த இரண்டையுமே நீ இணைத்தாய்
உன் மேல் குற்றமடா
குதிரையிலே நான் அமர்ந்தேன் கண்ணா
கிழக்கு பக்கம் போவதற்கு குதிரையது
மேற்கு பக்கம் தள்ளாடி நடக்குதடா அந்தக்
குதிரையிலே எந்தன் கண்கள்
பின்னாடி இருக்குதடா
Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku
In order to head towards the east
Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam
But that horse towards the west
Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa
Is staggering and walking along
Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal
And on that horse, my eyes
Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa
Are facing backwards
Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku
In order to head towards the east
Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam
But that horse towards the west
Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa
Is staggering and walking along
Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal
And on that horse, my eyes
Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa
Are facing backwards
Mullaiyilae kalli vandhaal
If a cactus grows amidst jasmine flowers
Kalliyilae mullai vandhaal
Or jasmine grows amidst cacti
Kollaiyilae yedho thappu kannaiyaa
There is something wrong in the backyard, my dear one
Angae podichu vidhai
Did you sow crushed seeds
Neeyaa pottaai ponnaiyaa
There yourself, golden one?
Panneerukkul venneer ittaai
You poured hot water into rose water
Venneerukkul panneer ittaai
You poured rose water into hot water
Panneerukkul venneer ittaai
You poured hot water into rose water
Venneerukkul panneer ittaai
You poured rose water into hot water
Enna indha irandu vaasam
What are these two scents?
Unakkae theriyumadaa
You yourself know it, my friend
Ohoho ithu thaano kudumba paasam
Oh ho ho, is this what family affection means?
Enakkum puriyumadaa
Even I understand it now
Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku
In order to head towards the east
Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam
But that horse towards the west
Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa
Is staggering and walking along
Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal
And on that horse, my eyes
Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa
Are facing backwards
Kaalaiyilae paal karandhu
Milking the cow in the morning
Vattiyilae pasuvai katti
Tying the cow in the shed
Melathudan sooda vandhen kannaiyaa
I came eagerly with celebratory music, my dear one
Andha kolathukkum
For that event as well
Saatchi nee thaan illaiyaa
Weren't you the witness?
Kulirum podhu mazhaiyum vandhu
If rain comes when it is cold
Kodhikkum podhu veiyil vandhaal
And scorching heat comes when it is boiling
Kulirum podhu mazhaiyum vandhu
If rain comes when it is cold
Kodhikkum podhu veiyil vandhaal
And scorching heat comes when it is boiling
Irandin meedhum kutram illai
Neither of the two is at fault
Yaar mael kutramadaa
Then whose fault is it?
Andha irandaiyumae nee iraithaai
You showered both of them
Un mel kutramadaa
The fault lies upon you
Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa
I mounted the horse, my dear Kannaa
Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku
In order to head towards the east
Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam
But that horse towards the west
Thallaadi nadakkudhadaa
Is staggering and walking along
Andha kudhiraiyilae endhan kangal
And on that horse, my eyes
Pinnaadi irukkudhadaa
Are facing backwards
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This metaphorical song from Avar Enakke Sontham, written by Kannadasan, uses rich allegories to express confusion, irony, and the unpredictable twists of fate in relationships. The central image of riding a horse toward the east while it staggers westward with eyes looking backward symbolizes a life moving in an unintended direction while being anchored to past memories.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allegory / Extended Metaphor
“Kudhiraiyilae naan amarndhen kannaa / Kizhakku pakkam povadharkku / Kudhirai adhu merkku pakkam”
Riding a horse westward while intending to go east represents life going off course due to external fate or inner turmoil.
Antimetabole / Wordplay
“Mullaiyilae kalli vandhaal / Kalliyilae mullai vandhaal”
Inversion of words ('mullaiyilae kalli' vs 'kalliyilae mullai') emphasizes contradiction and unnatural mixing.
Oxymoron / Contrast
“Panneerukkul venneer ittaai / Venneerukkul panneer ittaai”
Juxtaposing 'panneer' (cooling rose water) and 'venneer' (scalding hot water) symbolizes contradictory emotions of love and painful conflict.
Did you know?
Trivia
The music for Avar Enakke Sontham (1977) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics were penned by Kannadasan, who masterfully wove deep philosophical metaphors about human dilemmas into simple folk-style melodies.
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