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Lyrics & meaning

Kaalam Namakku

From Petha manam Pithu · 1973

Lyricist
Poovai Senguttavan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Petha manam Pithu1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaalam namakku thozhanTime is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Kaalam namakku thozhanTime is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Ponnoonjal illai poomeththai illaiThere is no golden swing, no bed of flowers
Nee vantha velaiyilaeAt the time when you arrived
Female
Ponnoonjal thaanae thaayin manamThe mother's heart itself is a golden swing
Poo meththai thaanae thanthai manamThe father's heart itself is a bed of flowers
Ponnoonjal thaanae thaayin manamThe mother's heart itself is a golden swing
Poo meththai thaanae thanthai manamThe father's heart itself is a bed of flowers
Aaraaro paadum anbaana nenjamA loving heart that sings a lullaby
Kannae nee thuyilum manjamadaaMy dear child, this is the couch where you sleep
Manjamadaa…….manjamadaa……Is the couch... is the couch...
Female
Kaalam namakku thozhanTime is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Male
Chella magal selvamagalThe cherished daughter, the wealthy daughter
Seerodu vaazhntha magalThe daughter who lived with great prosperity
Yaezhaiyudan vanthaaladaaHas come along with a poor man
Female
Sriraaman adithottuFollowing the footsteps of Lord Rama
Pin sellum seedhaikkuFor Sita who walks behind him
Perumaigal veraethadaaWhat greater glories could there be?
Male
Petha manam piththaagaThe birth-giver's heart went mad with love
Bodhai manam kallaagaThe intoxicated mind turned to stone
Petha manam piththaagaThe birth-giver's heart went mad with love
Bodhai manam kallaagaThe intoxicated mind turned to stone
Than sontham veruththaaladaaShe foresook her own kin
Female
Thanthai manam thaviththirukkaWhile the father's heart was agonizing
Paramanudan thunai nindraStanding by as a constant companion to Shiva
Parvathiyum pennthaanadaaParvati too was a woman, my dear
Male
Kaalam namakku thozhanTime is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Female :Kaalam namakku thozhanFemale : Time is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Male
Thani maramaai nindravanaiTo the man who stood as a lone tree
Thazhuvugindra poongodiyaalBy the flowering vine that embraces him
Sugamenna kandaaladaaWhat joy did she ever see?
Female
Kodiyundu maramunduThere is a vine, there is a tree
Kuzhanthaiyenum kaniyunduThere is a fruit called a child
Kuraiyenna kandaenadaaWhat deficiency have I seen?
Male
Unathannai thuyarthannaiYour mother's grief
Naan theerkkum munnaalaeBefore I could relieve it
Unathannai thuyarthannaiYour mother's grief
Naan theerkkum munnaalaeBefore I could relieve it
Un kavalai kondaenadaaI felt deep anxiety for you
Female
Kannanaaga NeeyirukkaWith you here as Krishna
Mannanaaga avar irukkaAnd him here as a king
Kavalaigal enakkethadaaWhat worries could I possibly have?
Male
Kaalam namakku thozhanTime is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Female : Kaalam namakku thozhanFemale : Time is our companion
Kattrum mazhaiyum nanbanWind and rain are our friends
Aariraariraaro aaraariraariraaroAariraariraaro aaraariraariraaro
Aaraariraariraaro……Aaraariraariraaro……

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

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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.

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