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Paava Mannippu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham

From Paava Mannippu · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Paava Mannippu
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
1 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Kaalangalil
Aval vasantham
Kalaigalilae aval oviyam
Maathangalil aval maargazhi
Malargalilae aval malligai } (2)
Kaalangalil
Aval vasantham
Paravaigalil
Aval mani pura
Paadalgalil aval thaalaatu
………………….
Paravaigalil
Aval mani pura
Paadalgalil aval thaalaatu
{ Kanikalilae
Aval maangani } (2)
Kaatrinilae aval thendral
Kaalangalil
Aval vasantham
Kalaigalilae aval oviyam
Maathangalil aval maargazhi
Malargalilae aval malligai
Kaalangalil
Aval vasantham
{ Paalpol
Siripathil pillai aval
Panipol anaipathil kanni } (2)
{ Kanpol
Valarpathil annai } (2)
Aval kavignan aakinaal ennai
Kaalangalil
Aval vasantham
Kalaigalilae aval oviyam
Maathangalil aval maargazhi
Malargalilae aval malligai
Kaalangalil
Aval vasantham
Among all the seasons,
she is spring.
Among the arts, she is a painting.
Among the months, she is Margazhi (the sacred winter month);
among all the flowers, she is the jasmine.
Among all the seasons,
she is spring.
Among the birds,
she is a gentle dove;
among all songs, she is a lullaby.
...
Among the birds,
she is a gentle dove;
among all songs, she is a lullaby.
Among all the fruits,
she is a sweet mango;
among the winds, she is the gentle breeze.
Among all the seasons,
she is spring.
Among the arts, she is a painting.
Among the months, she is Margazhi (the sacred winter month);
among all the flowers, she is the jasmine.
Among all the seasons,
she is spring.
With a smile as pure as milk,
she is a child;
in her cool, tender embrace, she is my beloved.
Protecting me like her very own eyes,
she nurtures me like a mother;
and she has made me a poet.
Among all the seasons,
she is spring.
Among the arts, she is a painting.
Among the months, she is Margazhi (the sacred winter month);
among all the flowers, she is the jasmine.
Among all the seasons,
she is spring.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kaalangalil Aval Vasantham is a iconic Tamil romantic song from the 1961 film Paava Mannippu. Penned by Kannadasan, composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, and rendered by P. B. Sreenivas, the song portrays a lover celebrating the quintessential perfection of his beloved. He compares her to the finest elements in nature and human expression—spring among seasons, Margazhi among months, jasmine among flowers, a lullaby among songs, and a painting among arts. In the second movement, the poet elevates her character beyond physical beauty to embody innocence like a child, romance like a maiden, and unconditional care like a mother, concluding that her very presence turned him into a true poet.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

“Kaalangalil aval vasantham”

Directly equates the beloved with the pinnacle of various natural and artistic domains without using comparative words.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Paalpol siripathil pillai aval”

Uses explicit comparative markers like 'pol' (like/as) to compare her laughter to pure milk, her embrace to gentle dew, and her nurturing nature to the care of an eye.

Initial Rhyme & Alliteration (Monai)

“Maathangalil aval maargazhi”

Repeats the 'Ma' sound in consecutive lines ('Maathangalil', 'Malargalilae', 'Maangani') creating an aesthetically pleasing lyrical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song established P. B. Sreenivas as the iconic playback voice for actor Gemini Ganesan. Kannadasan derived inspiration from classical Tamil literature where nature imagery (tinai) and the auspiciousness of the month of Margazhi are used to symbolise purity and romance.

Keep listening

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Kavidhai Naan1974
Kalyanamam KalyanamBeautyRomantic
Thanga Nilavil1958
ThirumanamBeautyAdmiration
Idhayathil Irundhu1977
Indru Pol Endrum VaazhgaNatureRomantic

From the same album

More songs from Paava Mannippu

View album
Silar Siripar Silar Azhuvar1961
Paava MannippuMelancholic
Ellorum Kondaduvom1961
Paava MannippuCelebratory
Vantha Naal Muthal1961
Paava MannippuContemplative
Athan Ennathan1961
Paava MannippuFlirtatious
Paalirukkum Pazhamirukkum1961
Paava MannippuSensual

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