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Lyrics & meaning

Kadaloram

From Aanandha Raagam · 1982

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
K. J. Yesudass, Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aanandha Raagam1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kadaloram kadaloramBy the seashore, by the seashore
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadumThe waves run and play
Male
Valai veesu valai veesuCast the net, cast the net
Vaattam paarthu valai veesuWatch for the right moment and cast the net
Male
Ammaa kadalammaaMother, Mother Ocean
Enga ulagam neeyammaaYou are our world, Mother
Male
Kadaloram kadaloramBy the seashore, by the seashore
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadumThe waves run and play
Male
Kadaloram kadaloramBy the seashore, by the seashore
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadumThe waves run and play
Male
Ye…Hey...
Male
Yele lele loYele lele lo
Male
{Yele…lele lo{Yele...lele lo
Male
Yele lele lo} (4)Yele lele lo} (4)
Male
Vayal illa vaaikkaal illaThere are no crop fields, no irrigation canals
Vithai podavillaNo seeds were sown
Maram vachu thanni ooththiNo planting of trees or pouring of water
Palan thedavillaNo waiting for agricultural yields
Male
Vayal illa vaaikkaal illaThere are no crop fields, no irrigation canals
Vithai podavillaNo seeds were sown
Maram vachu thanni ooththiNo planting of trees or pouring of water
Palan thedavillau thanni ooththiNo waiting for yields, no pouring of water
Palan thedavillaNo waiting for yields
Male
Nee thanthaa saappaaduIf you provide, we have food to eat
Male : Illennaa kooppaaduMale : If you do not, we cry in distress
Male
IruppathaiyellaamWhatever you have in your heart
Koduppaayae en ammaaYou give to us generously, my Mother
Male
HoiHoi
Male
Kadaloram kadaloramBy the seashore, by the seashore
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadumThe waves run and play
Male
Valai veesu valai veesuCast the net, cast the net
Vaattam paarthu valai veesuWatch for the right moment and cast the net
Male
Ammaa kadalammaaMother, Mother Ocean
Male
Enga ulagam neeyammaaYou are our world, Mother
Male
Kadaloram kadaloramBy the seashore, by the seashore
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadumThe waves run and play
Male
Nilathukku sonthakkaaranFor the land on earth, owners
Pala peru unduThere are many people
Kadalukku sontham pesaTo claim ownership over the vast ocean
Ulagathil yaaruWho is there in this whole world?
Male
Nilathukku sonthakkaaranFor the land on earth, owners
Pala peru unduThere are many people
Kadalukku sontham pesaTo claim ownership over the vast ocean
Ulagathil yaaruWho is there in this whole world?
Male
Uzhaichaakka kaimelaeIf we put in honest labor, right in our hand
Ponnaaga tharuvaayaeYou bestow rewards as precious as gold
Male
IruppathaiyellaamWhatever you have in your heart
Koduppaayae en ammaaYou give to us generously, my Mother
Male
HoiHoi
Male
Kadaloram …hoiBy the seashore... hoi
Kadaloram…hoiBy the seashore... hoi
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadum…hoiThe waves run and play... hoi
Male
Valai veesu …ahaaaCast the net... ahaa
Valai veesu…ahaaaCast the net... ahaa
Vaattam paarthu valai veesuWatch for the right moment and cast the net
Male
Ammaa kadalammaaMother, Mother Ocean
Male
Enga ulagam neeyammaaYou are our world, Mother
Male
Kadaloram kadaloramBy the seashore, by the seashore
Alaigal odi vilaiyaadumThe waves run and play
Male
YeiYei

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kadaloram Kadaloram' from the movie Aanandha Raagam (1982) celebrates the livelihood, philosophy, and devotion of the fishing community. The sea is revered not merely as a body of water, but as 'Kadalamma' (Mother Sea), a maternal goddess who nurtures, sustains, and protects the fishermen like her own children. The lyrics contrast farming with sea life—while farmers need land, seeds, canals, and labor-intensive cultivation, fishermen rely solely on Mother Sea's natural bounty. Furthermore, while earthly land is partitioned and owned by individuals, the ocean remains free and unclaimable by any human. The song highlights how hard labor at sea brings bountiful gold-like rewards, underscoring the deep bond of faith between fishermen and the boundless ocean.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagamm)

Ammaa kadalammaa

The ocean is personified as a benevolent mother ('Kadalamma') who sustains human lives, feeds her children, and bestows wealth without requiring land ownership.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Kadaloram kadaloram

Words like 'Kadaloram' and 'Valai veesu' are repeated sequentially to emphasize rhythmic action and match the cadence of pulling nets and rolling waves.

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Vayal illa vaaikkaal illa / Vithai podavilla

Classic Tamil poetic device where the second consonant matches in consecutive lines ('Vayal' and 'Vithai').

Contrast / Anthesis

Nilathukku sonthakkaaran pala peru undu / Kadalukku sontham pesa ulagathil yaaru

Contrasts land ownership with the unclaimable, universal nature of the sea.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aanandha Raagam (1982) features a popular soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Directed by P. Bharathiraja (credited as producer and director in early stages / script by Panchu Arunachalam), the film stars Sivakumar and Radha. The track 'Kadaloram Kadaloram' is an energetic folk song sung by Malaysia Vasudevan along with chorus, capturing authentic Tamil coastal folk melodies and rhythmic chants ('Yelelo').

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