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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalai Varuvatharkul

From Rani Samyuktha · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Rani Samyuktha
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
8 Oct 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalai varuvadharkkul kanni pala aavadharkkul
Kaalai manamudikka varuvaara
Illai kandrum kudikkaamal kalathil niraiyaamal
Kavizhndha paalaaga viduvaara
Kaalai varuvadharkkul kanni pala aavadharkkul
Kaalai manamudikka varuvaara
Pennaai piranhu vittaal
Perum paavam soozhum endru munnorgal
Sonna mozhi saridhaano
Illai mannaalum mannaravar
Munnorgal sonna mozhi maatruvaen
Endru solla varuvaara
Kaalai varuvadharkkul kanni pala aavadharkkul
Kaalai manamudikka varuvaara
Naalai suyam varam
Naattu mannar varuvaaraam
Kaalai avar vaasalilae kavalaraam
Manamaalai avar kazhuthil
Mangai naan soodivittaal
Maarbodu saerthedukka varuvaara
Kaalai varuvadharkkul kanni pala aavadharkkul
Kaalai manamudikka varuvaara
Before the morning comes, before this girl is sacrificed,
will that brave man come to marry me?
Or, without the calf drinking it or the pot being filled,
will he let my life go to waste like spilled milk?
Before the morning comes, before this girl is sacrificed,
will that brave man come to marry me?
If one is born a woman,
great sorrow will surround her—is what our elders
used to say really true?
Or will the king who rules this land
say, 'I will change what our ancestors said,'
and come here for me?
Before the morning comes, before this girl is sacrificed,
will that brave man come to marry me?
Tomorrow is the Swayamvaram (ceremony to choose a groom),
and kings from across the land will arrive.
They say my brave man stands as a guard at the doorway.
If I place the wedding garland
around his neck as his bride,
will he come and hold me close to his chest?
Before the morning comes, before this girl is sacrificed,
will that brave man come to marry me?
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the deep anxiety, longing, and unwavering love of Princess Samyuktha on the eve of her Swayamvaram. Knowing her father has insulted her beloved Prithviraj by placing his statue as a doorkeeper instead of inviting him as a suitor, she wonders if he will break tradition and rescue her before dawn. Kannadasan masterfully uses metaphors of nature, social conventions, and devotion to depict a woman standing up against patriarchal fate for her true love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Yugmakam / Pun (Iledai)

Kaalai varuvadharkkul kanni pala aavadharkkul

The word 'Kaalai' is cleverly used throughout the song with dual meanings: 'morning' (time) and 'bull/valiant hero' (referring to King Prithviraj).

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kavizhndha paalaaga viduvaara

Comparing a woman's unfulfilled love and wasted youth to spilled milk that neither feeds the calf nor fills the vessel.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Naalai suyam varam / Naattu mannar varuvaaraam

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'll/nn/ng' across adjacent lines like Pennaai/Perum and Naalai/Naattu.

Moonaai (Initial letter alliteration)

Manamaalai avar kazhuthil / Mangai naan soodivittaal / Maarbodu saerthedukka varuvaara

Alliteration of the initial consonant sound 'M' across line segments.

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