Kadalamma Kadalamma
From Nilaave Vaa · 1998
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Vidyasagar, Jayachandran, Sujatha
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Nilaave Vaa1998
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Chorus | |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa… | Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa... |
| Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom | Rhythmic beats: Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom |
| Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom | Rhythmic beats: Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom |
| Male | |
| Kadalamma kadalamma | Mother Sea, Mother Sea, |
| Muththu kadalamma | Pearl-bearing Mother Sea, |
| En kattumaram innaikku | Will my catamaran today |
| Karai yettumaa | Reach the shore safely? |
| Male | |
| Kadalamma kadalamma | Mother Sea, Mother Sea, |
| Muththu kadalamma | Pearl-bearing Mother Sea, |
| En kattumaram innaikku | Will my catamaran today |
| Karai yettumaa | Reach the shore safely? |
| Male | |
| Ava uchchi paara oramaa… | Is she standing at the edge looking from the peak... |
| Chorus :Oramaa oramaa | Chorus: At the edge... at the edge... |
| Male :Naan thannikkullae dhooramaa… | Male: I am far away deep inside the waters... |
| Chorus :Dhooramaa dhooramaa | Chorus: Far away... far away... |
| Female | |
| Naan rendu kannil uppu kaachchi | Boiling salt in my two eyes, |
| Ullangkaiyil kanji kaachchi | Boiling porridge on my palm, |
| Vachirukken romba neramaa | I have been waiting for a long time, |
| Neeyum vandhu serum yogam varumaa | Will the fortune of you joining me ever come? |
| Male | |
| Kadalamma kadalamma | Mother Sea, Mother Sea, |
| Muththu kadalamma | Pearl-bearing Mother Sea, |
| En kattumaram innaikku | Will my catamaran today |
| Karai yettumaa …. | Reach the shore safely? |
| Male | |
| Enna chuththi enna chuththi | All around me, surrounding me, |
| Thanni irukku | There is water, |
| Naakku mattum otti vittadhae | Yet my tongue has dried up completely, |
| Female | |
| Odambaththaan katti vechen | I tied up my body |
| Uyir kayiril | To the rope of life, |
| Ippa romba iththu vittadhae | Now it has worn out severely. |
| Male | |
| Enna konnaalum meenu thinnaalum | Even if I am killed or eaten by fish, |
| Nenju vegaadhu kannammaa | My heart will not burn out, my dear Kannamma. |
| Female :Unna kaanaama uyir seraama | Female: Without seeing you and without joining with life, |
| En kanneeru theerumaa | Will my tears ever cease? |
| Male | |
| Kanneeru kadalukkul vizhundhaal | If tears fall into the sea, |
| Kadalukku sondhamadi | They belong to the sea, my dear. |
| Female :Kanneeru mutha vilanjaa | Female: If tears turn into pearls, |
| Eduthukka nallabadi | Take them well. |
| Male | |
| Kadalamma kadalamma | Mother Sea, Mother Sea, |
| Muththu kadalamma | Pearl-bearing Mother Sea, |
| En kattumaram innaikku | Will my catamaran today |
| Karai yettumaa …. | Reach the shore safely? |
| Female | |
| Thoodhuvitta alai | The wave sent as a messenger, |
| Ada endha alaiyo | Oh, which wave was it? |
| Enna vandhu seralaiyae | It never reached me! |
| Male | |
| Thoodhuvandha alai ellaam | All the waves that came as messengers, |
| Unnai kandadhum | Upon seeing you, |
| Sogappattu odanjiruchae | Broke down in grief! |
| Female | |
| Vali vandhaalum mozhi sollaama | Even when pain arrived, without speaking a word, |
| Naan ninnenae oomaiyaa | I stood like a mute person. |
| Male :Nee ponnalla oru deivamdhaan | Male: You are not just gold, but a goddess; |
| Indha kanneeru thevaiyaa | Are these tears really necessary? |
| Female | |
| Kadal thanneer adikira alaiyila | In the waves crashing with sea water, |
| Karaiyae moozhgidumo | Will the shore submerge? |
| Male :Un kanneer adikkira alaiyila | Male: In the waves crashing from your tears, |
| Kadalae moozhigidumo | Will the ocean itself submerge? |
| Male | |
| Kadalamma kadalamma | Mother Sea, Mother Sea, |
| Muththu kadalamma | Pearl-bearing Mother Sea, |
| En kattumaram innaikku | Will my catamaran today |
| Karai yettumaa | Reach the shore safely? |
| Male | |
| Ava uchchi paara oramaa… | Is she standing at the edge looking from the peak... |
| Chorus :Oramaa oramaa | Chorus: At the edge... at the edge... |
| Male :Naan thannikkullae dhooramaa… | Male: I am far away deep inside the waters... |
| Chorus :Dhooramaa dhooramaa | Chorus: Far away... far away... |
| Female | |
| Naan rendu kannil uppu kaachchi | Boiling salt in my two eyes, |
| Ullangkaiyil kanji kaachchi | Boiling porridge on my palm, |
| Vachirukken romba neramaa | I have been waiting for a long time, |
| Neeyum vandhu serum yogam varumaa | Will the fortune of you joining me ever come? |
| Male | |
| Eh…eh…eh eh eh eh eh eh…… | Vocal improvisations: Eh... eh... eh eh eh eh eh eh... |
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையாரே தையா தையா
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையாரே தையா தையா
தையார தை யார தைய தோம்
தையார தை யார தைய தோம்
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Rhythmic beats: Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom
Rhythmic beats: Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom
கடலம்மா கடலம்மா
முத்துக் கடலம்மா
என் கட்டுமரம் இன்னைக்கு
கரை எட்டுமா
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
Will my catamaran today
Reach the shore safely?
கடலம்மா கடலம்மா
முத்துக் கடலம்மா
என் கட்டுமரம் இன்னைக்கு
கரை எட்டுமா
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
Will my catamaran today
Reach the shore safely?
அவ உச்சி பாற ஓரமா
குழு :
ஓரமா ஓரமா
நான் தண்ணிக்குள்ளே தூரமா
குழு :
தூரமா தூரமா
Is she standing at the edge looking from the peak...
Chorus: At the edge... at the edge...
Male: I am far away deep inside the waters...
Chorus: Far away... far away...
நான் ரெண்டு கண்ணில் உப்பு காச்சி
உள்ளங்கையில் கஞ்சி காச்சி
வச்சிருக்கேன் ரொம்ப நேரமா
நீயும் வந்து சேரும் யோகம் வருமா
Boiling salt in my two eyes,
Boiling porridge on my palm,
I have been waiting for a long time,
Will the fortune of you joining me ever come?
கடலம்மா கடலம்மா
முத்துக் கடலம்மா
என் கட்டுமரம் இன்னைக்கு
கரை எட்டுமா
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
Will my catamaran today
Reach the shore safely?
என்னச் சுத்தி என்னச் சுத்தி
தண்ணி இருக்கு
நாக்கு மட்டும் ஒட்டி விட்டதே
All around me, surrounding me,
There is water,
Yet my tongue has dried up completely,
ஓடம்பத்தான் கட்டி வச்சேன்
உயிர் கயிரில்
இப்ப ரொம்ப இத்து விட்டதே
I tied up my body
To the rope of life,
Now it has worn out severely.
என்ன கொன்னாலும் மீனு திண்ணாலும்
நெஞ்சு வேகாது கண்ணம்மா
உன்ன காணாம உயிர் சேராம
என் கண்ணீரு தீருமா
Even if I am killed or eaten by fish,
My heart will not burn out, my dear Kannamma.
Female: Without seeing you and without joining with life,
Will my tears ever cease?
கண்ணீரு கடலுக்குள் விழுந்தால்
கடலுக்கு சொந்தமடி
கண்ணீரு முத்தா விளைஞ்சா
எடுத்துக்க நல்லபடி
If tears fall into the sea,
They belong to the sea, my dear.
Female: If tears turn into pearls,
Take them well.
கடலம்மா கடலம்மா
முத்துக் கடலம்மா
என் கட்டுமரம் இன்னைக்கு
கரை எட்டுமா
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
Will my catamaran today
Reach the shore safely?
தூதுவிட்ட அலை
அட எந்த அலையோ
என்ன வந்து சேரலையே
The wave sent as a messenger,
Oh, which wave was it?
It never reached me!
தூதுவந்த அலை எல்லாம்
உன்னை கண்டதும்
சோகப்பட்டு ஒடஞ்சிருச்சே
All the waves that came as messengers,
Upon seeing you,
Broke down in grief!
வலி வந்தாலும் மொழி சொல்லாம
நான் நின்னேனே ஊமையா
நீ பொண்ணல்ல ஒரு தெய்வம்தான்
இந்த கண்ணீரு தேவையா
Even when pain arrived, without speaking a word,
I stood like a mute person.
Male: You are not just gold, but a goddess;
Are these tears really necessary?
கடல் தண்ணீர் அடிக்கிற அலையில
கரையே மூழ்கிடுமோ
உன் கண்ணீர் அடிக்கிற அலையில
கடலே மூழ்கிடுமோ
In the waves crashing with sea water,
Will the shore submerge?
Male: In the waves crashing from your tears,
Will the ocean itself submerge?
கடலம்மா கடலம்மா
முத்துக் கடலம்மா
என் கட்டுமரம் இன்னைக்கு
கரை எட்டுமா
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
Will my catamaran today
Reach the shore safely?
அவ உச்சி பாற ஓரமா
குழு :
ஓரமா ஓரமா
நான் தண்ணிக்குள்ளே தூரமா
குழு :
தூரமா தூரமா
Is she standing at the edge looking from the peak...
Chorus: At the edge... at the edge...
Male: I am far away deep inside the waters...
Chorus: Far away... far away...
நான் ரெண்டு கண்ணில் உப்பு காச்சி
உள்ளங்கையில் கஞ்சி காச்சி
வச்சிருக்கேன் ரொம்ப நேரமா
நீயும் வந்து சேரும் யோகம் வருமா
Boiling salt in my two eyes,
Boiling porridge on my palm,
I have been waiting for a long time,
Will the fortune of you joining me ever come?
............................................................
Vocal improvisations: Eh... eh... eh eh eh eh eh eh...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyaarae…thaiya…thaiyaa…
Rhythmic folk chant: Thaiyaare... thaiya... thaiyaa...
Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom
Rhythmic beats: Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom
Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom
Rhythmic beats: Thaiyara thaiyara thaiya thom
Kadalamma kadalamma
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Muththu kadalamma
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
En kattumaram innaikku
Will my catamaran today
Karai yettumaa
Reach the shore safely?
Kadalamma kadalamma
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Muththu kadalamma
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
En kattumaram innaikku
Will my catamaran today
Karai yettumaa
Reach the shore safely?
Ava uchchi paara oramaa…
Is she standing at the edge looking from the peak...
Chorus :Oramaa oramaa
Chorus: At the edge... at the edge...
Male :Naan thannikkullae dhooramaa…
Male: I am far away deep inside the waters...
Chorus :Dhooramaa dhooramaa
Chorus: Far away... far away...
Naan rendu kannil uppu kaachchi
Boiling salt in my two eyes,
Ullangkaiyil kanji kaachchi
Boiling porridge on my palm,
Vachirukken romba neramaa
I have been waiting for a long time,
Neeyum vandhu serum yogam varumaa
Will the fortune of you joining me ever come?
Kadalamma kadalamma
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Muththu kadalamma
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
En kattumaram innaikku
Will my catamaran today
Karai yettumaa ….
Reach the shore safely?
Enna chuththi enna chuththi
All around me, surrounding me,
Thanni irukku
There is water,
Naakku mattum otti vittadhae
Yet my tongue has dried up completely,
Odambaththaan katti vechen
I tied up my body
Uyir kayiril
To the rope of life,
Ippa romba iththu vittadhae
Now it has worn out severely.
Enna konnaalum meenu thinnaalum
Even if I am killed or eaten by fish,
Nenju vegaadhu kannammaa
My heart will not burn out, my dear Kannamma.
Female :Unna kaanaama uyir seraama
Female: Without seeing you and without joining with life,
En kanneeru theerumaa
Will my tears ever cease?
Kanneeru kadalukkul vizhundhaal
If tears fall into the sea,
Kadalukku sondhamadi
They belong to the sea, my dear.
Female :Kanneeru mutha vilanjaa
Female: If tears turn into pearls,
Eduthukka nallabadi
Take them well.
Kadalamma kadalamma
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Muththu kadalamma
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
En kattumaram innaikku
Will my catamaran today
Karai yettumaa ….
Reach the shore safely?
Thoodhuvitta alai
The wave sent as a messenger,
Ada endha alaiyo
Oh, which wave was it?
Enna vandhu seralaiyae
It never reached me!
Thoodhuvandha alai ellaam
All the waves that came as messengers,
Unnai kandadhum
Upon seeing you,
Sogappattu odanjiruchae
Broke down in grief!
Vali vandhaalum mozhi sollaama
Even when pain arrived, without speaking a word,
Naan ninnenae oomaiyaa
I stood like a mute person.
Male :Nee ponnalla oru deivamdhaan
Male: You are not just gold, but a goddess;
Indha kanneeru thevaiyaa
Are these tears really necessary?
Kadal thanneer adikira alaiyila
In the waves crashing with sea water,
Karaiyae moozhgidumo
Will the shore submerge?
Male :Un kanneer adikkira alaiyila
Male: In the waves crashing from your tears,
Kadalae moozhigidumo
Will the ocean itself submerge?
Kadalamma kadalamma
Mother Sea, Mother Sea,
Muththu kadalamma
Pearl-bearing Mother Sea,
En kattumaram innaikku
Will my catamaran today
Karai yettumaa
Reach the shore safely?
Ava uchchi paara oramaa…
Is she standing at the edge looking from the peak...
Chorus :Oramaa oramaa
Chorus: At the edge... at the edge...
Male :Naan thannikkullae dhooramaa…
Male: I am far away deep inside the waters...
Chorus :Dhooramaa dhooramaa
Chorus: Far away... far away...
Naan rendu kannil uppu kaachchi
Boiling salt in my two eyes,
Ullangkaiyil kanji kaachchi
Boiling porridge on my palm,
Vachirukken romba neramaa
I have been waiting for a long time,
Neeyum vandhu serum yogam varumaa
Will the fortune of you joining me ever come?
Eh…eh…eh eh eh eh eh eh……
Vocal improvisations: Eh... eh... eh eh eh eh eh eh...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kadalamma Kadalamma' expresses the deep emotional and physical hardship faced by a fisherman stranded or working far at sea, longing to return to his beloved on shore. He addresses the ocean as Mother Sea ('Kadalamma'), pleading for safety so his modest catamaran can reach the coast. The lyrics convey the poignant contrast between being surrounded by endless salt water while suffering intense thirst and weariness, symbolizing the overwhelming nature of separation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification (Uruvagam / Maanthar illadha porulukku uyir tharudhal)
“Kadalamma kadalamma”
Addressing the ocean as a mother ('Kadalamma') and describing sea waves as messengers ('Thoodhuvandha alai') personifies nature with human compassion and roles.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Un kanneer adikkira alaiyila / Kadalae moozhigidumo”
Exaggerating the volume and weight of tears by stating that the crashing waves of her tears could submerge the entire ocean itself.
Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)
“Rendu kannil uppu kaachchi / Ullangkaiyil kanji kaachchi”
Repetition of initial consonants and matching rhythms across lines such as 'Rendu kannil uppu kaachchi' and 'Ullangkaiyil kanji kaachchi'.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song features music composed by Vidyasagar for the 1998 Tamil film 'Nilaave Vaa' starring Vijay and Suvaluxmi. The track vividly captures the authentic coastal folk singing style (Neithal Thinai songs), combining traditional fishermen rhythm chants ('Thaiyaare thaiya') with poetic metaphors written by Vairamuthu.
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