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Lyrics & meaning

Ezhu Kadal Nayagiye

From Bairavi · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Bairavi
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
24 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ezhu kadal naayagiyae
Eswari dhevi
Ammaa eswari dhevi
Naanga eduthadhellaam
Nadathi vaippaai
Aayiram kan kaali
Ezhu kadal naayagiyae
Eswari dhevi
Ammaa eswari dhevi
Naanga eduthadhellaam
Nadathi vaippaai
Aayiram kan kaali
Kannilae kanal vadithu
Mannilae kaaval nindru
Kodumai kandu kumarum katti
Elimai kandu urugum katti
Anbu manadhai alli eduthaai
Asuran thalaiyai killi eduthaai
Chithira kaali enga bathira kaali
Chithira kaali enga bathira kaali
Kaadu malai maedu kanda neeliyae
Naanga kannukkullae yetri vaitha jothiyae
Kaadu malai maedu kanda neeliyae
Naanga kannukkullae yetri vaitha jothiyae
Ambigaiyae enga nambikkaiyae
Un sannadhikku naada vandha
Kaaranam enna
Enga nimmadhiyai thaedi vandhom
Vaeru vazhi enna
Kaadu malai maedu kanda neeliyae
Naanga kannukkullae yetri vaitha jothiyae
Vaanam varai ongi nirkkum
Manjal muga annaiyae
Aarum varai paathu ingu
Andi vandhom unnaiyae
Aanavarai kettu vitten
Needhiyum illae
Nallaa pona varai poga vittu
Pottu vittom mella
Kaadu malai maedu kanda neeliyae
Naanga kannukkullae yetri vaitha jothiyae
Thirudanum om sakthi
Sakthiyae endru thaan
Thiruneeru poosugindraan
Dharumathai nambiyae
Dhinam thorum vaazhndhavan
Thaayunnai thaedi vandhaan
O ruler of the seven seas,
Goddess Eshwari,
O Mother, Goddess Eshwari!
Whatever we undertake,
guide it to success,
O thousand-eyed Kali!
O ruler of the seven seas,
Goddess Eshwari,
O Mother, Goddess Eshwari!
Whatever we undertake,
guide it to success,
O thousand-eyed Kali!
With fire flashing in your eyes,
standing guard over this earth,
you seethe with rage at cruelty,
yet melt with pity for the humble.
You embrace loving hearts with warmth,
and pluck off the heads of demons!
Our wondrous Kali, our protector Bhadrakali!
Our wondrous Kali, our protector Bhadrakali!
O dark goddess Neeli who knows forests, hills, and slopes,
you are the divine flame we hold in our eyes!
O dark goddess Neeli who knows forests, hills, and slopes,
you are the divine flame we hold in our eyes!
O Mother Ambika, our only hope,
the reason we came
seeking your holy shrine...
We came searching for our peace of mind,
for what other way do we have?
O dark goddess Neeli who knows forests, hills, and slopes,
you are the divine flame we hold in our eyes!
Standing tall, reaching up to the sky,
O Mother with a glowing turmeric face,
waiting until the sorrow could heal,
we have come seeking refuge in you alone.
I pleaded for justice as much as I could,
yet none was to be found.
Letting things run their course,
we quietly left it all behind.
O dark goddess Neeli who knows forests, hills, and slopes,
you are the divine flame we hold in our eyes!
Even a thief chants "Om Sakthi,
O divine Sakthi!"
and smears holy ash on his brow;
yet the one who believed in righteousness
and lived by it every single day,
has now come seeking you, O Mother!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a powerful devotional prayer addressed to Goddess Kali (Eswari / Bhadrakali), seeking her divine protection, guidance, and refuge in times of deep personal distress. The lyricist depicts the duality of the Divine Mother—she is fierce and destructive toward evil and demons, yet immensely compassionate and tender toward the pure-hearted, poor, and oppressed. Narratively, the protagonist reflects on facing injustice despite living a righteous life. He contrasts hypocrites who wear religious symbols like sacred ash for show while doing evil, against honest devotees who seek real refuge at the Goddess's feet. Finding no justice in the human world, the protagonist surrenders completely to Goddess Kali, trusting her to restore peace and uphold righteousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

“Anbu manadhai alli eduthaai / Asuran thalaiyai killi eduthaai”

Contrasts the loving, gentle act of embracing pure hearts ('Anbu manadhai') with the terrifying destruction of severing a demon's head ('Asuran thalaiyai').

Metaphor

“Naanga kannukkullae yetri vaitha jothiyae”

The Goddess is metaphorically described as a sacred flame lit directly inside the eyes of the devotees, symbolizing inner spiritual light and vision.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Chithira kaali enga bathira kaali”

The repetition of the rhythmic suffix 'kaali' at the end of phrase segments creates an echoing devotional cadence.

Alliteration (Monai)

“Kodumai kandu kumarum katti”

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound ('Kodumai', 'kandu', 'kumarum', 'katti') establishes strong rhythmic alliteration.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Bairavi' (1978) is a landmark film in Tamil cinema history as it featured Rajinikanth in his very first lead hero role. It was during the promotion of this movie that film distributor and producer Kalaipuli S. Thanu bestowed Rajinikanth with the iconic title 'Superstar'. The film's soundtrack was composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by the veteran poet Kannadasan.

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