Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Petha manam Pithu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalam Namakku

From Petha manam Pithu · 1973

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Petha manam Pithu
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
9 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Ponnoonjal illai poomeththai illai
Nee vantha velaiyilae
Ponnoonjal thaanae thaayin manam
Poo meththai thaanae thanthai manam
Ponnoonjal thaanae thaayin manam
Poo meththai thaanae thanthai manam
Aaraaro paadum anbaana nenjam
Kannae nee thuyilum manjamadaa
Manjamadaa…….manjamadaa……
Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Chella magal selvamagal
Seerodu vaazhntha magal
Yaezhaiyudan vanthaaladaa
Sriraaman adithottu
Pin sellum seedhaikku
Perumaigal veraethadaa
Petha manam piththaaga
Bodhai manam kallaaga
Petha manam piththaaga
Bodhai manam kallaaga
Than sontham veruththaaladaa
Thanthai manam thaviththirukka
Paramanudan thunai nindra
Parvathiyum pennthaanadaa
Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Female :Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Thani maramaai nindravanai
Thazhuvugindra poongodiyaal
Sugamenna kandaaladaa
Kodiyundu maramundu
Kuzhanthaiyenum kaniyundu
Kuraiyenna kandaenadaa
Unathannai thuyarthannai
Naan theerkkum munnaalae
Unathannai thuyarthannai
Naan theerkkum munnaalae
Un kavalai kondaenadaa
Kannanaaga Neeyirukka
Mannanaaga avar irukka
Kavalaigal enakkethadaa
Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Female : Kaalam namakku thozhan
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanban
Aariraariraaro aaraariraariraaro
Aaraariraariraaro……
Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
There is no golden swing, no bed of flowers,
at the time you were born to us.
Isn't a mother's heart a golden swing?
Isn't a father's heart a bed of flowers?
Isn't a mother's heart a golden swing?
Isn't a father's heart a bed of flowers?
A loving heart that sings a lullaby
is the very bed where you sleep, my child!
It is your bed... it is your bed...
Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
A cherished daughter, a girl born into wealth,
a daughter who once lived in comfort and honour,
chose to walk with a poor man, my child.
Following in the footsteps of Lord Rama,
for Sita who walked behind him,
what greater pride could there be?
While a mother's heart went mad with grief,
and a hardened heart turned to stone,
While a mother's heart went mad with grief,
and a hardened heart turned to stone,
she turned away from her own kin, my child.
Even as her father's heart was torn in anguish,
Goddess Parvati, who stood beside Lord Shiva,
was also just a woman, my child.
Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
Female: Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
For the flowering vine that embraced
a man who stood alone like a solitary tree,
what comfort or joy did she ever gain, my child?
Here is the vine, here is the tree,
and here is the fruit of our child—
what flaw or sorrow have I ever seen?
Even before I could wipe away
the sorrows of your mother,
Even before I could wipe away
the sorrows of your mother,
I have brought worry onto you, my child.
With you as my precious eyes,
and him as my king and protector,
what worries could I ever have, my child?
Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
Female: Time is our companion,
the wind and the rain are our friends.
Aari raari raaro, aaraari raari raaro,
Aaraari raari raaro...
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This deeply emotional song from 'Petha Manam Pithu' (1973), composed by V. Kumar with lyrics by Poovai Senguttavan, is a poetic lullaby and dialogue between parents comforting their child amidst financial hardship. The song conveys that despite the lack of luxury or physical comfort, the parents' boundless affection serves as the safest bed and cradle for their child, with nature and time standing as their enduring companions. The lyrics draw rich parallels from Hindu epics, comparing the wife's devotion to Sita following Rama into exile and Parvati standing faithfully alongside Shiva, underscoring that selfless love elevates human struggle into something sacred and noble.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Ponnoonjal thaanae thaayin manam / Poo meththai thaanae thanthai manam”

The mother's and father's loving hearts are directly compared to a golden swing and a soft flower bed, emphasizing emotional rich comfort over material wealth.

Mythological Allusion (Aroopakam)

“Sriraaman adithottu Pin sellum seedhaikku”

Refers to Sita following Lord Rama into exile to justify and honor the heroine's devotion to her impoverished husband.

Nature Imagery / Metaphor

“Thani maramaai nindravanai Thazhuvugindra poongodiyaal”

Compares the husband to a solitary tree and the devoted wife to a climbing vine that hugs the tree, symbolizing togetherness and emotional strength.

Rhyme and Alliteration (Edhugai & Monai)

“Petha manam piththaaga / Bodhai manam kallaaga”

Uses matching initial sounds and rhythmic structures ('Petha manam' / 'Bodhai manam') to enhance oral musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Petha Manam Pithu' (1973) featured music composed by V. Kumar, known as 'Mellisai Maamannar' K. V. Mahadevan's assistant, who was famous for crafting melody-driven Tamil film scores. The vocal duet between T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela perfectly blends classical lullaby cadences with narrative storytelling.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Pinju Manam1975
Pinju ManamChildhoodFamily
Naan Patta Kadan1980
Viswaroopam – 1980FamilyDevotion
Enakkoru Magan1965
Panam PadaithavanFamilyDevotion
Mullukku Roja Song1971
Veguli PennNatureFamily
Annai Thanthai2023
Are You Ok BabyFamilyDevotion
Thalaattu Song Lyrics – Naatpadu Theral2021
Naatpadu TheralFamilyChildhood

From the same album

More songs from Petha manam Pithu

View album
Ilamaiyin Ragasiyam1973
Petha manam PithuRomantic
Ammadi Uzhaikkum1973
Petha manam PithuCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.