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Isaimozhi
Kaman Pandigai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalai Nila Aadinal

From Kaman Pandigai · 1983

Lyricist
Madhuri Pachaiappan
Singer
Dr. Balamuralikrishna
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kaman Pandigai
Movie release year
1983
Lyrics added on
25 Jan 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Om… guru bramma guru vishnu
Guru dhevo mageswaraha
Guru saakshaath parabrammah
Dhasmai sri guruvae namaha
Maaran kanaiyaal
Mayangugindra oorvasiyaal
Mannan vikramaadhithanin thol kandaal
Maiyal kondaal thuvalugindraal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Karumpenum villendhi
Kaaman seidha leelaiyaal..
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Karumpenum villendhi
Kaaman seidha leelaiyaal..
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kaarmugilaam kuzhal kaatrinilaadida
Kaalgal thallaada
Kaarmugilaam kuzhal kaatrinilaadida
Kaalgal thallaada
Kaaviya naayagan perazhagil aval
Nenjam sathiraada
Kaniyisai paada kaan mayil vaada
Kaniyisai paada kaan mayil vaada
Karumpennum villendhi
Kaaman seidha leelaiyaal..
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Karumpenum villendhi
Kaaman seidha leelaiyaal..
Kalai nila aadinaal
Aadinaal aadinaal aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Muthu pani malar kothum madhiyamum
Kathum karunguyilum
Satham ezhu kadal kathum kili mozhi
Methai tharum sugamum
Muthu pani malar kothum madhiyamum
Kathum karunguyilum
Satham ezhu kadal kathum kili mozhi
Methai tharum sugamum
Kanniyai vaattum kadum pagaiyaaga
Kanniyai vaattum kadum pagaiyaaga
Karumpennum villendhi
Kaaman seidha leelaiyaal…
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada
Karumpenum villendhi
Kaaman seidha leelaiyaal..
Kalai nila aadinaal
Kalai nila aadinaal
Om... The Guru is Brahma, the Guru is Vishnu,
The Guru is Lord Shiva,
The Guru is the Supreme Being itself, to that
Holy Guru, I bow...
Struck by the arrows of the god of love,
The enchanting Urvashi swooned.
She saw the strong shoulders of King Vikramaditya,
Fell deeply in love, and melted with longing.
The radiant moon of art danced,
The radiant moon of art danced,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
Wielding his bow of sugarcane,
Because of the playful mischief of Kama...
The radiant moon of art danced,
The radiant moon of art danced,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
Wielding his bow of sugarcane,
Because of the playful mischief of Kama...
The radiant moon of art danced,
The radiant moon of art danced,
As her cloud-dark hair swayed in the breeze,
And her footsteps faltered,
As her cloud-dark hair swayed in the breeze,
And her footsteps faltered,
At the immense beauty of the epic hero,
Her heart danced with joy.
As she sang sweet tunes, the forest peacock shrank in envy,
As she sang sweet tunes, the forest peacock shrank in envy,
Wielding his bow of sugarcane,
Because of the playful mischief of Kama....
The radiant moon of art danced,
The radiant moon of art danced,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
Wielding his bow of sugarcane,
Because of the playful mischief of Kama...
The radiant moon of art danced,
She danced, she danced, she danced,
The radiant moon of art danced,
The pearly dew, clusters of flowers, and the moon,
The calling black cuckoo,
The roaring ocean, the sweet chatter of the parrot,
And the comfort of a soft bed,
The pearly dew, clusters of flowers, and the moon,
The calling black cuckoo,
The roaring ocean, the sweet chatter of the parrot,
And the comfort of a soft bed,
Turned into fierce enemies tormenting the young woman,
Turned into fierce enemies tormenting the young woman,
Wielding his bow of sugarcane,
Because of the playful mischief of Kama....
The radiant moon of art danced,
The radiant moon of art danced,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
As her fish-shaped eyes swam in the river of love,
Wielding his bow of sugarcane,
Because of the playful mischief of Kama...
The radiant moon of art danced,
The radiant moon of art danced.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song opens with a traditional Sanskrit invocation to the Guru, establishing a solemn classical atmosphere. It then transitions into a poetic narration of love and classical dance centered on Urvashi's enchantment with King Vikramaditya under the influence of Kamadeva (the Hindu god of love). Describing her breathtaking elegance, the lyrics detail how her fish-like eyes, flowing hair, and delicate footsteps reflect the intense agony and ecstasy of romantic longing (Viraha). As Kamadeva shoots his arrows using his symbolic sugarcane bow, pleasant elements of nature like the glowing moon, dew drops, flowers, and singing cuckoos turn into cruel tormentors for the longing maiden. Sang brilliantly by Carnatic maestro Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna, the song blends classical raga nuances with vivid imagery of Indian mythology and classical dance aesthetics.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile

“Kayal vizhi kaadhal nadhiyinil aada”

'Kayal vizhi' compares her eyes to fish, and 'Kalai nila' compares her radiance and artfulness to the moon.

Mondhana / Initial Rhyme (Moonaai / Etukai)

“Kaarmugilaam kuzhal kaatrinilaadida”

Repetition of initial consonants/sounds 'Ka' in consecutive phrases 'Kaarmugilaam', 'Kaalgal', 'Kaaviya'.

Oxymoron / Irony (Viraha Bhava)

“Kanniyai vaattum kadum pagaiyaaga”

Usually comforting elements like flowers, moon, and cozy bed are described as 'kadum pagai' (harsh enemies) due to love-sickness.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features the legendary Carnatic vocalist Dr. M. Balamuralikrishna singing a film song composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh. The song blends classical Sanskrit slokas with rich Tamil literary imagery, illustrating the pangs of love experienced by celestial maiden Urvashi.

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