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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalangathale Oru Paadam

From Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan · 1987

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
K. S. Chithra, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kuyil koova thuyil parandhuAs the cuckoo cooed, my sleep flew away
Kuyil ondru ezhundhu vandhuA cuckoo woke up and came
Payilaadha paadam adhaiA lesson that was never studied
Payila cholli sendradhammaaIt asked me to learn and went away, oh dear
Vayadhaaga vayadhaagaAs age advances and advances
Idhu padiyaadhu payilaadhuThis cannot be read or studied
Kayal koda vizhiyaalaeOh lady with fish-like eyes
Ingu iyalodu isaiyaagaHere, along with literature and music
Male
KaalangaathaalaeEarly in the morning
Oru paadam ketpenaeI will ask for a lesson
Nee solli thandhaal podhuIf you teach me, that is enough
En kalloori pon maanaeMy golden college deer
Female
Enna paadam adhu enna paadamWhat lesson is that, what lesson?
Male
Kaadhal paadam adhu kaadhal paadamIt is a lesson of love, a lesson of love
Female
O ho ho hoO ho ho ho
Kaalangaathaalae oru velai illaamaeEarly in the morning, with no job to do
Siru kalloori pen pinnaal sutrumFollowing a young college girl around
Kaadhal chinnavanae podhum podhumOh young man in love, enough, enough
Male
Oho ho hoOho ho ho
Female
Nee ketta paadamThe lesson you asked for
Male
Aaha haa haaAaha haa haa
Female
Aagum aagumWill happen, will happen
Male
EppoWhen?
Female
Romba kaalam kaalamAfter a very long time
Male
O ho ho hoO ho ho ho
Female
Dhaavaniyai pottaal podhumJust wearing a half-saree is enough
Kanavugal thaan pinnaal sutrumDreams will follow behind on their own
Thaniyaaga ponaal podhumGoing alone is enough
Ninaivugal thaan thannaal sutrumMemories will revolve on their own
Pesaamal irukkum nilavaiThe silent moon
Pennukkum uvamai sollumIs cited as a metaphor for a woman
Koosaamal thendral kaatraiWithout hesitation, the gentle breeze
Thoodhaaga poga chollumIs asked to go as a messenger
Female
Ozhungaaga irundha unnaiYou who used to be well-behaved
Keduthadhu yaar sol sol paiyaaWho ruined you? Tell me, tell me, boy!
Ozhungaaga irundha unnaiYou who used to be well-behaved
Keduthadhu yaar sol sol paiyaaWho ruined you? Tell me, tell me, boy!
Pogudhu pogudhu vaalibam thaanYouth is slipping away, slipping away
Velaiyai paar seekkiram seekkiramGo do your work quickly, quickly!
Female
Kaalangaathaalae oru velai illaamaeEarly in the morning, with no job to do
Siru kalloori pen pinnaal sutrumFollowing a young college girl around
Kaadhal chinnavanae podhum podhumOh young man in love, enough, enough
Male
Oho ho hoOho ho ho
Female
Nee ketta paadamThe lesson you asked for
Male
Aaha haa haaAaha haa haa
Female
Aagum aagumWill happen, will happen
Romba kaalam kaalamAfter a very long time
Male
Aa haa haa haaAa haa haa haa
Female
{Laala laala laa laala laala laa{Laala laala laa laala laala laa
Laala laala laa laala laala laa}Laala laala laa laala laala laa}
Male
{Laa… laala laala laa laala laala laa{Laa... laala laala laa laala laala laa
Laala laala laa laala laala} (Overlap)Laala laala laa laala laala} (Overlap)
Male
Vagupparaiyl ketkum paadamThe lessons taught in a classroom
Vayadhaanaal pogum pogumWill fade away as age grows
Kulipparaiyil paadum paadalA song sung in the bathroom
Polae thaan aagum aagumIt becomes just like that
Thaniyaaga sollum paadamThe lesson taught in private
Idhu thaanae venum venumThis alone is what is needed, needed
Thunaiyaaga aakkum paadamThe lesson that makes a companion
Adhu ondrae podhum podhumThat alone is enough, enough
Male
Ilamaiyilae kal kal kaadhalLearn love in your youth, learn!
Vayadhinilum sei sei kaadhalPractice love as you grow older, practice!
Ilamaiyilae kal kal kaadhalLearn love in your youth, learn!
Vayadhinilum sei sei kaadhalPractice love as you grow older, practice!
Pogudhu pogudhu vaalibam thaanYouth is slipping away, slipping away
Seekkiram nee solladi solladiTell me quickly, tell me!
Male
Kaalangaathaalae oru paadam ketpenaeEarly in the morning, I will ask for a lesson
Nee solli thandhaal podhumIf you teach me, that is enough
En kalloori pon maanaeMy golden college deer
Female
Kaalangaathaalae oru velai illaamaeEarly in the morning, with no job to do
Siru kalloori pen pinnaal sutrumFollowing a young college girl around
Kaadhal chinnavanaeOh young man in love
Male
Kaadhal paadam sol kaadhal paadamTeach me the lesson of love, the lesson of love
Female
Mhum mhum mm… mhum mhumMhum mhum mm... mhum mhum

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a playful, romantic duet between two college students. The young man playfully approaches the girl early in the morning, asking her to teach him the 'lesson of love' rather than focusing solely on academic studies. In response, the girl mock-chides him for wasting his time following her around, playfully telling him to focus on his work while teasing that his requested lesson in love will take a very long time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Reduplication)

Vayadhaaga vayadhaaga

Repetition of words for rhythmic cadence and emphasis, such as 'vayadhaaga vayadhaaga', 'seekkiram seekkiram', 'sol sol', and 'kal kal'.

Uvamai (Metaphor)

Kayal koda vizhiyaalae

'Kayal koda vizhiyaalae' compares the girl's eyes to fish, a classic Tamil literary imagery ('Kayalvizhi').

Monnai (Initial Rhyme)

Kuyil koova thuyil parandhu / Kuyil ondru ezhundhu vandhu

Initial phonetic matching across consecutive lines, seen in 'Kuyil' at the start of lines 1 and 2.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Ullam Kavarntha Kalvan' (1987) was directed by Pandiarajan, who also starred in the lead role alongside Rekha. Panchu Arunachalam produced the film under his banner PA Art Productions.

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