- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Benny Dayal
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- 24
- Movie release year
- 2016
- Lyrics added on
- 23 Jun 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kaalam En Kadhali from the sci-fi movie 24 captures the exhilaration and god-like power experienced by the protagonist upon mastering time travel. Instead of viewing time as an unstoppable, intimidating force, he personifies it as a beautiful lover whom he can hold, guide, and play with at will. The lyrics reflect high-energy confidence, scientific pride, and joy, framing the time-traveling watch as a key that unlocks past, present, and future.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification / Metaphor
“Kaalam en kadhaliyo / Kan kaana mohiniyo”
Time ('Kaalam') is personified as a lover ('Kadhali') and an enchantress ('Mohini'), portraying the abstract concept of temporal flow as an intimate companion.
Iyaibu (Rhyme)
“Suttri vanthen vinnin veliyilae... Macham undu endhan nenjilae”
The end rhymes 'veliyilae', 'nuniyilae', 'vaalvilae', and 'nenjilae' create a rhythmic and musical cadence.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Santhira suriyanai goliyaaga ketpen”
The protagonist hyperbolically describes requesting the sun and moon as simple playing marbles, emphasizing supreme control over the universe.
Allusion
“Einstein-ai maatra vantha”
A direct reference to Albert Einstein, symbolizing the re-writing of established laws of physics and time relativity.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu and vocals by Benny Dayal, this song serves as a stylish celebration of time manipulation in Vikram Kumar's sci-fi film '24' starring Suriya.
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