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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aadum Kalai

From Tenali Raman · 1956

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Leela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Tenali Raman1956

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyarAll the dance arts become a story
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumaeTelling the beauty of young women.
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyarAll the dance arts become a story
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumaeTelling the beauty of young women.
Vensilai meni ezhiloduWith the elegance of a white statue body,
Vilaiyaadum madhu nadamaadum podhuWhen sweet nectar dances and plays,
Nal sugam veru yedhuWhat other sweet pleasure can compare?
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyarAll the dance arts become a story
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumaeTelling the beauty of young women.
Female
Kaivalai singaaram kalaivannam paadaAs the adornment of bangles sings artistic colors,
Haa…aa…aaa…aa…Haa... aa... aaa... aa...
Kaivalai singaaram kalaivannam paadaAs the adornment of bangles sings artistic colors,
Kaaviya kannirandum pudhumurai isai naadaAs poetic eyes seek music in a novel way,
Kaar mugil kuzhal thaavi mugathodu vilaiyaduAs dark cloud-like tresses leap and play with the face,
Kaar mugil kuzhal thaavi mugathodu vilaiyaduAs dark cloud-like tresses leap and play with the face,
Kalai gyaana manam naadum nadaiyudanWith a graceful walk that the mind seeking artistic wisdom desires,
Thajam thajam thanam thadheem thagidathomenaTo the rhythmic syllables Thajam thajam thanam thadheem thagidathomena,
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyarAll the dance arts become a story
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumaeTelling the beauty of young women.
Female
Malar meedhu nadai podum ilanthendral kaanaTo see the gentle breeze walking over flowers,
Manankondu suvaiyudan kuyil yaavum paadaAs all cuckoos sing delightfully with passion,
Malar meedhu nadai podum ilanthendral kaanaTo see the gentle breeze walking over flowers,
Manankondu suvaiyudan kuyil yaavum paadaAs all cuckoos sing delightfully with passion,
Mayil aadum solaiyin ezhil koorum vannamaeIn the colorful hue describing the beauty of the grove where peacocks dance,
Mayil aadum solaiyin ezhil koorum vannamaeIn the colorful hue describing the beauty of the grove where peacocks dance,
Kalaikandu uyir yaavum magizhndhaadum endrumaeSeeing art, all living beings dance in joy forever,
Kalaikandu uyir yaavum magizhndhaadum endrumaeSeeing art, all living beings dance in joy forever,
Female
Kanindhae …vizhi malar tharu madhuvinaiRipe with sweetness, drinking the nectar offered by flower-like eyes,
Arundhi arundhi azhagilaadi varum idhayamDrinking repeatedly, the heart sways gracefully in beauty,
Pudhumai naadi kalai pala payilumSeeking novelty and practicing many arts,
Munivargal ulagamum idhai ariyumEven the world of ascetics knows this truth,
Thuyar azhindhum sugam niraindhumAs sorrow perishes and bliss fills,
Asaindhum valaindhum azhaguraSwaying and bending in exquisite grace,
Thathom thagidathom thathom thagidathomTo the beats Thathom thagidathom thathom thagidathom,
Thathom thagidathom thaga thimi enaTo the rhythm Thathom thagidathom thaga thimi,
Aadum kalaiyellam paruva mangaiyarAll the dance arts become a story
Azhagu koorum kadhaiyaagumaeTelling the beauty of young women.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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