Kaala Kaalamai Penn
From Karpoora Deepam · 1985
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- P. Susheela, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Karpoora Deepam1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| ………………… | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Female | |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | A maiden adorned with traditional flowers and a vermilion dot, |
| Female | |
| Poovodu pottum soodiya paavai | Like Sita sought by auspicious Rama. |
| Kalyaana raman thediya seedhai | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Female | |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | As my loving husband's eyes caress affectionately, |
| Female | |
| Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey | For a full hundred years, |
| Nooraandu kaalam | Inseparable like a pair of mythical Andril birds, |
| Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal | I wish to live my life. |
| Naan vaazha vendum | As my loving husband's eyes caress affectionately, |
| Female | |
| Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey | For a full hundred years, |
| Nooraandu kaalam | Inseparable like a pair of mythical Andril birds, |
| Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal | I wish to live my life. |
| Naan vaazha vendum | Across all seven births, he alone is my master, |
| Female | |
| Yaezh pirappilum thalaivan avanae | He is the deity whom I humbly worship. |
| Naan vanagidum iraivan avanae | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Female | |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | The leader who placed red vermilion upon my forehead, |
| Female | |
| Nettriyin meedhu kungumam vaiththa | May he forever reside with me. |
| Thalaivan enpaal thangidavae | The husband who tied the sacred marriage thread around my neck, |
| Female | |
| Thiru maangalyam soottiya kanavan | May his love overflow like a flood. |
| Anbu vellamaai pongidave | I lit the sacred lamp in the holy month of Kaarthigai, |
| Female | |
| Kaarththigaiyil dheepam vaiththaen | Praying for the divine grace of the Almighty, |
| Aandavanin arulai vendi | May the beloved husband I wed live long! |
| Naan konda naayagan vaazhiyavae | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Female | |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Female | |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | A maiden adorned with traditional flowers and a vermilion dot, |
| Female | |
| Poovodu pottum soodiya paavai | Like Sita sought by auspicious Rama. |
| Kalyaana raman thediya seedhai | Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp. |
| Female | |
| Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam | The king who accepted the garland is a divine form. |
| Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam | |
......................................
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
மாலைக் கொண்ட மன்னன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
காதல் கொண்ட கண்ணன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
A maiden adorned with traditional flowers and a vermilion dot,
பூவோடு பொட்டும் சூடிய பாவை
கல்யாண ராமன் தேடிய சீதை
Like Sita sought by auspicious Rama.
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
மாலைக் கொண்ட மன்னன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்...
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
As my loving husband's eyes caress affectionately,
அன்பு நாயகன் கண்கள் கொஞ்சவே
நூறாண்டு காலம்
அன்றிலை போலே இணைப் பிரியாமல்
நான் வாழ வேண்டும்
For a full hundred years,
Inseparable like a pair of mythical Andril birds,
I wish to live my life.
As my loving husband's eyes caress affectionately,
அன்பு நாயகன் கண்கள் கொஞ்சவே
நூறாண்டு காலம்
அன்றிலை போலே இணைப் பிரியாமல்
நான் வாழ வேண்டும்
For a full hundred years,
Inseparable like a pair of mythical Andril birds,
I wish to live my life.
Across all seven births, he alone is my master,
ஏழ் பிறப்பிலும் தலைவன் அவனே
நான் வணங்கிடும் இறைவன் அவனே
He is the deity whom I humbly worship.
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
மாலைக் கொண்ட மன்னன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்...
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
The leader who placed red vermilion upon my forehead,
நெற்றியின் மீது குங்குமம் வைத்த
தலைவன் என்பால் தங்கிடவே
May he forever reside with me.
The husband who tied the sacred marriage thread around my neck,
திருமாங்கல்யம் சூட்டிய கணவன்
அன்பு வெள்ளமாய் பொங்கிடவே
May his love overflow like a flood.
I lit the sacred lamp in the holy month of Kaarthigai,
கார்த்திகையில் தீபம் வைத்தேன்
ஆண்டவனின் அருளை வேண்டி
நான் கொண்ட நாயகன் வாழியவே....
Praying for the divine grace of the Almighty,
May the beloved husband I wed live long!
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
மாலைக் கொண்ட மன்னன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
மாலைக் கொண்ட மன்னன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
A maiden adorned with traditional flowers and a vermilion dot,
பூவோடு பொட்டும் சூடிய பாவை
கல்யாண ராமன் தேடிய சீதை
Like Sita sought by auspicious Rama.
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
காலகாலமாய் பெண்தானே கற்பூர தீபம்
மாலைக் கொண்ட மன்னன்தானே தெய்வீக ரூபம்...
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
…………………
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
A maiden adorned with traditional flowers and a vermilion dot,
Poovodu pottum soodiya paavai
Like Sita sought by auspicious Rama.
Kalyaana raman thediya seedhai
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
As my loving husband's eyes caress affectionately,
Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey
For a full hundred years,
Nooraandu kaalam
Inseparable like a pair of mythical Andril birds,
Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal
I wish to live my life.
Naan vaazha vendum
As my loving husband's eyes caress affectionately,
Anbu naayagan kangal konjavey
For a full hundred years,
Nooraandu kaalam
Inseparable like a pair of mythical Andril birds,
Andrilai polae inai piriyaamal
I wish to live my life.
Naan vaazha vendum
Across all seven births, he alone is my master,
Yaezh pirappilum thalaivan avanae
He is the deity whom I humbly worship.
Naan vanagidum iraivan avanae
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
The leader who placed red vermilion upon my forehead,
Nettriyin meedhu kungumam vaiththa
May he forever reside with me.
Thalaivan enpaal thangidavae
The husband who tied the sacred marriage thread around my neck,
Thiru maangalyam soottiya kanavan
May his love overflow like a flood.
Anbu vellamaai pongidave
I lit the sacred lamp in the holy month of Kaarthigai,
Kaarththigaiyil dheepam vaiththaen
Praying for the divine grace of the Almighty,
Aandavanin arulai vendi
May the beloved husband I wed live long!
Naan konda naayagan vaazhiyavae
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
A maiden adorned with traditional flowers and a vermilion dot,
Poovodu pottum soodiya paavai
Like Sita sought by auspicious Rama.
Kalyaana raman thediya seedhai
Since time immemorial, a woman herself is a sacred camphor lamp.
Kaalakaalamaai penthaanae karpoora dheepam
The king who accepted the garland is a divine form.
Maalai konda mannanthaanae dheiveega roopam
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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