Kaala Chakkara
From Valli Deivanai · 1973
- Lyricist
- Thenkatchi Bharathisami
- Singers
- P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani
- Music director
- N. S. Thiyagarajan
- Details
- Valli Deivanai1973
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaala chakkara therinil | In the chariot of time's wheel, |
| Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam | God came in a procession. |
| Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren | Seeking life, I stood in devotion, |
| Vaazhthu solli maalai soodi | Bestowing blessings and placing a garland, |
| Vaazha vaithenae | He blessed me with a life to live. |
| Female | |
| Ho kaala chakkara therinil | Oh, in the chariot of time's wheel, |
| Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam | God came in a procession. |
| Female | |
| Kanneer vellam | A ocean of tears, |
| Karpanai ulagam kaadhal tholvi | A world of imagination and a tragedy in love, |
| Kunguma kolam kalaindha vesham | A ruined vermilion pattern, a faded facade, |
| Endhan piraiyae naadagamae | Oh my crescent moon, it is all a play, |
| Vedhanai theeyil sodhanai vaazhvu | A life of trial amidst the fire of anguish, |
| Vidhiyin kadhaiyamma | It is the tale written by fate, my dear, |
| Thunbha vazhiyin sumaiyamma | It is the burden of a painful journey, my dear. |
| Female | |
| Kaala chakkara therinil | In the chariot of time's wheel, |
| Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam | God came in a procession. |
| Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren | Seeking life, I stood in devotion, |
| Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren | Seeking life, I stood in devotion. |
| Maalai soodi parithu vittaanae | After crowning with a garland, he snatched it away, |
| Female | |
| Mangalam selva | Auspicious fortune, |
| Mannavan uravu maaligai vaasal | A kingly relationship at the palace gates, |
| Anbu raagam inba thaalam | Melody of love, rhythm of joy, |
| Anbu raagam inba thaalam | Melody of love, rhythm of joy, |
| Endhan aasai idhaya geetham | The song of my heart's desire, |
| Kaadhal koyil paasa deepam | The temple of love, the lamp of affection, |
| Kaattril karaindhidumae | Will dissolve away into the wind. |
| Female | |
| Ho kaala chakkara therinil | Oh, in the chariot of time's wheel, |
| Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam | God came in a procession. |
காலச் சக்கரத் தேரினில்
கடவுள் வந்தான் ஊர்வலம்
வாழ்வைத் தேடி வணங்கி நின்றேன்
வாழ்த்துச் சொல்லி மாலை சூடி
வாழ வைத்தானே.......
In the chariot of time's wheel,
God came in a procession.
Seeking life, I stood in devotion,
Bestowing blessings and placing a garland,
He blessed me with a life to live.
ஹோ ..காலச் சக்கரத் தேரினில்
கடவுள் வந்தான் ஊர்வலம்
Oh, in the chariot of time's wheel,
God came in a procession.
கண்ணீர் வெள்ளம்
கற்பனை உலகம் காதல் தோல்வி
குங்கும கோலம் கலைந்த வேஷம்
எந்தன் பிறையே நாடகமே
வேதனை தீயில் சோதனை வாழ்வு
விதியின் கதையம்மா
துன்ப வழியின் சுமையம்மா
A ocean of tears,
A world of imagination and a tragedy in love,
A ruined vermilion pattern, a faded facade,
Oh my crescent moon, it is all a play,
A life of trial amidst the fire of anguish,
It is the tale written by fate, my dear,
It is the burden of a painful journey, my dear.
காலச் சக்கரத் தேரினில்
கடவுள் வந்தான் ஊர்வலம்
வாழ்வைத் தேடி வணங்கி நின்றேன்
வாழ்வைத் தேடி வணங்கி நின்றேன்
மாலை சூடி பறித்து விட்டானே......
In the chariot of time's wheel,
God came in a procession.
Seeking life, I stood in devotion,
Seeking life, I stood in devotion.
After crowning with a garland, he snatched it away,
மங்கலம் செல்வம் மன்னவன்
உறவு மாளிகை வாசல்
அன்பு ராகம் இன்பத் தாளம்
அன்பு ராகம் இன்பத் தாளம்
எந்தன் ஆசை இதய கீதம்
காதல் கோயில் பாச தீபம்
காற்றில் கரைந்திடுமே.......
Auspicious fortune,
A kingly relationship at the palace gates,
Melody of love, rhythm of joy,
Melody of love, rhythm of joy,
The song of my heart's desire,
The temple of love, the lamp of affection,
Will dissolve away into the wind.
ஹோ ...காலச் சக்கரத் தேரினில்
கடவுள் வந்தான் ஊர்வலம்
Oh, in the chariot of time's wheel,
God came in a procession.
Kaala chakkara therinil
In the chariot of time's wheel,
Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam
God came in a procession.
Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren
Seeking life, I stood in devotion,
Vaazhthu solli maalai soodi
Bestowing blessings and placing a garland,
Vaazha vaithenae
He blessed me with a life to live.
Ho kaala chakkara therinil
Oh, in the chariot of time's wheel,
Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam
God came in a procession.
Kanneer vellam
A ocean of tears,
Karpanai ulagam kaadhal tholvi
A world of imagination and a tragedy in love,
Kunguma kolam kalaindha vesham
A ruined vermilion pattern, a faded facade,
Endhan piraiyae naadagamae
Oh my crescent moon, it is all a play,
Vedhanai theeyil sodhanai vaazhvu
A life of trial amidst the fire of anguish,
Vidhiyin kadhaiyamma
It is the tale written by fate, my dear,
Thunbha vazhiyin sumaiyamma
It is the burden of a painful journey, my dear.
Kaala chakkara therinil
In the chariot of time's wheel,
Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam
God came in a procession.
Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren
Seeking life, I stood in devotion,
Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren
Seeking life, I stood in devotion.
Maalai soodi parithu vittaanae
After crowning with a garland, he snatched it away,
Mangalam selva
Auspicious fortune,
Mannavan uravu maaligai vaasal
A kingly relationship at the palace gates,
Anbu raagam inba thaalam
Melody of love, rhythm of joy,
Anbu raagam inba thaalam
Melody of love, rhythm of joy,
Endhan aasai idhaya geetham
The song of my heart's desire,
Kaadhal koyil paasa deepam
The temple of love, the lamp of affection,
Kaattril karaindhidumae
Will dissolve away into the wind.
Ho kaala chakkara therinil
Oh, in the chariot of time's wheel,
Kadavul vandhaan oorvalam
God came in a procession.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kaala chakkara therinil' from Valli Deivanai (1973) is a poignant meditation on destiny, time, and the pain of lost love. It uses the metaphor of time moving like a divine chariot procession to depict how human lives are shaped, elevated, and ultimately altered by fate. The lyrics reflect a journey from hope and devotion to profound disillusionment and sorrow. Through vivid Tamil poetic imagery such as a ruined vermilion mark, tears forming a flood, and a lamp of affection dissolving in the wind, the song expresses the grief of shattered dreams and broken bonds. It highlights the stark contrast between the joyful melodies of love and the burning trials of life's painful realities.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaala chakkara therinil”
Compares time to a divine chariot wheel ('Kaala chakkara therinil') and love to a temple with a lamp of affection ('Kaadhal koyil paasa deepam').
Alliteration (Monai)
“Kunguma kolam kalaindha vesham”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across words creates a rhythmic and melodic flow.
Rhyme / Assonance (Edhugai)
“Vaazhvai thedi vanangi nindren”
Matching second consonants across lines ('zh' in Vaazhvai and Vaazhthu) reinforces the poetic meter.
Visual Imagery
“Kunguma kolam kalaindha vesham”
Uses evocative imagery of tears flooding and traditional kunguma marks getting ruined to symbolize emotional heartbreak and lost auspiciousness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1973 film 'Valli Deivanai', this classic track was composed by N. S. Thiyagarajan with deeply philosophical lyrics written by Thenkatchi Bharathisami. Sung as a duet by legendary playback singers P. Susheela and K. Jamunarani, it stands out for its expressive delivery and classical musical nuances.
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