Megam Vanthathu
From Kavitha · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kavitha1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu | Seeking the house, the lamp came |
| Oli pirakkavillai | But light was not born |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu | Seeking the house, the lamp came |
| Oli pirakkavillai | But light was not born |
| Female | |
| Kaatru vandhadhu malar asainthathu | The breeze came, the flower swayed |
| Manam asaiyavillai | But the heart did not budge |
| Kaatru vandhadhu malar asainthathu | The breeze came, the flower swayed |
| Manam asaiyavillai | But the heart did not budge |
| Kannurangidum iravinilum | Even in the night when eyes sleep |
| Pennurangavillai | The woman did not sleep |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Female | |
| Paal palangal thevai endraal | If milk and fruits are needed |
| Veliyil sollalaam | One can express it aloud |
| Vannapattu saelai nagaigal | Colorful silk sarees and jewels |
| Kettu vaangi kollalaam | One can ask and receive |
| Female | |
| Kaadhalindru thevai endru | Saying that love is needed today |
| Ketka mudiyuma | Can one ask for it? |
| Kaadhalindru thevai endru | Saying that love is needed today |
| Ketka mudiyuma | Can one ask for it? |
| Indha kavalai thannai pirarkku | This sorrow of hers, to others |
| Solli theerkka mudiyuma | Can it be resolved by telling? |
| Female | |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu | Seeking the house, the lamp came |
| Oli pirakkavillai | But light was not born |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Female | |
| Nenjirukkum ninaivirukkum | The heart is there, memories are there |
| Vaarthai illaiyae | Yet there are no words |
| Indha nilamai solla ulagil | To describe this state, in this world |
| Endha mozhiyum illaiyae | There is no language |
| Female | |
| Thanjam endru vandha pinnum | Even after coming seeking refuge |
| Karunai illaiyae | There is no mercy |
| Thanjam endru vandha pinnum | Even after coming seeking refuge |
| Karunai illaiyae | There is no mercy |
| Edhai tharuvadhendrum peruvadhendrum | What to give and what to receive |
| Puriyavillaiyae | Is not understood |
| Female | |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
| Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu | Seeking the house, the lamp came |
| Oli pirakkavillai | But light was not born |
| Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu | The cloud came, the lightning came |
| Mazhai pozhiyavillai | But the rain did not pour |
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
வீடு தேடி தீபம் வந்தது
ஒளி பிறக்கவில்லை
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
வீடு தேடி தீபம் வந்தது
ஒளி பிறக்கவில்லை
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
Seeking the house, the lamp came
But light was not born
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
Seeking the house, the lamp came
But light was not born
காற்று வந்தது மலர் அசைந்தது
மனம் அசையவில்லை
காற்று வந்தது மலர் அசைந்தது
மனம் அசையவில்லை
கண்ணுறங்கிடும் இரவினிலும்
பெண்ணுறங்கவில்லை
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
The breeze came, the flower swayed
But the heart did not budge
The breeze came, the flower swayed
But the heart did not budge
Even in the night when eyes sleep
The woman did not sleep
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
பால் பழங்கள் தேவையென்றால்
வெளியில் சொல்லலாம்
வண்ணப் பட்டுச் சேலை நகைகள்
கேட்டு வாங்கிக் கொள்ளலாம்
If milk and fruits are needed
One can express it aloud
Colorful silk sarees and jewels
One can ask and receive
காதலின்று தேவையென்று
கேட்க முடியுமா
காதலின்று தேவையென்று
கேட்க முடியுமா
இந்தக் கவலை தன்னைப் பிறர்க்குச்
சொல்லித் தீர்க்க முடியுமா
Saying that love is needed today
Can one ask for it?
Saying that love is needed today
Can one ask for it?
This sorrow of hers, to others
Can it be resolved by telling?
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
வீடு தேடி தீபம் வந்தது
ஒளி பிறக்கவில்லை
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
Seeking the house, the lamp came
But light was not born
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
நெஞ்சிருக்கும் நினைவிருக்கும்
வார்த்தை இல்லையே
இந்த நிலைமை சொல்ல உலகில்
எந்த மொழியுமில்லையே
The heart is there, memories are there
Yet there are no words
To describe this state, in this world
There is no language
தஞ்சமென்று வந்த பின்னும்
கருணை இல்லையே
தஞ்சமென்று வந்த பின்னும்
கருணை இல்லையே
எதைத் தருவதென்றும் பெறுவதென்றும்
புரியவில்லையே………
Even after coming seeking refuge
There is no mercy
Even after coming seeking refuge
There is no mercy
What to give and what to receive
Is not understood
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
வீடு தேடி தீபம் வந்தது
ஒளி பிறக்கவில்லை
மேகம் வந்தது மின்னல் வந்தது
மழை பொழியவில்லை
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
Seeking the house, the lamp came
But light was not born
The cloud came, the lightning came
But the rain did not pour
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu
Seeking the house, the lamp came
Oli pirakkavillai
But light was not born
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu
Seeking the house, the lamp came
Oli pirakkavillai
But light was not born
Kaatru vandhadhu malar asainthathu
The breeze came, the flower swayed
Manam asaiyavillai
But the heart did not budge
Kaatru vandhadhu malar asainthathu
The breeze came, the flower swayed
Manam asaiyavillai
But the heart did not budge
Kannurangidum iravinilum
Even in the night when eyes sleep
Pennurangavillai
The woman did not sleep
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Paal palangal thevai endraal
If milk and fruits are needed
Veliyil sollalaam
One can express it aloud
Vannapattu saelai nagaigal
Colorful silk sarees and jewels
Kettu vaangi kollalaam
One can ask and receive
Kaadhalindru thevai endru
Saying that love is needed today
Ketka mudiyuma
Can one ask for it?
Kaadhalindru thevai endru
Saying that love is needed today
Ketka mudiyuma
Can one ask for it?
Indha kavalai thannai pirarkku
This sorrow of hers, to others
Solli theerkka mudiyuma
Can it be resolved by telling?
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu
Seeking the house, the lamp came
Oli pirakkavillai
But light was not born
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Nenjirukkum ninaivirukkum
The heart is there, memories are there
Vaarthai illaiyae
Yet there are no words
Indha nilamai solla ulagil
To describe this state, in this world
Endha mozhiyum illaiyae
There is no language
Thanjam endru vandha pinnum
Even after coming seeking refuge
Karunai illaiyae
There is no mercy
Thanjam endru vandha pinnum
Even after coming seeking refuge
Karunai illaiyae
There is no mercy
Edhai tharuvadhendrum peruvadhendrum
What to give and what to receive
Puriyavillaiyae
Is not understood
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Veedu thedi deepam vandhadhu
Seeking the house, the lamp came
Oli pirakkavillai
But light was not born
Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu
The cloud came, the lightning came
Mazhai pozhiyavillai
But the rain did not pour
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Megam Vanthathu Minnal Vandhadhu is a poignant classic from the 1962 film Kavitha, penned by lyricist Kannadasan and sung by P. Susheela under K. V. Mahadevan's musical composition. The song utilizes vivid natural paradoxes—clouds and lightning that yield no rain, a lamp that fails to illuminate, and a breeze moving a flower while the human heart remains cold—to symbolize a woman's unfulfilled longing and emotional isolation in marriage. The heroine reflects on how physical needs and material desires like food, clothing, and ornaments can easily be voiced, but emotional intimacy and love cannot be demanded or shared publicly. She suffers in silence, caught in a state where feelings exist without words to convey them, highlighting the unspoken emotional distress faced by women under traditional social bounds.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox / Metaphor (Ethirnilai / Uvamai)
“Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu / Mazhai pozhiyavillai”
The image of clouds and lightning arriving without rain, or a lamp arriving without producing light, serves as a powerful metaphor for external presence lacking internal fulfillment.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)
“Kannurangidum iravinilum / Pennurangavillai”
Contrasts the peaceful sleep of the eyes during nighttime with the restless insomnia of the distressed woman.
Refrain / Repetition (Adukku)
“Megam vanthathu minnal vandhadhu”
The recurring refrain reinforces the central thematic contrast between expectation and disappointment.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan's lyrics in this song are considered a landmark in Tamil cinema for tastefully portraying marital dissatisfaction and emotional distance without explicit dialogue, relying on natural allegories.
Keep listening
More from Kavitha
Kavitha
Kavitha
Kavitha
Kavitha
Kavitha
Kavitha