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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kaalaiyum Neeye

From Then Nilavu · 1961

Lyricist: Kannadasan
Singers: A. M. Rajah, S. Janaki
Music director: A. M. Rajah
Movie name: Then Nilavu
Movie release year: 1961
Lyrics added on: 10 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Aaaaaa…………

Kaalaiyum

Neeyae maalaiyum

Neeyae

Aaaaa……..

{ Kaalaiyum

Neeyae maalaiyum

Neeyae kaatrum

Neeyae kadalum neeyae } (2)

Kaalaiyum

Neeyae maalaiyum

Neeyae

Aalaiya

Manivai osaiyum

Neeyae

Aaaaaa………………..

Aalaiya

Manivai osaiyum

Neeyae arul vadivaagum

Deivamum neeyae

Kaalaiyum

Neeyae maalaiyum

Neeyae kaatrum

Neeyae kadalum neeyae

Kaalaiyum

Neeyae maalaiyum

Neeyae

{ Paalil

Vizhuntha pazhangalai

Polae paruvam uruvam

Nirainthaval neeyae } (2)

Manadhil

Medai amaithaval

Neeyae

Aaaaaaa………………..

Aaaaaaaaa………………..

Manadhil

Medai amaithaval

Neeyae mangala

Naadagam aada vanthaayae

Kaalaiyum

Neeyae maalaiyum

Neeyae kaatrum

Neeyae kadalum neeyae

Ah...

You are the morning,

and you are the evening,

it is all you.

Ah...

You are the morning,

you are the evening,

you are the breeze,

and you are the sea.

You are the morning,

and you are the evening,

it is all you.

The ringing chime

of the temple bell,

you are that too.

Ah...

You are the chime

of the temple bell,

and the deity who embodies

divine grace is you.

You are the morning,

you are the evening,

you are the breeze,

and you are the sea.

You are the morning,

and you are the evening,

it is all you.

Like sweet fruits

dropped into milk,

you are filled with youth

and blooming beauty.

In my heart,

the one who built a stage

is you.

Ah...

Ah...

Building a stage

within my heart,

you came to perform

a joyous, auspicious play.

You are the morning,

you are the evening,

you are the breeze,

and you are the sea.

Male

Male

Female

Male

Male

Male

Female

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Female

Male

Male

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kaalaiyum Neeyae is a classic romantic melody from the movie Then Nilavu (1961), penned by Kannadasan. The song expresses the omnipresence of the beloved in the eyes of the lover. The protagonist envisions his beloved in every aspect of nature and time—the morning, the evening, the gentle breeze, and the vast ocean—as well as in divine experiences like the resonant chime of temple bells and grace personified. Kannadasan uses rich imagery, comparing the perfection of the beloved's youth and beauty to delicious fruits fallen into rich milk. The heart is visualized as a theater stage where the beloved enters to enact a divine and auspicious play of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora (Repetition)

“Kaalaiyum Neeyae maalaiyum Neeyae kaatrum Neeyae kadalum neeyae”

The word 'Neeyae' (You alone / You are) is repeatedly emphasized throughout the song to signify that the beloved encompasses every form and sensation.

Simile (Upamai)

“Paalil vizhuntha pazhangalai polae paruvam uruvam nirainthaval neeyae”

The beloved's complete beauty and youth are compared to sweet fruits dropped into milk using the comparative marker 'polae' (like).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Manadhil medai amaithaval neeyae mangala naadagam aada vanthaayae”

The human mind/heart is metaphorically called a stage ('medai') where an auspicious play ('mangala naadagam') of romance is enacted.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai and Ethukai)

“Kaalaiyum Neeyae maalaiyum Neeyae kaatrum Neeyae kadalum neeyae”

Rhythmic Tamil poetic elements are used with matching initial and second sounds across time and nature concepts (Kaalaiyum, Maalaiyum, Kaatrum, Kadalum).

Did you know?

Trivia

Then Nilavu (1961), directed by C. V. Sridhar, was one of the earliest South Indian films to be extensively shot on location in Jammu & Kashmir. The film marked singer A. M. Rajah's acclaimed work as a music director, featuring hit duets alongside P. Susheela.

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