Ilamai Kaalam
From Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Lalalaalalaalaaa… | Lalalaalalaalaaa… |
| Lallalalaala laa laa | Lallalalaala laa laa |
| Laala laala laalaa | Laala laala laalaa |
| Laala laala laalaa…aaa | Laala laala laalaa…aaa |
| Laala laala laalaa | Laala laala laalaa |
| Female | |
| Ilamai kaalam engae | Where is the time of youth? |
| Endru thirumbum ingae | When will it return back here? |
| Pazhaiya paadal paada | When an old song is sung, |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Female | |
| Ilamai kaalam engae | Where is the time of youth? |
| Endru thirumbum ingae | When will it return back here? |
| Pazhaiya paadal paada | When an old song is sung, |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Male | |
| Pazhaiya paadal pola | Like the old song, |
| Pudhiya paadal illai | There is no new song. |
| Pazhaiya paadal pola | Like the old song, |
| Pudhiya paadal illai | There is no new song. |
| Vayasu pona mullai | Though the jasmine flower has aged, |
| Vaadi pogavillai | It has not withered away. |
| Male | |
| {Pazhangkadhai podhum | {Enough of telling old stories, |
| Pasikkudhae pennae | I am feeling hungry, my dear lady. |
| Sammadham sonnaal | If you give your consent, |
| Thadai illai kannae} (2) | There is no obstacle, my darling.} |
| Male | |
| Meesai konjam vellai | The mustache is a little white, |
| Veru ondrum illai | Nothing else has changed. |
| Indha meesai konjam vellai | This mustache is a little white, |
| Veru ondrum illai | Nothing else has changed. |
| Andha kaala pillai | The child from those old days, |
| Aasai theera villai | Whose desire is still unfulfilled. |
| Female | |
| Ilamai kaalam engae | Where is the time of youth? |
| Endru thirumbum ingae | When will it return back here? |
| Pazhaiya paadal paada | When an old song is sung, |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Female | |
| {Azhaithadhae mogam | {Desire invited us, |
| Thaduthadhae naanam | Shyness restrained us, |
| Erindhadhae deepam | The lamp was lit, |
| Ilamaikku laabam } (2) | A gain for youth.} |
| Female | |
| Andru endhan nenjil | Back then in my heart, |
| Anubavam illai | There was no experience. |
| Indha kolam vandhum | Even after reaching this old age, |
| Indru kooda thollai | The desire troubles me even today. |
| Male | |
| Pazhaiya paadal pola | Like the old song, |
| Pudhiya paadal illai | There is no new song. |
| Pazhaiya paadal pola | Like the old song, |
| Pudhiya paadal illai | There is no new song. |
| Vayasu pona mullai | Though the jasmine flower has aged, |
| Vaadi pogavillai | It has not withered away. |
| Female | |
| Nilavilae vaazhndhom | We lived in the moonlight, |
| Paniyilae serndhom | We came together in the mist, |
| Sarithiram kettom | We listened to history, |
| Thalaimurai paarthom | We witnessed generations, |
| Male | |
| Andha kaala bandham | The bond of those old days, |
| Azhindhu povadhillai | Never gets destroyed. |
| Andha kaala bandham | The bond of those old days, |
| Azhindhu povadhillai | Never gets destroyed. |
| Nammai pola yaarum | No couple like us, |
| Jodi serndhadhillai | Has ever come together. |
| Female | |
| Ilamai kaalam engae | Where is the time of youth? |
| Endru thirumbum ingae | When will it return back here? |
| Pazhaiya paadal paada | When an old song is sung, |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Male | |
| Ilamai kaalam engae | Where is the time of youth? |
| Endru thirumbum ingae | When will it return back here? |
| Pazhaiya paadal paada | When an old song is sung, |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
| Ilamai thirumbum ingae | Youth returns back here. |
மற்றும் பி. சுஷீலா
Lalalaalalaalaaa…
Lallalalaala laa laa
Laala laala laalaa
Laala laala laalaa…aaa
Laala laala laalaa
..................................
Where is the time of youth?
When will it return back here?
When an old song is sung,
Youth returns back here.
Youth returns back here.
இளமை காலம் எங்கே
என்று திரும்பும் இங்கே
பழைய பாடல் பாட
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
Where is the time of youth?
When will it return back here?
When an old song is sung,
Youth returns back here.
Youth returns back here.
இளமை காலம் எங்கே
என்று திரும்பும் இங்கே
பழைய பாடல் பாட
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
Like the old song,
There is no new song.
Like the old song,
There is no new song.
Though the jasmine flower has aged,
It has not withered away.
பழைய பாடல் போல
புதிய பாடல் இல்லை
பழைய பாடல் போல
புதிய பாடல் இல்லை
வயசு போன முல்லை
வாடி போகவில்லை
{Enough of telling old stories,
I am feeling hungry, my dear lady.
If you give your consent,
There is no obstacle, my darling.}
ஆண் மற்றும் பெண் :
இளமை காலம் எங்கே
என்று திரும்பும் இங்கே
பழைய பாடல் பாட
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
The mustache is a little white,
Nothing else has changed.
This mustache is a little white,
Nothing else has changed.
The child from those old days,
Whose desire is still unfulfilled.
{பழங்கதை போதும்
பசிக்குதே பெண்ணே
சம்மதம் சொன்னால்
தடை இல்லை கண்ணே} (2)
Where is the time of youth?
When will it return back here?
When an old song is sung,
Youth returns back here.
Youth returns back here.
மீசை கொஞ்சம் வெள்ளை
வேறு ஒன்றும் இல்லை
இந்த மீசை கொஞ்சம் வெள்ளை
வேறு ஒன்றும் இல்லை
அந்தக் கால பிள்ளை
ஆசை தீரவில்லை
{Desire invited us,
Shyness restrained us,
The lamp was lit,
A gain for youth.}
இளமை காலம் எங்கே
என்று திரும்பும் இங்கே
பழைய பாடல் பாட
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
Back then in my heart,
There was no experience.
Even after reaching this old age,
The desire troubles me even today.
{அழைத்ததே மோகம்
தடுத்ததே நாணம்
எரிந்ததே தீபம்
இளமைக்கு லாபம்} (2)
Like the old song,
There is no new song.
Like the old song,
There is no new song.
Though the jasmine flower has aged,
It has not withered away.
அன்று எந்தன் நெஞ்சில்
அனுபவம் இல்லை
இந்த கோலம் வந்தும்
இன்று கூட தொல்லை
We lived in the moonlight,
We came together in the mist,
We listened to history,
We witnessed generations,
பழைய பாடல் போல
புதிய பாடல் இல்லை
பழைய பாடல் போல
புதிய பாடல் இல்லை
வயசு போன முல்லை
வாடி போகவில்லை
The bond of those old days,
Never gets destroyed.
The bond of those old days,
Never gets destroyed.
No couple like us,
Has ever come together.
நிலவிலே வாழ்ந்தோம்
பனியிலே சேர்ந்தோம்
சரித்திரம் கேட்டோம்
தலைமுறை பார்த்தோம்
Where is the time of youth?
When will it return back here?
When an old song is sung,
Youth returns back here.
Youth returns back here.
அந்த கால பந்தம்
அழிந்து போவதில்லை
அந்த கால பந்தம்
அழிந்து போவதில்லை
நம்மை போல யாரும்
ஜோடி சேர்ந்ததில்லை
Where is the time of youth?
When will it return back here?
When an old song is sung,
Youth returns back here.
Youth returns back here.
இளமை காலம் எங்கே
என்று திரும்பும் இங்கே
பழைய பாடல் பாட
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை காலம் எங்கே
என்று திரும்பும் இங்கே
பழைய பாடல் பாட
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
இளமை திரும்பும் இங்கே
Lalalaalalaalaaa…
Lalalaalalaalaaa…
Lallalalaala laa laa
Lallalalaala laa laa
Laala laala laalaa
Laala laala laalaa
Laala laala laalaa…aaa
Laala laala laalaa…aaa
Laala laala laalaa
Laala laala laalaa
Ilamai kaalam engae
Where is the time of youth?
Endru thirumbum ingae
When will it return back here?
Pazhaiya paadal paada
When an old song is sung,
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai kaalam engae
Where is the time of youth?
Endru thirumbum ingae
When will it return back here?
Pazhaiya paadal paada
When an old song is sung,
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Pazhaiya paadal pola
Like the old song,
Pudhiya paadal illai
There is no new song.
Pazhaiya paadal pola
Like the old song,
Pudhiya paadal illai
There is no new song.
Vayasu pona mullai
Though the jasmine flower has aged,
Vaadi pogavillai
It has not withered away.
{Pazhangkadhai podhum
{Enough of telling old stories,
Pasikkudhae pennae
I am feeling hungry, my dear lady.
Sammadham sonnaal
If you give your consent,
Thadai illai kannae} (2)
There is no obstacle, my darling.}
Meesai konjam vellai
The mustache is a little white,
Veru ondrum illai
Nothing else has changed.
Indha meesai konjam vellai
This mustache is a little white,
Veru ondrum illai
Nothing else has changed.
Andha kaala pillai
The child from those old days,
Aasai theera villai
Whose desire is still unfulfilled.
Ilamai kaalam engae
Where is the time of youth?
Endru thirumbum ingae
When will it return back here?
Pazhaiya paadal paada
When an old song is sung,
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
{Azhaithadhae mogam
{Desire invited us,
Thaduthadhae naanam
Shyness restrained us,
Erindhadhae deepam
The lamp was lit,
Ilamaikku laabam } (2)
A gain for youth.}
Andru endhan nenjil
Back then in my heart,
Anubavam illai
There was no experience.
Indha kolam vandhum
Even after reaching this old age,
Indru kooda thollai
The desire troubles me even today.
Pazhaiya paadal pola
Like the old song,
Pudhiya paadal illai
There is no new song.
Pazhaiya paadal pola
Like the old song,
Pudhiya paadal illai
There is no new song.
Vayasu pona mullai
Though the jasmine flower has aged,
Vaadi pogavillai
It has not withered away.
Nilavilae vaazhndhom
We lived in the moonlight,
Paniyilae serndhom
We came together in the mist,
Sarithiram kettom
We listened to history,
Thalaimurai paarthom
We witnessed generations,
Andha kaala bandham
The bond of those old days,
Azhindhu povadhillai
Never gets destroyed.
Andha kaala bandham
The bond of those old days,
Azhindhu povadhillai
Never gets destroyed.
Nammai pola yaarum
No couple like us,
Jodi serndhadhillai
Has ever come together.
Ilamai kaalam engae
Where is the time of youth?
Endru thirumbum ingae
When will it return back here?
Pazhaiya paadal paada
When an old song is sung,
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai kaalam engae
Where is the time of youth?
Endru thirumbum ingae
When will it return back here?
Pazhaiya paadal paada
When an old song is sung,
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Ilamai thirumbum ingae
Youth returns back here.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This nostalgic and romantic song from 'Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu' explores how true love and cherished memories transcend aging. The protagonist reflects on the passing of youth, realizing that music and shared affection have the magical ability to bring back the feeling of being young. Even as physical changes like graying hair occur, the passion and deep bond between the couple remain as vibrant as ever.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Vayasu pona mullai / Vaadi pogavillai”
Compares an elderly woman/romance to an aged jasmine flower ('Vayasu pona mullai') that still retains its beauty and fragrance without wilting ('Vaadi pogavillai').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Assonance)
“Nilavilae vaazhndhom / Paniyilae serndhom”
Matching initial consonant/vowel sounds in words across lines ('Nilavilae', 'Paniyilae').
Esubhu / Repetition (Anaphora)
“Ilamai thirumbum ingae”
Repetition of the phrase 'Ilamai thirumbum ingae' to reinforce the central theme of youth returning through music.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Ilamai Kaalam Engae' was composed by Ilaiyaraaja for the 1986 film 'Thaaiku Oru Thaalaattu', starring Nadigar Thilagam Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha. Sung beautifully by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, it remains a beloved duet celebrating mature love.
Keep listening
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