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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaala Kaalamai Penn

From Karpoora Deepam · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
P. Susheela, S. Janaki
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Karpoora Deepam
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
3 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………………
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Poovodu pottum soodiya paavai
Kalyaana raman thediya seedhai
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey
Nooraandu kaalam
Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal
Naan vaazha vendum
Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey
Nooraandu kaalam
Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal
Naan vaazha vendum
Yaezh pirappilum thalaivan avanae
Naan vanagidum iraivan avanae
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Nettriyin meedhu kungumam vaiththa
Thalaivan enpaal thangidavae
Thiru maangalyam soottiya kanavan
Anbu vellamaai pongidave
Kaarththigaiyil dheepam vaiththaen
Aandavanin arulai vendi
Naan konda naayagan vaazhiyavae
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Poovodu pottum soodiya paavai
Kalyaana raman thediya seedhai
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
...
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
A maiden adorned with flowers and a bindi,
She is the Sita sought by auspicious Rama.
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
While my loving lord's eyes caress me sweetly,
For a hundred years to come,
Inseparable like the devoted Andril birds,
I wish to spend my life.
While my loving lord's eyes caress me sweetly,
For a hundred years to come,
Inseparable like the devoted Andril birds,
I wish to spend my life.
Through all seven births, he alone is my leader,
He is the divine deity whom I worship.
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
The one who placed the sacred vermilion upon my forehead,
May my lord stay by my side forever,
The husband who tied the holy thali around my neck,
May his affection overflow like an abundance of love.
I lit the sacred lamps during the month of Kaarthigai,
Seeking the almighty God's divine grace,
Long live the cherished husband I wed!
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
A maiden adorned with flowers and a bindi,
She is the Sita sought by auspicious Rama.
Through the ages, a woman is a camphor flame,
The king who wears her garland is a divine incarnation.
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Karpoora Deepam is an emotionally resonant song celebrating traditional marital devotion, marital bliss, and the sanctity of womanhood. The song metaphorically depicts a woman as a burning camphor lamp (Karpoora Deepam) that illuminates the household with purity and grace, while viewing the husband as a divine incarnation worthy of love and worship across seven lifetimes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam”

Compares a woman directly to a sacred camphor lamp (karpoora dheepam) that burns bright with devotion.

Upamai (Simile)

“Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal”

Uses the word 'polae' (like) to compare the couple's togetherness to the inseparable mythical Andril birds.

Iyaibu (Rhyming/Refrain)

“Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam / Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam”

Repetition of identical end-rhymes (dheepam / roopam) creating rhythmic harmony.

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey / Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal”

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' (Anbu / Andrilai) across lines in the verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed and written by Gangai Amaran for the 1985 movie Karpoora Deepam, this song brings together legendary playback singers P. Susheela and S. Janaki, making it a rare duet collaboration between the two iconic vocalists.

Keep listening

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Sumathi En SundariDevotionMarriage
Aadiyile Perukkeduthu1973
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Thambathyam Oru Sangeetham1982
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From the same album

More songs from Karpoora Deepam

View album
Vilaketri Vaithal Verenna1985
Karpoora DeepamPlayful
Vanampadi Paadi Varum1985
Karpoora DeepamEcstatic
Vaa Maalai Neram1985
Karpoora DeepamRomantic
Malligai Poovile Manjam1985
Karpoora DeepamRomantic

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