Sam C.S. and Vedan craft ‘Kondal Vedan,’ a song that mixes Tamil folk and contemporary sounds. Sam C.S. writes the lyrics, while Vedan joins to compose the melody. Together, they bring the spirit of the sea to life in their album ‘Kondal.’
Released: September 16, 2024
Kondal Vedan Song
Sam C.S. | Vedan • From “Kondal”
Kondal’s Kondal Vedan Song Malayalam Lyrics English Translation
The poet asks, ‘Is it a fish that’s caught in the net today, or is it me?’ This line reflects the struggle of fishermen and their bond with the ocean. Sam C.S. and Vedan use the sea as a metaphor for life’s unpredictability and resilience.
Kadalamma kadalammaSea Mother, Sea Mother
Ka-ka-kadalamma kadalammaS-S-Sea Mother, Sea Mother
Ka-ka-kadalammaS-S-Sea Mother
Kadalamma karanjalle pettathDidn’t the Sea Mother give birth while she wept?
Kanneerellam avalalle kattathuWasn’t it she who stole away all the tears?
Karayalla kadalalle kandathIt wasn’t the shore but the vast sea we saw,
Kadalinte makkala kadalintewe’re the children of the deep, born of the sea,
Kadalamma karanjalle pettathdidn’t the Sea Mother give birth while she wept?
Kanneerellam avalalle kattathuWasn’t it she who stole away all the tears?
Karayalla kadalalle kandathIt wasn’t the shore but the vast sea we saw,
Kadalinte makkala kadalintewe’re the children of the deep, born of the sea,
Uppu kaattil meenumanakkumand the scent of fish drifts in the salty breeze.
Nadukadalil kondal kaathu kond choramanakkumIn the middle of the ocean, the wind brings the scent of survival,
Nale kara kaanumowill we ever see the shore tomorrow?
Atho irayakumoOr will we just become the ocean’s prey?
Kadalin vellathil varachoru varayakumoWill our lives be just a line drawn on the surface of the water?
Manam thanne unnamPride is the only food we’ve got to eat,
Balavan evano avan thanne mannanwhoever’s the strongest, he’s the one who rules as king.
Ini nayakanoIs he the hero now?
Ullam kallakki vellathil navikanoOr a sailor with a heart of stone upon the waves?
Kattu marakkaranoIs he a sailor on a ‘kattumaram’ raft?
Perum kadalkkaranoOr a man who belongs to the mighty sea?
Inn valayil kudungunnathu meenanoIs it a fish that’s caught in the net today?
Atho njanaano kadal meenanoOr is it me? Am I just a fish of the sea?
Nale kara poyi cherunnathu neeyanoIs it you who’ll reach the shore tomorrow?
Atho njananoOr will it be me?
Neeyano njanano aaranoIs it you, or me, or who knows who?
Veeshunnillayo kondal kondalDoesn’t the wind keep blowing from the deep?
Veeshunnillayo kondal kondalDoesn’t the wind keep blowing from the deep?
Veeshunnillayo kondal kondalDoesn’t the wind keep blowing from the deep?
Veeshunnillayo kondal kondalDoesn’t the wind keep blowing from the deep?
Kadalamma karanjalle pettathDidn’t the Sea Mother give birth while she wept?
Kanneerellam avalalle kattathuWasn’t it she who stole away all the tears?
Karayalla kadalalle kandathIt wasn’t the shore but the vast sea we saw,
Kadalinte makkala kadalinte (kadalinte)we’re the children of the deep, born of the sea,
Kadalamma karanjalle pettathdidn’t the Sea Mother give birth while she wept?
Kanneerellam avalalle kattathuWasn’t it she who stole away all the tears?
Karayalla kadalalle kandathIt wasn’t the shore but the vast sea we saw,
Kadalinte makkala kadalintewe’re the children of the deep, born of the sea,
(Kadalinte makkala kadalinte)(We’re the children of the deep, born of the sea)
Pinamilla kallarakalkk kanakkillalloThere’s no count for the graves that hold no bodies,
Ee vallam anayumo urappillalloand there’s no certainty if this boat will ever dock.
Kadalellam thannalum chila vallatha manushyarkkEven if you gave the whole sea to some strange folk,
Ellam ellam enna nenappanallothey’d still think that everything belongs to them.
Neeru neeru neeru kadalithuBrine, brine, brine, this is the sea,
Poru poru porufight, fight, fight.
Neeru neeru neeru kadalithuBrine, brine, brine, this is the sea,
Poru poru poru poru-poru-porufight, fight, fight, fight-fight-fight.
Inn valayil kudungunnathu meenanoIs it a fish that’s caught in the net today?
Atho njanaano kadal meenanoOr is it me? Am I just a fish of the sea?
Nale kara poyi cherunnathu neeyanoIs it you who’ll reach the shore tomorrow?
Atho njanano neeyano njanano aaranoOr will it be me? Is it you, or me, or who knows who?
Thudalkkaare valakkaare marakkaareYou oarsmen, you net-casters, you seafaring men,
Kaattilalayum kattumarakkaareyou sailors on ‘kattumaram’ rafts wandering in the wind.
Valakkaare kadalkkareYou fishermen, you people of the coast,
Kadalin neerinuppil pirannoreyou who were born in the salt and the brine of the sea.
Vishappariyathe alanjoreYou who wandered without even knowing your own hunger.
Kondal Vedan Song Music Video
The English lyrics of ‘Kondal Vedan’ highlight the connection between humans and the sea. The song features Sam C.S. and Vedan, and it is part of the ‘Kondal’ album.