Kaattukkulle Kaliyamma
From Meendum Parasakthi · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Meendum Parasakthi1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa | Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali, |
| Koyil onnu kandaenae | I found a temple of yours. |
| Ponga vaikka vanthaenae | I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering. |
| Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa | Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us, |
| Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum | Sunshine will beam and rain will pour. |
| Thirisoolam | Trident... |
| Chorus :Yaei | Hey! |
| Male :Eduppaayaa | Will you lift it? |
| Chorus :Yaei | Hey! |
| Male :Theemai azhippaayaa….. | Will you destroy evil? |
| Chorus | |
| Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa | Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali, |
| Koyil onnu kandaenae | I found a temple of yours. |
| Ponga vaikka vanthaenae | I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering. |
| Male | |
| Vaa kaalam kettu pochchu thaayae | Come, the times have turned bad, Mother! |
| Chorus :Aahaa | Aahaa |
| Female :Kaaliyaththaa kappaaththu | Goddess Kali, please protect us! |
| Chorus :Oho | Oho |
| Male :Ullae neeyum orangikittu irunthaa | If you stay sleeping inside, |
| Chorus :Aahaa | Aahaa |
| Male :Onakkum kooda aabaththu | Danger awaits even you! |
| Saamiyaadinaa….ada bhoomiyaadumae | If the deity dances in divine trance, ah, the earth itself will shake! |
| Chorus | |
| Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa | Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali, |
| Koyil onnu kandaenae | I found a temple of yours. |
| Ponga vaikka vanthaenae | I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering. |
| Male :Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa | Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us, |
| Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum | Sunshine will beam and rain will pour. |
| Thirisoolam | Trident... |
| Chorus :Yaei | Hey! |
| Male :Eduppaayaa | Will you lift it? |
| Chorus :Yaei | Hey! |
| Male :Theemai azhippaayaa….. | Will you destroy evil? |
| Male | |
| Eththanaiyo poosa panni | Performing numerous ritual prayers, |
| Sakththigala vaangirukkaen | I have acquired divine powers. |
| Naan senjathellaam nallathuthaan | Everything I have done is for good; |
| Seiyyaatti ada kattathuthaan | If not done, alas, it turns to harm. |
| Male | |
| Kozhi mutta vaangi vanthu | I brought a hen's egg, |
| Manthirichchu vachchirukkaen | Enchanted it with spellbound mantras. |
| Velaikalai sollividu | Assign me the tasks to fulfill, |
| Seekkiramaa vanthu vidu | Come swiftly here! |
| Male | |
| Ketta seyal seiyum neeyum | You who perform evil deeds, |
| Kattupada maattaauaa | Will you not yield to control? |
| Kettavanum vanthaa neeyum | Even if an evil person approaches, |
| Vittu vida maattaayyaa | You won't spare them, right? |
| Male | |
| Velai yaenthiyae adi aadu kaaliyae | Wielding your spear, dance, Goddess Kali! |
| Naan kayil udukkeduththaa kadi konjam kalangum | When I take the udukkai drum in hand, even the bite will tremble in fear. |
| Suththmillaa aalukkum shuruthi konjam irangum | Even an unholy person's posture will bow down. |
| Oongaari aanaiyidu needhikku kaavaliru aaththaa | Roar aloud and issue your command, stand guard for justice, Oh Mother! |
| Chorus | |
| Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa | Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali, |
| Koyil onnu kandaenae | I found a temple of yours. |
| Ponga vaikka vanthaenae | I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering. |
| Male :Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa | Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us, |
| Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum | Sunshine will beam and rain will pour. |
| Thirisoolam | Trident... |
| Chorus :Yaei | Hey! |
| Male :Eduppaayaa | Will you lift it? |
| Chorus :Yaei | Hey! |
| Male :Theemai azhippaayaa….. | Will you destroy evil? |
| Chorus | |
| Thirisoolam eduppaayaa theemaiyai azhippaayaa…. | Will you pick up the trident and vanquish all evil? |
காட்டுக்குள்ளே காளியம்மா
கோயில் ஒன்னு கண்டேனே
பொங்க வைக்க வந்தேனே
அடி ஆத்தா நீ பாத்தா
வெய்யில் அடிக்கும் மழை அடிக்கும்
திரிசூலம்
குழு :
ஏய்
எடுப்பாயா
குழு :
ஏய்
தீமையை அழிப்பாயா......
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
I found a temple of yours.
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us,
Sunshine will beam and rain will pour.
Trident...
Hey!
Will you lift it?
Hey!
Will you destroy evil?
காட்டுக்குள்ளே காளியம்மா
கோயில் ஒன்னு கண்டேனே
பொங்க வைக்க வந்தேனே
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
I found a temple of yours.
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
வா காலம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு தாயே
குழு :
ஆஹா
காளியாத்தா காப்பாத்து
குழு :
ஓஹோ
உள்ளே நீயும் ஓரங்கிகிட்டு இருந்தா
குழு :
ஆஹா
ஒனக்கும் கூட ஆபத்து
சாமியாடினா...அட பூமியாடுமே
Come, the times have turned bad, Mother!
Aahaa
Goddess Kali, please protect us!
Oho
If you stay sleeping inside,
Aahaa
Danger awaits even you!
If the deity dances in divine trance, ah, the earth itself will shake!
சுத்தி சுத்தி வந்தேன் சத்தியத்த தேடி
உத்தமியே உந்தன் பக்தியிலே பாடி
ஓங்காரி ஆணையிடு நீதிக்கு காவலிரு ஆத்தா
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
I found a temple of yours.
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us,
Sunshine will beam and rain will pour.
Trident...
Hey!
Will you lift it?
Hey!
Will you destroy evil?
காட்டுக்குள்ளே காளியம்மா
கோயில் ஒன்னு கண்டேனே
பொங்க வைக்க வந்தேனே
அடி ஆத்தா நீ பாத்தா
வெய்யில் அடிக்கும் மழை அடிக்கும்
திரிசூலம்
குழு :
ஏய்
எடுப்பாயா
குழு :
ஏய்
தீமையை அழிப்பாயா......
Performing numerous ritual prayers,
I have acquired divine powers.
Everything I have done is for good;
If not done, alas, it turns to harm.
எத்தனையோ பூச பண்ணி
சக்திகள வாங்கிருக்கேன்
நான் செஞ்சதெல்லாம் நல்லதுதான்
செய்யாட்டி அட கெட்டதுதான்
I brought a hen's egg,
Enchanted it with spellbound mantras.
Assign me the tasks to fulfill,
Come swiftly here!
கோழி முட்ட வாங்கி வந்து
மந்திரிச்சு வச்சிருக்கேன்
வேலைகளை சொல்லிவிடு
சீக்கிரமா வந்து விடு...
You who perform evil deeds,
Will you not yield to control?
Even if an evil person approaches,
You won't spare them, right?
கெட்ட செயல் செய்ய நீயும்
கட்டுப்பட மாட்டாயா
கெட்டவனும் வந்தா நீயும்
விட்டு விட மாட்டாயா
Wielding your spear, dance, Goddess Kali!
When I take the udukkai drum in hand, even the bite will tremble in fear.
Even an unholy person's posture will bow down.
Roar aloud and issue your command, stand guard for justice, Oh Mother!
வேலை ஏந்தியே அடி ஆடு காளியே
நான் கையில் உடுக்கெடுத்தா கதி கொஞ்சம் கலங்கும்
சுத்தமில்லா ஆளுக்கும் சுருதி கொஞ்சம் இறங்கும்
ஓங்காரி ஆணையிடு நீதிக்கு காவலிரு ஆத்தா
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
I found a temple of yours.
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us,
Sunshine will beam and rain will pour.
Trident...
Hey!
Will you lift it?
Hey!
Will you destroy evil?
காட்டுக்குள்ளே காளியம்மா
கோயில் ஒன்னு கண்டேனே
பொங்க வைக்க வந்தேனே
அடி ஆத்தா நீ பாத்தா
வெய்யில் அடிக்கும் மழை அடிக்கும்
திரிசூலம்
குழு :
ஏய்
எடுப்பாயா
குழு :
ஏய்
தீமையை அழிப்பாயா......
Will you pick up the trident and vanquish all evil?
திரிசூலம் எடுப்பாயா தீமையை அழிப்பாயா
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
Koyil onnu kandaenae
I found a temple of yours.
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa
Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us,
Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum
Sunshine will beam and rain will pour.
Thirisoolam
Trident...
Chorus :Yaei
Hey!
Male :Eduppaayaa
Will you lift it?
Chorus :Yaei
Hey!
Male :Theemai azhippaayaa…..
Will you destroy evil?
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
Koyil onnu kandaenae
I found a temple of yours.
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Vaa kaalam kettu pochchu thaayae
Come, the times have turned bad, Mother!
Chorus :Aahaa
Aahaa
Female :Kaaliyaththaa kappaaththu
Goddess Kali, please protect us!
Chorus :Oho
Oho
Male :Ullae neeyum orangikittu irunthaa
If you stay sleeping inside,
Chorus :Aahaa
Aahaa
Male :Onakkum kooda aabaththu
Danger awaits even you!
Saamiyaadinaa….ada bhoomiyaadumae
If the deity dances in divine trance, ah, the earth itself will shake!
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
Koyil onnu kandaenae
I found a temple of yours.
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Male :Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa
Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us,
Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum
Sunshine will beam and rain will pour.
Thirisoolam
Trident...
Chorus :Yaei
Hey!
Male :Eduppaayaa
Will you lift it?
Chorus :Yaei
Hey!
Male :Theemai azhippaayaa…..
Will you destroy evil?
Eththanaiyo poosa panni
Performing numerous ritual prayers,
Sakththigala vaangirukkaen
I have acquired divine powers.
Naan senjathellaam nallathuthaan
Everything I have done is for good;
Seiyyaatti ada kattathuthaan
If not done, alas, it turns to harm.
Kozhi mutta vaangi vanthu
I brought a hen's egg,
Manthirichchu vachchirukkaen
Enchanted it with spellbound mantras.
Velaikalai sollividu
Assign me the tasks to fulfill,
Seekkiramaa vanthu vidu
Come swiftly here!
Ketta seyal seiyum neeyum
You who perform evil deeds,
Kattupada maattaauaa
Will you not yield to control?
Kettavanum vanthaa neeyum
Even if an evil person approaches,
Vittu vida maattaayyaa
You won't spare them, right?
Velai yaenthiyae adi aadu kaaliyae
Wielding your spear, dance, Goddess Kali!
Naan kayil udukkeduththaa kadi konjam kalangum
When I take the udukkai drum in hand, even the bite will tremble in fear.
Suththmillaa aalukkum shuruthi konjam irangum
Even an unholy person's posture will bow down.
Oongaari aanaiyidu needhikku kaavaliru aaththaa
Roar aloud and issue your command, stand guard for justice, Oh Mother!
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Deep inside the forest, Goddess Kali,
Koyil onnu kandaenae
I found a temple of yours.
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
I came to prepare the sacred sweet rice offering.
Male :Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa
Oh Mother Goddess, if you look upon us,
Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum
Sunshine will beam and rain will pour.
Thirisoolam
Trident...
Chorus :Yaei
Hey!
Male :Eduppaayaa
Will you lift it?
Chorus :Yaei
Hey!
Male :Theemai azhippaayaa…..
Will you destroy evil?
Thirisoolam eduppaayaa theemaiyai azhippaayaa….
Will you pick up the trident and vanquish all evil?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaattukkullae Kaaliyammaa is a high-energy folk devotional track from the 1985 Tamil film Meendum Parasakthi, featuring music composed and sung by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song depicts an ardent devotee reaching out to Goddess Kali in a secluded forest shrine, invoking her ferocious grace to destroy evil and restore righteousness in a world deteriorating into corruption. Rich in regional Tamil folk traditions, the song weaves iconic ritualistic imagery such as preparing pongal offerings, chanting mantras over ritual objects, playing the udukkai drum, and summoning divine trance (Sami aatam). Ilaiyaraaja's raw, rhythmic vocal delivery highlights the urgency of awakening the goddess to wield her trident against malevolent forces.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Apostrophe (Direct Address)
“Ullae neeyum orangikittu irunthaa... Onakkum kooda aabaththu”
The singer directly addresses Goddess Kali in an urgent, conversational folk tone, even warning her that evil threatens divinity itself.
Ethirukaani / Second-Letter Rhyme (Ethugai)
“Ketta seyal seiyum neeyum / Kettavanum vanthaa neeyum”
The second consonant sound matches between adjacent lines, creating a rhythmic cadence common in Tamil poetry.
Folk Imagery & Motifs
“Naan kayil udukkeduththaa kadi konjam kalangum”
Uses authentic village ritual elements like 'Thirisoolam' (trident), 'Udukkai' (pellet drum), and 'Ponga' (sweet rice offering) to evoke regional deity worship.
Hyperbole (Exaggeration)
“Saamiyaadinaa….ada bhoomiyaadumae”
Exaggerates the dramatic physical impact of divine possession during ritual worship.
Did you know?
Trivia
Ilaiyaraaja frequently incorporated authentic Tamil folk deity worship styles (Gramiya Theiva Vazhipadu) into mainstream film soundtracks. His energetic rendition of rural folk chants using authentic percussion instruments like the udukkai gave the song a genuine temple-festival aura.
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