Selai Virkkum Kadai
From Avalukku Nigar Avale · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- V. Kumar
- Details
- Avalukku Nigar Avale1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga | I saw shops selling sarees street after street |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
| Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga | I saw shops selling sarees street after street |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
| Female | |
| Paalai virkkum pennai kandaen pattikkaattilae | I saw a woman selling milk in the village |
| Paalai virkkum pennai kandaen pattikkaattilae | I saw a woman selling milk in the village |
| Than paruvam virkkum pennai kandaen pattanaththilae…. | I saw a woman selling her youth in the city... |
| Female | |
| Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga | I saw shops selling sarees street after street |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
| Female | |
| Ozhukkamendru siruvayathil paadam padiththaal | She learned lessons on morality during her childhood |
| Ival oruvanukkae oruththiyendru vedham padiththaal | She studied scriptures teaching that a woman belongs to one man alone |
| Vazhukkividum bhoomiyilae vanthu piranthaal | She was born into this slippery, treacherous world |
| Intha vanchamillaa paavimagal vazhukki vizhunthaal | This guileless, unfortunate woman slipped and fell |
| Intha vanchamillaa paavimagal vazhukki vizhunthaal | This guileless, unfortunate woman slipped and fell |
| Female | |
| Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga | I saw shops selling sarees street after street |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
| Female | |
| Nallavelai kannakkikku penmagal illai | Fortunately, Kannagi does not have a daughter |
| Antha naalaayini arunthathikkum sannathi illai | Those legendary chaste women Nalayini and Arundhati have no descendants |
| Nallavelai kannakkikku penmagal illai | Fortunately, Kannagi does not have a daughter |
| Antha naalaayini arunthathikkum sannathi illai | Those legendary chaste women Nalayini and Arundhati have no descendants |
| Irunthirunthaal intha neram entha kolamo | Had they existed today, what terrible plight would they be in? |
| Avar irupathukkum muppathukkum alaiya nerumo | Would they be forced to wander for twenty or thirty rupees? |
| Avar irupathukkum muppathukkum alaiya nerumo | Would they be forced to wander for twenty or thirty rupees? |
| Female | |
| Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga | I saw shops selling sarees street after street |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
| Female | |
| Kattazhagai pengalukkae kadavul thanthandi | God gave exquisite physical beauty exclusively to women |
| Athai vettaveli pottalilae vittu vittaandi | Yet He abandoned that beauty out in the open field |
| Thottavarkal anaivarukkum sonthamendraandi | He declared that she belongs to anyone who touches her |
| Athai sollivittu koyililae thoongivittandi…. | After saying so, He went off to sleep inside the temple... |
| Athai sollivittu koyililae thoongivittandi…. | After saying so, He went off to sleep inside the temple... |
| Female | |
| Selai virkum kadai kandaen theru theruvaaga | I saw shops selling sarees street after street |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
| Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga | For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings |
சேலை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் தெருத் தெருவாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
சேலை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் தெருத் தெருவாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
பாலை விற்கும் பெண்ணைக் கண்டேன் பட்டிக்காட்டிலே
பாலை விற்கும் பெண்ணைக் கண்டேன் பட்டிக்காட்டிலே
தன் பருவம் விற்கும் பெண்ணைக் கண்டேன் பட்டணத்திலே.........
I saw a woman selling milk in the village
I saw a woman selling milk in the village
I saw a woman selling her youth in the city...
சேலை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் தெருத் தெருவாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
ஒழுக்கமென்று சிறுவயதில் பாடம் படித்தாள்
இவள் ஒருவனுக்கே ஒருத்தியென்று வேதம் படித்தாள்
வழுக்கிவிடும் பூமியிலே வந்து பிறந்தாள்
இந்த வஞ்சமில்லா பாவிமகள் வழுக்கி விழுந்தாள்
இந்த வஞ்சமில்லா பாவிமகள் வழுக்கி விழுந்தாள்
She learned lessons on morality during her childhood
She studied scriptures teaching that a woman belongs to one man alone
She was born into this slippery, treacherous world
This guileless, unfortunate woman slipped and fell
This guileless, unfortunate woman slipped and fell
சேலை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் தெருத் தெருவாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
நல்லவேளை கண்ணகிக்குப் பெண்மகள் இல்லை
அந்த நளாயினி அருந்ததிக்கும் சந்ததி இல்லை
நல்லவேளை கண்ணகிக்குப் பெண்மகள் இல்லை
அந்த நளாயினி அருந்ததிக்கும் சந்ததி இல்லை
இருந்திருந்தால் இந்த நேரம் எந்தக் கோலமோ
அவர் இருபதுக்கும் முப்பதுக்கும் அலைய நேருமோ
அவர் இருபதுக்கும் முப்பதுக்கும் அலைய நேருமோ
Fortunately, Kannagi does not have a daughter
Those legendary chaste women Nalayini and Arundhati have no descendants
Fortunately, Kannagi does not have a daughter
Those legendary chaste women Nalayini and Arundhati have no descendants
Had they existed today, what terrible plight would they be in?
Would they be forced to wander for twenty or thirty rupees?
Would they be forced to wander for twenty or thirty rupees?
சேலை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் தெருத் தெருவாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
கட்டழகைப் பெண்களுக்கே கடவுள் தந்தான்டி
அதை வெட்டவெளிப் பொட்டலிலே விட்டு விட்டான்டி
தொட்டவர்கள் அனைவருக்கும் சொந்தமென்றான்டி
அதைச் சொல்லிவிட்டுக் கோயிலிலே தூங்கிவிட்டாண்டி.....
அதைச் சொல்லிவிட்டுக் கோயிலிலே தூங்கிவிட்டாண்டி.....
God gave exquisite physical beauty exclusively to women
Yet He abandoned that beauty out in the open field
He declared that she belongs to anyone who touches her
After saying so, He went off to sleep inside the temple...
After saying so, He went off to sleep inside the temple...
பெண்
: சேலை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் தெருத் தெருவாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
ஆளை விற்கும் கடையைக் கண்டேன் முதன் முதலாக
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Paalai virkkum pennai kandaen pattikkaattilae
I saw a woman selling milk in the village
Paalai virkkum pennai kandaen pattikkaattilae
I saw a woman selling milk in the village
Than paruvam virkkum pennai kandaen pattanaththilae….
I saw a woman selling her youth in the city...
Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Ozhukkamendru siruvayathil paadam padiththaal
She learned lessons on morality during her childhood
Ival oruvanukkae oruththiyendru vedham padiththaal
She studied scriptures teaching that a woman belongs to one man alone
Vazhukkividum bhoomiyilae vanthu piranthaal
She was born into this slippery, treacherous world
Intha vanchamillaa paavimagal vazhukki vizhunthaal
This guileless, unfortunate woman slipped and fell
Intha vanchamillaa paavimagal vazhukki vizhunthaal
This guileless, unfortunate woman slipped and fell
Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Nallavelai kannakkikku penmagal illai
Fortunately, Kannagi does not have a daughter
Antha naalaayini arunthathikkum sannathi illai
Those legendary chaste women Nalayini and Arundhati have no descendants
Nallavelai kannakkikku penmagal illai
Fortunately, Kannagi does not have a daughter
Antha naalaayini arunthathikkum sannathi illai
Those legendary chaste women Nalayini and Arundhati have no descendants
Irunthirunthaal intha neram entha kolamo
Had they existed today, what terrible plight would they be in?
Avar irupathukkum muppathukkum alaiya nerumo
Would they be forced to wander for twenty or thirty rupees?
Avar irupathukkum muppathukkum alaiya nerumo
Would they be forced to wander for twenty or thirty rupees?
Selai virkum kadaiyai kandean theru theruvaaga
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Kattazhagai pengalukkae kadavul thanthandi
God gave exquisite physical beauty exclusively to women
Athai vettaveli pottalilae vittu vittaandi
Yet He abandoned that beauty out in the open field
Thottavarkal anaivarukkum sonthamendraandi
He declared that she belongs to anyone who touches her
Athai sollivittu koyililae thoongivittandi….
After saying so, He went off to sleep inside the temple...
Athai sollivittu koyililae thoongivittandi….
After saying so, He went off to sleep inside the temple...
Selai virkum kadai kandaen theru theruvaaga
I saw shops selling sarees street after street
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Aalai virkkum kadaiyai kandaen mudhan muthalaga
For the very first time, I saw a shop selling human beings
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a biting social critique written by Kannadasan, addressing the tragedy of sex work, female exploitation, and societal hypocrisy. It contrasts the innocent rural life where women sell milk with the harsh urban reality where poverty forces women to sell their youth. The lyrics highlight how moral teachings of chastity fail when faced with economic desperation on a 'slippery world.' Kannadasan poetically questions history and religion, noting that legendary figures of chastity like Kannagi, Nalayini, and Arundhati are fortunate not to have descendants in modern times, as poverty might have reduced even them to selling themselves for a pittance. The song concludes with a stinging accusation against God, who bestowed beauty upon women only to leave them unprotected while remaining indifferent inside His temple.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Parallelism
“Paalai virkkum pennai kandaen pattikkaattilae / Than paruvam virkkum pennai kandaen pattanaththilae….”
Contrasts the normal trade of goods (selling sarees, selling milk) with the heartbreaking trade of humans and youth.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Ozhukkamendru siruvayathil paadam padiththaal / Vazhukkividum bhoomiyilae vanthu piranthaal”
Standard Tamil poetic technique matching second letters across consecutive lines (Ozhukkamendru / Vazhukkividum).
Metaphor
“Vazhukkividum bhoomiyilae vanthu piranthaal”
'Vazhukkividum bhoomi' (slippery earth) serves as a metaphor for a morally treacherous world full of pitfalls.
Personification / Divine Sarcasm
“Athai sollivittu koyililae thoongivittandi….”
Attributes human negligence to the divine, depicting God as indifferent to women's suffering and sleeping inside temples.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1974 film 'Avalukku Nigar Avale', this song stands out as one of Tamil cinema's most direct and empathetic artistic reflections on sex work and systemic social failure.
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