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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalai Nera Kaatre

From Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate · 1983

Lyricist
M. G. Vallaban
Singers
S. P. Sailaja, Deepan Chakravarthy
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaalai nera kaattrae vaazhththi selluOh morning breeze, go bless us!
Maalai soodum naalai paarththu solluLook out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us!
Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettriLighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
Thaagam theerum neram seval koovumThe rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
Female
Kaalai nera kaattrae vaazhththi selluOh morning breeze, go bless us!
Maalai soodum naalai paarththu solluLook out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us!
Male
Nadanthaal kaaveri nee nagaiththaal sridevithaanIf you walk, you are Kaveri; if you smile, you are Sridevi herself!
Female :Mozhiyae devaramo vizhimael paamaalaiyoFemale: Is your speech sacred Devaram hymns? Are there poetic garlands on your eyes?
Male :Kanavaai nee aanaal imaiyaal naan poottuvaenMale: If you become a dream, I will lock you inside with my eyelids.
Female :Manamae nee aanaa maniththaer naan oottuvaenFemale: If you become my mind, I will drive the chariot of human life.
Male
Kanniththaeril saamaram veesumThe whisk fans in the maiden's chariot,
Pinnal meedhu poovina vaasamThe fragrance of flowers upon her braided hair.
Female :Podhigai thamizhil kavithai pozhiyumFemale: Showering poetry in classic Podhigai Tamil,
Bharathi thozhanoIs he a friend of poet Bharathi?
Male
Kaalai nera kaattraeMorning breeze,
Female :Vaazhththi selluFemale: Go bless us!
Male :Maalai soodum naalaiMale: The day of wearing garlands,
Female :Paarththu solluFemale: Look and tell us!
Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettriLighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
Thaagam theerum neram seval koovumThe rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
Male
Kaalai nera kaattraeMorning breeze,
Female :Vaazhththi selluFemale: Go bless us!
Male :Maalai soodum naalaiMale: The day of wearing garlands,
Female :Paarththu solluFemale: Look and tell us!
Female
Madiththaer raajaangamae kidaththaal maamaangamaeThe lap-chariot is a kingdom; resting together feels like the sacred Mahamaham festival!
Male :Malaiththaen maelongavaeMale: As mountain honey overflows,
Ilaiththaen naan yaengiyaeI have grown thin yearning for you.
Female :Kanivaai thaenaattril oru naal neeraattuvaaiFemale: One day you will bathe me in a river of honey from sweet lips.
Male :Idhazhaam theeraththil marunaal paaraattuvaenMale: The next day, I will cherish you on the shore of lips.
Female
Anthi vaanil kunguma saelaiThe kumkum-red saree in the evening sky,
Thantha mega sangama maalaiThe evening garland formed by confluent clouds.
Male :Nayana malarin sayana araiyilMale: In the bedchamber of the eye-flower,
Naayana osaiyoIs that the melodious sound of the nadaswaram?
Female
Kaalai nera kaattraeMorning breeze,
Male :Vaazhththi selluMale: Go bless us!
Female :Maalai soodum naalaiFemale: The day of wearing garlands,
Male :Paarththu solluMale: Look and tell us!
Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettriLighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
Thaagam theerum neram seval koovumThe rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
Female
Kaalai nera kaattraeMorning breeze,
Male :Vaazhththi selluMale: Go bless us!
Female :Maalai soodum naalaiFemale: The day of wearing garlands,
Male :Paarththu solluMale: Look and tell us!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kaalai Nera Kaattrae' is a melodious romantic duet in which two lovers appeal to the gentle morning breeze to bless their love and usher in their auspicious wedding day. They exchange poetic compliments, comparing the woman's grace to river Kaveri and Goddess Sridevi, and her speech to divine Tamil Devaram hymns.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Nadanthaal kaaveri nee nagaiththaal sridevithaan

Compares the beloved directly to river Kaveri when walking and Goddess Sridevi when smiling.

Anaphora / Edukku Thodaru (Repetition)

Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri

Repetition of 'yaettri' intensifies the emotional act of lighting the lamp of love in their eyes.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Madiththaer raajaangamae kidaththaal maamaangamae

Rhyming of the second letter 'di' in 'Madiththaer' and 'kidaththaal' creates rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is featured in the 1983 Tamil film 'Bhagavathipuram Railway Gate'. The song stands out for its rich Tamil literary allusions written by noted lyricist M.G. Vallaban, drawing references to Podhigai Tamil, Devaram hymns, and Mahakavi Bharathiyar.

Keep listening

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