Kaalai Nera Raagamey
From Raasave Unnai Nambi · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Raasave Unnai Nambi1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Laa laa lala laa | [Vocalizing] Laa laa lala laa |
| Lalala laa laa | [Vocalizing] Lalala laa laa |
| Lala laa laa lalalalalaaaaa | [Vocalizing] Lala laa laa lalalalalaaaaa |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera raagamae | The melody of the morning time |
| Kaatril sernthu ketkumae | Is heard blending gently into the breeze |
| Female | |
| Pullinangal mellisaiyum | The soft music of chirping birds |
| Thendral idum innisaiyum | And the sweet tune played by the gentle breeze |
| Vandhu vandhu indha nenjai | Keep coming back to touch this heart |
| Sondhamena paadumae | And sing as if it belongs to me |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera raagamae | The melody of the morning time |
| Kaatril sernthu ketkumae | Is heard blending gently into the breeze |
| Female | |
| Kattililae solli thandha raagangalai | The melodies taught upon the bed |
| Kaalaiyilae ennikkolla aananthamae | It is sheer bliss to reminisce about them in the morning |
| Meththaiyilae potta vidhai | The seed sown upon the mattress |
| Thottililae poothu varum | Will bloom inside the cradle |
| Female | |
| Ishtapattu ketta kadhai | The story requested and heard with desire |
| Inbangalai serthu varum | Brings all joys together |
| Anbu manam ondrai ondru kondaadum | Loving hearts celebrate each other |
| Andha sugam vandhu nindradhae | That pleasure has arrived and stayed |
| Indru mudhal ennulagil sandhosham | From today, happiness in my world |
| Innisaiyai paadugindrathae | Sings a sweet melody |
| Laa laa laa la la laa | [Vocalizing] Laa laa laa la la laa |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera raagamae | The melody of the morning time |
| Kaatril sernthu ketkumae | Is heard blending gently into the breeze |
| Female | |
| Anbu ennum chinna chinna | Taking tiny, delicate threads |
| Nool eduthtu | Of love |
| Thunbangalai enni enni | I counted and gathered all the sorrows |
| Korthu vaithen | And threaded them together |
| Female | |
| Pottu vaithen kolam ondru | I drew a decorative pattern |
| Un manadhil naanum indru | Inside your heart today |
| Ketkum varam indru ondru | The one boon I ask today is |
| Kaalamellaam naamum ondru | May we remain united for all time |
| Female | |
| Paasathukku indru mudhal vellottam | Today marks the trial run for affection |
| Bandhamennum paadhai thannilae | On the pathway of eternal bond |
| Nesam adhil anbu ennum munnottam | In that affection, love leads as the guide |
| Niththam vandhu ottikkondathae… | Clinging and attaching itself daily... |
| Laa laa laa la la laa | [Vocalizing] Laa laa laa la la laa |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera raagamae | The melody of the morning time |
| Kaatril sernthu ketkumae | Is heard blending gently into the breeze |
| Female | |
| Pullinangal mellisaiyum | The soft music of chirping birds |
| Thendral idum innisaiyum | And the sweet tune played by the gentle breeze |
| Vandhu vandhu indha nenjai | Keep coming back to touch this heart |
| Sondhamena paadumae | And sing as if it belongs to me |
| Female | |
| Kaalai nera raagamae | The melody of the morning time |
| Kaatril sernthu ketkumae | Is heard blending gently into the breeze |
.........................
[Vocalizing] Laa laa lala laa
[Vocalizing] Lalala laa laa
[Vocalizing] Lala laa laa lalalalalaaaaa
காலை நேர
ராகமே காற்றில்
சேர்ந்து கேட்குமே
The melody of the morning time
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
புள்ளினங்கள்
மெல்லிசையும் தென்றல்
இடும் இன்னிசையும் வந்து
வந்து இந்த நெஞ்சை
சொந்தமென பாடுமே
The soft music of chirping birds
And the sweet tune played by the gentle breeze
Keep coming back to touch this heart
And sing as if it belongs to me
காலை நேர
ராகமே காற்றில்
சேர்ந்து கேட்குமே
The melody of the morning time
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
கட்டிலிலே சொல்லி
தந்த ராகங்களை காலையிலே
எண்ணி கொள்ள ஆனந்தமே
மெத்தையிலே போட்ட விதை
தொட்டிலிலே பூத்து வரும்
The melodies taught upon the bed
It is sheer bliss to reminisce about them in the morning
The seed sown upon the mattress
Will bloom inside the cradle
இஷ்ட பட்டு கேட்ட
கதை இன்பங்களை சேர்த்து
வரும் அன்பு மனம் ஒன்றை
ஒன்று கொண்டாடும் அந்த
சுகம் வந்து நின்றதே இன்று
முதல் என்னுலகில் சந்தோசம்
இன்னிசையை பாடுகின்றதே
..................
The story requested and heard with desire
Brings all joys together
Loving hearts celebrate each other
That pleasure has arrived and stayed
From today, happiness in my world
Sings a sweet melody
[Vocalizing] Laa laa laa la la laa
காலை நேர
ராகமே காற்றில்
சேர்ந்து கேட்குமே
The melody of the morning time
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
அன்பு என்னும்
சின்ன சின்ன நூல் எடுத்து
துன்பங்களை எண்ணி
எண்ணி கோர்த்து
வைத்தேன்
Taking tiny, delicate threads
Of love
I counted and gathered all the sorrows
And threaded them together
போட்டு வைத்தேன்
கோலம் ஒன்று உன் மனதில்
நானும் இன்று கேட்கும் வரம்
இன்று ஒன்று காலமெல்லாம்
நாமும் ஒன்று
I drew a decorative pattern
Inside your heart today
The one boon I ask today is
May we remain united for all time
பாசத்துக்கு இன்று
முதல் வெள்ளோட்டம்
பந்தமென்னும் பாதை
தன்னிலே நேசம் அதில்
அன்பு என்னும் முன்னோட்டம்
நித்தம் வந்து ஒட்டி
கொண்டதே ................
Today marks the trial run for affection
On the pathway of eternal bond
In that affection, love leads as the guide
Clinging and attaching itself daily...
[Vocalizing] Laa laa laa la la laa
காலை நேர
ராகமே காற்றில்
சேர்ந்து கேட்குமே
The melody of the morning time
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
புள்ளினங்கள்
மெல்லிசையும் தென்றல்
இடும் இன்னிசையும் வந்து
வந்து இந்த நெஞ்சை
சொந்தமென பாடுமே
The soft music of chirping birds
And the sweet tune played by the gentle breeze
Keep coming back to touch this heart
And sing as if it belongs to me
காலை நேர
ராகமே காற்றில்
சேர்ந்து கேட்குமே
The melody of the morning time
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
Laa laa lala laa
[Vocalizing] Laa laa lala laa
Lalala laa laa
[Vocalizing] Lalala laa laa
Lala laa laa lalalalalaaaaa
[Vocalizing] Lala laa laa lalalalalaaaaa
Kaalai nera raagamae
The melody of the morning time
Kaatril sernthu ketkumae
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
Pullinangal mellisaiyum
The soft music of chirping birds
Thendral idum innisaiyum
And the sweet tune played by the gentle breeze
Vandhu vandhu indha nenjai
Keep coming back to touch this heart
Sondhamena paadumae
And sing as if it belongs to me
Kaalai nera raagamae
The melody of the morning time
Kaatril sernthu ketkumae
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
Kattililae solli thandha raagangalai
The melodies taught upon the bed
Kaalaiyilae ennikkolla aananthamae
It is sheer bliss to reminisce about them in the morning
Meththaiyilae potta vidhai
The seed sown upon the mattress
Thottililae poothu varum
Will bloom inside the cradle
Ishtapattu ketta kadhai
The story requested and heard with desire
Inbangalai serthu varum
Brings all joys together
Anbu manam ondrai ondru kondaadum
Loving hearts celebrate each other
Andha sugam vandhu nindradhae
That pleasure has arrived and stayed
Indru mudhal ennulagil sandhosham
From today, happiness in my world
Innisaiyai paadugindrathae
Sings a sweet melody
Laa laa laa la la laa
[Vocalizing] Laa laa laa la la laa
Kaalai nera raagamae
The melody of the morning time
Kaatril sernthu ketkumae
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
Anbu ennum chinna chinna
Taking tiny, delicate threads
Nool eduthtu
Of love
Thunbangalai enni enni
I counted and gathered all the sorrows
Korthu vaithen
And threaded them together
Pottu vaithen kolam ondru
I drew a decorative pattern
Un manadhil naanum indru
Inside your heart today
Ketkum varam indru ondru
The one boon I ask today is
Kaalamellaam naamum ondru
May we remain united for all time
Paasathukku indru mudhal vellottam
Today marks the trial run for affection
Bandhamennum paadhai thannilae
On the pathway of eternal bond
Nesam adhil anbu ennum munnottam
In that affection, love leads as the guide
Niththam vandhu ottikkondathae…
Clinging and attaching itself daily...
Laa laa laa la la laa
[Vocalizing] Laa laa laa la la laa
Kaalai nera raagamae
The melody of the morning time
Kaatril sernthu ketkumae
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
Pullinangal mellisaiyum
The soft music of chirping birds
Thendral idum innisaiyum
And the sweet tune played by the gentle breeze
Vandhu vandhu indha nenjai
Keep coming back to touch this heart
Sondhamena paadumae
And sing as if it belongs to me
Kaalai nera raagamae
The melody of the morning time
Kaatril sernthu ketkumae
Is heard blending gently into the breeze
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaalai Nera Raagame from the 1988 film Raasave Unnai Nambi celebrates the quiet intimacy and contentment of morning romance. The song connects the gentle awakenings of nature—such as bird calls and morning breezes—with the emotional bliss of a loving relationship. The protagonist reflects warmly on nighttime affection, the joyful promise of start of new life, and the prayer for lifelong togetherness. Through poetic imagery of weaving threads of love and drawing rangoli patterns in her beloved's heart, the song captures the essence of deep marital warmth and spiritual connection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Kattililae solli thandha raagangalai / Meththaiyilae potta vidhai”
Matching second consonant 'tt' in Kattililae and Meththaiyilae creates a pleasant lyrical flow across lines.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Meththaiyilae potta vidhai / Thottililae poothu varum”
'Meththaiyilae potta vidhai thottililae poothu varum' uses the metaphor of a seed blooming in a cradle to represent conception and childbirth.
Adukku Thodar (Repetition for emphasis)
“Anbu ennum chinna chinna / Thunbangalai enni enni”
Words like 'Vandhu vandhu', 'chinna chinna', and 'enni enni' are repeated to emphasize rhythm and continuous emotion.
Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kaalai nera raagamae / Kaatril sernthu ketkumae”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of consecutive lines ('Kaalai', 'Kaatril').
Did you know?
Trivia
Raasave Unnai Nambi (1988) features a soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by his brother Gangai Amaran. Sung sweetly by K. S. Chithra, this soft morning melody highlights Ilaiyaraaja's penchant for blending natural acoustic elements with delicate classical Indian musical scales.
Keep listening
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