Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Vella Kaakka

From Mangala Vadhyam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Mangala Vadhyam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
10 Nov 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
Sevappu yaanai pallaakku thookkuthu
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
Sevappu yaanai pallaakku thookkuthu
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
Sevappu yaanai pallaakku thookkuthu
Adhu marumagalaam idhu mamiyaaraam
Antha kadhaiyinilae ivan saamiyaaraam
Adhu marumagalaam idhu mamiyaaraam
Antha kadhaiyinilae ivan saamiyaaraam
Ennaiyil thanneerai vittu paarthaen
Erumpaiyum kaakkaiyaiyum koottu saerththaen
Ennaiyil thanneerai vittu paarthaen
Erumpaiyum kaakkaiyaiyum koottu saerththaen
Vennaiyai kokku melae vachchu paarththaen
Vennaiyai kokku melae vachchu paarththaen
Onnum vilangalappaa yaedhum nadakkalappaa
Onnum vilangalappaa yaedhum nadakkalappaa
Vella kaakkaa
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
Kadaikkaaran tharaasil kallai kaanom
Kadikaaraam naduvilae mullai kaanom
Kadaikkaaran tharaasil kallai kaanom
Kadikaaraam naduvilae mullai kaanom
Naayai kandaal aiyyaa kallai kaanom
Naayai kandaal aiyyaa kallai kaanom
Naan naalu vaarththai solla vanthaen
Sollai kaanom
Naan naalu vaarththai solla vanthaen
Sollai kaanom
Vella kaakkaa
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
Sevappu yaanai pallaakku thookkuthu
Adhu marumagalaam idhu mamiyaaraam
Antha kadhaiyinilae ivan saamiyaaraam
Appaavin thapputhaanae unga poruppu
Neenga senja thapputhaanae pillai porappu
Appaavin thapputhaanae unga poruppu
Neenga senja thapputhaanae pillai porappu
Thappunnu therinjirunthum aasai irukku
Thappunnu therinjirunthum aasai irukku
Thavarunnu kandu kondaal kaavi irukku
Thavarunnu kandu kondaal kaavi irukku
Vella kaakkaa
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
Sevappu yaanai pallaakku thookkuthu
Adhu marumagalaam idhu mamiyaaraam
Antha kadhaiyinilae ivan saamiyaaraam
Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu
A white crow flies upside down
A red elephant carries a palanquin
A white crow flies upside down
A red elephant carries a palanquin
A white crow flies upside down
A red elephant carries a palanquin
That one is the daughter-in-law, and this one is the mother-in-law
And in that story, this man is a holy man
That one is the daughter-in-law, and this one is the mother-in-law
And in that story, this man is a holy man
I tried pouring water into oil
I tried teaming an ant with a crow
I tried pouring water into oil
I tried teaming an ant with a crow
I tried placing butter on a crane
I tried placing butter on a crane
Nothing made sense, my friend, nothing worked out
Nothing made sense, my friend, nothing worked out
A white crow...
A white crow flies upside down
On the shopkeeper's scale, the weight is missing
In the middle of the clock, the hands are missing
On the shopkeeper's scale, the weight is missing
In the middle of the clock, the hands are missing
When you see a dog, sir, you can't find a stone
When you see a dog, sir, you can't find a stone
I came to say a few words
And I can't find the words...
I came to say a few words
And I can't find the words...
A white crow...
A white crow flies upside down
A red elephant carries a palanquin
That one is the daughter-in-law, and this one is the mother-in-law
And in that story, this man is a holy man
Your birth was just your father's mistake, wasn't it?
And having a child was the mistake you made, wasn't it?
Your birth was just your father's mistake, wasn't it?
And having a child was the mistake you made, wasn't it?
Even knowing it's a mistake, desire still remains
Even knowing it's a mistake, desire still remains
Once you realize the mistake, the saffron robe is waiting
Once you realize the mistake, the saffron robe is waiting
A white crow...
A white crow flies upside down
A red elephant carries a palanquin
That one is the daughter-in-law, and this one is the mother-in-law
And in that story, this man is a holy man
A white crow flies upside down
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a satirical and philosophical track crafted using absurdism and folk nonsense rhymes (kudhirai kombu). By conjuring impossible images—a white crow flying backwards, a red elephant carrying a palanquin, or placing butter on a stork—lyricist Kannadasan highlights the illogical nature of worldly events, human contradictions, and family tangles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Absurdist Imagery (Surrealism)

Vella kaakkaa mallaakka parakkuthu

Uses impossible imagery like a white crow flying upside down or a red elephant carrying a palanquin to signify chaos and worldliness.

Edukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kadaikkaaran tharaasil kallai kaanom / Kadikaaraam naduvilae mullai kaanom

Matching of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines ('ll' in Vella and Mallaakka / Kadaikkaaran and Kadikaaraam).

Proverbial Irony

Naayai kandaal aiyyaa kallai kaanom

References the famous Tamil saying 'Naayai kandaal kallai kaanom' (When you see a dog, you don't find a stone; when you find a stone, you don't see the dog).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan utilized classic Tamil riddle and folk tradition devices where impossible scenarios are listed to mock societal pretense. The line referencing 'Naayai kandaal kallai kaanom' is originally attributed to a philosophical verse by Siddhar saints referring to carved stone statues, reinterpreted humorously here.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Mangala Vadhyam

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.