Kaalaiyila Kan Muzhichu
From Karuvelam Pookkal · 2000
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Sujatha
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Karuvelam Pookkal2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu | Waking up in the morning |
| Naan sooriyana kandadhilla | I have never looked at the sun |
| Kandadhellaam thaai mugatha | All I ever saw was my mother's face |
| En thaaya pola yaarum illa | There is no one like my mother |
| Thaanaa porandhadhaaru | Who was born all by themselves? |
| Inga thaanaa valandhadhaaru | Who grew up here all on their own? |
| Thoppul kodi arundhaa theerumaa | Does it end just because the umbilical cord is severed? |
| Kooda otti vandha oravum maarumaa | Does a bond born alongside us ever change? |
| Female | |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu | Waking up in the morning |
| Naan sooriyana kandadhilla | I have never looked at the sun |
| Female | |
| Kozhi muzhikkum munna | Before the rooster wakes |
| Kanna muzhichu | Opening her eyes |
| Enna cheeraaga paathadhaaru | Who was the one that nurtured me with love? |
| Maadaa ozhachu perum | Working hard like cattle |
| Paadaaga pattu | Suffering immense pain |
| Verum odaaga thaeinjadhaaru | Who wore themselves down like a hollow shell? |
| Female | |
| O… siragu varum munnae | Oh... who flew away |
| Parandhadhum yaaru | Before wings even grew? |
| Neranja andha manasa | That full, tender heart |
| Kalanga vechadhaaru | Who made it break and cry? |
| Female | |
| Pakkam ulla sondham | Why did the close relations |
| Vegu dhooram aanadhenna | Become so far distant? |
| Dhooram aana sogam | Why did distant grief |
| En sondham aanadhenna | Become my own relative? |
| Othaiyila naan othaiyila | All alone, I am all alone |
| Female | |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu | Waking up in the morning |
| Naan sooriyana kandadhilla | I have never looked at the sun |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu …uuu…..uuu… | Waking up in the morning ...uuu.....uuu... |
| Female | |
| En sogam sollum | A tiny little cuckoo |
| Siru chinna kuyilu | Sings of my sorrow |
| Adha kekkaama pora raasaa | Oh my king, who walks away without listening |
| Thathalikkum indha | To this struggling |
| Thanga mayilukku | Golden peacock |
| Vaartha onnu sollu raasaa | Speak a single word, my king |
| Female | |
| O… kanavil on uruvam | Oh... your form in my dreams |
| Dhenamum vandhu pogudhae | Comes and goes every day |
| Shenbaga vaasam | The fragrance of Shenbagam flowers |
| Manasellaam vegudhae | My whole heart burns in distress |
| Female | |
| Mulla poovu thottam | The garden of jasmine flowers |
| Siru kalli vaeli aachu | Has turned into a fence of cactus |
| Kalliyilum poovu | Even a flower on a cactus |
| Adhu kaeli sollum pechu | Speaks words of mockery |
| Kekkaliyaa hoi kekkaliyaa | Don't you hear it, oh, don't you hear it? |
| Female | |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu | Waking up in the morning |
| Naan sooriyana kandadhilla | I have never looked at the sun |
| Kandadhellaam thaai mugatha | All I ever saw was my mother's face |
| En thaaya pola yaarum illa | There is no one like my mother |
| Thaanaa porandhadhaaru | Who was born all by themselves? |
| Inga thaanaa valandhadhaaru | Who grew up here all on their own? |
| Thoppul kodi arundhaa theerumaa | Does it end just because the umbilical cord is severed? |
| Kooda otti vandha oravum maarumaa | Does a bond born alongside us ever change? |
| Female | |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu | Waking up in the morning |
| Naan sooriyana kandadhilla | I have never looked at the sun |
| Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu | Waking up in the morning |
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
நான் சூரியனக் கண்டதில்ல
கண்டதெல்லாம் தாய் முகத்த
என் தாயப் போல யாரும் இல்ல
Waking up in the morning
I have never looked at the sun
All I ever saw was my mother's face
There is no one like my mother
Who was born all by themselves?
Who grew up here all on their own?
Does it end just because the umbilical cord is severed?
Does a bond born alongside us ever change?
தானாப் பொறந்ததாரு
இங்க தானா வளந்ததாரு.....
தொப்புள் கொடி அறுந்தா தீருமா
கூட ஒட்டி வந்த ஒறவும் மாறுமா
Waking up in the morning
I have never looked at the sun
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
நான் சூரியனக் கண்டதில்ல
Before the rooster wakes
Opening her eyes
Who was the one that nurtured me with love?
Working hard like cattle
Suffering immense pain
Who wore themselves down like a hollow shell?
கோழி முழிக்கும் முன்ன
கண்ண முழிச்சு
என்னச் சீராகப் பாத்ததாரு
Oh... who flew away
Before wings even grew?
That full, tender heart
Who made it break and cry?
மாடா ஒழச்சு
பெரும் பாடாகப் பட்டு
வெறும் ஓடாகத் தேய்ஞ்சதாரு
Why did the close relations
Become so far distant?
Why did distant grief
Become my own relative?
All alone, I am all alone
ஓ... சிறகு வரும் முன்னே
பறந்ததும் யாரு......
நெறஞ்ச அந்த மனச கலங்க வெச்சதாரு.....
Waking up in the morning
I have never looked at the sun
Waking up in the morning ...uuu.....uuu...
பக்கம் உள்ள சொந்தம்
வெகு தூரம் ஆனதென்ன
தூரம் ஆன சோகம்
என் சொந்தம் ஆனதென்ன
ஒத்தையில நான் ஒத்தையில
A tiny little cuckoo
Sings of my sorrow
Oh my king, who walks away without listening
To this struggling
Golden peacock
Speak a single word, my king
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
நான் சூரியனக் கண்டதில்ல
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
Oh... your form in my dreams
Comes and goes every day
The fragrance of Shenbagam flowers
My whole heart burns in distress
என் சோகம் சொல்லும்
சிறு சின்னக் குயிலு
அது கேக்காம போற ராசா.....
The garden of jasmine flowers
Has turned into a fence of cactus
Even a flower on a cactus
Speaks words of mockery
Don't you hear it, oh, don't you hear it?
தத்தளிக்கும்
இந்தத் தங்க மயிலுக்கு
வார்த்த ஒண்ணு சொல்லு ராசா.....
Waking up in the morning
I have never looked at the sun
All I ever saw was my mother's face
There is no one like my mother
Who was born all by themselves?
Who grew up here all on their own?
Does it end just because the umbilical cord is severed?
Does a bond born alongside us ever change?
ஓ... கனவில் ஒன் உருவம்
தெனமும் வந்து போகுதே
செண்பக வாசம் மனசெல்லாம் வேகுதே
Waking up in the morning
I have never looked at the sun
Waking up in the morning
முல்லப் பூவு தோட்டம்
சிறு கள்ளி வேலி ஆச்சு
கள்ளியிலும் பூவு அது
கேலி சொல்லும் பேச்சு
கேக்கலியா ஹோய் கேக்கலியா
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
நான் சூரியனக் கண்டதில்ல
கண்டதெல்லாம் தாய் முகத்த
என் தாயப் போல யாரும் இல்ல
தானாப் பொறந்ததாரு
இங்க தானா வளந்ததாரு.....
தொப்புள் கொடி அறுந்தா தீருமா
கூட ஒட்டி வந்த ஒறவும் மாறுமா
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
நான் சூரியனக் கண்டதில்ல
காலையில கண் முழிச்சு
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu
Waking up in the morning
Naan sooriyana kandadhilla
I have never looked at the sun
Kandadhellaam thaai mugatha
All I ever saw was my mother's face
En thaaya pola yaarum illa
There is no one like my mother
Thaanaa porandhadhaaru
Who was born all by themselves?
Inga thaanaa valandhadhaaru
Who grew up here all on their own?
Thoppul kodi arundhaa theerumaa
Does it end just because the umbilical cord is severed?
Kooda otti vandha oravum maarumaa
Does a bond born alongside us ever change?
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu
Waking up in the morning
Naan sooriyana kandadhilla
I have never looked at the sun
Kozhi muzhikkum munna
Before the rooster wakes
Kanna muzhichu
Opening her eyes
Enna cheeraaga paathadhaaru
Who was the one that nurtured me with love?
Maadaa ozhachu perum
Working hard like cattle
Paadaaga pattu
Suffering immense pain
Verum odaaga thaeinjadhaaru
Who wore themselves down like a hollow shell?
O… siragu varum munnae
Oh... who flew away
Parandhadhum yaaru
Before wings even grew?
Neranja andha manasa
That full, tender heart
Kalanga vechadhaaru
Who made it break and cry?
Pakkam ulla sondham
Why did the close relations
Vegu dhooram aanadhenna
Become so far distant?
Dhooram aana sogam
Why did distant grief
En sondham aanadhenna
Become my own relative?
Othaiyila naan othaiyila
All alone, I am all alone
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu
Waking up in the morning
Naan sooriyana kandadhilla
I have never looked at the sun
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu …uuu…..uuu…
Waking up in the morning ...uuu.....uuu...
En sogam sollum
A tiny little cuckoo
Siru chinna kuyilu
Sings of my sorrow
Adha kekkaama pora raasaa
Oh my king, who walks away without listening
Thathalikkum indha
To this struggling
Thanga mayilukku
Golden peacock
Vaartha onnu sollu raasaa
Speak a single word, my king
O… kanavil on uruvam
Oh... your form in my dreams
Dhenamum vandhu pogudhae
Comes and goes every day
Shenbaga vaasam
The fragrance of Shenbagam flowers
Manasellaam vegudhae
My whole heart burns in distress
Mulla poovu thottam
The garden of jasmine flowers
Siru kalli vaeli aachu
Has turned into a fence of cactus
Kalliyilum poovu
Even a flower on a cactus
Adhu kaeli sollum pechu
Speaks words of mockery
Kekkaliyaa hoi kekkaliyaa
Don't you hear it, oh, don't you hear it?
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu
Waking up in the morning
Naan sooriyana kandadhilla
I have never looked at the sun
Kandadhellaam thaai mugatha
All I ever saw was my mother's face
En thaaya pola yaarum illa
There is no one like my mother
Thaanaa porandhadhaaru
Who was born all by themselves?
Inga thaanaa valandhadhaaru
Who grew up here all on their own?
Thoppul kodi arundhaa theerumaa
Does it end just because the umbilical cord is severed?
Kooda otti vandha oravum maarumaa
Does a bond born alongside us ever change?
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu
Waking up in the morning
Naan sooriyana kandadhilla
I have never looked at the sun
Kaalaiyila kan muzhichu
Waking up in the morning
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful song from 'Karuvelam Pookkal' is a deeply emotional ode to maternal devotion, family bonds, and personal grief. The narrator reflects on waking up every morning not to look at the sun, but to look at her mother's face, positioning her mother as her ultimate source of warmth and life. The lyrics describe the immense physical sacrifice and unyielding love of a mother who wakes before dawn and works relentlessly to nurture her child. In the latter stanzas, the song transforms into a painful expression of loneliness, heart-wrenching separation from loved ones, and yearning for emotional support in a world that feels increasingly hostile and mocking.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Maadaa ozhachu perum / Paadaaga pattu / Verum odaaga thaeinjadhaaru”
Compares the mother's hard physical labor to that of cattle and her self-sacrificing body to a worn tile/shell.
Rhetorical Question
“Thoppul kodi arundhaa theerumaa / Kooda otti vandha oravum maarumaa”
Asks whether cutting the umbilical cord can truly break the deep emotional attachment shared between a mother and child.
Contrast / Imagery
“Mulla poovu thottam / Siru kalli vaeli aachu”
Contrasts a blooming jasmine garden representing joy with a cactus fence representing pain and adversity.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pakkam ulla sondham / Vegu dhooram aanadhenna”
The second letters 'k' in 'Pakkam' and 'Dhooram' (phonetic alignment in contextual stanza flow) create traditional Tamil rhythmic alignment.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Karuvelam Pookkal' (2000), directed by P. Kalaimani, features a grounded rural storyline centered around village struggles and emotional bonds. Penned by renowned lyricist Pulamaipithan, the song beautifully blends folk motifs with deep philosophical reflection on maternal love.
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