Kaalamennum Nadhiyinile
From Parisu · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Parisu1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey | In the river called time... |
| Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en.. | I set sail in a boat called love... |
| Maalai varai otti vanthen | I steered it until evening, |
| Marukaraikku kootti vanthen | And brought it to the opposite shore. |
| Female | |
| Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey | In the river called time... |
| Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en.. | I set sail in a boat called love... |
| Maalai varai otti vanthen | I steered it until evening, |
| Marukaraikku kootti vanthen | And brought it to the opposite shore. |
| Female | |
| Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey | In the river called time... |
| Female | |
| Odam endru ninaiththirunthen | I thought it was merely a boat, |
| Odum endru ninaithathillai | I never thought it would run away. |
| Odam endru ninaiththirunthen | I thought it was merely a boat, |
| Odum endru ninaithathillai | I never thought it would run away. |
| Female | |
| Naadum endrae naadi nindren | I sought it thinking it was my refuge, |
| Naadagam endru ennavillai | I never imagined it was all just a play. |
| Naadum endrae naadi nindren | I sought it thinking it was my refuge, |
| Naadagam endru ennavillai | I never imagined it was all just a play. |
| Female | |
| Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey | In the river called time... |
| Female | |
| Idhayam endra koottinilae | Inside the nest called the heart, |
| Iruvarukku idamillai | There is no room for two. |
| Idhayam endra koottinilae | Inside the nest called the heart, |
| Iruvarukku idamillai | There is no room for two. |
| Female | |
| Oruvanukkae oruthi endrae | Believing in 'one woman for one man', |
| Ulagai vittae odugindren | I am leaving this world behind. |
| Oruvanukkae oruthi endrae | Believing in 'one woman for one man', |
| Ulagai vittae odugindren | I am leaving this world behind. |
| Female | |
| Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey | In the river called time... |
| Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en.. | I set sail in a boat called love... |
| Maalai varai otti vanthen | I steered it until evening, |
| Marukaraikku kootti vanthen | And brought it to the opposite shore. |
| Female | |
| Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey | In the river called time... |
| Female | |
| Dhevanavan thiruvadigal varugavae | May the sacred feet of the Almighty arrive, |
| Sinthanaikku amaidhi endrum tharugavae | May they grant peace to my troubled mind forever. |
| Koodum ilankkaadhalargal vaazhgavae | May the young lovers who unite live long, |
| Kaadhal kondavargal tholviyindri | May those who fall in love live without failure, |
| Vaazhgavae..vaazhgavae..vaazhgavae | May they live long.. live long.. live long! |
காலம் என்னும்
நதியினிலே காதல் என்னும்
படகு விட்டேன் மாலை
வரை ஓட்டி வந்தேன் மறு
கரைக்கு கூட்டி வந்தேன்
In the river called time...
I set sail in a boat called love...
I steered it until evening,
And brought it to the opposite shore.
காலம் என்னும்
நதியினிலே காதல் என்னும்
படகு விட்டேன் மாலை
வரை ஓட்டி வந்தேன் மறு
கரைக்கு கூட்டி வந்தேன்
In the river called time...
I set sail in a boat called love...
I steered it until evening,
And brought it to the opposite shore.
காலம்
என்னும் நதியினிலே
In the river called time...
ஓடம் என்று
நினைத்திருந்தேன் ஓடும்
என்று நினைத்ததில்லை
ஓடம் என்று நினைத்திருந்தேன்
ஓடும் என்று நினைத்ததில்லை
I thought it was merely a boat,
I never thought it would run away.
I thought it was merely a boat,
I never thought it would run away.
நாடும் என்றே
நாடி நின்றேன் நாடகம்
என்று எண்ணவில்லை
நாடும் என்றே நாடி
நின்றேன் நாடகம் என்று
எண்ணவில்லை
I sought it thinking it was my refuge,
I never imagined it was all just a play.
I sought it thinking it was my refuge,
I never imagined it was all just a play.
காலம்
என்னும் நதியினிலே
In the river called time...
இதயம் என்ற
கூட்டினிலே இருவருக்கு
இடமில்லை இதயம் என்ற
கூட்டினிலே இருவருக்கு
இடமில்லை
Inside the nest called the heart,
There is no room for two.
Inside the nest called the heart,
There is no room for two.
ஒருவனுக்கே
ஒருத்தி என்றே உலகை
விட்டே ஓடுகின்றேன்
ஒருவனுக்கே ஒருத்தி
என்றே உலகை விட்டே
ஓடுகின்றேன்
Believing in 'one woman for one man',
I am leaving this world behind.
Believing in 'one woman for one man',
I am leaving this world behind.
காலம் என்னும்
நதியினிலே காதல் என்னும்
படகு விட்டேன் மாலை
வரை ஓட்டி வந்தேன் மறு
கரைக்கு கூட்டி வந்தேன்
In the river called time...
I set sail in a boat called love...
I steered it until evening,
And brought it to the opposite shore.
காலம்
என்னும் நதியினிலே
In the river called time...
தேவனவன்
திருவடிகள் வருகவே
சிந்தனைக்கு அமைதி
என்றும் தருகவே கூடும்
இளங்காதலர்கள் வாழ்கவே
காதல் கொண்டவர்கள்
தோல்வியின்றி வாழ்கவே
வாழ்கவே வாழ்கவே
May the sacred feet of the Almighty arrive,
May they grant peace to my troubled mind forever.
May the young lovers who unite live long,
May those who fall in love live without failure,
May they live long.. live long.. live long!
Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey
In the river called time...
Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en..
I set sail in a boat called love...
Maalai varai otti vanthen
I steered it until evening,
Marukaraikku kootti vanthen
And brought it to the opposite shore.
Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey
In the river called time...
Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en..
I set sail in a boat called love...
Maalai varai otti vanthen
I steered it until evening,
Marukaraikku kootti vanthen
And brought it to the opposite shore.
Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey
In the river called time...
Odam endru ninaiththirunthen
I thought it was merely a boat,
Odum endru ninaithathillai
I never thought it would run away.
Odam endru ninaiththirunthen
I thought it was merely a boat,
Odum endru ninaithathillai
I never thought it would run away.
Naadum endrae naadi nindren
I sought it thinking it was my refuge,
Naadagam endru ennavillai
I never imagined it was all just a play.
Naadum endrae naadi nindren
I sought it thinking it was my refuge,
Naadagam endru ennavillai
I never imagined it was all just a play.
Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey
In the river called time...
Idhayam endra koottinilae
Inside the nest called the heart,
Iruvarukku idamillai
There is no room for two.
Idhayam endra koottinilae
Inside the nest called the heart,
Iruvarukku idamillai
There is no room for two.
Oruvanukkae oruthi endrae
Believing in 'one woman for one man',
Ulagai vittae odugindren
I am leaving this world behind.
Oruvanukkae oruthi endrae
Believing in 'one woman for one man',
Ulagai vittae odugindren
I am leaving this world behind.
Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey
In the river called time...
Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en..
I set sail in a boat called love...
Maalai varai otti vanthen
I steered it until evening,
Marukaraikku kootti vanthen
And brought it to the opposite shore.
Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey
In the river called time...
Dhevanavan thiruvadigal varugavae
May the sacred feet of the Almighty arrive,
Sinthanaikku amaidhi endrum tharugavae
May they grant peace to my troubled mind forever.
Koodum ilankkaadhalargal vaazhgavae
May the young lovers who unite live long,
Kaadhal kondavargal tholviyindri
May those who fall in love live without failure,
Vaazhgavae..vaazhgavae..vaazhgavae
May they live long.. live long.. live long!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaalam Enum Nadhiyinilae is a deeply philosophical and melancholic track penned by Kannadasan. The lyrics use the extended metaphor of a boat navigating a river to symbolize love floating on the passage of time. The song reflects on how love, which was once believed to be a stable vessel bringing one across life's journey, turned out to be an unpredictable illusion or drama.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Kaalam enum nadhiyinilae..ey / Kaadhalenum padagu vitten…en..”
Compares time to a flowing river ('Kaalam enum nadhi') and love to a boat ('Kaadhalenum padagu').
Sol Aniyingal / Pun (Wordplay)
“Odam endru ninaiththirunthen / Odum endru ninaithathillai”
Plays on the homophonic roots of 'Odam' (a stationary/floating boat) and 'Odum' (running/drifting away).
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Naadum endrae naadi nindren / Naadagam endru ennavillai”
Repetition of the 'Naa' sound at the start of consecutive lines ('Naadum', 'Naadagam').
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Idhayam endra koottinilae / Iruvarukku idamillai”
Compares the human heart to a bird's nest ('Idhayam endra koodu').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan for the 1963 film Parisu, this song stands as one of his quintessential philosophical compositions reflecting on heartbreak, destiny, and moral values. The line 'Oruvanukkae oruthi' reflects a traditional Tamil cultural ideal of absolute fidelity.
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