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 sellu | Oh morning breeze, go bless us! |
| Maalai soodum naalai paarththu sollu | Look out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us! |
| Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri | Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly, |
| Thaagam theerum neram seval koovum | The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched. |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera kaattrae vaazhththi sellu | Oh morning breeze, go bless us! |
| Maalai soodum naalai paarththu sollu | Look out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us! |
| Male | |
| Nadanthaal kaaveri nee nagaiththaal sridevithaan | If you walk, you are Kaveri; if you smile, you are Sridevi herself! |
| Female :Mozhiyae devaramo vizhimael paamaalaiyo | Female: Is your speech sacred Devaram hymns? Are there poetic garlands on your eyes? |
| Male :Kanavaai nee aanaal imaiyaal naan poottuvaen | Male: If you become a dream, I will lock you inside with my eyelids. |
| Female :Manamae nee aanaa maniththaer naan oottuvaen | Female: If you become my mind, I will drive the chariot of human life. |
| Male | |
| Kanniththaeril saamaram veesum | The whisk fans in the maiden's chariot, |
| Pinnal meedhu poovina vaasam | The fragrance of flowers upon her braided hair. |
| Female :Podhigai thamizhil kavithai pozhiyum | Female: Showering poetry in classic Podhigai Tamil, |
| Bharathi thozhano | Is he a friend of poet Bharathi? |
| Male | |
| Kaalai nera kaattrae | Morning breeze, |
| Female :Vaazhththi sellu | Female: Go bless us! |
| Male :Maalai soodum naalai | Male: The day of wearing garlands, |
| Female :Paarththu sollu | Female: Look and tell us! |
| Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri | Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly, |
| Thaagam theerum neram seval koovum | The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched. |
| Male | |
| Kaalai nera kaattrae | Morning breeze, |
| Female :Vaazhththi sellu | Female: Go bless us! |
| Male :Maalai soodum naalai | Male: The day of wearing garlands, |
| Female :Paarththu sollu | Female: Look and tell us! |
| Female | |
| Madiththaer raajaangamae kidaththaal maamaangamae | The lap-chariot is a kingdom; resting together feels like the sacred Mahamaham festival! |
| Male :Malaiththaen maelongavae | Male: As mountain honey overflows, |
| Ilaiththaen naan yaengiyae | I have grown thin yearning for you. |
| Female :Kanivaai thaenaattril oru naal neeraattuvaai | Female: One day you will bathe me in a river of honey from sweet lips. |
| Male :Idhazhaam theeraththil marunaal paaraattuvaen | Male: The next day, I will cherish you on the shore of lips. |
| Female | |
| Anthi vaanil kunguma saelai | The kumkum-red saree in the evening sky, |
| Thantha mega sangama maalai | The evening garland formed by confluent clouds. |
| Male :Nayana malarin sayana araiyil | Male: In the bedchamber of the eye-flower, |
| Naayana osaiyo | Is that the melodious sound of the nadaswaram? |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera kaattrae | Morning breeze, |
| Male :Vaazhththi sellu | Male: Go bless us! |
| Female :Maalai soodum naalai | Female: The day of wearing garlands, |
| Male :Paarththu sollu | Male: Look and tell us! |
| Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri | Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly, |
| Thaagam theerum neram seval koovum | The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched. |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera kaattrae | Morning breeze, |
| Male :Vaazhththi sellu | Male: Go bless us! |
| Female :Maalai soodum naalai | Female: The day of wearing garlands, |
| Male :Paarththu sollu | Male: Look and tell us! |
காலை நேரக் காற்றே வாழ்த்திச் செல்லு
மாலை சூடும் நாளை பார்த்துச் சொல்லு
காதல் தீபம் கண்ணில் ஏற்றி ஏற்றி
தாகம் தீரும் நேரம் சேவல் கூவும்
Oh morning breeze, go bless us!
Look out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us!
Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
காலை நேரக் காற்றே வாழ்த்திச் செல்லு
மாலை சூடும் நாளை பார்த்துச் சொல்லு
Oh morning breeze, go bless us!
Look out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us!
நடந்தால் காவேரி நீ நகைத்தால் ஸ்ரீதேவி தான்
மொழியே தேவாரமோ விழிமேல் பாமாலையோ
கனவாய் நீ ஆனால் இமையால் நான் பூட்டுவேன்
மனமே நீ ஆனா மணித்தேர் நான் ஓட்டுவேன்
If you walk, you are Kaveri; if you smile, you are Sridevi herself!
Female: Is your speech sacred Devaram hymns? Are there poetic garlands on your eyes?
Male: If you become a dream, I will lock you inside with my eyelids.
Female: If you become my mind, I will drive the chariot of human life.
கன்னித்தேரில் சாமரம் வீசும்
பின்னல் மீதும் பூவின வாசம்
பொதிகை தமிழில் கவிதை பொழியும்
பாரதி தோழனோ
The whisk fans in the maiden's chariot,
The fragrance of flowers upon her braided hair.
Female: Showering poetry in classic Podhigai Tamil,
Is he a friend of poet Bharathi?
காலை நேரக் காற்றே
வாழ்த்திச் செல்லு.....
மாலை சூடும் நாளை
பார்த்துச் சொல்லு
காதல் தீபம் கண்ணில் ஏற்றி ஏற்றி
தாகம் தீரும் நேரம் சேவல் கூவும்
Morning breeze,
Female: Go bless us!
Male: The day of wearing garlands,
Female: Look and tell us!
Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
காலை நேரக் காற்றே
வாழ்த்திச் செல்லு.....
மாலை சூடும் நாளை
பார்த்துச் சொல்லு
Morning breeze,
Female: Go bless us!
Male: The day of wearing garlands,
Female: Look and tell us!
மடித்தேர் ராஜாங்கமே கிடைத்தால் மாமாங்கமே
மலைத்தேன் மேலோங்கவே
இளைத்தேன் நான் ஏங்கியே
கனிவாய் தேனாற்றில் ஒரு நாள் நீராட்டுவாய்
இதழாம் தீரத்தில் மறுநாள் பாராட்டுவேன்
The lap-chariot is a kingdom; resting together feels like the sacred Mahamaham festival!
Male: As mountain honey overflows,
I have grown thin yearning for you.
Female: One day you will bathe me in a river of honey from sweet lips.
Male: The next day, I will cherish you on the shore of lips.
அந்தி வானில் குங்கும சேலை
தந்த மேக சங்கம மாலை
நயன மலரின் சயன அறையில்
நாயன ஓசையோ
The kumkum-red saree in the evening sky,
The evening garland formed by confluent clouds.
Male: In the bedchamber of the eye-flower,
Is that the melodious sound of the nadaswaram?
காலை நேரக் காற்றே
வாழ்த்திச் செல்லு.....
மாலை சூடும் நாளை
பார்த்துச் சொல்லு
காதல் தீபம் கண்ணில் ஏற்றி ஏற்றி
தாகம் தீரும் நேரம் சேவல் கூவும்
Morning breeze,
Male: Go bless us!
Female: The day of wearing garlands,
Male: Look and tell us!
Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
காலை நேரக் காற்றே
வாழ்த்திச் செல்லு.....
மாலை சூடும் நாளை
பார்த்துச் சொல்லு
Morning breeze,
Male: Go bless us!
Female: The day of wearing garlands,
Male: Look and tell us!
Kaalai nera kaattrae vaazhththi sellu
Oh morning breeze, go bless us!
Maalai soodum naalai paarththu sollu
Look out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us!
Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri
Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
Thaagam theerum neram seval koovum
The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
Kaalai nera kaattrae vaazhththi sellu
Oh morning breeze, go bless us!
Maalai soodum naalai paarththu sollu
Look out for the day we exchange wedding garlands and tell us!
Nadanthaal kaaveri nee nagaiththaal sridevithaan
If you walk, you are Kaveri; if you smile, you are Sridevi herself!
Female :Mozhiyae devaramo vizhimael paamaalaiyo
Female: Is your speech sacred Devaram hymns? Are there poetic garlands on your eyes?
Male :Kanavaai nee aanaal imaiyaal naan poottuvaen
Male: If you become a dream, I will lock you inside with my eyelids.
Female :Manamae nee aanaa maniththaer naan oottuvaen
Female: If you become my mind, I will drive the chariot of human life.
Kanniththaeril saamaram veesum
The whisk fans in the maiden's chariot,
Pinnal meedhu poovina vaasam
The fragrance of flowers upon her braided hair.
Female :Podhigai thamizhil kavithai pozhiyum
Female: Showering poetry in classic Podhigai Tamil,
Bharathi thozhano
Is he a friend of poet Bharathi?
Kaalai nera kaattrae
Morning breeze,
Female :Vaazhththi sellu
Female: Go bless us!
Male :Maalai soodum naalai
Male: The day of wearing garlands,
Female :Paarththu sollu
Female: Look and tell us!
Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri
Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
Thaagam theerum neram seval koovum
The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
Kaalai nera kaattrae
Morning breeze,
Female :Vaazhththi sellu
Female: Go bless us!
Male :Maalai soodum naalai
Male: The day of wearing garlands,
Female :Paarththu sollu
Female: Look and tell us!
Madiththaer raajaangamae kidaththaal maamaangamae
The lap-chariot is a kingdom; resting together feels like the sacred Mahamaham festival!
Male :Malaiththaen maelongavae
Male: As mountain honey overflows,
Ilaiththaen naan yaengiyae
I have grown thin yearning for you.
Female :Kanivaai thaenaattril oru naal neeraattuvaai
Female: One day you will bathe me in a river of honey from sweet lips.
Male :Idhazhaam theeraththil marunaal paaraattuvaen
Male: The next day, I will cherish you on the shore of lips.
Anthi vaanil kunguma saelai
The kumkum-red saree in the evening sky,
Thantha mega sangama maalai
The evening garland formed by confluent clouds.
Male :Nayana malarin sayana araiyil
Male: In the bedchamber of the eye-flower,
Naayana osaiyo
Is that the melodious sound of the nadaswaram?
Kaalai nera kaattrae
Morning breeze,
Male :Vaazhththi sellu
Male: Go bless us!
Female :Maalai soodum naalai
Female: The day of wearing garlands,
Male :Paarththu sollu
Male: Look and tell us!
Kadhal dheepam kannil yaettri yaettri
Lighting the lamp of love in our eyes repeatedly,
Thaagam theerum neram seval koovum
The rooster crows at the time when our thirst will be quenched.
Kaalai nera kaattrae
Morning breeze,
Male :Vaazhththi sellu
Male: Go bless us!
Female :Maalai soodum naalai
Female: The day of wearing garlands,
Male :Paarththu sollu
Male: 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.
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