Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalai Vantha Vitham

From Thozhilali · 1964

Lyricists
K. P. Sundaram, Koothanpoondi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Thozhilali
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
25 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Udal kattodu azhagaaga koothaadum pennae
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Udal kattodu azhagaaga koothaadum pennae
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Kaatrinilae pirandhu oliyaanadhu
Adhu kaattu pullil nuzhaindhu isaiyaanadhu
Kaatrinilae pirandhu oliyaanadhu
Adhu kaattu pullil nuzhaindhu isaiyaanadhu
Maattida en kaiyil kuzhalaanadhu
Maattida en kaiyil kuzhalaanadhu
Kuzhandhai vaayinilae nuzhaindhu mozhiyaanadhu
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Udal kattodu azhagaaga koothaadum pennae
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Ulla thudippil thaalam uruvaanadhu
Uyirin uarchiyilae surudhi layamaanadhu
Ulla thudippil thaalam uruvaanadhu
Uyirin uarchiyilae surudhi layamaanadhu
Thellu thamizh kuzhandhai ezhilaanadhu
Thellu thamizh kuzhandhai ezhilaanadhu
Adhan thitthitthai thitthitthai
Thitthitthai endra nadai sadhiraanadhu
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Udal kattodu azhagaaga koothaadum pennae
Kalai vandha vidham kaelu kannae
Listen to how art was born, my dear,
O girl dancing gracefully with a shapely form,
Listen to how art was born, my dear,
O girl dancing gracefully with a shapely form,
Listen to how art was born, my dear.
Born in the wind, it became sound,
passing through wild reeds, it became music.
Born in the wind, it became sound,
passing through wild reeds, it became music.
Resting in my hands, it turned into a flute,
resting in my hands, it turned into a flute,
and entering a child's mouth, it became language.
Listen to how art was born, my dear,
O girl dancing gracefully with a shapely form,
Listen to how art was born, my dear.
From the beating heart, rhythm was born,
in the soul's deep feelings, pitch and tempo merged.
From the beating heart, rhythm was born,
in the soul's deep feelings, pitch and tempo merged.
It became the beauty of a sweet Tamil child,
it became the beauty of a sweet Tamil child,
and its gentle 'thithi-thai, thithi-thai'
rhythmic baby steps became sadhir (traditional dance).
Listen to how art was born, my dear,
O girl dancing gracefully with a shapely form,
Listen to how art was born, my dear.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song poetically traces the evolutionary origin of art, music, language, and dance. Addressing a dancer, the narrator explains that sound was born from the wind, transformed into music as it passed through wild reeds, became a flute in human hands, and evolved into language through the babbling of a child. Furthermore, rhythm and melody are depicted as natural expressions born from the internal human heartbeat and soul's emotions, culminating in the graceful footwork of classical dance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Kaatrinilae pirandhu oliyaanadhu / Adhu kaattu pullil nuzhaindhu isaiyaanadhu”

Multiple consecutive lines end with the rhyming suffix '-aanadhu' (oliyaanadhu, isaiyaanadhu, kuzhalaanadhu, mozhiyaanadhu), creating a melodic flow.

Moonaal / Alliteration

“Kaatrinilae pirandhu oliyaanadhu / Adhu kaattu pullil nuzhaindhu isaiyaanadhu”

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' in words like 'Kaatrinilae' and 'Kaattu'.

Rhythmic Syllables (Sollukattu)

“Adhan thitthitthai thitthitthai / Thitthitthai endra nadai sadhiraanadhu”

Use of rhythmic dance syllables 'thitthitthai' to mimic the sound of feet executing classical dance steps (Sadhir).

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features in the 1964 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) starrer 'Thozhilali', directed by M. A. Thirumugam. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and the lyrics were penned by Koothanpoondi K. P. Sundaram.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Mazhai Thuli1999
SangamamMusic And DanceNature
Naadu Sezhipathellaam Yer Munaiyale1959
Raja Malaiya SimmanIdentityNature
Kaadu Kodutha Kaniyirukku1963
Needhikku Pin PaasamNatureBeauty
Kurinjiyile Poo Malarnthu1967
Kandhan KarunaiBeautyNature
Sivagami Aada1975
Paattum BharadhamumMusic And DanceBeauty
Yaaraga Irundhal1978
Kavi Raja KalamegamContemplativeSpirituality

From the same album

More songs from Thozhilali

View album
Valarvathu Kannukku1964
ThozhilaliRomantic
Azhagan Azhagan1964
ThozhilaliRomantic
Aazham Theriyaamal1964
ThozhilaliPlayful
Enna Koduppai1964
ThozhilaliPlayful
Varuga Varuga1964
ThozhilaliRomantic
Aandavan Ulagathin1964
ThozhilaliHopeful

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.