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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaarkalam Idhu Kaarkalam

From Ilayapiravigal · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, P. Jayachandran
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Ilayapiravigal
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
25 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaarkkaalam idhu kaarkkaalam
Mazhai neer megam varum oorkkolam
Vaaraatho kulir vaadai thaalaatta
Neeyum vara pakkam naanum vara
Adhil kadhal kavithai pirakka
Kaarkkaalam idhu kaarkkaalam
Mazhai neer megam varum oorkkolam
Vaaraatho kulir vaadai thaalaatta
Neeyum vara pakkam naanum vara
Adhil kadhal kavithai pirakka
Aattroram oru naanal
Kaattrodu adhan oodal
Aattroram oru naanal
Kaattrodu adhan oodal
Naanal pol ingu naanaada
Pudhu naanamthaan manam kondaada
Naanal pol ingu naanaada
Pudhu naanamthaan manam kondaada
Senthaazham poovum irukka
Thaen unnaamal vandum thavikka
Kaarkkaalam idhu kaarkkaalam
Mazhai neer megam varum oorkkolam
Vaaraatho kulir vaadai thaalaatta
Male :Neeyum vara pakkam naanum vara
Adhil kadhal kavithai pirakka
Pothaatho oru paarvai
Puriyaatho adhan vaarththai
Pothaatho oru paarvai
Puriyaatho adhan vaarththai
Kettaenae naan oru kelvi
Badhil pottaalae intha sridevi
Kettaenae naan oru kelvi
Badhil pottaalae intha sridevi
Nenjodu achchamirukka
Nee vaavendru ennai azhaikka
Kaarkkaalam idhu kaarkkaalam
Mazhai neer megam varum oorkkolam
Vaaraatho kulir vaadai thaalaatta
Female :Neeyum vara pakkam naanum vara
Adhil kadhal kavithai pirakka
Male :Adhil kadhal kavithai pirakka….
Female :Adhil kadhal kavithai pirakka…
This is the rainy season, this is the rainy season
A procession of rain clouds comes rolling in
Won't the cool breeze arrive to sing a lullaby?
As you come closer and I come to your side
A poem of love is born from it
This is the rainy season, this is the rainy season
A procession of rain clouds comes rolling in
Won't the cool breeze arrive to sing a lullaby?
As you come closer and I come to your side
A poem of love is born from it
A reed beside the riverbank
In a playful lovers' quarrel with the wind
A reed beside the riverbank
In a playful lovers' quarrel with the wind
As I sway here just like that reed
My heart celebrates this newfound shyness
As I sway here just like that reed
My heart celebrates this newfound shyness
While the fragrant screwpine flower is right here
The honeybee longs, unable to taste its nectar
This is the rainy season, this is the rainy season
A procession of rain clouds comes rolling in
Won't the cool breeze arrive to sing a lullaby?
Male: As you come closer and I come to your side
A poem of love is born from it
Isn't a single glance enough?
Won't the words it speaks be understood?
Isn't a single glance enough?
Won't the words it speaks be understood?
I asked a question
And this lovely girl gave her reply
I asked a question
And this lovely girl gave her reply
Though fear still lingers in my heart
You call out to me, inviting me to come
This is the rainy season, this is the rainy season
A procession of rain clouds comes rolling in
Won't the cool breeze arrive to sing a lullaby?
Female: As you come closer and I come to your side
A poem of love is born from it
Male: And a poem of love is born from it...
Female: And a poem of love is born from it...
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kaarkkaalam Idhu Kaarkkaalam' is a romantic duet set against the lush backdrop of the rainy monsoon season. The lovers describe how the arrival of dark rain clouds and cool breezes sets a romantic atmosphere, turning their proximity into poetic romance. The female lead compares her coy swaying and shyness to a riverbank reed fluttering in the wind, while expressing her bashful hesitation in fully embracing love despite the blossoming passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Aattroram oru naanal / Kaattrodu adhan oodal”

The second letters of 'Aattroram' and 'Kaattrodu' match ('tt'), creating a pleasing Tamil poetic meter.

Upamai (Simile)

“Naanal pol ingu naanaada”

The heroine compares her gentle swaying and coy body language to a reed standing by the riverbank.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Kaarkkaalam idhu kaarkkaalam”

The repetition of 'Kaarkkaalam' emphasizes the central theme of the monsoon season establishing the mood.

Metaphor

“Badhil pottaalae intha sridevi”

The hero metaphorically refers to his beloved as 'Sridevi' (the goddess of beauty and fortune) who answers his implicit romantic query.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ilayapiravigal' (1983) is a lesser-known Tamil feature film starring Prabhu. Lyricist Vaali vividly uses nature imagery—such as rain clouds, northern winds, river reeds, and screw-pine flowers (Senthaazhai)—to evoke traditional Sangam landscape themes of 'Mullai' and 'Neithal' within a modern film song framework.

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