'Mozhi'(language), the film where the song 'Kaatrin Mozhi' appears, is about a woman who has the misfortune of being both deaf and dumb. However, she compensates amply by being fiercely independent. How the hero(Prithvi Raj) convinces the misogamist to marry him, forms the crux of the story.
There are few songs which have stirred me up like this one did. This song is a case where fabulous music, a lovely voice and stirring lyrics come together. 'Kaatrin mozhi...' ('the language of the wind...' ), as it begins, says that you don't need to know any language save that of nature, to interact with anyone. The song does make lots of sense, unlike many others from Kollywood. I've put up the lyrics of the song below. I have also attempted to translate it to English.
katrinnn mozhi...oliyya? isaiyya?
poovinnn mozhi....nirama? manamaa?
kadalin mozhi...alaiya? nuraiya?
kaadhal mozhi...vizhiyya? idhazha?
iyarkeyin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharin mozhigal thevai-illai
ithaiyathin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharikku mozhiye thevai-illai
katrinnn mozhiyee...oliya? isaiyya?
poovinnn mozhi....nirama? manama?
((The language of the wind.. is it it's sound or music?
The language of the flower.. is it it's color or fragrance?
The language of the ocean.. is it it's waves or foam?
The language of love.. is it the eyes or the lips?
Understand the languages of nature,
Man's languages are unnecessary,
Understand the heart's languages,
No language is necessary for man...
The language of the wind.. ))
kaatru veesum bothu...thisaigal kidaiyathu
kaadhal paesum bothu...mozhigal kidaiyathu
paesum vaarthai pola...mounam puriyathu
kanngal paesum vaarthai....kadavul ariyathu
ulavi theeriyum kaatrukku....uruvam theetta mudiyathu
kaadhal paesum mozhi-ellam... satha koothil adanggathu
iyarkeyin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharin mozhigal thevai-illai
ithaiyathin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharikku mozhiye thevai-illai
katrinnn mozhiyee...
((When the wind blows, there aren't any directions..
When love speaks, there aren't any languages..
One can't understand silence (like one understands) spoken words,
(God?) won't know the words spoken by the eyes...
The wind, who roams and wanders cannot be given a shape..
The language of love does not lie in the domain of sound(voice/words)..
Understand the languages of nature,
Man's languages are unnecessary,
Understand the heart's languages,
No language is needed for man...
(Repeat)The language of the wind.. ))
vaanam paesum paechu...thulliyai veliyagum
vaanavillin paechu...neeramai veliyagum
unmai oomai anaal...kanneer mozhiyagum
pennmei ummei anaal...naanum mozhiyagum
osai thoongum jaamathilll...kuchi meengal mozhiyagum
asai thoongum ithaiyathil...asaiva kooda mozhiyagum
iyarkeyin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharin mozhigal thevai-illai
ithaiyathin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharikku mozhiye thevai-illai
(The sky's speech(language) emerges as droplets..
The rainbow's speech(language) emerges as color..
When truth becomes silent, one speaks (language) tears..
When (a woman's) feminity becomes silent, (her) shyness will emerge..
(The time) When all sound sleeps, tiny(?) fishes talk(language)..
In (one's) heart where desire sleeps, slight movements too become a language..
Understand the languages of nature,
Man's languages are unnecessary,
Understand the heart's languages,
No language is needed for man...
(Repeat)The language of the wind.. ))
katrinnn mozhiyee...oliyya? isaiyya?
poovinnn mozhi....neerumma? mannumma?
kadalinnn mozhi...alaiyya? nuraiyya?
kaadhalll mozhi...vizhiyya? izdhala?
iyarkeyin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharin mozhigal thevai-illai
ithaiyathin mozhigal purinthu vidu
manitharikku mozhiye thevai-illai
katrinnn mozhiyee...
((The language of the wind.. is it it's sound or music?
The language of the flower.. is it it's color or fragrance?
The language of the ocean.. is it it's waves or foam?
The language of love.. is it the eyes or the lips?
Understand the languages of nature,
Man's languages are unnecessary,
Understand the heart's languages,
No language is needed for man...
The language of the wind.. ))
(P.S.1.. I've used the terms talk, speech and language interchangeably according to context. They all are translated from the same word, mozhi.. )
(P.S2.. This may be considered as a disclaimer as well.. I'm no expert in Tamil, but I believe I've done a decent job. Comments and corrections are welcome. I'll incorporate corrections regularly. )
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
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8 comments:
Wow!! Good one dude.. Nice translation. That was a wonderful song.. and one of the many many incredible lyrics that Vairamuthu has given.
One regret though -
'pennmei ummei anaal...naanum mozhiyagum' - translation for this isn't gr8. Everything else is fine. Good work da! :)
what is the translation for that line? do suggest it.. i actually struggled with this one quite a bit..
Dei.. really excellent job da..
Am excited to see my favorite mozhi song being translated into Rani's mozhi(Queen's Lang)...
Hey, that was nice...especially for us who loves Tamil, but can't understand full...I would like the song 'munpe vaa en anpe vaa' translated like this..
hi krishnan
I am a telugu guy and i love a good song whatever the language be.You have done some brilliant work in translating this song which is my favourite . keep the good work going. bye krishnan.
pkranthy@gmail.com
@kranti: Thank you Kranti for your appreciation!
Hi Krishnan,
I am a lover of music - language no bar :) This one has become an earworm of late.
I do not understand a lot of Tamil, this translation was a blessing as I could only get the meanings of a few words here and there and was struggling hopelessly to get the exact meaning of the entire song :(
I am now in greater appreciation of the lovely lovely song not only for the music but also the meaning...all thanks to you!
Thanks a ton!! Keep it going :)
Though i am not tamilian and know little tamil , i liked this movie and song very much.. thnkx for sharing the lyrics and translation :)
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