Kaalamagal Madiyinile
From Odumnadhi · 1969
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Odumnadhi1969
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi | A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time, |
| Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi | Fate dancing along the path of a young woman. |
| Female | |
| Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi | A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time, |
| Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi | Fate dancing along the path of a young woman. |
| Nadhiyodu vandha vellam oorukkaaga en | The flood that arrives with the river serves the village, but why, |
| Vidhiyodu sellum ullam yaarukkaaga | Whom is this heart, walking with fate, meant for? |
| Female | |
| Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi | A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time, |
| Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi | Fate dancing along the path of a young woman. |
| Female | |
| Thanneeril valarndha kodi | A creeper that grows in water |
| Mannil undu undu | Exists on this earth, |
| Kanneril valarndha kodi pennil undu | A creeper grown in tears exists within a woman. |
| Thanneeril valarndha kodi | A creeper that grows in water |
| Mannil undu undu | Exists on this earth, |
| Kanneril valarndha kodi pennil undu | A creeper grown in tears exists within a woman. |
| Manam thaedi aadugindra malarum undu undu | There are flowers that sway searching for fragrance, |
| Manam thaedi aadugindra malarum undu | There are flowers that sway searching for fragrance, |
| Nalla manam thaedi vaadugindra pennum undu undu | There are women who wither seeking a pure heart, |
| Manam thaedi vaadugindra pennum undu | There are women who wither seeking a heart. |
| Female | |
| Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi | A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time, |
| Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi | Fate dancing along the path of a young woman. |
| Female | |
| Gangai varum neerinilae punidham undu undu | There is sanctity in the waters brought by the Ganges, |
| Mangaiyaval nenjinilae deivam undu | There is a divine presence in a woman's heart. |
| Deepam ulla maaligaiyil oliyum undu undu | There is light in a palace graced with a lamp, |
| Deivamae kann thirandhaal vaazhvum undu undu | If God opens His eyes, a meaningful life exists, |
| Deivamae kann thirandhaal vaazhvum undu | If God opens His eyes, a meaningful life exists. |
| Female | |
| Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi | A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time, |
| Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi | Fate dancing along the path of a young woman. |
| Uyirae nee vaaduvadhu yaarukkaaga | Oh soul, for whom are you wilting? |
| Udalodu saerndhu vandha uravukkaaga | Is it for the bond that came attached to this body? |
| Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi | A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time, |
| Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi | Fate dancing along the path of a young woman. |
காலமகள் மடியினிலே ஓடும் நதி
கன்னி மகள் வழியினிலே ஆடும் விதி
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
காலமகள் மடியினிலே ஓடும் நதி
கன்னி மகள் வழியினிலே ஆடும் விதி
நதியோடு வந்த வெள்ளம் ஊருக்காக என்
விதியோடு செல்லும் உள்ளம் யாருக்காக
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
The flood that arrives with the river serves the village, but why,
Whom is this heart, walking with fate, meant for?
காலமகள் மடியினிலே ஓடும் நதி
கன்னி மகள் வழியினிலே ஆடும் விதி
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
தண்ணீரில் வளர்ந்த கொடி
மண்ணில் உண்டு உண்டு
கண்ணீரில் வளர்ந்த கொடி பெண்ணில் உண்டு
தண்ணீரில் வளர்ந்த கொடி
மண்ணில் உண்டு உண்டு
கண்ணீரில் வளர்ந்த கொடி பெண்ணில் உண்டு
மணம் தேடி ஆடுகின்ற மலரும் உண்டு உண்டு
மணம் தேடி ஆடுகின்ற மலரும் உண்டு
நல்ல மனம் தேடி வாடுகின்ற பெண்ணும் உண்டு உண்டு
மனம் தேடி வாடுகின்ற பெண்ணும் உண்டு
A creeper that grows in water
Exists on this earth,
A creeper grown in tears exists within a woman.
A creeper that grows in water
Exists on this earth,
A creeper grown in tears exists within a woman.
There are flowers that sway searching for fragrance,
There are flowers that sway searching for fragrance,
There are women who wither seeking a pure heart,
There are women who wither seeking a heart.
காலமகள் மடியினிலே ஓடும் நதி
கன்னி மகள் வழியினிலே ஆடும் விதி
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
கங்கை வரும் நீரினிலே புனிதம் உண்டு உண்டு
மங்கையவள் நெஞ்சினிலே தெய்வம் உண்டு
தீபம் உள்ள மாளிகையில் ஒளியும் உண்டு உண்டு
தெய்வமே கண் திறந்தால் வாழ்வும் உண்டு உண்டு
தெய்வமே கண் திறந்தால் வாழ்வும் உண்டு
There is sanctity in the waters brought by the Ganges,
There is a divine presence in a woman's heart.
There is light in a palace graced with a lamp,
If God opens His eyes, a meaningful life exists,
If God opens His eyes, a meaningful life exists.
காலமகள் மடியினிலே ஓடும் நதி
கன்னி மகள் வழியினிலே ஆடும் விதி
உயிரே நீ வாடுவது யாருக்காக
உடலோடு சேர்ந்து வந்த உறவுக்காக
காலமகள் மடியினிலே ஓடும் நதி
கன்னி மகள் வழியினிலே ஆடும் விதி
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Oh soul, for whom are you wilting?
Is it for the bond that came attached to this body?
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Nadhiyodu vandha vellam oorukkaaga en
The flood that arrives with the river serves the village, but why,
Vidhiyodu sellum ullam yaarukkaaga
Whom is this heart, walking with fate, meant for?
Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Thanneeril valarndha kodi
A creeper that grows in water
Mannil undu undu
Exists on this earth,
Kanneril valarndha kodi pennil undu
A creeper grown in tears exists within a woman.
Thanneeril valarndha kodi
A creeper that grows in water
Mannil undu undu
Exists on this earth,
Kanneril valarndha kodi pennil undu
A creeper grown in tears exists within a woman.
Manam thaedi aadugindra malarum undu undu
There are flowers that sway searching for fragrance,
Manam thaedi aadugindra malarum undu
There are flowers that sway searching for fragrance,
Nalla manam thaedi vaadugindra pennum undu undu
There are women who wither seeking a pure heart,
Manam thaedi vaadugindra pennum undu
There are women who wither seeking a heart.
Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Gangai varum neerinilae punidham undu undu
There is sanctity in the waters brought by the Ganges,
Mangaiyaval nenjinilae deivam undu
There is a divine presence in a woman's heart.
Deepam ulla maaligaiyil oliyum undu undu
There is light in a palace graced with a lamp,
Deivamae kann thirandhaal vaazhvum undu undu
If God opens His eyes, a meaningful life exists,
Deivamae kann thirandhaal vaazhvum undu
If God opens His eyes, a meaningful life exists.
Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Uyirae nee vaaduvadhu yaarukkaaga
Oh soul, for whom are you wilting?
Udalodu saerndhu vandha uravukkaaga
Is it for the bond that came attached to this body?
Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi
A river flowing in the lap of Mother Time,
Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi
Fate dancing along the path of a young woman.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant song draws a deep philosophical parallel between a river flowing endlessly in the lap of Mother Time and a young woman navigating the unpredictable course of fate. Through evocative imagery, lyricist Kannadasan compares the altruism of nature with the sorrow and quiet sacrifices inherent in a woman's life, questioning the ultimate purpose of human suffering and destiny. The lyrics contrast physical vines grown in water with metaphorical vines nurtured by tears inside a woman's heart. By utilizing wordplay on 'manam' (fragrance and mind/heart), the song reflects on a woman's search for genuine love and emotional peace, concluding with a plea for divine intervention and acceptance of the bonds formed in human existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaalamagal madiyinilae oodum nadhi”
Time is metaphorically depicted as a mother ('Kaalamagal') holding a flowing river in her lap, comparing life's passage to a river's flow.
Personification
“Kanni magal vazhiyinilae aadum vidhi”
Fate ('Vidhi') is personified as an entity dancing along the path of a maiden.
Wordplay / Pun (Sledai)
“Manam thaedi aadugindra malarum undu undu / Nalla manam thaedi vaadugindra pennum undu undu”
The Tamil word 'Manam' is ingeniously used with a dual meaning: 'fragrance' when referring to flowers, and 'mind/heart' when referring to human emotion.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Gangai varum neerinilae punidham undu undu / Mangaiyaval nenjinilae deivam undu”
The second consonant sound 'ng' rhymes across consecutive lines ('Gangai' / 'Mangai').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Vishwanathan with lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, this song showcases P. Susheela's mastery in delivering deep emotional nuance. Kannadasan's use of simple nature metaphors to express profound human angst remains one of his signature lyrical hallmarks in Tamil cinema.
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