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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaala Magal

From Thanga Durai · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Thanga Durai
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
6 Jul 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalamagal paadhaiyilae
Podaa kannae poo
Angu kaathirukkum vettri ondru
Podaa kannae poo
Kaalamagal paadhaiyilae
Podaa kannae poo
Angu kaathirukkum vettri ondru
Podaa kannae poo
Neelakadal alaigalai pol
Podaa kannae poo
En nenjam unnai thodarndhu varum
Podaa kannae poo
Neelakadal alaigalai pol
Podaa kannae poo
En nenjam unnai thodarndhu varum
Podaa kannae poo
Maedirundhaal pallam undu
Paarthu selladaa
Maedirundhaal pallam undu
Paarthu selladaa
Nalla maenmaiyulla manidharudan
Uravu kolladaa
Nalla maenmaiyulla manidharudan
Uravu kolladaa en kannae
Kaalamagal paadhaiyilae
Podaa kannae poo
Angu kaathirukkum vettri ondru
Podaa kannae poo
Padipparivu kuraindhavan thaan
Kongu naatilae
Avan pagutharivai vidhaithu vittaan
Indha naatilae
Padipparivu kuraindhavan thaan
Kongu naatilae
Avan pagutharivai vidhaithu vittaan
Indha naatilae
Ezhaiyena piranhavanthaan
Paandi naatilae
Avan ezhaikkellaam kalvi thandhaan
Pirandha naatilae
Ezhaiyena piranhavanthaan
Paandi naatilae
Avan ezhaikkellaam kalvi thandhaan
Pirandha naatilae en kannae
Kaalamagal paadhaiyilae
Podaa kannae poo
Angu kaathirukkum vettri ondru
Podaa kannae poo
Arivu kannai thirandhu vaithaan
Azhagu mozhiyilae
Avan arinjanaagi uyarndhu nindraan
Imaiyam varaiyilae…
Arivu kannai thirandhu vaithaan
Azhagu mozhiyilae
Avan arinjanaagi uyarndhu nindraan
Imaiyam varaiyilae…
Ivargal ellaam valarndha kadhai
Enni paaradaa
Ivargal ellaam valarndha kadhai
Enni paaradaa
Nee thalaivanaaga thirumbhi vandhu
Thazhuvi kolladaa
Nee thalaivanaaga thirumbhi vandhu
Thazhuvi kolladaa en kannae
Kaalamagal paadhaiyilae
Podaa kannae poo
Angu kaathirukkum vettri ondru
Podaa kannae poo
Along the path shown by time,
Go, my dear, go!
A victory awaits you there,
Go, my dear, go...
Along the path shown by time,
Go, my dear, go!
A victory awaits you there,
Go, my dear, go...
Like the waves of the blue sea,
Go, my dear, go,
My heart will follow right behind you,
Go, my dear, go...
Like the waves of the blue sea,
Go, my dear, go,
My heart will follow right behind you,
Go, my dear, go...
Where there is high ground, there are deep pits,
Watch your step as you go.
Where there is high ground, there are deep pits,
Watch your step as you go.
With good and noble people,
Build worthy bonds.
With good and noble people,
Build worthy bonds, my dear...
Along the path shown by time,
Go, my dear, go!
A victory awaits you there,
Go, my dear, go...
He had very little schooling
In the Kongu region,
Yet he sowed the seeds of rational thought
Across this land!
He had very little schooling
In the Kongu region,
Yet he sowed the seeds of rational thought
Across this land!
Born into poverty
In the Pandya land,
He gave education to all the poor
In the land of his birth.
Born into poverty
In the Pandya land,
He gave education to all the poor
In the land of his birth, my dear...
Along the path shown by time,
Go, my dear, go!
A victory awaits you there,
Go, my dear, go...
He opened our eyes to knowledge
Through our beautiful language,
He rose high as a great scholar,
Known all the way to the Himalayas!
He opened our eyes to knowledge
Through our beautiful language,
He rose high as a great scholar,
Known all the way to the Himalayas!
The story of how they all rose—
Think and reflect upon it.
The story of how they all rose—
Think and reflect upon it.
Return as a true leader,
And embrace me.
Return as a true leader,
And embrace me, my dear...
Along the path shown by time,
Go, my dear, go!
A victory awaits you there,
Go, my dear, go...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kaalamagal Paadhaiyilae' is a deeply moving and inspirational song from the 1972 Tamil film Thanga Durai, featuring music composed by M. S. Vishwanathan, lyrics by Kannadasan, and vocals by P. Susheela. A mother sends her child out into the world with blessings and wisdom, encouraging him to forge his own path while promising that her love and prayers will follow him constantly like ocean waves. She advises him to navigate life's inevitable highs and lows with care and to associate with virtuous people. To motivate her child, she highlights the historical achievements of iconic Tamil leaders without directly naming them: Periyar E. V. Ramasamy (who promoted rationalism), K. Kamaraj (who opened schools for poor children), and Arignar Anna (who uplifted the Tamil language and achieved nationwide renown). She asks her child to draw inspiration from their life journeys, aim high, and return home victorious as a noble leader.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

“Kaalamagal paadhaiyilae”

Time is personified as 'Kaalamagal' (the Goddess of Time) who lays out a path for the child.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Neelakadal alaigalai pol”

The mother's unwavering love following the child is compared to the continuous waves of the blue sea ('Neelakadal alaigalai pol').

Metaphor / Contrast (Erebhai / Muran)

“Maedirundhaal pallam undu”

'Maedirundhaal pallam undu' uses high ground and low hollows as a metaphor for the ups and downs (joys and sorrows) of human life.

Refrain / Anaphora

“Podaa kannae poo”

The phrase 'Podaa kannae poo' is repeated rhythmically throughout the song to reinforce motherly tenderness and encouragement.

Historical Allusion

“Avan pagutharivai vidhaithu vittaan / Avan ezhaikkellaam kalvi thandhaan”

Kannadasan masterfully uses regional clues to refer to great Tamil stalwarts: Periyar (Kongu region / Rationalism), Kamaraj (Pandya region / Free Education for the poor), and Anna (Beautiful Tamil language / Intellect).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan cleverly encoded tributes to three major Tamil icons in this song without naming them explicitly: Periyar E.V.R. (born in the Kongu region, known for rationalist ideology), K. Kamaraj (born in Virudhunagar in the Pandya region, known for introducing free education and free mid-day meal schemes for poor children), and C. N. Annadurai (known for his oratorical brilliance in Tamil and political stature that resonated across India up to the Himalayas).

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