Thursday, June 16, 2005

kannathil muthamittal

O! Flower of the heavens,
Why that forlorn look in your eyes?

You are the life’s beginning
and the visible horizon.

You swept like the breeze
and stayed as the breath.

O! Sanguine surge in the soul...

You are my akin as well as my foe,
the flower of love and a thorn in the womb,
the cherished rain and the clouting thunder,
a neonate body as well as an aching death

O! Conqueror of death, conferrer of life...

You are my wealth as well as my wrecked ship,
an enriched epic as well as the error in it,
lent light and the bitter tears at night,
my bountiful sky as well as my broken wings,

And the beloved sorrow that I nurtured.triskaidekaphobia

No. I am not moonstruck. Just thought I shall translate/render the title track of the Maniratnam movie - Kannathil Muthamittal, written by Vairamuthu. The lyrics as you see below is the post in my blog dated 13th of June, 2005.

27 comments:

Krish said...

Wow!!..Renu!!..nice work and I had mailed you my comment!!

Anil Kurnool said...

What does "Kannathil Muthamittal" mean??

reNUka said...

krish - thanks a lot! for the detailed review or view...

anil - hi! - well it means, "When pecked on the cheek" - but to make it simple it is called "a peck on the cheek" u cud see Kannathil... for more details on maniratnam and his movies.

Meera said...

It is a lovely song. After reading your translation of it, I am thinking that there are many more facets to the song. It somehow, now seems open to interpretations! :-)

cvraman said...

I loved both side of the peck, Give me more ;-)

Prabha said...

wow!!Lovely :-)

Anonymous said...

first time on your blog. very interesting to read.

this is one of my favorite songs and your translation is very good. captures the essence very well.
i think this line -
"maraNam meenda jananam nee" should be "maraNam eendra jananam nee"

-Manoj

reNUka said...

meera - yeah - i guess...

cvraman!! :-) ohh... thanks - i suppose u meant the tamil and the english version of it?

prabha - thanks :-)

manoj - i only hope it sustains the interest - thanks :-)
and yeah - u r right - i suppose its "maranam eendra jananam" and not "maranam meenda jananam". thanks for the correction.

Prabha said...

enna no posts???

reNUka said...

:-) done!!

ammani said...

One of my favourite songs. I sing it to my son all the time. Funny how it takes on a different hue each time you sing it to your child. Your translation comes very close to the brilliant original. Vairamuthu is a rare gem indeed. Thank you very much.

reNUka said...

:-) thanks for visitin! u shud be right, i guess, wrt singing it out to one's child! and yeah, it is one of the most beautiful songs i have ever heard.

ur comments did make my day - am happy for myself! thanks. :-)

Anonymous said...

Hi Renuka. This is Raga from Infy.
Happened to stumble upon your blog while I was searching for a song from Kannathil Muthamittal. Very good translation of the lyrics. How is life?

reNUka said...

Hey Raga! How are you doing? Long time... Thanks a lot! Life is fine. How about you?

Blogged in said...

Hi Renuka!!!

Very beautifully translated. I know its coming two years too late,
but your translation has done complete justice to the original lyrics. It has given the song an entirely new dimension.

Also, i was wondering, why is there the word 'triskaidekaphobia' at the end of the lyrics in white font colour? Any specific reason or is it an error? I saw it when i was copying the post.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the translation Renuka.. I just love this song... well and i dont understand tamil much (i am still learning) so i was looking for the translation somewhere... the song makes so much more sense now!

thanks once again for sharing..

Cheers!
Ketaki

reNUka said...

Thanks very much Blogged in!! It really was nice to have seen someone comment after a long time. In fact, I really felt that I must soon post something on my blog... :-)

Wrt triskaidekaphobia, I am still wondering why I did that; but i do remember putting that up for some reason... Very strange that I have forgotten all about it. :-?

reNUka said...

Hi Ketaki, Nice to see you being enthusiastic about learning Tamil! Glad to be of help! :-) Thanks for your comments!!

Vinod said...

Thank you Renuka for the translation.. Being a Malayali, I could understand the song only partially till today..

And about the anagram... hmmmm

could find renuka in there... but gave up after 15 minutes.. :(

reNUka said...

Thanks Vinod! I am happy that you could get closer to the song through my work! :-)

And about the anagram, yes... You are close. Just one step away... Try harder.

ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பாலா said...

What a GooD JoB You've Done Renuka sis...!
ThanQ VerY MucH sis..anQ VerY MucH sis..

ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பாலா said...

Sis Renuka..
Just I noticed something in the Translated lyrics of Tamil Song@ Oru Dheivam Thandha Poove...
A line in 2nd Saranam is,
Enadhu Selvam Nee..
Enadhu Varumai Nee..
But,
You've translated as
you.. 'My wealth' as well as 'my Wrecked ship'..
The Word 'Wrecked Ship' is misplaced in this place..g in the Translated lyrics of Tamil Song@ Oru Dheivam Thandha Poove...
A line in 2nd Saranam is,
Enadhu Selvam Nee..
Enadhu Varumai Nee..
But,
You've translated as
you.. 'My wealth' as well as 'my Wrecked ship'..
The Word 'Wrecked Ship' is misplaced in this place..
And as said by someone earlier,
a line in 1st saranam is
Maranam eendra Jananam Nee..
Whatsoever,
you've done a good job.. ananam Nee..
Whatsoever,
you've done a good job..

reNUka said...

Thanks very much, PhoeniXBala!! :-)

ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பாலா said...

Its kay sister..
I want the lyrics of Nadhiye Nadhiye.. Kadhal Nadhiye..
Neeyum Pen dhane..!
I'll be happy if You post this.. ThanQ sis..e.. Kadhal Nadhiye..
Neeyum Pen dhane..!
I'll be happy if You post this.. ThanQ sis..

ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பாலா said...

ஒரு தெய்வம் தந்த பூவே..
கண்ணில் தேடல் என்ன தாயே..
வாழ்வு தொடங்கும் இடம் நீதானே..
வானம் முடியும் இடம் நீதானே..
காற்றைப் போல நீ வந்தாயே..
சுவாசமாக நீ நின்றாயே..
மார்பில் ஊறும் உயிரே..


எனது சொந்தம் நீ..
எனது பகையும் நீ..
காதல் மலரும் நீ..
கருவில் முள்ளும் நீ..
செல்ல மழையும் நீ..
சின்ன இடியும் நீ..
செல்ல மழையும் நீ..
சின்ன இடியும் நீ..
பிறந்த உடலும் நீ..
பிரியும் உயிரும் நீ..
பிறந்த உடலும் நீ..
பிரியும் உயிரும் நீ..
மரணம் மீண்ட ஜனனம் நீ..


எனது செல்வம் நீ..
எனது வறுமை நீ..
இழைத்தக் கவிதை நீ..
எழுத்துப் பிழையும் நீ..
இரவல் வெளிச்சம் நீ..
இரவின் கண்ணீர் நீ..
இரவல் வெளிச்சம் நீ..
இரவின் கண்ணீர் நீ..
எனது வானம் நீ..
இழந்த சிறகும் நீ..
எனது வானம் நீ..
இழந்த சிறகும் நீ..
நான் தூக்கி வளர்த்த துயரம் நீ..

reNUka said...

Hi, Thanks for the Tamil lyrics! I will try to work on the song translation that you have mentioned...

ஃபீனிக்ஸ் பாலா said...

Oh.. ThanQ ma..
But see sister..
I also did a mistake..
மரணம் ஈன்ற ஜனனம் நீ.