Naan Kavignanum Alla
From Padithal Mattum Podhuma · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Padithal Mattum Podhuma1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naan kavinganum illai | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Naan kavinganum illai | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Kaadhalenum aasai illa | Nor am I a emotionless doll |
| Bommayum illai | Without the desire for love |
| Male | |
| Naan kavinganum illai.. | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Kaadhalenum aasai illa | Nor am I a emotionless doll |
| Bommayum illai | Without the desire for love |
| Male | |
| {Iravu neram pirarai pola | The night time, just like it does to others |
| Ennaiyum kollum | Torments and consumes me as well |
| Thunai irundhum illai endru ponaal | If it is said that I have no companion despite having one |
| Oorenna sollum} (2) | What will this town say? |
| Male | |
| Aha ha ha …ohoo…oooo… | Aha ha ha …ohoo…oooo… |
| Hmmm…mmm…mmm…mmmm.. | Hmmm…mmm…mmm…mmmm.. |
| Male | |
| Naan kavinganum illai.. | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Kaadhalenum aasai illa | Nor am I a emotionless doll |
| Bommayum illai | Without the desire for love |
| Male | |
| Anbae aaruyirae | Oh my love, my dear life |
| Inbamae iniyavalae | Oh sweet joy of my life |
| Panbodu anbodu padiyeri vandhavalae | You who stepped into my life with virtue and affection |
| Paarthu paarthu mayanga vaithu | Making me swoon as I gaze at you |
| Kaathu kaathu nirkka vaithu | Making me wait expectantly for you |
| Kannae un mel paatu paada | My dear, to sing a song about you |
| Pattu paada….. | To sing a sweet song... |
| Male | |
| Naan kavinganum illai.. | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Kaadhalenum aasai illa | Nor am I a emotionless doll |
| Bommayum illai | Without the desire for love |
| Male | |
| Kaatu maanai vettai aada | To hunt down a wild deer in the forest |
| Thayanga villaiyae | I did not hesitate for a moment |
| Indha veetu maanin | Yet the heart of this deer inside my home |
| Ullam yeno vilangavillaiyae | Why remains so utterly incomprehensible? |
| Male | |
| Kootu vaazhkai kudumba vaazhkai | Joint life and domestic bliss |
| Puriyavillaiyae | She does not seem to understand |
| Kootu vaazhkai kudumba vaazhkai | Joint life and domestic bliss |
| Puriyavillaiyae | She does not seem to understand |
| Naan kondu vandha penn manadhil | In the heart of the woman I brought home |
| Pennmai illaiyae | There is no feminine warmth or affection |
| Male | |
| Naan kavinganum illai.. | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Kaadhalenum aasai illa | Nor am I a emotionless doll |
| Bommayum illai | Without the desire for love |
| Male | |
| Naan azhudhaal sirikiraal | When I weep, she laughs out loud |
| Sirithaal azhugiraal | When I laugh, she bursts into tears |
| Konjinaal kodhikiraal | When I express affection, she boils with anger |
| Kenjinaal midihikiraal | When I plead with her, she tramples upon me |
| Irupadha… irapadha… | Should I live... or should I die... |
| Azhuvadha… siripadha… | Should I cry... or should I laugh... |
| Amma…thaayae..thaayae… | Oh Mother... mother... mother... |
| Male | |
| {Naan kavinganum illai.. | I am not a poet |
| Nalla rasiganum illai | Nor am I a fine connoisseur |
| Kaadhalenum aasai illa | Nor am I a emotionless doll |
| Bommayum illai} (2) | Without the desire for love |
நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை காதலென்னும்
ஆசை இல்லா பொம்மையும்
இல்லை
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Without the desire for love
நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை காதலென்னும்
ஆசை இல்லா பொம்மையும்
இல்லை
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Without the desire for love
{ இரவு நேரம் பிறரை
போல என்னையும் கொல்லும்
துணை இருந்தும் இல்லை
என்று போனால் ஊரென்ன
சொல்லும் } (2)
The night time, just like it does to others
Torments and consumes me as well
If it is said that I have no companion despite having one
What will this town say?
ஆஹா ஹா ஹா
ஓஹோ ஓஓ ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
Aha ha ha …ohoo…oooo…
Hmmm…mmm…mmm…mmmm..
நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை காதலென்னும்
ஆசை இல்லா பொம்மையும்
இல்லை
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Without the desire for love
அன்பே ஆருயிரே
இன்பமே இனியவளே
பண்போடு அன்போடு
படியேறி வந்தவளே பார்த்து
பார்த்து மயங்க வைத்து காத்து
காத்து நிற்க வைத்து கண்ணே
உன் மேல் பாட்டு பாட பாட்டு
பாட
Oh my love, my dear life
Oh sweet joy of my life
You who stepped into my life with virtue and affection
Making me swoon as I gaze at you
Making me wait expectantly for you
My dear, to sing a song about you
To sing a sweet song...
நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை காதலென்னும்
ஆசை இல்லா பொம்மையும்
இல்லை
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Without the desire for love
காட்டு மானை
வேட்டை ஆட தயங்க
வில்லையே இந்த வீட்டு
மானின் உள்ளம் ஏனோ
விளங்கவில்லையே
To hunt down a wild deer in the forest
I did not hesitate for a moment
Yet the heart of this deer inside my home
Why remains so utterly incomprehensible?
கூட்டு வாழ்க்கை
குடும்ப வாழ்க்கை புரிய
வில்லையே கூட்டு
வாழ்க்கை குடும்ப
வாழ்க்கை புரியவில்லையே
நான் கொண்டு வந்த பெண்
மனதில் பெண்மை இல்லையே
Joint life and domestic bliss
She does not seem to understand
Joint life and domestic bliss
She does not seem to understand
In the heart of the woman I brought home
There is no feminine warmth or affection
நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை காதலென்னும்
ஆசை இல்லா பொம்மையும்
இல்லை
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Without the desire for love
நான் அழுதால்
சிரிக்கிறாள் சிரித்தாள்
அழுகிறாள் கொஞ்சினால்
கொதிக்கிறாள் கெஞ்சினால்
மிதிக்கிறாள் இருப்பதா
இறப்பதா அழுவதா
சிரிப்பதா அம்மா
தாயே தாயே
When I weep, she laughs out loud
When I laugh, she bursts into tears
When I express affection, she boils with anger
When I plead with her, she tramples upon me
Should I live... or should I die...
Should I cry... or should I laugh...
Oh Mother... mother... mother...
{ நான் கவிஞனும்
இல்லை நல்ல ரசிகனும்
இல்லை காதலென்னும்
ஆசை இல்லா பொம்மையும்
இல்லை } (2)
I am not a poet
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Without the desire for love
Naan kavinganum illai
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Naan kavinganum illai
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Bommayum illai
Without the desire for love
Naan kavinganum illai..
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Bommayum illai
Without the desire for love
{Iravu neram pirarai pola
The night time, just like it does to others
Ennaiyum kollum
Torments and consumes me as well
Thunai irundhum illai endru ponaal
If it is said that I have no companion despite having one
Oorenna sollum} (2)
What will this town say?
Aha ha ha …ohoo…oooo…
Aha ha ha …ohoo…oooo…
Hmmm…mmm…mmm…mmmm..
Hmmm…mmm…mmm…mmmm..
Naan kavinganum illai..
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Bommayum illai
Without the desire for love
Anbae aaruyirae
Oh my love, my dear life
Inbamae iniyavalae
Oh sweet joy of my life
Panbodu anbodu padiyeri vandhavalae
You who stepped into my life with virtue and affection
Paarthu paarthu mayanga vaithu
Making me swoon as I gaze at you
Kaathu kaathu nirkka vaithu
Making me wait expectantly for you
Kannae un mel paatu paada
My dear, to sing a song about you
Pattu paada…..
To sing a sweet song...
Naan kavinganum illai..
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Bommayum illai
Without the desire for love
Kaatu maanai vettai aada
To hunt down a wild deer in the forest
Thayanga villaiyae
I did not hesitate for a moment
Indha veetu maanin
Yet the heart of this deer inside my home
Ullam yeno vilangavillaiyae
Why remains so utterly incomprehensible?
Kootu vaazhkai kudumba vaazhkai
Joint life and domestic bliss
Puriyavillaiyae
She does not seem to understand
Kootu vaazhkai kudumba vaazhkai
Joint life and domestic bliss
Puriyavillaiyae
She does not seem to understand
Naan kondu vandha penn manadhil
In the heart of the woman I brought home
Pennmai illaiyae
There is no feminine warmth or affection
Naan kavinganum illai..
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Bommayum illai
Without the desire for love
Naan azhudhaal sirikiraal
When I weep, she laughs out loud
Sirithaal azhugiraal
When I laugh, she bursts into tears
Konjinaal kodhikiraal
When I express affection, she boils with anger
Kenjinaal midihikiraal
When I plead with her, she tramples upon me
Irupadha… irapadha…
Should I live... or should I die...
Azhuvadha… siripadha…
Should I cry... or should I laugh...
Amma…thaayae..thaayae…
Oh Mother... mother... mother...
{Naan kavinganum illai..
I am not a poet
Nalla rasiganum illai
Nor am I a fine connoisseur
Kaadhalenum aasai illa
Nor am I a emotionless doll
Bommayum illai} (2)
Without the desire for love
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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