Naan Kadavulai
From Kallum Kaniyagum · 1968
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Kallum Kaniyagum1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan kadavulai kanden | I saw God |
| En kulandhai vadivilae | In the form of my child |
| Avan karunaiyai kanden | I saw His grace |
| Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae | In the lisping baby speech |
| Mazhalai mozhiyilae | In the baby speech |
| Male | |
| Naan kadavulai kanden | I saw God |
| En kulandhai vadivilae | In the form of my child |
| Avan karunaiyai kanden | I saw His grace |
| Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae | In the lisping baby speech |
| Male | |
| Whistle……. | [Whistle] |
| Male | |
| Paal vadiyum un poo mugathil | In your innocent flower-like face radiating purity |
| Aayiram kanavu kanden | I saw a thousand dreams |
| Naalai varum nalla vaazhvu enum | In the thought of a good life arriving tomorrow |
| Andha ninaivaal vaazhgindren | I live with that hope |
| Male | |
| Unakkoru thaai pola | Like a mother for you |
| Thanakkillaiyae endru iraivan kettaano | Did God wonder if he had no mother for himself? |
| Unakkoru thaai pola | Like a mother for you |
| Thanakkillaiyae endru iraivan kettaano | Did God wonder if he had no mother for himself? |
| Enakkena unnaikoduthu | Did your mother go up there |
| Un annai angae ponaalo | After giving you to me? |
| Ange ponaalo | Did she go up there? |
| Male | |
| Naan kadavulai kanden | I saw God |
| En kulandhai vadivilae | In the form of my child |
| Avan karunaiyai kanden | I saw His grace |
| Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae | In the lisping baby speech |
| Male | |
| Aalamaram ena nee valarum | You will grow like a banyan tree |
| Naal thaan vara vendum | That day must surely come |
| Kalaimagal arulum alaimagal porulum | The blessings of Saraswati and the wealth of Lakshmi |
| Niraindhe pera vendum | You must receive in abundance |
| Male | |
| Arivudan thigazhulum thirumagan pugalum | The fame of a virtuous, wise son |
| Kadal pol perugaadho | Will it not swell like the ocean? |
| Arivudan thigazhulum thirumagan pugalum | The fame of a virtuous, wise son |
| Kadal pol perugaadho | Will it not swell like the ocean? |
| Paarthathum kettadhum eendravar nenjam | Seeing and hearing this, the parent's heart |
| Pani pol urugaadho | Will it not melt like snow? |
| Pani pol urugaadho | Will it not melt like snow? |
| Male | |
| Naan kadavulai kanden | I saw God |
| En kulandhai vadivilae | In the form of my child |
| Avan karunaiyai kanden | I saw His grace |
| Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae | In the lisping baby speech |
| Mazhalai mozhiyilae | In the baby speech |
நான் கடவுளைக் கண்டேன்
என் குழந்தை வடிவிலே
அவன் கருணையைக் கண்டேன்
கொஞ்சும் மழலை மொழியிலே.......
மழலை மொழியிலே.......
I saw God
In the form of my child
I saw His grace
In the lisping baby speech
In the baby speech
நான் கடவுளைக் கண்டேன்
என் குழந்தை வடிவிலே
அவன் கருணையைக் கண்டேன்
கொஞ்சும் மழலை மொழியிலே.....
I saw God
In the form of my child
I saw His grace
In the lisping baby speech
விசில் :
.............
[Whistle]
பால் வடியும் உன் பூ முகத்தில்
ஆயிரம் கனவுக் கண்டேன்
நாளை வரும் நல்ல வாழ்வு எனும்
அந்த நினைவால் வாழ்கின்றேன்
In your innocent flower-like face radiating purity
I saw a thousand dreams
In the thought of a good life arriving tomorrow
I live with that hope
உனக்கொரு தாய்ப் போல்
தனக்கில்லையே என்று இறைவன் கேட்டானோ
உனக்கொரு தாய்ப் போல்
தனக்கில்லையே என்று இறைவன் கேட்டானோ
எனக்கென உன்னை கொடுத்து
உன் அன்னை அங்கே போனாளோ........
அங்கே போனாளோ........
Like a mother for you
Did God wonder if he had no mother for himself?
Like a mother for you
Did God wonder if he had no mother for himself?
Did your mother go up there
After giving you to me?
Did she go up there?
நான் கடவுளைக் கண்டேன்
என் குழந்தை வடிவிலே
அவன் கருணையைக் கண்டேன்
கொஞ்சும் மழலை மொழியிலே.......
I saw God
In the form of my child
I saw His grace
In the lisping baby speech
ஆலமரம் என நீ வளரும்
நாள்தான் வர வேண்டும்
கலைமகள் அருளும் அலைமகள் பொருளும்
நிறைந்தே பெற வேண்டும்
You will grow like a banyan tree
That day must surely come
The blessings of Saraswati and the wealth of Lakshmi
You must receive in abundance
அறிவுடன் திகழும் திருமகன் புகழும்
கடல் போல் பெருகாதோ
அறிவுடன் திகழும் திருமகன் புகழும்
கடல் போல் பெருகாதோ
பார்த்ததும் கேட்டதும் ஈன்றவர் நெஞ்சம்
பனிப் போல் உருகாதோ......
பனிப் போல் உருகாதோ......
The fame of a virtuous, wise son
Will it not swell like the ocean?
The fame of a virtuous, wise son
Will it not swell like the ocean?
Seeing and hearing this, the parent's heart
Will it not melt like snow?
Will it not melt like snow?
நான் கடவுளைக் கண்டேன்
என் குழந்தை வடிவிலே
அவன் கருணையைக் கண்டேன்
கொஞ்சும் மழலை மொழியிலே.......
மழலை மொழியிலே.......
I saw God
In the form of my child
I saw His grace
In the lisping baby speech
In the baby speech
Naan kadavulai kanden
I saw God
En kulandhai vadivilae
In the form of my child
Avan karunaiyai kanden
I saw His grace
Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae
In the lisping baby speech
Mazhalai mozhiyilae
In the baby speech
Naan kadavulai kanden
I saw God
En kulandhai vadivilae
In the form of my child
Avan karunaiyai kanden
I saw His grace
Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae
In the lisping baby speech
Whistle…….
[Whistle]
Paal vadiyum un poo mugathil
In your innocent flower-like face radiating purity
Aayiram kanavu kanden
I saw a thousand dreams
Naalai varum nalla vaazhvu enum
In the thought of a good life arriving tomorrow
Andha ninaivaal vaazhgindren
I live with that hope
Unakkoru thaai pola
Like a mother for you
Thanakkillaiyae endru iraivan kettaano
Did God wonder if he had no mother for himself?
Unakkoru thaai pola
Like a mother for you
Thanakkillaiyae endru iraivan kettaano
Did God wonder if he had no mother for himself?
Enakkena unnaikoduthu
Did your mother go up there
Un annai angae ponaalo
After giving you to me?
Ange ponaalo
Did she go up there?
Naan kadavulai kanden
I saw God
En kulandhai vadivilae
In the form of my child
Avan karunaiyai kanden
I saw His grace
Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae
In the lisping baby speech
Aalamaram ena nee valarum
You will grow like a banyan tree
Naal thaan vara vendum
That day must surely come
Kalaimagal arulum alaimagal porulum
The blessings of Saraswati and the wealth of Lakshmi
Niraindhe pera vendum
You must receive in abundance
Arivudan thigazhulum thirumagan pugalum
The fame of a virtuous, wise son
Kadal pol perugaadho
Will it not swell like the ocean?
Arivudan thigazhulum thirumagan pugalum
The fame of a virtuous, wise son
Kadal pol perugaadho
Will it not swell like the ocean?
Paarthathum kettadhum eendravar nenjam
Seeing and hearing this, the parent's heart
Pani pol urugaadho
Will it not melt like snow?
Pani pol urugaadho
Will it not melt like snow?
Naan kadavulai kanden
I saw God
En kulandhai vadivilae
In the form of my child
Avan karunaiyai kanden
I saw His grace
Konjum mazhalai mozhiyilae
In the lisping baby speech
Mazhalai mozhiyilae
In the baby speech
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song depicts a father singing a lullaby to his child, seeing the divine presence of God in the child's innocent face and sweet babbling. The father poignantly wonders if God took the child's mother away because He felt envious of not having a mother's love Himself, leaving the child as a divine gift for the father to raise alone. Looking toward the future, the father envisions his child growing strong and grand like a banyan tree, blessed with divine wisdom from Saraswati and prosperity from Lakshmi. He dreams of the immense pride and joy he will feel as his heart melts with love watching his son become a celebrated, wise individual in society.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Aalamaram ena nee valarum”
Compares the child's potential growth and stature to that of a sturdy banyan tree.
Assonance / Rhyme (Iyaibu & Ethirai)
“Kalaimagal arulum alaimagal porulum”
Internal rhyming of 'Kalaimagal' (Goddess of Knowledge) and 'Alaimagal' (Goddess of Wealth) creates a lyrical and melodic rhythm.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Kadal pol perugaadho”
Compares the vast extent of the child's future fame to the vastness of the ocean.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Pani pol urugaadho”
Compares the emotional melting of a parent's heart with joy to snow melting.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song from 'Kallum Kaniyagum' (1968) features a memorable whistle interlude composed by M. S. Vishwanathan. Vaali's evocative lyrics paired with T. M. Soundararajan's deeply soulful voice made it one of the most celebrated paternal affection songs in Tamil cinema history.
Keep listening
More from Kallum Kaniyagum
Kallum Kaniyagum
Kallum Kaniyagum
Kallum Kaniyagum
Kallum Kaniyagum
Kallum Kaniyagum