Thalattum Nilavukku
From Kunguma Kodu · 1988
- Lyricist
- S. A. Rajkumar
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- S. A. Rajkumar
- Details
- Kunguma Kodu1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai | As a guard for the cradling moon, |
| Vaanam irukkudhu | The sky is there. |
| Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai | As a protector for the wavering flower, |
| Thendral irukkudhu | The gentle breeze is there. |
| Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu | O woman, what is there to guard you? |
| Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu | O woman, what is there to guard you? |
| Male | |
| Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai | As a guard for the cradling moon, |
| Vaanam irukkudhu | The sky is there. |
| Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai | As a protector for the wavering flower, |
| Thendral irukkudhu | The gentle breeze is there. |
| Male | |
| Pottum illa poovum illa kutham yaarudhu | Neither bindi nor flowers on you, whose fault is it? |
| Pottum illa poovum illa kutham yaarudhu | Neither bindi nor flowers on you, whose fault is it? |
| Patta maram pattuvitta paavam yaarudhu | Whose sin is it that the tree withered away? |
| Puyal veesum oru naeram mazhai thoovum maru naeram | A storm blows at one moment, rain trickles at another, |
| Idhu kaalam seiyum vadham | This is the torment inflicted by time, |
| Thuyarkolam endru maarum | When will this stance of sorrow change? |
| Paaraiyilae potta vidhai payir aagum naalum yedhu | When is the day a seed sown on a rock becomes a crop? |
| Male | |
| Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai | As a guard for the cradling moon, |
| Vaanam irukkudhu | The sky is there. |
| Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai | As a protector for the wavering flower, |
| Thendral irukkudhu | The gentle breeze is there. |
| Male | |
| Keliyilae kutham solla mounam yaenamma | Why are you silent when accused amidst mockery, dear woman? |
| Keliyilae kutham solla mounam yaenamma | Why are you silent when accused amidst mockery, dear woman? |
| Kaaval tharum nenjukkulae kallam yaedhamma | What deceit lies in the heart that offers protection? |
| Kannoram enna sogam pen sabam endru theerum | What sorrow lingers in the corner of your eyes, when will the curse of womanhood end? |
| Kodi poovil innum vaasam | The flower on the creeper still holds its fragrance, |
| Kodumai thaanae vellai kolam | Cruel indeed is the plain white attire of widowhood, |
| Oru pillaikkena vaazhndhu vittaal | If one lives for the sake of a child, |
| Dheivangal vaalthu sollum | The gods themselves will bestow their blessings. |
| Male | |
| Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai | As a guard for the cradling moon, |
| Vaanam irukkudhu | The sky is there. |
| Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai | As a protector for the wavering flower, |
| Thendral irukkudhu | The gentle breeze is there. |
| Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu | O woman, what is there to guard you? |
| Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu | O woman, what is there to guard you? |
| Male | |
| Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai | As a guard for the cradling moon, |
| Vaanam irukkudhu | The sky is there. |
| Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai | As a protector for the wavering flower, |
| Thendral irukkudhu | The gentle breeze is there. |
தாலாட்டும் நிலவுக்கு காவலாய் வானம் இருக்குது
தள்ளாடும் மலருக்கு காவலாய் தென்றல் இருக்குது
பெண்ணே உனக்கு காவலாய் என்ன இருக்குது
பெண்ணே உனக்கு காவலாய் என்ன இருக்குது
As a guard for the cradling moon,
The sky is there.
As a protector for the wavering flower,
The gentle breeze is there.
O woman, what is there to guard you?
O woman, what is there to guard you?
தாலாட்டும் நிலவுக்கு காவலாய் வானம் இருக்குது
தள்ளாடும் மலருக்கு காவலாய் தென்றல் இருக்குது
As a guard for the cradling moon,
The sky is there.
As a protector for the wavering flower,
The gentle breeze is there.
பொட்டும் இல்ல பூவும் இல்ல குத்தம் யாருது
பொட்டும் இல்ல பூவும் இல்ல குத்தம் யாருது
பச்ச மரம் பட்டுவிட்டா பாவம் யாருது
புயல் வீசும் ஒரு நேரம் மழை தூவும் மறு நேரம்
இது காலம் செய்யும் வாதம்
துயர்கோலம் என்று மாறும்
பாறையில போட்ட விதை பயிராகும் நாளும் எது
Neither bindi nor flowers on you, whose fault is it?
Neither bindi nor flowers on you, whose fault is it?
Whose sin is it that the tree withered away?
A storm blows at one moment, rain trickles at another,
This is the torment inflicted by time,
When will this stance of sorrow change?
When is the day a seed sown on a rock becomes a crop?
தாலாட்டும் நிலவுக்கு காவலாய் வானம் இருக்குது
தள்ளாடும் மலருக்கு காவலாய் தென்றல் இருக்குது
As a guard for the cradling moon,
The sky is there.
As a protector for the wavering flower,
The gentle breeze is there.
கேள்வியில குத்தம் இல்ல மௌனம் ஏனம்மா
கேள்வியில குத்தம் இல்ல மௌனம் ஏனம்மா
காவல் தரும் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள கள்ளம் ஏதம்மா
கண்ணோரம் என்ன சோகம் பெண் சாபம் என்று தீரும்
கொடிப் பூவில் இன்னும் வாசம்
கொடுமைதானே வெள்ளைக் கோலம்
ஒரு பிள்ளைக்கென வாழ்ந்துவிட்டால்
தெய்வங்கள் வாழ்த்து சொல்லும்
Why are you silent when accused amidst mockery, dear woman?
Why are you silent when accused amidst mockery, dear woman?
What deceit lies in the heart that offers protection?
What sorrow lingers in the corner of your eyes, when will the curse of womanhood end?
The flower on the creeper still holds its fragrance,
Cruel indeed is the plain white attire of widowhood,
If one lives for the sake of a child,
The gods themselves will bestow their blessings.
தாலாட்டும் நிலவுக்கு காவலாய் வானம் இருக்குது
தள்ளாடும் மலருக்கு காவலாய் தென்றல் இருக்குது
பெண்ணே உனக்கு காவலாய் என்ன இருக்குது
பெண்ணே உனக்கு காவலாய் என்ன இருக்குது
As a guard for the cradling moon,
The sky is there.
As a protector for the wavering flower,
The gentle breeze is there.
O woman, what is there to guard you?
O woman, what is there to guard you?
தாலாட்டும் நிலவுக்கு காவலாய் வானம் இருக்குது
தள்ளாடும் மலருக்கு காவலாய் தென்றல் இருக்குது...
As a guard for the cradling moon,
The sky is there.
As a protector for the wavering flower,
The gentle breeze is there.
Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai
As a guard for the cradling moon,
Vaanam irukkudhu
The sky is there.
Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai
As a protector for the wavering flower,
Thendral irukkudhu
The gentle breeze is there.
Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu
O woman, what is there to guard you?
Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu
O woman, what is there to guard you?
Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai
As a guard for the cradling moon,
Vaanam irukkudhu
The sky is there.
Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai
As a protector for the wavering flower,
Thendral irukkudhu
The gentle breeze is there.
Pottum illa poovum illa kutham yaarudhu
Neither bindi nor flowers on you, whose fault is it?
Pottum illa poovum illa kutham yaarudhu
Neither bindi nor flowers on you, whose fault is it?
Patta maram pattuvitta paavam yaarudhu
Whose sin is it that the tree withered away?
Puyal veesum oru naeram mazhai thoovum maru naeram
A storm blows at one moment, rain trickles at another,
Idhu kaalam seiyum vadham
This is the torment inflicted by time,
Thuyarkolam endru maarum
When will this stance of sorrow change?
Paaraiyilae potta vidhai payir aagum naalum yedhu
When is the day a seed sown on a rock becomes a crop?
Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai
As a guard for the cradling moon,
Vaanam irukkudhu
The sky is there.
Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai
As a protector for the wavering flower,
Thendral irukkudhu
The gentle breeze is there.
Keliyilae kutham solla mounam yaenamma
Why are you silent when accused amidst mockery, dear woman?
Keliyilae kutham solla mounam yaenamma
Why are you silent when accused amidst mockery, dear woman?
Kaaval tharum nenjukkulae kallam yaedhamma
What deceit lies in the heart that offers protection?
Kannoram enna sogam pen sabam endru theerum
What sorrow lingers in the corner of your eyes, when will the curse of womanhood end?
Kodi poovil innum vaasam
The flower on the creeper still holds its fragrance,
Kodumai thaanae vellai kolam
Cruel indeed is the plain white attire of widowhood,
Oru pillaikkena vaazhndhu vittaal
If one lives for the sake of a child,
Dheivangal vaalthu sollum
The gods themselves will bestow their blessings.
Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai
As a guard for the cradling moon,
Vaanam irukkudhu
The sky is there.
Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai
As a protector for the wavering flower,
Thendral irukkudhu
The gentle breeze is there.
Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu
O woman, what is there to guard you?
Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu
O woman, what is there to guard you?
Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai
As a guard for the cradling moon,
Vaanam irukkudhu
The sky is there.
Thalladum malarukku kaavalaai
As a protector for the wavering flower,
Thendral irukkudhu
The gentle breeze is there.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song reflects on the plight and sorrow of a woman facing societal hardship and isolation, symbolic through imagery like the absence of bindi and flowers and wearing white attire. It compares nature's protective harmony—such as the sky protecting the moon and the breeze guarding delicate blossoms—with the vulnerable, unprotected state of a suffering woman. Despite the cruelty of time and social stigmas, the song offers solace, suggesting that devoting one's life to raising a child will earn the divine blessings of the gods and turn hardship into purpose.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thaalattum nilavukku kavalaai Vaanam irukkudhu”
Compares the sky to a guardian watching over the moon and the breeze to a protector for a delicate flower.
Rhetorical Question
“Pennae unakku kaavalaai enna irukkudhu”
Emphasizes the tragic lack of social support and protection for a distressed woman.
Symbolism
“Pottum illa poovum illa kutham yaarudhu”
The absence of bindi (pottu) and flowers symbolizes widowhood or social abandonment in traditional Tamil culture.
Hyperbole / Imagery
“Paaraiyilae potta vidhai payir aagum naalum yedhu”
Uses the image of a seed trying to sprout on a barren rock to describe trying to flourish in harsh adversity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kunguma Kodu (1988) features lyrics penned by S. A. Rajkumar. The song deeply explores themes of widowhood, maternal devotion, and social stigmas surrounding women in traditional society.
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