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Kaaviya Thalaivi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Naal Iravu

From Kaaviya Thalaivi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kaaviya Thalaivi
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
25 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru naal iravu
Pagal pol nilavu
Kanavinilae en thaai vanthaal
Oru naal iravu
Pagal pol nilavu
Kanavinilae en thaai vanthaal
Kanna sugama krishna sugama
Kanmani sugama sol endraal
Kanmani sugama sol endraal
Oru naal iravu
Pagal pol nilavu
Kanavinilae en thaai vanthaal
Kungumam irunthathu netriyilae
Siru kuzhappam medhanthathu kangalilae
Kungumam irunthathu netriyilae
Siru kuzhappam medhanthathu kangalilae
Thangam pondra idhazhgalilae
Oru thayakkam piranthathu vaarthayilae
Thayakkam piranthathu vaarthayilae
Ennuyir thaayae neeyum sugama
Ennuyir thaayae neeyum sugama
Irupathu engae sol endren
Annai mugamo kanbathu nijamo
Kanavo nanavo sol endren
Kanavo nanavo sol endren
Kanna sugama krishna sugama
En kanamani sugama sol endren
Kanna sugama krishna sugama
Kanamani sugama sol endren
Kanamani sugama sol endren
Vaanathil irunthae padugiren
Entha vazhiyilum unnai thedugiren
Vaanathil irunthae padugiren
Entha vazhiyilum unnai thedugiren
Magalae vaazhvena vaazhthugiren
Naan marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppen
Marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppen
Marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppen
Marupadi piranthaal sernthiruppen
One night,
In moonlight as bright as day,
My mother came into my dream.
One night,
In moonlight as bright as day,
My mother came into my dream.
"Are you well, my darling? Are you well, my Krishna?
Tell me, my precious child, are you well?" she asked.
"Tell me, my precious child, are you well?" she asked.
One night,
In moonlight as bright as day,
My mother came into my dream.
There was kumkum on her forehead,
A quiet confusion lingered in her eyes.
There was kumkum on her forehead,
A quiet confusion lingered in her eyes.
From her golden lips,
A hesitation touched her words.
A hesitation touched her words.
"My beloved mother, are you well too?
My beloved mother, are you well too?
Tell me where you are," I asked.
"Is this my mother's face? Is what I see real?
Tell me, is this a dream or reality?" I asked.
"Tell me, is this a dream or reality?" I asked.
"Are you well, my darling? Are you well, my Krishna?
Tell me, my precious one, are you well?" I asked.
"Are you well, my darling? Are you well, my Krishna?
Tell me, my precious one, are you well?" I asked.
Tell me, my precious one, are you well?" I asked.
"I am singing from the sky above,
Searching for you in every way possible.
I am singing from the sky above,
Searching for you in every way possible.
My daughter, I bless you with a happy life.
If I am born again, we will be together.
If I am born again, we will be together.
If I am born again, we will be together.
If I am born again, we will be together."
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional song depicts a dreamlike encounter between a daughter and her departed mother on a bright moonlight night. The mother appears in her daughter's dream, lovingly inquiring about her well-being while carrying a subtle hesitation and longing in her expression. The daughter eagerly questions her mother, asking whether the vision is a reality or just a dream and seeking to know where her mother resides now.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Pagal pol nilavu”

Compares the brightness of the night's moonlight to daytime using 'pol'.

Upamai (Simile)

“Thangam pondra idhazhgalilae”

Compares the beauty and precious nature of lips to gold ('thangam pondra').

Muran (Antithesis)

“Kanavo nanavo sol endren”

Uses contrasting opposites 'Kanavo' (dream) and 'Nanavo' (reality) to highlight the speaker's confusion.

Did you know?

Trivia

The 1970 Tamil movie 'Kaaviya Thalaivi', directed by K. Balachander and starring Sowcar Janaki, featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics written by Kannadasan. The film heavily revolved around theme of maternal love and emotional sacrifices.

Keep listening

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Eerainthu Madhame1957
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