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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadum Kalai

From Tenali Raman · 1956

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Tenali Raman
Movie release year
1956
Lyrics added on
29 Apr 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyar
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumae
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyar
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumae
Vensilai meni ezhilodu
Vilaiyaadum madhu nadamaadum podhu
Nal sugam veru yedhu
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyar
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumae
Kaivalai singaaram kalaivannam paada
Haa…aa…aaa…aa…
Kaivalai singaaram kalaivannam paada
Kaaviya kannirandum pudhumurai isai naada
Kaar mugil kuzhal thaavi mugathodu vilaiyadu
Kaar mugil kuzhal thaavi mugathodu vilaiyadu
Kalai gyaana manam naadum nadaiyudan
Thajam thajam thanam thadheem thagidathomena
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyar
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumae
Malar meedhu nadai podum ilanthendral kaana
Manankondu suvaiyudan kuyil yaavum paada
Malar meedhu nadai podum ilanthendral kaana
Manankondu suvaiyudan kuyil yaavum paada
Mayil aadum solaiyin ezhil koorum vannamae
Mayil aadum solaiyin ezhil koorum vannamae
Kalaikandu uyir yaavum magizhndhaadum endrumae
Kalaikandu uyir yaavum magizhndhaadum endrumae
Kanindhae …vizhi malar tharu madhuvinai
Arundhi arundhi azhagilaadi varum idhayam
Pudhumai naadi kalai pala payilum
Munivargal ulagamum idhai ariyum
Thuyar azhindhum sugam niraindhum
Asaindhum valaindhum azhagura
Thathom thagidathom thathom thagidathom
Thathom thagidathom thaga thimi ena
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyar
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumae
All the art of dance
Is a story that speaks of a young woman's beauty.
All the art of dance
Is a story that speaks of a young woman's beauty.
With the elegance of a marble statue,
When intoxicating charm dances and plays,
What other sweet joy can compare?
All the art of dance
Is a story that speaks of a young woman's beauty.
As ornate bangles chime with artistic grace,
Ha… ah… aah… ah…
As ornate bangles chime with artistic grace,
And poetic eyes seek new rhythms of music,
Dark cloud-like hair leaps to play across the face,
Dark cloud-like hair leaps to play across the face,
Moving with steps that an artistic heart yearns for,
To the beats of thajam thajam thanam thadheem thakidathom,
All the art of dance
Is a story that speaks of a young woman's beauty.
As the gentle breeze strolls over flowers to watch,
And cuckoos sing sweetly from their hearts,
As the gentle breeze strolls over flowers to watch,
And cuckoos sing sweetly from their hearts,
Expressing the charm of a grove where peacocks dance,
Expressing the charm of a grove where peacocks dance,
Seeing this art, every living soul dances in joy forever,
Seeing this art, every living soul dances in joy forever.
The sweet nectar poured from tender, flower-like eyes—
Drinking it again and again, the heart sways in beauty,
Seeking novelty and mastering many arts,
Even the world of sages knows this,
As sorrow vanishes and joy fills the heart,
Swaying and bending with pure grace,
To the rhythm of thathom thakidathom thathom thakidathom,
As thathom thakidathom thaka thimi rings out,
All the art of dance
Is a story that speaks of a young woman's beauty.
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Aadum kalaiyellam is a celebrated classical dance song that glorifies dance as an art form through which the charm, grace, and beauty of young women are expressed. The lyrics depict the dancer as a living white marble statue whose rhythmic movements simulate nectar in motion, with hair like dark rain clouds gently caressing her face and eyes that evoke rich poetry. The song emphasizes how the beauty of classical dance mesmerizes all living beings, reflecting the natural harmony of singing cuckoos, dancing peacocks, and gentle breezes. It suggests that dance transcends temporal sorrow, filling the human heart with divine joy, a truth acknowledged even by enlightened sages.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Metaphor / Simile)

“Kaar mugil kuzhal thaavi mugathodu vilaiyadu”

Compares dark hair to rain-bearing clouds (Kaar mugil kuzhal) and eyes to poetry/flowers (Kaaviya kannirandum, vizhi malar).

Moonaam Ezhuthu Monai / Alliteration

“Kaivalai singaaram kalaivannam paada”

Repetition of consonant sounds like 'Ka' across 'Kaivalai', 'Kalaivannam', and 'Kaaviya' creates a melodic cadence.

Sollukku Azhagu (Rhythmic Jathis / Onomatopoeia)

“Thathom thagidathom thathom thagidathom”

Incorporation of classical dance Sollukattus (rhythmic solfege syllables) enhances the theatrical and kinetic flow of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Tenali Raman (1956) featured music by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, with lyrics penned by Kannadasan. Singer P. Leela's masterful rendition of classical ragas in this song remains one of the finest highlights of 1950s Tamil cinema dance sequences.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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