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Kalyanamam Kalyanam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ilamai Naattiya

From Kalyanamam Kalyanam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, S. Janaki
Music director
K. Vijaya Baskar
Movie name
Kalyanamam Kalyanam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
10 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ilamai naatiya saalai
Iyarkkai poomagal cholai
Ilamai naatiya saalai
Iyarkkai poomagal cholai
Malargal yaavum manmatha kolam
Mannil anantha raagam
Ilamai naatiya saalai
Iyarkkai poomagal cholai
Malargal yaavum manmatha kolam
Mannil anantha raagam
Neela nira sealaiyil vaanam
Pachai nira sealaiyil bhoomi
Neela nira sealaiyil vaanam
Pachai nira sealaiyil bhoomi
Nathigalin vannam
Nadamidum annam
Ilamai naatiya saalai
Iyarkkai poomagal cholai
Hae….hae…. aa…..
Aaththangaraiyil
Kaaththirunthaal mama angae
Aasa vachu odi vanthaa bama
Aaththangaraiyil
Kaaththirunthaal mama angae
Aasa vachu odi vanthaa bama
Aadi maatha kaaththupola
Aadi paadum naaththu pola
Kaalappaaththu mella mella vaammaa
Aaththangaraiyil
Kaaththirunthaal mama angae
Aasa vachu odi vanthaa bama
Vaigai nathi perugi vara
Vanna manal oornthu vara
Oori vantha thanniyilae
Otti vantha katti muththu
Vaigai nathi perugi vara
Vanna manal oornthu vara
Chorus :………………
Male :Oori vantha thanniyilae
Otti vantha katti muththu
Chorus :Otti vantha katti muththu
Naalu pakkam kannirukku avalukku
Antha ragasiyaththil idamirukku avanukku
Aaththangaraiyil
Kaaththirunthaal mama angae
Aasa vachu odi vanthaa bama
Poomaraththai kulukki vittu
Bhoomiyengum manakka vittu
Chorus :…………….
Male :Mamanukku thaen kodukka
Maanaipola odi vanthaa
Chorus :Maanaipola odi vanthaa
Male :Thaen kudaaththai sumanthu varum chellakkaa….
Aaththangaraiyil
Kaaththirunthaal mama angae
Aasa vachu odi vanthaa bama
Aadi maatha kaaththupola
Aadi paadum naaththu pola
Male :Kaalappaaththu mella mella vaammaa…..
Youth is a dance stage,
Nature is the garden of Mother Earth.
Youth is a dance stage,
Nature is the garden of Mother Earth.
All the flowers are art drawn by the God of Love,
A melody of joy upon this earth.
Youth is a dance stage,
Nature is the garden of Mother Earth.
All the flowers are art drawn by the God of Love,
A melody of joy upon this earth.
The sky is draped in a blue saree,
The earth is draped in a green saree.
The sky is draped in a blue saree,
The earth is draped in a green saree.
Reflected in the colors of the river,
A graceful swan dances along.
Youth is a dance stage,
Nature is the garden of Mother Earth.
Hey... hey... ah...
By the riverbank,
Her sweetheart waited there,
And longing in her heart, Bhama came running!
By the riverbank,
Her sweetheart waited there,
And longing in her heart, Bhama came running!
Like the playful wind of the Aadi month,
Like young seedlings swaying and dancing,
Watch your step and come slowly, girl!
By the riverbank,
Her sweetheart waited there,
And longing in her heart, Bhama came running!
As the Vaigai river swells and flows,
As the colorful sands drift along,
In the fresh rushing waters,
A precious pearl washed ashore!
As the Vaigai river swells and flows,
As the colorful sands drift along,
[Chorus]
In the fresh rushing waters,
A precious pearl washed ashore!
A precious pearl washed ashore!
She keeps her watchful eyes on all four sides,
And he has a place in that secret of hers.
By the riverbank,
Her sweetheart waited there,
And longing in her heart, Bhama came running!
Shaking the flowering trees,
Letting sweet fragrance spread across the land,
[Chorus]
To offer sweet honey to her beloved,
She came running like a deer,
She came running like a deer!
Carrying a pot of honey, the darling girl...
By the riverbank,
Her sweetheart waited there,
And longing in her heart, Bhama came running!
Like the playful wind of the Aadi month,
Like young seedlings swaying and dancing,
Watch your step and come slowly, girl...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ilamai Naatiya Saalai from Kalyanamam Kalyanam (1974) is a joyful romantic song celebrating youth, nature, and courtship. The lyrics personify nature as a flower goddess, describing the blue sky and green earth as draped sarees, and setting a poetic stage where youth itself becomes a hall of dance and joy. The song narrates a romantic meeting on a riverbank between lovers, comparing the young maiden to a swift deer and dancing crops, while her lover playfully cautions her to watch her step. Kannadasan masterfully blends high-poetic Tamil imagery with rural folk-style romance, capturing the exuberance of budding love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Rupakam)

“Neela nira sealaiyil vaanam / Pachai nira sealaiyil bhoomi”

The sky and earth are metaphorically visualised as draped in blue and green sarees respectively.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Aadi maatha kaaththupola”

The maiden's energetic movement is compared to the forceful wind of the Tamil month of Aadi.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Maanaipola odi vanthaa”

The woman running towards her lover is compared to a graceful, swift deer.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Ilamai naatiya saalai / Iyarkkai poomagal cholai”

Repetition of initial vowel sounds ('I') creating poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by K. Vijaya Baskar with lyrics by Kannadasan, this track features the iconic duet voices of T. M. Soundararajan and S. Janaki. The film Kalyanamam Kalyanam stars Jaishankar and Jayachitra, and this song remains a classic example of 1970s Tamil film music combining pastoral folk narrative with poetic imagery.

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