Udalukku Uyir Kaaval
From Manapanthal · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Manapanthal1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kavalll mmmm…. | Protection... mmmm... |
| Male :Kavall…. | Male: Protection... |
| Male | |
| Kavaal…mmm… | Protection... mmm... |
| Male :Kavaal…mmm… | Male: Protection... mmm... |
| Male | |
| Kavaal…mmm… | Protection... mmm... |
| Male :Kavaal…mmm… | Male: Protection... mmm... |
| Male | |
| Udalukku uyir kaaval | Life is the protector of the body |
| Ulagukku oli kaaval | Light is the protector of the world |
| Udalukku uyir kaaval | Life is the protector of the body |
| Ulagukku oli kaaval | Light is the protector of the world |
| Kadalukku karai kaaval | The shore is the protector of the ocean |
| Kannukku imai kaaval | The eyelid is the protector of the eye |
| Kannukku imai kaaval | The eyelid is the protector of the eye |
| Male | |
| Mazhalai paruvathil thaai kaaval | In infancy, the mother is the protector |
| Valarndhu vittaal than manam kaaval | Once grown up, one's own conscience is the protector |
| Ilamaiyilae oru thunai kaaval | In youth, a companion is the protector |
| Ilamaiyilae oru thunai kaaval | In youth, a companion is the protector |
| Irandhu vittaal pin yaar kaaval… | Once dead, who protects after that? |
| Male | |
| Udalukku uyir kaaval | Life is the protector of the body |
| Ulagukku oli kaaval | Light is the protector of the world |
| Male | |
| Sattam enbadhu veli kaaval | Law is an external fence of protection |
| Dharmam endraal adhu mana kaaval | Virtue is the protection of the mind |
| Irandum pona pin yedhu kaaval | When both are gone, what protection remains? |
| Yedhu kaaval yaar kaaval…hmm hahahaha | What protection, whose protection... hmm hahahaha |
| Yedhu kaaval… | What protection... |
| Male | |
| Udalukku uyir kaaval | Life is the protector of the body |
| Ulagukku oli kaaval | Light is the protector of the world |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal murindha pennukku | For a woman whose love is shattered |
| Vaazhvil yaar kaaval… | Who is the protector in her life? |
| Kaaval kaaval… aa… aa… | Protection, protection... aa... aa... |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal murindha pennukku | For a woman whose love is shattered |
| Vaazhvil yaar kaaval | Who is the protector in her life? |
| Aval maalai anindha uyirukku | For the life she wedded with a garland |
| Ulagil yaar kaaval | Who in this world is the protector? |
| Yaar kaaval… yaar kaaval… yaar kaaval… | Who protects... who protects... who protects... |
| Male | |
| Udalukku uyir kaaval | Life is the protector of the body |
| Ulagukku oli kaaval | Light is the protector of the world |
| Kadalukku karai kaaval | The shore is the protector of the ocean |
| Kannukku imai kaaval | The eyelid is the protector of the eye |
| Udalukku uyir kaaval… | Life is the protector of the body... |
காவல் ம்ம்ம்ம்.....
காவல்.....
Protection... mmmm...
Male: Protection...
காவல்.....ம்ம்ம்.....
காவல்.....ம்ம்ம்.....
Protection... mmm...
Male: Protection... mmm...
காவல்.....ம்ம்ம்.....
காவல்.....ம்ம்ம்.....
Protection... mmm...
Male: Protection... mmm...
உடலுக்கு உயிர் காவல்
உலகுக்கு ஒளி காவல்
உடலுக்கு உயிர் காவல்
உலகுக்கு ஒளி காவல்
கடலுக்கு கரை காவல்
கண்ணுக்கு இமை காவல்
கண்ணுக்கு இமை காவல்
Life is the protector of the body
Light is the protector of the world
Life is the protector of the body
Light is the protector of the world
The shore is the protector of the ocean
The eyelid is the protector of the eye
The eyelid is the protector of the eye
மழலைப் பருவத்தில் தாய் காவல்
வளர்ந்து விட்டால் தன் மனம் காவல்
இளமையிலே ஒரு துணை காவல்
இளமையிலே ஒரு துணை காவல்
இறந்து விட்டால் பின் யார் காவல்...
In infancy, the mother is the protector
Once grown up, one's own conscience is the protector
In youth, a companion is the protector
In youth, a companion is the protector
Once dead, who protects after that?
உடலுக்கு உயிர் காவல்
உலகுக்கு ஒளி காவல்
Life is the protector of the body
Light is the protector of the world
சட்டம் என்பது வெளி காவல்
தர்மம் என்றால் அது மனக் காவல்
இரண்டும் போன பின் எது காவல்
எது காவல் யார் காவல்.....ஹ்ம்ம் ஹஹஹா
எது காவல்...
Law is an external fence of protection
Virtue is the protection of the mind
When both are gone, what protection remains?
What protection, whose protection... hmm hahahaha
What protection...
உடலுக்கு உயிர் காவல்
உலகுக்கு ஒளி காவல்
Life is the protector of the body
Light is the protector of the world
காதல் முறிந்த பெண்ணுக்கு
வாழ்வில் யார் காவல்...
காவல் காவல்... ஆ... ஆ...
For a woman whose love is shattered
Who is the protector in her life?
Protection, protection... aa... aa...
காதல் முறிந்த பெண்ணுக்கு
வாழ்வில் யார் காவல்
அவள் மாலை அணிந்த உயிருக்கு
உலகில் யார் காவல்
யார் காவல்... யார் காவல்... யார் காவல்...
For a woman whose love is shattered
Who is the protector in her life?
For the life she wedded with a garland
Who in this world is the protector?
Who protects... who protects... who protects...
உடலுக்கு உயிர் காவல்
உலகுக்கு ஒளி காவல்
கடலுக்கு கரை காவல்
கண்ணுக்கு இமை காவல்
உடலுக்கு உயிர் காவல்...
Life is the protector of the body
Light is the protector of the world
The shore is the protector of the ocean
The eyelid is the protector of the eye
Life is the protector of the body...
Kavalll mmmm….
Protection... mmmm...
Male :Kavall….
Male: Protection...
Kavaal…mmm…
Protection... mmm...
Male :Kavaal…mmm…
Male: Protection... mmm...
Kavaal…mmm…
Protection... mmm...
Male :Kavaal…mmm…
Male: Protection... mmm...
Udalukku uyir kaaval
Life is the protector of the body
Ulagukku oli kaaval
Light is the protector of the world
Udalukku uyir kaaval
Life is the protector of the body
Ulagukku oli kaaval
Light is the protector of the world
Kadalukku karai kaaval
The shore is the protector of the ocean
Kannukku imai kaaval
The eyelid is the protector of the eye
Kannukku imai kaaval
The eyelid is the protector of the eye
Mazhalai paruvathil thaai kaaval
In infancy, the mother is the protector
Valarndhu vittaal than manam kaaval
Once grown up, one's own conscience is the protector
Ilamaiyilae oru thunai kaaval
In youth, a companion is the protector
Ilamaiyilae oru thunai kaaval
In youth, a companion is the protector
Irandhu vittaal pin yaar kaaval…
Once dead, who protects after that?
Udalukku uyir kaaval
Life is the protector of the body
Ulagukku oli kaaval
Light is the protector of the world
Sattam enbadhu veli kaaval
Law is an external fence of protection
Dharmam endraal adhu mana kaaval
Virtue is the protection of the mind
Irandum pona pin yedhu kaaval
When both are gone, what protection remains?
Yedhu kaaval yaar kaaval…hmm hahahaha
What protection, whose protection... hmm hahahaha
Yedhu kaaval…
What protection...
Udalukku uyir kaaval
Life is the protector of the body
Ulagukku oli kaaval
Light is the protector of the world
Kaadhal murindha pennukku
For a woman whose love is shattered
Vaazhvil yaar kaaval…
Who is the protector in her life?
Kaaval kaaval… aa… aa…
Protection, protection... aa... aa...
Kaadhal murindha pennukku
For a woman whose love is shattered
Vaazhvil yaar kaaval
Who is the protector in her life?
Aval maalai anindha uyirukku
For the life she wedded with a garland
Ulagil yaar kaaval
Who in this world is the protector?
Yaar kaaval… yaar kaaval… yaar kaaval…
Who protects... who protects... who protects...
Udalukku uyir kaaval
Life is the protector of the body
Ulagukku oli kaaval
Light is the protector of the world
Kadalukku karai kaaval
The shore is the protector of the ocean
Kannukku imai kaaval
The eyelid is the protector of the eye
Udalukku uyir kaaval…
Life is the protector of the body...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song from 'Manapanthal' (1961), written by Kannadasan, explores the concept of 'kaaval' (protection or guardianship) through various stages of life and natural phenomena. It systematically outlines how elements in nature and society have intrinsic guardians—life guards the body, light guards the world, the shore guards the sea, and eyelids guard the eyes. As human life progresses from infancy to youth, guardians shift from mother to self-conscience and then to a partner, questioning ultimate mortality and moral boundaries.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Udalukku uyir kaaval / Ulagukku oli kaaval”
The word 'kaaval' (protection) is repeated at the end of almost every line, creating a uniform rhythmic structure.
Anaphora / Repetitive Structure
“Kadalukku karai kaaval / Kannukku imai kaaval”
The repetitive phrasing of '[Noun]+ukku [Noun] kaaval' builds a cumulative philosophical argument.
Metaphor
“Sattam enbadhu veli kaaval / Dharmam endraal adhu mana kaaval”
Law is metaphorically compared to an external fence ('veli kaaval'), whereas righteousness/dharma is internal mental protection ('mana kaaval').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song from the movie 'Manapanthal' (1961) features music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. It presents a haunting philosophical narrative on fate, moral boundaries, and broken relationships.
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