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Padithal Mattum Podhuma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Kavignanum Alla

From Padithal Mattum Podhuma · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Padithal Mattum Podhuma
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
2 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan kavinganum illai
Nalla rasiganum illai
Naan kavinganum illai
Nalla rasiganum illai
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Bommayum illai
Naan kavinganum illai..
Nalla rasiganum illai
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Bommayum illai
{Iravu neram pirarai pola
Ennaiyum kollum
Thunai irundhum illai endru ponaal
Oorenna sollum} (2)
Aha ha ha …ohoo…oooo…
Hmmm…mmm…mmm…mmmm..
Naan kavinganum illai..
Nalla rasiganum illai
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Bommayum illai
Anbae aaruyirae
Inbamae iniyavalae
Panbodu anbodu padiyeri vandhavalae
Paarthu paarthu mayanga vaithu
Kaathu kaathu nirkka vaithu
Kannae un mel paatu paada
Pattu paada…..
Naan kavinganum illai..
Nalla rasiganum illai
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Bommayum illai
Kaatu maanai vettai aada
Thayanga villaiyae
Indha veetu maanin
Ullam yeno vilangavillaiyae
Kootu vaazhkai kudumba vaazhkai
Puriyavillaiyae
Kootu vaazhkai kudumba vaazhkai
Puriyavillaiyae
Naan kondu vandha penn manadhil
Pennmai illaiyae
Naan kavinganum illai..
Nalla rasiganum illai
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Bommayum illai
Naan azhudhaal sirikiraal
Sirithaal azhugiraal
Konjinaal kodhikiraal
Kenjinaal midihikiraal
Irupadha… irapadha…
Azhuvadha… siripadha…
Amma…thaayae..thaayae…
{Naan kavinganum illai..
Nalla rasiganum illai
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Bommayum illai} (2)
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
Nor am I a lifeless doll
without the desire for love.
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
Nor am I a lifeless doll
without the desire for love.
Like it does to others, the night
torments me too.
If I have no companion despite being married,
what will the world say?
Aaha ha ha... oho... ooo...
Hmmm... mmm... mmm... mmmm...
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
Nor am I a lifeless doll
without the desire for love.
My love, my precious life,
my joy, my sweet one,
you who crossed my threshold with grace and affection!
Making me swoon as I gaze at you,
making me wait endlessly for you,
my darling, to sing a song for you,
to sing a smooth verse...
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
Nor am I a lifeless doll
without the desire for love.
To hunt a wild deer in the forest,
I never hesitated.
Yet the heart of this deer in my home—
why can't I understand it at all?
A shared life, a married life—
she does not understand it.
A shared life, a married life—
she does not understand it.
In the heart of the woman I brought home,
there is no womanly warmth.
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
Nor am I a lifeless doll
without the desire for love.
If I cry, she laughs.
If I laugh, she cries.
If I speak tenderly, she boils with anger.
If I plead, she tramples over me.
Should I live... or should I die?
Should I weep... or should I laugh?
Oh mother... mother... dear mother...
I am not a poet,
nor an admirer of art.
Nor am I a lifeless doll
without the desire for love.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song depicts the anguish of a husband who is deeply tormented by his wife's unpredictable, unreciprocated, and erratic behavior. He reflects on his human desire for love, clarifying that while he may not be an extraordinary poet or romantic, he is certainly not a heartless object devoid of feelings. The night brings him extreme loneliness despite officially having a wife, leaving him ashamed of how society views his unfulfilled marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Ethirsol)

Naan azhudhaal sirikiraal / Sirithaal azhugiraal

Contrasting paired opposite actions ('azhudhaal sirikiraal / sirithaal azhugiraal', 'konjinaal kodhikiraal / kenjinaal midihikiraal') highlight the wife's irrational and reverse emotional responses.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Indha veetu maanin / Ullam yeno vilangavillaiyae

Comparing his wife to a 'veetu maan' (domestic deer) in contrast to 'kaatu maan' (wild deer) to emphasize how impossible it is to understand her domestic nature.

Ethukai (Second-letter rhyming)

Konjinaal kodhikiraal / Kenjinaal midihikiraal

The second letters of 'Konjinaal' and 'Kenjinaal' rhyme across lines ('nj'), adding rhythmic symmetry to the verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Naan kavinganum illai' is from the 1962 iconic Tamil drama film 'Padithal Mattum Podhuma', directed by A. Bhimsingh. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan and features timeless music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, with lyrics penned by Kannadasan and vocals performed by T. M. Soundararajan.

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