Kaalamenum Kaattaaru
From Petra Maganai Vitra Annai · 1958
- Lyricist
- S. D. Sundharam
- Singers
- P. Leela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Petra Maganai Vitra Annai1958
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaalamennum kaattaru | The wild river called Time |
| Karai meeri oodudhadaa | Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend! |
| Kaalamennum kaattaru | The wild river called Time |
| Karai meeri oodudhadaa | Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend! |
| Kaeli migum ulagellam | This entire world full of mockery and drama |
| Kaalam seiyum paalamada | Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend! |
| Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa.. | Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa.. |
| Kaalamennum kaattaru | The wild river called Time |
| Karai meeri oodudhadaa | Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend! |
| Kaeli migum ulagellam | This entire world full of mockery and drama |
| Kaalam seiyum paalamada | Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend! |
| Female | |
| Kolavuyir kulamellam | All living species and human clans |
| Kulavugira vaazhvellaam | All the joyful lives that flourish |
| Kolavuyir kulamellam | All living species and human clans |
| Kulavugira vaazhvellaam | All the joyful lives that flourish |
| Kaalamennum kanniyaval | That maiden called Time |
| Kannimaiyin leelaiyada | Is but a play of her twinkling eye, O friend! |
| Male | |
| Kaalai pon suriyanum | The golden morning sun |
| Kaarmugilin chandhiranum | And the moon among dark rain clouds |
| Kaalai pon suriyanum | The golden morning sun |
| Kaarmugilin chandhiranum | And the moon among dark rain clouds |
| Kaalamennum vandiyilae | In the chariot driven by Time |
| Kadaiyaaniyaagumada | Are merely the lynchpins holding it together, O friend! |
| Female | |
| Konal manapaavigalin | The deeds born of evil intellects |
| Kodumadhiyin vinai ellam | Of sinners with crooked minds |
| Konal manapaavigalin | The deeds born of evil intellects |
| Kodumadhiyin vinai ellam | Of sinners with crooked minds |
| Kanneeraal pokkividum | Will be washed away through tears |
| Karunai migum kaalamada | By this merciful and compassionate Time, O friend! |
| Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…haaa…aa…aa.. | Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…haaa…aa…aa.. |
| Kanneeraal pokkividum | Will be washed away through tears |
| Karunai migum kaalamada | By this merciful and compassionate Time, O friend! |
| Aaa…aaa…aa….aa… | Aaa…aaa…aa….aa… |
| Male | |
| Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum | A trial and test for the good people |
| Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum | And an agonizing pain for the evil ones |
| Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum | A trial and test for the good people |
| Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum | And an agonizing pain for the evil ones |
| Ellorkkum needhi tharum | Delivering justice to everyone alike |
| Inaiyillaa kaalamada | Is this peerless, matchless Time, O friend! |
| Male | |
| Kaalamennum kaattaru | The wild river called Time |
| Karai meeri oodudhadaa | Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend! |
| Kaeli migum ulagellam | This entire world full of mockery and drama |
| Kaalam seiyum paalamada | Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend! |
| Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa.. | Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa.. |
காலமென்னும் காட்டாறு
கரை மீறி ஓடுதடா
காலமென்னும் காட்டாறு
கரை மீறி ஓடுதடா
கேலி மிகும் உலகெல்லாம்
காலம் செய்யும் பாவமடா.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ.......ஹா.....ஆ....ஆ....
காலமென்னும் காட்டாறு
கரை மீறி ஓடுதடா
கேலி மிகும் உலகெல்லாம்
காலம் செய்யும் பாவமடா.....
The wild river called Time
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
The wild river called Time
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
This entire world full of mockery and drama
Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa..
The wild river called Time
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
This entire world full of mockery and drama
Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend!
கோலவுயிர்க் குலமெல்லாம்
குலவுகின்ற வாழ்வெல்லாம்
கோலவுயிர்க் குலமெல்லாம்
குலவுகின்ற வாழ்வெல்லாம்
காலமெனும் கன்னியவள்
கண்ணிமையின் லீலையடா
All living species and human clans
All the joyful lives that flourish
All living species and human clans
All the joyful lives that flourish
That maiden called Time
Is but a play of her twinkling eye, O friend!
காலைப் பொன் சூரியனும்
கார்முகிலின் சந்திரனும்
காலைப் பொன் சூரியனும்
கார்முகிலின் சந்திரனும்
காலமெனும் வண்டியிலே
கடையாணியாகுமடா
The golden morning sun
And the moon among dark rain clouds
The golden morning sun
And the moon among dark rain clouds
In the chariot driven by Time
Are merely the lynchpins holding it together, O friend!
கோணல் மனப்பாவிகளின்
கொடுமதியின் வினையெல்லாம்
கோணல் மனப்பாவிகளின்
கொடுமதியின் வினையெல்லாம்
கண்ணீரால் போக்கிவிடும்
கருணை மிகும் காலமடா
ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஹா.....ஆ....ஆ....
கண்ணீரால் போக்கிவிடும்
கருணை மிகும் காலமடா
ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆ....
The deeds born of evil intellects
Of sinners with crooked minds
The deeds born of evil intellects
Of sinners with crooked minds
Will be washed away through tears
By this merciful and compassionate Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…haaa…aa…aa..
Will be washed away through tears
By this merciful and compassionate Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…
நல்லோர்க்கு சோதனையும்
தீயோர்க்கு வேதனையும்
நல்லோர்க்கு சோதனையும்
தீயோர்க்கு வேதனையும்
எல்லோர்க்கும் நீதி தரும்
இணையில்லாக் காலமடா.....
A trial and test for the good people
And an agonizing pain for the evil ones
A trial and test for the good people
And an agonizing pain for the evil ones
Delivering justice to everyone alike
Is this peerless, matchless Time, O friend!
காலமென்னும் காட்டாறு
கரை மீறி ஓடுதடா
கேலி மிகும் உலகெல்லாம்
காலம் செய்யும் பாவமடா.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ.......ஹா.....ஆ....ஆ....
The wild river called Time
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
This entire world full of mockery and drama
Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa..
Kaalamennum kaattaru
The wild river called Time
Karai meeri oodudhadaa
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
Kaalamennum kaattaru
The wild river called Time
Karai meeri oodudhadaa
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
Kaeli migum ulagellam
This entire world full of mockery and drama
Kaalam seiyum paalamada
Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa..
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa..
Kaalamennum kaattaru
The wild river called Time
Karai meeri oodudhadaa
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
Kaeli migum ulagellam
This entire world full of mockery and drama
Kaalam seiyum paalamada
Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend!
Kolavuyir kulamellam
All living species and human clans
Kulavugira vaazhvellaam
All the joyful lives that flourish
Kolavuyir kulamellam
All living species and human clans
Kulavugira vaazhvellaam
All the joyful lives that flourish
Kaalamennum kanniyaval
That maiden called Time
Kannimaiyin leelaiyada
Is but a play of her twinkling eye, O friend!
Kaalai pon suriyanum
The golden morning sun
Kaarmugilin chandhiranum
And the moon among dark rain clouds
Kaalai pon suriyanum
The golden morning sun
Kaarmugilin chandhiranum
And the moon among dark rain clouds
Kaalamennum vandiyilae
In the chariot driven by Time
Kadaiyaaniyaagumada
Are merely the lynchpins holding it together, O friend!
Konal manapaavigalin
The deeds born of evil intellects
Kodumadhiyin vinai ellam
Of sinners with crooked minds
Konal manapaavigalin
The deeds born of evil intellects
Kodumadhiyin vinai ellam
Of sinners with crooked minds
Kanneeraal pokkividum
Will be washed away through tears
Karunai migum kaalamada
By this merciful and compassionate Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…haaa…aa…aa..
Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…haaa…aa…aa..
Kanneeraal pokkividum
Will be washed away through tears
Karunai migum kaalamada
By this merciful and compassionate Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…
Aaa…aaa…aa….aa…
Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum
A trial and test for the good people
Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum
And an agonizing pain for the evil ones
Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum
A trial and test for the good people
Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum
And an agonizing pain for the evil ones
Ellorkkum needhi tharum
Delivering justice to everyone alike
Inaiyillaa kaalamada
Is this peerless, matchless Time, O friend!
Kaalamennum kaattaru
The wild river called Time
Karai meeri oodudhadaa
Is overflowing its banks and running free, O friend!
Kaeli migum ulagellam
This entire world full of mockery and drama
Kaalam seiyum paalamada
Is merely a bridge constructed by Time, O friend!
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa..
Aaa…aaa….aa…aa…haa…aa…aa..
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song allegorizes 'Time' (Kaalam) as an all-powerful, unstoppable force that governs human existence and the universe. Time is depicted as a wild river overflowing its banks, a grand bridge across life, a playful maiden, and a chariot whose wheels are stabilized by the sun and moon. It emphasizes that no human emotion, trickery, or wickedness can escape the grand equalizer that Time represents. Furthermore, the lyricist highlights the moral order maintained by Time. While the righteous undergo temporary trials (sodhanai) and the wicked eventually suffer agony (vaedhanai), Time ultimately delivers divine justice to all without bias. It washes away sins through tears and acts as a merciful healer, reinforcing the grand Indian philosophical concept of Karma and temporal destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagamy (Metaphor)
“Kaalamennum kaattaru”
Time is directly personified and metaphorized as a wild river ('Kaalamennum kaattaru'), a bridge ('Kaalam seiyum paalamada'), a maiden ('Kaalamennum kanniyaval'), and a chariot ('Kaalamennum vandiyilae').
Monaivazhi (Alliteration / First-letter Harmony)
“Kolavuyir kulamellam / Kulavugira vaazhvellaam”
Extensive use of initial 'K' sound alliteration across lines (Kaalamennum, Karai, Kaeli, Kolavuyir, Kulavugira, Kannimaiyin, Kadaiyaaniyaagumada).
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum / Ellorkkum needhi tharum”
Rhyming of second consonants across lines, such as 'll' in Nalloorkku and Ellorkkum.
Antithesis (Moral Contrast)
“Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum / Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum”
Contrasting the experiences of the righteous ('Nalloorkku sodhanaiyum') with those of the evil ('Theeyorkku vaedhanaiyum') to highlight moral duality.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Petra Maganai Vitra Annai' (1958) starred S. S. Rajendran and Pandari Bai. The lyrics were penned by the renowned playwright and lyricist S. D. Sundharam, known for his deeply philosophical and dramatic Tamil poetry. The music for this movie was composed by the duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, though historical song booklets often credited the grand orchestra arrangements.
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