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Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhanthai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalai Ilam Parithiyile

From Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhanthai · 1978

Lyricist
Bharathidasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kannan Oru Kai Kuzhanthai
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
7 Jun 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalai ilam parithiyilae…
Avalai kandaen…
Kadar parappil oli punalil kandaen…
Andha cholaiyilae malargalilae
Thalirgal thannil
Thotta idamellaam
Kannil thattu pattaal…
Thotta idamellaam
Kannil thattu pattaal…
In the early morning sun...
I saw her...
Across the vast sea, in its shining waters, I saw her...
In that grove, among the flowers,
and in the tender young leaves,
everywhere I touched,
she appeared before my eyes...
everywhere I touched,
she appeared before my eyes...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic verse by the celebrated Tamil poet Bharathidasan describes perceiving beauty and the beloved in every element of nature. The speaker witnesses her omnipresence everywhere—from the warmth of the early morning sun and the vast ocean to the tranquil grove, vibrant flowers, and fresh leaves. Every touch and glance reinforces this divine and romantic vision of beauty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Visual Imagery

Kadar parappil oli punalil kandaen…

Creates a striking visual picture of sunlight cascading over the expansive sea surface.

Personification

Kaalai ilam parithiyilae… Avalai kandaen…

Personifies the morning light and natural elements as a beloved woman ('Avalai').

Repetition (Anaphora)

Thotta idamellaam / Kannil thattu pattaal…

Repeats key lines to emphasize the inescapable, ubiquitous presence of the vision everywhere the speaker looks or touches.

Did you know?

Trivia

These lines are from a celebrated poem written by the revolutionary Tamil poet Kanagasabai Subburathinam, famously known as Bharathidasan. His works often personified nature and Tamil culture with deep romanticism and poetic imagery.

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