Kakkai Chiraginiley
From Thirumal Perumai · 1968
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thirumal Perumai1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nandhalaalaa… | Oh Nandhalaala... |
| Nandhalaalaa… nandhalaalaa… aaa… | Oh Nandhalaala... Oh Nandhalaala... ah... |
| Nandhalaalaa… | Oh Nandhalaala... |
| Female | |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa | Your dark black color appears to me, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa | Your dark black color appears to me, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Female | |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Female | |
| Paarkkum marangalellaam nandhalaalaa | In all the trees I look at, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Paarkkum marangalellaam nandhalaalaa | In all the trees I look at, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Nindhan pachai niram thondrudhadaa | Your vibrant green color appears to me, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Nindhan pachai niram thondrudhadaa | Your vibrant green color appears to me, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Female | |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Female | |
| Ketkkum oliyilellaam nandhalaalaa | In all the sounds I hear, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Nindhan geetham isaikkudhadaa | Your divine music plays, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Female | |
| Ketkkum oliyilellaam nandhalaalaa | In all the sounds I hear, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Nindhan geetham isaikkudhadaa | Your divine music plays, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Female | |
| Theekkul viralai vaithaal nandhalaalaa | If I place my finger inside the fire, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Theekkul viralai vaithaal nandhalaalaa | If I place my finger inside the fire, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Ninnai theendum inbam thondrudhadaa | The supreme bliss of touching you arises, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Ninnai theendum inbam thondrudhadaa | The supreme bliss of touching you arises, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Female | |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala, |
| Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa | Your dark black color appears to me, |
| Nandhalaalaa | Oh Nandhalaala. |
| Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa | In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala. |
நந்தலாலா.......
நந்தலாலா......நந்தலாலா.......ஆஅ.....
நந்தலாலா......
Oh Nandhalaala...
Oh Nandhalaala... Oh Nandhalaala... ah...
Oh Nandhalaala...
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் கரிய நிறம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் கரிய நிறம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Your dark black color appears to me,
Oh Nandhalaala.
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Your dark black color appears to me,
Oh Nandhalaala.
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
பார்க்கும் மரங்களெல்லாம் நந்தலாலா
பார்க்கும் மரங்களெல்லாம் நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் பச்சை நிறம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் பச்சை நிறம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
In all the trees I look at, Oh Nandhalaala,
In all the trees I look at, Oh Nandhalaala,
Your vibrant green color appears to me,
Oh Nandhalaala.
Your vibrant green color appears to me,
Oh Nandhalaala.
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
கேட்கும் ஒளியெல்லாம் நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் கீதம் இசைக்குதடா
நந்தலாலா
In all the sounds I hear, Oh Nandhalaala,
Your divine music plays,
Oh Nandhalaala.
கேட்கும் ஒளியெல்லாம் நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் கீதம் இசைக்குதடா
நந்தலாலா
In all the sounds I hear, Oh Nandhalaala,
Your divine music plays,
Oh Nandhalaala.
தீக்குள் விரலை வைத்தால் நந்தலாலா
தீக்குள் விரலை வைத்தால் நந்தலாலா
நின்னை தீண்டும் இன்பம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
நின்னை தீண்டும் இன்பம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
If I place my finger inside the fire, Oh Nandhalaala,
If I place my finger inside the fire, Oh Nandhalaala,
The supreme bliss of touching you arises,
Oh Nandhalaala.
The supreme bliss of touching you arises,
Oh Nandhalaala.
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
நிந்தன் கரிய நிறம் தோன்றுதடா
நந்தலாலா
காக்கை சிறகினிலே நந்தலாலா
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Your dark black color appears to me,
Oh Nandhalaala.
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala.
Nandhalaalaa…
Oh Nandhalaala...
Nandhalaalaa… nandhalaalaa… aaa…
Oh Nandhalaala... Oh Nandhalaala... ah...
Nandhalaalaa…
Oh Nandhalaala...
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa
Your dark black color appears to me,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa
Your dark black color appears to me,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Paarkkum marangalellaam nandhalaalaa
In all the trees I look at, Oh Nandhalaala,
Paarkkum marangalellaam nandhalaalaa
In all the trees I look at, Oh Nandhalaala,
Nindhan pachai niram thondrudhadaa
Your vibrant green color appears to me,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Nindhan pachai niram thondrudhadaa
Your vibrant green color appears to me,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Ketkkum oliyilellaam nandhalaalaa
In all the sounds I hear, Oh Nandhalaala,
Nindhan geetham isaikkudhadaa
Your divine music plays,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Ketkkum oliyilellaam nandhalaalaa
In all the sounds I hear, Oh Nandhalaala,
Nindhan geetham isaikkudhadaa
Your divine music plays,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Theekkul viralai vaithaal nandhalaalaa
If I place my finger inside the fire, Oh Nandhalaala,
Theekkul viralai vaithaal nandhalaalaa
If I place my finger inside the fire, Oh Nandhalaala,
Ninnai theendum inbam thondrudhadaa
The supreme bliss of touching you arises,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Ninnai theendum inbam thondrudhadaa
The supreme bliss of touching you arises,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala,
Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa
Your dark black color appears to me,
Nandhalaalaa
Oh Nandhalaala.
Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa
In the wing of a crow, Oh Nandhalaala.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, 'Kakkai Siraginile' is a quintessential expression of pantheistic devotion and total absorption in the Divine. The poet addresses Lord Krishna (Nandhalaala) and sees His divine presence omnipresent in every element of nature. The black feathers of a crow remind him of Krishna's dark complexioned form, the lush foliage of trees reveals Krishna's verdant beauty, and every sound in the universe resonates as Krishna's celestial flute music. In the climax, the poet expresses that even putting a finger into fire does not burn him with pain, but rather fills him with the ecstatic bliss of touching Krishna Himself. This highlights the advaitic philosophy where all sensory experiences transition into pure divine consciousness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Epiphora
“Nandhalaalaa... / Kaakkai siraginilae nandhalaalaa...”
Poetic device
The repetition of the address 'Nandhalaalaa' at the end of lines creates a rhythmic refrain that emphasizes intense emotional longing and continuous remembrance of Krishna.
Visual Imagery
“Kaakkai siraginilae... Nindhan kariya niram thondrudhadaa”
Poetic device
Bharathi uses vivid sensory visual association, connecting the natural deep black of a crow's feather to the divine dark complexion of Krishna.
Auditory Imagery
“Ketkkum oliyilellaam... Nindhan geetham isaikkudhadaa”
Poetic device
Hearing divine music in all everyday sounds transforms mundane ambient noise into divine music.
Paradox / Tactile Imagery
“Theekkul viralai vaithaal... Ninnai theendum inbam thondrudhadaa”
Poetic device
Placing a finger in burning fire normally produces pain, but for the spiritually intoxicated poet, it produces the bliss of divine touch.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although originally written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar as a devotional poem, this iconic verse was tuned by K. V. Mahadevan for the 1968 Tamil movie 'Thirumal Perumai' starring Sivaji Ganesan, and sung exquisitely by S. Janaki.
Keep listening
More from Thirumal Perumai
Thirumal Perumai
Thirumal Perumai
Thirumal Perumai
Thirumal Perumai
Thirumal Perumai
Thirumal Perumai