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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalakaalamaaga Vaazhum

From Punnagai Mannan · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Punnagai Mannan1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaala kaalamaaga vaazhumWe are dedicated to the love
Kaadhalukku naangal arpanamThat lives on through the ages.
Kaalidhasan kambankoodaEven Kalidasa or Kamban
Kandadhillai engal soppanamHave never envisioned our dream.
Female
Bhoomi engal seedhanamThe earth is our inheritance,
Vaanam engal vaahanamThe sky is our vehicle.
Male :Yaaradaa naanMale: Who am I?
Neeyada heyIt is you, hey!
Pagaivanae poGo away, enemy!
Female
Kaala kaalamaaga vaazhumWe are dedicated to the love
Kaadhalukku naangal arpanamThat lives on through the ages.
Female
Veesum kaatrukku sattam illaiThe blowing wind has no law,
Oru vattam illaiNo boundaries,
Thadai yaarum illaiAnd no one to obstruct it.
Male
Engal anbukku tholvi illaiOur love knows no defeat,
Oru kelvi illaiNo doubt,
Malar maalai naalaiTomorrow brings the flower garland.
Female
Mullai yaar alli pottaalumEven if someone throws thorns at us,
Mullai poovaaga maaraathoWon't the thorns turn into flowers?
Mullai yaar alli pottaalumEven if someone throws thorns at us,
Mullai poovaaga maaraathoWon't the thorns turn into flowers?
Male :Aaha poovukku yaar inguMale: Ah, who here sets fire
Thee vaippathuTo a flower?
Pagayae pagayae vilagu vilagu oduuEnmity, enmity, step aside and run!
Male
Kaala kaalamaaga vaazhumWe are dedicated to the love
Kaadhalukku naangal arpanamThat lives on through the ages.
Female :Kaalidhasan kambankoodaFemale: Even Kalidasa or Kamban
Kandadhillai engal soppanamHave never envisioned our dream.
Male
Modhi paarkkaathae ennai kanduDon't try to clash with me seeing me;
Nee vaazhai thanduYou are a fragile banana stem,
Ivan yaanai kandruHe is a mighty elephant calf!
Female
Naalum poraadum veeram unduWe have the valor to fight daily,
Suya maanam unduWe have self-respect,
Pagai velvom indruWe shall conquer enmity today!
Male
Paadhai illaamal ponaalumEven if there is no pathway left,
Kaadhal therottam nillaathuThe chariot procession of love will not stop.
Paadhai illaamal ponaalumEven if there is no pathway left,
Kaadhal therottam nillaathuThe chariot procession of love will not stop.
Female
Bandham nam bandhamOur bond, our relationship,
Endrendrum thee pandhamaeIs forever a burning fire-torch!
Male :Inaivom inaivomMale: We will unite, we will unite,
Pagayai suduvom naamaeWe ourselves will burn down the enmity!
Male
Kaala kaalamaaga vaazhumWe are dedicated to the love
Kaadhalukku naangal arpanamThat lives on through the ages.
Kaalidhasan kambankoodaEven Kalidasa or Kamban
Kandadhillai engal soppanamHave never envisioned our dream.
Female
Bhoomi engal seedhanamThe earth is our inheritance,
Vaanam engal vaahanamThe sky is our vehicle.
Male :Yaaradaa naanMale: Who am I?
Neeyada heyIt is you, hey!
Pagaivane poGo away, enemy!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaala Kaalamaaga Vaazhum from the film Punnagai Mannan (1986) is a high-spirited anthem celebrating eternal and unconquerable love. The protagonists proclaim that their romantic bond transcends time and surpasses the grandest imaginations of historical poetic legends like Kalidasa and Kamban. Viewing the vast earth as their birthright and the sky as their carriage, they stand undaunted against all societal pressures and enemies.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Kaalidhasan kambankooda kandadhillai engal soppanam

Extolling their romantic dream as superior to anything created by literary giants Kalidasa and Kamban.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Bhoomi engal seedhanam vaanam engal vaahanam

Comparing the earth to an inherited property/dowry and the sky to their chariot/vehicle.

Contrast / Metaphor

Nee vaazhai thandu ivan yaanai kandru

Contrasting the enemy as a fragile banana stem (vaazhai thandu) against the lover portrayed as a powerful young elephant (yaanai kandru).

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Veesum kaatrukku sattam illai / Oru vattam illai

The second consonant sound 'tt' matches across consecutive short lines ('sattam', 'vattam').

Did you know?

Trivia

This energetic song was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the hit film Punnagai Mannan (1986), directed by K. Balachander. The duet features vocals by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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