Thalai Mudhal Kaal Varai
From Ilaya Thalaimurai · 1977
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Ilaya Thalaimurai1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannavan sonnaanae | Lord Krishna said so, |
| Kadamaiyinai seithu vidu | "Do your duty, |
| Palanai vidu endraane | Abandon the expectation of results," he said. |
| Kadamaiyinai seithaanae | I performed my duty, |
| Kodumaiyinai kandapadi | Yet witnessing cruelty as I did, |
| Kanneeril nindraenae….. | I stood in tears... |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
| Kadamaiyil purappatta vegam engu pogum | Where will the speed driven by duty lead? |
| Idhil vaazhkkai thaagam…. | In this lies the thirst of life... |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Kaiyil oru vilangu karuththil oru vilangu | A shackle on the hand, a shackle on the mind, |
| Kaalil oru vilangu kazhuththil oru vilangu | A shackle on the foot, a shackle on the neck, |
| Iraivaa nimmathi vazhangu | O God, grant me peace! |
| Male | |
| Mulvaeli ellai aasaigal mullai | A barbed wire fence is the boundary, desires are like jasmine, |
| Palanooru thollai bhagavaanum illai | Hundreds of troubles, and no God to be found, |
| Yaar seitha paavam idhupondra pillai | Whose sin made me a child like this? |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
| Kadamaiyil purappatta vegam engu pogum | Where will the speed driven by duty lead? |
| Idhil vaazhkkai thaagam…. | In this lies the thirst of life... |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Mazhai pondra kangal kodai pol ullam | Eyes raining like monsoon, heart scorched like summer, |
| Varugindra thunbam thaniyaatha vellam | The coming sorrow is an unquenchable flood, |
| Kadankaara sontham enakkenna illam | Relating like creditors, what home do I have? |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Kadhalikku vazhi solvathaa | Should I show the path to my beloved? |
| Kadamaiyilirunthu vilagi selvathaa | Or walk away from my duty? |
| Male | |
| Ilaiya thalaimuraikku bathil solvathaa | Should I answer the younger generation? |
| Engum en kudumpaththai thaangi pidippathaa | Or should I support and hold up my family everywhere? |
| Male | |
| Kurudaaga nindraal kaatchigal illai | If I stand blind, there are no sights to see, |
| Kurudaaga nindraal kaatchigal illai | If I stand blind, there are no sights to see, |
| Kozhakaaranaanaal kavalaigal illai | If I become a murderer, there are no worries, |
| Manithaabimaanam naan konda thollai | My humaneness is the trouble I bear! |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
| Kadamaiyil purappatta vegam engu pogum | Where will the speed driven by duty lead? |
| Idhil vaazhkkai thaagam…. | In this lies the thirst of life... |
| Male | |
| Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam | From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow. |
கண்ணனவன் சொன்னானே
கடமையினைச் செய்து விடு
பலனை விடு என்றானே
கடமையினைச் செய்தேனே......
கொடுமையினைக் கண்டபடி
கண்ணீரில் நின்றேனே.......
Lord Krishna said so,
"Do your duty,
Abandon the expectation of results," he said.
I performed my duty,
Yet witnessing cruelty as I did,
I stood in tears...
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
கடமையில் புறப்பட்ட வேகம் எங்கு போகும்
இதில் வாழ்க்கை தாகம்....
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Where will the speed driven by duty lead?
In this lies the thirst of life...
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
கையில் ஒரு விலங்கு கருத்தில் ஒரு விலங்கு
காலில் ஒரு விலங்கு கழுத்தில் ஒரு விலங்கு
இறைவா நிம்மதி வழங்கு....
A shackle on the hand, a shackle on the mind,
A shackle on the foot, a shackle on the neck,
O God, grant me peace!
முள்வேலி எல்லை ஆசைகள் முல்லை
பலநூறு தொல்லை பகவானும் இல்லை
யார் செய்த பாவம் இதுபோன்ற பிள்ளை
A barbed wire fence is the boundary, desires are like jasmine,
Hundreds of troubles, and no God to be found,
Whose sin made me a child like this?
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
கடமையில் புறப்பட்ட வேகம் எங்கு போகும்
இதில் வாழ்க்கை தாகம்....
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Where will the speed driven by duty lead?
In this lies the thirst of life...
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
மழை போன்ற கண்கள் கோடை போல் உள்ளம்
வருகின்ற துன்பம் தணியாத வெள்ளம்
கடன்காரச் சொந்தம் எனக்கென்ன இல்லம்
Eyes raining like monsoon, heart scorched like summer,
The coming sorrow is an unquenchable flood,
Relating like creditors, what home do I have?
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
காதலிக்கு வழி சொல்வதா
கடமையிலிருந்து விலகிச் செல்வதா
Should I show the path to my beloved?
Or walk away from my duty?
இளைய தலைமுறைக்குப் பதில் சொல்வதா
எங்கும் என் குடும்பத்தைத் தாங்கிப் பிடிப்பதா
Should I answer the younger generation?
Or should I support and hold up my family everywhere?
குருடாக நின்றாள் காட்சிகள் இல்லை
குருடாக நின்றாள் காட்சிகள் இல்லை
குருடாக நின்றாள் காட்சிகள் இல்லை
குருடாக நின்றாள் காட்சிகள் இல்லை
கொலகாரனானால் கவலைகள் இல்லை
மனிதாபிமானம் நான் கொண்ட தொல்லை
If I stand blind, there are no sights to see,
If I stand blind, there are no sights to see,
If I become a murderer, there are no worries,
My humaneness is the trouble I bear!
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
கடமையில் புறப்பட்ட வேகம் எங்கு போகும்
இதில் வாழ்க்கை தாகம்....
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Where will the speed driven by duty lead?
In this lies the thirst of life...
தலை முதல் கால் வரை சோகம் துன்ப ராகம்
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Kannavan sonnaanae
Lord Krishna said so,
Kadamaiyinai seithu vidu
"Do your duty,
Palanai vidu endraane
Abandon the expectation of results," he said.
Kadamaiyinai seithaanae
I performed my duty,
Kodumaiyinai kandapadi
Yet witnessing cruelty as I did,
Kanneeril nindraenae…..
I stood in tears...
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Kadamaiyil purappatta vegam engu pogum
Where will the speed driven by duty lead?
Idhil vaazhkkai thaagam….
In this lies the thirst of life...
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Kaiyil oru vilangu karuththil oru vilangu
A shackle on the hand, a shackle on the mind,
Kaalil oru vilangu kazhuththil oru vilangu
A shackle on the foot, a shackle on the neck,
Iraivaa nimmathi vazhangu
O God, grant me peace!
Mulvaeli ellai aasaigal mullai
A barbed wire fence is the boundary, desires are like jasmine,
Palanooru thollai bhagavaanum illai
Hundreds of troubles, and no God to be found,
Yaar seitha paavam idhupondra pillai
Whose sin made me a child like this?
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Kadamaiyil purappatta vegam engu pogum
Where will the speed driven by duty lead?
Idhil vaazhkkai thaagam….
In this lies the thirst of life...
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Mazhai pondra kangal kodai pol ullam
Eyes raining like monsoon, heart scorched like summer,
Varugindra thunbam thaniyaatha vellam
The coming sorrow is an unquenchable flood,
Kadankaara sontham enakkenna illam
Relating like creditors, what home do I have?
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Kadhalikku vazhi solvathaa
Should I show the path to my beloved?
Kadamaiyilirunthu vilagi selvathaa
Or walk away from my duty?
Ilaiya thalaimuraikku bathil solvathaa
Should I answer the younger generation?
Engum en kudumpaththai thaangi pidippathaa
Or should I support and hold up my family everywhere?
Kurudaaga nindraal kaatchigal illai
If I stand blind, there are no sights to see,
Kurudaaga nindraal kaatchigal illai
If I stand blind, there are no sights to see,
Kozhakaaranaanaal kavalaigal illai
If I become a murderer, there are no worries,
Manithaabimaanam naan konda thollai
My humaneness is the trouble I bear!
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Kadamaiyil purappatta vegam engu pogum
Where will the speed driven by duty lead?
Idhil vaazhkkai thaagam….
In this lies the thirst of life...
Thalai mudhal kaal varai sogam thunba raagam
From head to toe, there is grief, a melody of sorrow.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song from 'Ilaya Thalaimurai' (1977) expresses the deep existential despair and moral dilemma of a man caught in life's tragic duties. Beginning with a reference to the Bhagavad Gita's famous philosophy of doing one's duty without expecting rewards, the protagonist laments that performing his duty with pure intentions has only brought him overwhelming cruelty, grief, and metaphorical bondage across his mind and body. He contemplates the heavy burdens of maintaining family relationships, guiding the younger generation, and honoring his love. He reflects that remaining blind or becoming ruthless would easily erase his worries, but it is his unyielding humaneness ('Manithaabimaanam') that serves as his ultimate curse and source of pain.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)
“Kannavan sonnaanae Kadamaiyinai seithu vidu Palanai vidu endraane”
Refers directly to the philosophical advice of Lord Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita regarding Karma (Kadamai).
Simile & Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)
“Mazhai pondra kangal kodai pol ullam”
Compares eyes overflowing with tears to rain ('Mazhai pondra kangal') and a scorched heart to summer heat ('kodai pol ullam').
Anaphora / Repetition (Edugai & Iyaibu)
“Kaiyil oru vilangu karuththil oru vilangu Kaalil oru vilangu kazhuththil oru vilangu”
Repetition of 'vilangu' (shackle) across lines to emphasize absolute entrapment and helplessness.
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Kadhalikku vazhi solvathaa Kadamaiyilirunthu vilagi selvathaa”
Rhythmic repetition of '-solvathaa / -selvathaa / -pidippathaa' sound endings to emphasize agonizing choices.
Did you know?
Trivia
In 'Ilaya Thalaimurai' (1977) starring Sivaji Ganesan, Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully incorporates classical Hindu philosophy (Karmanye Vadhikaraste) into modern tragedy. The soundtrack by M. S. Viswanathan and vocal performance by T. M. Soundararajan are widely regarded as textbook examples of soulful, emotionally intense Tamil film music from the 1970s.
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