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Meendum Parasakthi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaattukkulle Kaliyamma

From Meendum Parasakthi · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Meendum Parasakthi
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
3 Mar 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Koyil onnu kandaenae
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa
Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum
Thirisoolam
Chorus :Yaei
Male :Eduppaayaa
Chorus :Yaei
Male :Theemai azhippaayaa…..
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Koyil onnu kandaenae
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
Vaa kaalam kettu pochchu thaayae
Chorus :Aahaa
Female :Kaaliyaththaa kappaaththu
Chorus :Oho
Male :Ullae neeyum orangikittu irunthaa
Chorus :Aahaa
Male :Onakkum kooda aabaththu
Saamiyaadinaa….ada bhoomiyaadumae
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Koyil onnu kandaenae
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
Male :Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa
Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum
Thirisoolam
Chorus :Yaei
Male :Eduppaayaa
Chorus :Yaei
Male :Theemai azhippaayaa…..
Eththanaiyo poosa panni
Sakththigala vaangirukkaen
Naan senjathellaam nallathuthaan
Seiyyaatti ada kattathuthaan
Kozhi mutta vaangi vanthu
Manthirichchu vachchirukkaen
Velaikalai sollividu
Seekkiramaa vanthu vidu
Ketta seyal seiyum neeyum
Kattupada maattaauaa
Kettavanum vanthaa neeyum
Vittu vida maattaayyaa
Velai yaenthiyae adi aadu kaaliyae
Naan kayil udukkeduththaa kadi konjam kalangum
Suththmillaa aalukkum shuruthi konjam irangum
Oongaari aanaiyidu needhikku kaavaliru aaththaa
Kaattukkullae kaaliyammaa
Koyil onnu kandaenae
Ponga vaikka vanthaenae
Male :Adi aaththaa nee paaththaa
Veyyil adikkum mazhai adikkum
Thirisoolam
Chorus :Yaei
Male :Eduppaayaa
Chorus :Yaei
Male :Theemai azhippaayaa…..
Thirisoolam eduppaayaa theemaiyai azhippaayaa….
Inside the forest, Mother Kali,
I found a temple,
and came to cook the sacred Pongal offering.
Oh Mother, if you just cast your glance,
the sun will blaze and the rains will pour down!
The trident,
Chorus: Hey!
Male: will you take it up?
Chorus: Hey!
Male: will you destroy evil...?
Inside the forest, Mother Kali,
I found a temple,
and came to cook the sacred Pongal offering.
Come, the times have turned bad, Mother!
Chorus: Aaha!
Female: Mother Kali, protect us!
Chorus: Oho!
Male: If you keep sleeping inside,
Chorus: Aaha!
Male: even you will be in danger!
When the goddess dances in trance, the earth itself shakes!
Inside the forest, Mother Kali,
I found a temple,
and came to cook the sacred Pongal offering.
Male: Oh Mother, if you just cast your glance,
the sun will blaze and the rains will pour down!
The trident,
Chorus: Hey!
Male: will you take it up?
Chorus: Hey!
Male: will you destroy evil...?
After performing so many prayers and rituals,
I have received sacred powers!
Everything I did was for good,
for doing nothing would only bring ruin!
I bought chicken eggs,
and chanted mantras over them.
Tell me the tasks,
and arrive quickly!
Those who do evil deeds,
won't you bring them under control?
If a wicked person approaches,
won't you refuse to spare him?
Wielding your spear, dance, oh Kali!
When I take the udukkai (small folk drum) in hand, the whole place will tremble!
Even impure, arrogant people will have their pride humbled!
Oh powerful Goddess, give the command and stand guard over justice, Mother!
Inside the forest, Mother Kali,
I found a temple,
and came to cook the sacred Pongal offering.
Male: Oh Mother, if you just cast your glance,
the sun will blaze and the rains will pour down!
The trident,
Chorus: Hey!
Male: will you take it up?
Chorus: Hey!
Male: will you destroy evil...?
Will you take up the trident and destroy evil...?
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

Keep listening

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