Kaalkal Yerudhu Melae
From Pookkal Vidum Thoothu · 1987
- Lyricist
- T. Rajendar
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- T. Rajendar
- Details
- Pookkal Vidum Thoothu1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae | Feet are climbing up high, |
| Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae | A ladder suffers down below. |
| Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae | Feet are climbing up high, |
| Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae | A ladder suffers down below. |
| Male | |
| Oru pattam parakkuth maelae | A kite flies high in the sky, |
| Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae | The spool of thread suffers down below. |
| Oru pattam parakkuth maelae | A kite flies high in the sky, |
| Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae | The spool of thread suffers down below. |
| Male | |
| Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae | Oh little cuckoo bird, |
| Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae | You must yearn, oh peacock. |
| Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae | Oh little cuckoo bird, |
| Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae | You must yearn, oh peacock. |
| Male | |
| Thogai iva aasai achchaa ummaelae | This peacock-like maiden has fallen in love with you, |
| Thoondi iva poduraalae kannaala | She casts a fishing hook using her eyes. |
| Raagam thedum thaalam onnu | Like a rhythm seeking a melody, |
| Unna suththum vayasu ponnu | A young girl circles around you. |
| Male | |
| Haei….poovunthaan neramum maarum | Hey, even flowers change with time, |
| Aambalainga manasum thaavum | And men's hearts tend to leap around. |
| Nee…..athupolaththaanaa sollu | Tell me, are you like that as well? |
| Unakkaaga rendu ponnu | There are two girls yearning for you. |
| Male | |
| Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae | Oh little cuckoo bird, |
| Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae | You must yearn, oh peacock. |
| Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae | Oh little cuckoo bird, |
| Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae | You must yearn, oh peacock. |
| Male | |
| Kaaththadichchaa maegam kooda thesai maarum | When the wind blows, even the clouds change direction, |
| Kadhal kooda samayaththil thadumaarum | Love too stumbles at times. |
| Pulli vachchaa kolam poda | Dots are laid to draw a Kolam pattern, |
| Pootti vachchaa manasa ulla | The heart is locked tight within. |
| Male | |
| Haei…….vidhiyumthaan vilaiyaaduthu | Hey, fate is playing its games, |
| Mathiyunthaan poraaduthu…. | The intellect is struggling in conflict. |
| Ooh….kadhaiyumthaan vazhi maaruthu | Ooh, even the story is changing its path, |
| Kannoram nadhi oduthu | A river of tears flows by the corner of the eye. |
| Male | |
| Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae | Feet are climbing up high, |
| Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae | A ladder suffers down below. |
| Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae | Feet are climbing up high, |
| Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae | A ladder suffers down below. |
| Male | |
| Oru pattam parakkuth maelae | A kite flies high in the sky, |
| Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae | The spool of thread suffers down below. |
| Oru pattam parakkuth maelae | A kite flies high in the sky, |
| Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae | The spool of thread suffers down below. |
| Male | |
| Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae | Oh little cuckoo bird, |
| Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae | You must yearn, oh peacock. |
| Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae | Oh little cuckoo bird, |
| Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae | You must yearn, oh peacock. |
கால்கள் ஏறுது மேலே
ஒரு ஏணி தவிக்குது கீழே
கால்கள் ஏறுது மேலே
ஒரு ஏணி தவிக்குது கீழே
Feet are climbing up high,
A ladder suffers down below.
Feet are climbing up high,
A ladder suffers down below.
ஒரு பட்டம் பறக்குது மேலே
நூலு கண்டு தவிக்குது கீழே
ஒரு பட்டம் பறக்குது மேலே
நூலு கண்டு தவிக்குது கீழே
A kite flies high in the sky,
The spool of thread suffers down below.
A kite flies high in the sky,
The spool of thread suffers down below.
அடி ஏலேலங் சின்னக் குயிலே
நீ ஏங்கத்தான் வேணும் மயிலே
அடி ஏலேலங் சின்னக் குயிலே
நீ ஏங்கத்தான் வேணும் மயிலே
Oh little cuckoo bird,
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Oh little cuckoo bird,
You must yearn, oh peacock.
தோகை இவ ஆசை வச்சா உம்மேலே
தூண்டி இவ போடுறாளே கண்ணால
ராகம் தேடும் தாளம் ஒண்ணு
உன்ன சுத்தும் வயசுப் பொண்ணு
This peacock-like maiden has fallen in love with you,
She casts a fishing hook using her eyes.
Like a rhythm seeking a melody,
A young girl circles around you.
ஹேய்..........பூவுந்தான் நெறமும் மாறும்
ஆம்பளைங்க மனசும் தாவும்
நீ.......அதுபோலத்தானா சொல்லு
உனக்காக ரெண்டு பொண்ணு
Hey, even flowers change with time,
And men's hearts tend to leap around.
Tell me, are you like that as well?
There are two girls yearning for you.
அடி ஏலேலங் சின்னக் குயிலே
நீ ஏங்கத்தான் வேணும் மயிலே
அடி ஏலேலங் சின்னக் குயிலே
நீ ஏங்கத்தான் வேணும் மயிலே
Oh little cuckoo bird,
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Oh little cuckoo bird,
You must yearn, oh peacock.
காத்தடிச்சா மேகம் கூட தெச மாறும்
காதல் கூட சமயத்தில் தடுமாறும்
புள்ளி வச்சா கோலம் போட
பூட்டி வச்சா மனச உள்ள
When the wind blows, even the clouds change direction,
Love too stumbles at times.
Dots are laid to draw a Kolam pattern,
The heart is locked tight within.
ஹேய்.....விதியும்தான் விளையாடுது
மதியுந்தான் போராடுது.....
ஓஹ்......கதையும் தான் வழி மாறுது
கண்ணோரம் நதி ஓடுது
Hey, fate is playing its games,
The intellect is struggling in conflict.
Ooh, even the story is changing its path,
A river of tears flows by the corner of the eye.
கால்கள் ஏறுது மேலே
ஒரு ஏணி தவிக்குது கீழே
கால்கள் ஏறுது மேலே
ஒரு ஏணி தவிக்குது கீழே
Feet are climbing up high,
A ladder suffers down below.
Feet are climbing up high,
A ladder suffers down below.
ஒரு பட்டம் பறக்குது மேலே
நூலு கண்டு தவிக்குது கீழே
ஒரு பட்டம் பறக்குது மேலே
நூலு கண்டு தவிக்குது கீழே
A kite flies high in the sky,
The spool of thread suffers down below.
A kite flies high in the sky,
The spool of thread suffers down below.
அடி ஏலேலங் சின்னக் குயிலே
நீ ஏங்கத்தான் வேணும் மயிலே
அடி ஏலேலங் சின்னக் குயிலே
நீ ஏங்கத்தான் வேணும் மயிலே
Oh little cuckoo bird,
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Oh little cuckoo bird,
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae
Feet are climbing up high,
Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae
A ladder suffers down below.
Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae
Feet are climbing up high,
Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae
A ladder suffers down below.
Oru pattam parakkuth maelae
A kite flies high in the sky,
Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae
The spool of thread suffers down below.
Oru pattam parakkuth maelae
A kite flies high in the sky,
Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae
The spool of thread suffers down below.
Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae
Oh little cuckoo bird,
Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae
Oh little cuckoo bird,
Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Thogai iva aasai achchaa ummaelae
This peacock-like maiden has fallen in love with you,
Thoondi iva poduraalae kannaala
She casts a fishing hook using her eyes.
Raagam thedum thaalam onnu
Like a rhythm seeking a melody,
Unna suththum vayasu ponnu
A young girl circles around you.
Haei….poovunthaan neramum maarum
Hey, even flowers change with time,
Aambalainga manasum thaavum
And men's hearts tend to leap around.
Nee…..athupolaththaanaa sollu
Tell me, are you like that as well?
Unakkaaga rendu ponnu
There are two girls yearning for you.
Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae
Oh little cuckoo bird,
Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae
Oh little cuckoo bird,
Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Kaaththadichchaa maegam kooda thesai maarum
When the wind blows, even the clouds change direction,
Kadhal kooda samayaththil thadumaarum
Love too stumbles at times.
Pulli vachchaa kolam poda
Dots are laid to draw a Kolam pattern,
Pootti vachchaa manasa ulla
The heart is locked tight within.
Haei…….vidhiyumthaan vilaiyaaduthu
Hey, fate is playing its games,
Mathiyunthaan poraaduthu….
The intellect is struggling in conflict.
Ooh….kadhaiyumthaan vazhi maaruthu
Ooh, even the story is changing its path,
Kannoram nadhi oduthu
A river of tears flows by the corner of the eye.
Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae
Feet are climbing up high,
Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae
A ladder suffers down below.
Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae
Feet are climbing up high,
Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae
A ladder suffers down below.
Oru pattam parakkuth maelae
A kite flies high in the sky,
Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae
The spool of thread suffers down below.
Oru pattam parakkuth maelae
A kite flies high in the sky,
Noolu kandu thavikkuthu keezhae
The spool of thread suffers down below.
Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae
Oh little cuckoo bird,
Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Adi yaelaelang chinna kuyilae
Oh little cuckoo bird,
Nee yaengaththaan vaenum mayilae
You must yearn, oh peacock.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from 'Pookkal Vidum Thoothu' (1987), penned by T. Rajendar, uses vivid metaphors of everyday objects to convey deep emotional turbulence and romantic yearning. Through imagery like a ladder left behind as feet climb high, or a thread spool remaining grounded while the kite soars, the song symbolizes one-sided emotional burden, sacrifice, and detachment in love. The lyrics explore the complexities of a love triangle where two women yearn for one man. It reflects on the unpredictable nature of fate (vidhi) battling human intellect (mathi), showing how destiny can alter the course of life and love just as wind shifts the direction of clouds.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Extended Metaphor (Uruvakam)
“Kaalgal yaeruthu maelae / Oru yaeni thavikkuthu keezhae”
The ladder suffering down below while feet climb high, and the thread spool grounded while the kite flies, represent the sacrifices and emotional distress endured by one partner while the other rises or moves ahead.
Visual Imagery (Katchi Uvamaani)
“Thoondi iva poduraalae kannaala”
Describing eye contact as casting a fishing hook ('Thoondi') creates vivid visual imagery of romantic attraction and allure.
Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)
“Vidhiyumthaan vilaiyaaduthu / Mathiyunthaan poraaduthu”
The Tamil poetic tradition of matching the second consonant sound in successive lines ('Vidhi' and 'Mathi').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Pookkal Vidum Thoothu' (1987) features lyrics and musical composition by T. Rajendar, who is celebrated in Tamil cinema for his signature rhyming lyrical structure and highly dramatic, metaphorical songwriting style.
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