Kalaimagal Alaimagal Malaimagal
From Velli Ratham · 1979
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- P. Susheela, P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Velli Ratham1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum | The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati— |
| Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri | Mingle together on this night of Navaratri. |
| Endhan thalaivanai azhagiya ilainganai | The night I first set eyes upon my lord, |
| Mudhanmudhalil tharisitha raathiri | A handsome young man, |
| Navaraathiri suba raathiri | Is Navaratri, an auspicious night. |
| Male | |
| Orumagal azhaginil thirumagal ena ivan | The night he beheld this singular girl, |
| Tharisitha raathiri navaraathiri | Seeing her like Goddess Lakshmi herself, is Navaratri. |
| Aval vilaimagal illai oru kulamagal en ivan | The night he realized she is not a woman for sale, but a noble lady, |
| Arindha nal rathiri mana raathiri | Is a good night, a nuptial night. |
| Nadu raathiri subha raathiri | A midnight, an auspicious night. |
| Male | |
| Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum | The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati— |
| Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri | Mingle together on this night of Navaratri. |
| Female | |
| Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri | Being born as a woman was one night, |
| Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri | Blossoming into a flower was another night. |
| Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri | Being born as a woman was one night, |
| Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri | Blossoming into a flower was another night. |
| Kalyaana vaibogam oru raathiri | The grand ceremony of marriage was one night, |
| Kaathu kidappenae sugam kaana pala raathiri | And I await for many nights to experience true bliss. |
| Male | |
| Naaldhorum naan kanden sivaraathiri | Every day I witnessed a sleepless, arduous night, |
| Endha nangaikkum naan sondham sila raathiri | And I belonged to no maiden, only to a few nights. |
| Naaldhorum naan kanden sivaraathiri | Every day I witnessed a sleepless, arduous night, |
| Endha nangaikkum naan sondham sila raathiri | And I belonged to no maiden, only to a few nights. |
| Paavangal naan seidhen pagal raathiri | I committed sins both day and night, |
| Adhan palan kanden unaikanda mudhal raathiri | And felt their consequences until the first night I saw you. |
| Nava raathiri indru nava raathiri | Today is Navaratri, yes, Navaratri. |
| Female | |
| Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum | The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati— |
| Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri | Mingle together on this night of Navaratri. |
| Female | |
| Anbae nee neelamaagi varum raathiri | Oh beloved, the night you arrive expanding like the blue sky, |
| En aasaigal arthangal perum raathiri | Is the night my desires find true meaning. |
| Adhuthaanae en vaazhvil pudhu raathiri | Is that not the new night in my life? |
| Adhai kaanamal enakkingu yedhu raathiri | Without witnessing that, what night is left for me? |
| Male | |
| Enakkaaga varam kettu muzhu raathiri | The night spent praying for blessings entirely on my behalf, |
| Kangal imaikkaamal nee vendi thozhum raathiri | The night you worship without even blinking your eyes, |
| En theengai naan enni azhum raathiri | Is the night I weep reflecting upon my misdeeds, |
| Kanneer aaraaga en kangalil ezhum raathiri | A night when tears rise like a river in my eyes. |
| Nava raathiri indru nava raathiri | Today is Navaratri, yes, Navaratri. |
| Female | |
| Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum | The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati— |
| Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri | Mingle together on this night of Navaratri. |
கலைமகள் அலைமகள் மலைமகள்
மூவரும் குலவிடும் ராத்திரி நவராத்திரி
எந்தன் தலைவனை அழகிய இளைஞனை
முதன்முதல் தரிசித்த ராத்திரி
நவராத்திரி சுப ராத்திரி
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
The night I first set eyes upon my lord,
A handsome young man,
Is Navaratri, an auspicious night.
ஒருமகள் அழகிய திருமகள் என இவன்
தரிசித்த ராத்திரி நவராத்திரி
அவள் விலைமகள் இல்லை ஒரு குலமகள்
என் இவன் அறிந்த நல் ராத்திரி முதல் ராத்திரி
நடு ராத்திரி சுபராத்திரி.....
The night he beheld this singular girl,
Seeing her like Goddess Lakshmi herself, is Navaratri.
The night he realized she is not a woman for sale, but a noble lady,
Is a good night, a nuptial night.
A midnight, an auspicious night.
கலைமகள் அலைமகள் மலைமகள்
மூவரும் குலவிடும் ராத்திரி நவராத்திரி
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
பெண்ணாகப் பிறந்தது ஒரு ராத்திரி
நான் பூவாக மலர்ந்தது ஒரு ராத்திரி
பெண்ணாகப் பிறந்தது ஒரு ராத்திரி
நான் பூவாக மலர்ந்தது ஒரு ராத்திரி
கல்யாண வைபோகம் ஒரு ராத்திரி
காத்துக் கிடந்தேனே சுகம் காணப் பல ராத்திரி
Being born as a woman was one night,
Blossoming into a flower was another night.
Being born as a woman was one night,
Blossoming into a flower was another night.
The grand ceremony of marriage was one night,
And I await for many nights to experience true bliss.
நாள்தோறும் நான் கண்டேன் சிவராத்திரி
எந்த நங்கைக்கும் நான் சொந்தம் சில ராத்திரி
நாள்தோறும் நான் கண்டேன் சிவராத்திரி
எந்த நங்கைக்கும் நான் சொந்தம் சில ராத்திரி
பாவங்கள் பல செய்தேன் பகல் ராத்திரி
அதன் பலன் கண்டேன் உனக் கண்ட முதல் ராத்திரி
நவ ராத்திரி இன்று நவ ராத்திரி
Every day I witnessed a sleepless, arduous night,
And I belonged to no maiden, only to a few nights.
Every day I witnessed a sleepless, arduous night,
And I belonged to no maiden, only to a few nights.
I committed sins both day and night,
And felt their consequences until the first night I saw you.
Today is Navaratri, yes, Navaratri.
கலைமகள் அலைமகள் மலைமகள்
மூவரும் குலவிடும் ராத்திரி நவராத்திரி
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
அன்பே நீ நலமாகி வரும் ராத்திரி
என் ஆசைகள் அர்த்தங்கள் பெறும் ராத்திரி
அதுதானே என் வாழ்வில் புது ராத்திரி
அதைக் காணாமல் எனக்கிங்கு எது ராத்திரி
Oh beloved, the night you arrive expanding like the blue sky,
Is the night my desires find true meaning.
Is that not the new night in my life?
Without witnessing that, what night is left for me?
எனக்காக வரம் கேட்டு முழு ராத்திரி
கண்கள் இமைக்காமல் நீ வேண்டித் தொழும் ராத்திரி
என் தீங்கை நான் எண்ணி அழும் ராத்திரி
கண்ணீர் ஆறாக என் கண்ணில் எழும் ராத்திரி
நவ ராத்திரி இன்று நவ ராத்திரி
The night spent praying for blessings entirely on my behalf,
The night you worship without even blinking your eyes,
Is the night I weep reflecting upon my misdeeds,
A night when tears rise like a river in my eyes.
Today is Navaratri, yes, Navaratri.
கலைமகள் அலைமகள் மலைமகள்
மூவரும் குலவிடும் ராத்திரி நவராத்திரி
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
Endhan thalaivanai azhagiya ilainganai
The night I first set eyes upon my lord,
Mudhanmudhalil tharisitha raathiri
A handsome young man,
Navaraathiri suba raathiri
Is Navaratri, an auspicious night.
Orumagal azhaginil thirumagal ena ivan
The night he beheld this singular girl,
Tharisitha raathiri navaraathiri
Seeing her like Goddess Lakshmi herself, is Navaratri.
Aval vilaimagal illai oru kulamagal en ivan
The night he realized she is not a woman for sale, but a noble lady,
Arindha nal rathiri mana raathiri
Is a good night, a nuptial night.
Nadu raathiri subha raathiri
A midnight, an auspicious night.
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri
Being born as a woman was one night,
Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri
Blossoming into a flower was another night.
Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri
Being born as a woman was one night,
Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri
Blossoming into a flower was another night.
Kalyaana vaibogam oru raathiri
The grand ceremony of marriage was one night,
Kaathu kidappenae sugam kaana pala raathiri
And I await for many nights to experience true bliss.
Naaldhorum naan kanden sivaraathiri
Every day I witnessed a sleepless, arduous night,
Endha nangaikkum naan sondham sila raathiri
And I belonged to no maiden, only to a few nights.
Naaldhorum naan kanden sivaraathiri
Every day I witnessed a sleepless, arduous night,
Endha nangaikkum naan sondham sila raathiri
And I belonged to no maiden, only to a few nights.
Paavangal naan seidhen pagal raathiri
I committed sins both day and night,
Adhan palan kanden unaikanda mudhal raathiri
And felt their consequences until the first night I saw you.
Nava raathiri indru nava raathiri
Today is Navaratri, yes, Navaratri.
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
Anbae nee neelamaagi varum raathiri
Oh beloved, the night you arrive expanding like the blue sky,
En aasaigal arthangal perum raathiri
Is the night my desires find true meaning.
Adhuthaanae en vaazhvil pudhu raathiri
Is that not the new night in my life?
Adhai kaanamal enakkingu yedhu raathiri
Without witnessing that, what night is left for me?
Enakkaaga varam kettu muzhu raathiri
The night spent praying for blessings entirely on my behalf,
Kangal imaikkaamal nee vendi thozhum raathiri
The night you worship without even blinking your eyes,
En theengai naan enni azhum raathiri
Is the night I weep reflecting upon my misdeeds,
Kanneer aaraaga en kangalil ezhum raathiri
A night when tears rise like a river in my eyes.
Nava raathiri indru nava raathiri
Today is Navaratri, yes, Navaratri.
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
The three goddesses—Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati—
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Mingle together on this night of Navaratri.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Navaraathiri Suba Raathiri' from the 1979 film 'Velli Ratham' celebrates love, redemption, and sanctification framed around the thematic concept of 'Raathiri' (night) and the divine festival of Navaratri. The lovers reflect on various pivotal nights of their lives—from birth, coming of age, and marriage, to nights of hardship (metaphorical 'Sivarathri') and past sins. Finding each other transforms their night into an auspicious and sacred 'Navaratri', signifying purity and spiritual fulfillment. Through Vaali's evocative lyrics and MSV's intricate melody, the song explores deep emotional reflection. The male protagonist acknowledges his past wrongdoings and credits his beloved's devoted prayer for bringing light into his life, while the female protagonist views her partner as her divine fulfillment. The song beautifully blends romantic devotion with spiritual metaphors.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhukai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum”
Matching second letters in words like 'Kalaimagal', 'Alaimagal', 'Malaimagal' creates rich melodic harmony in the opening line.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri / Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri”
Repetition of the word 'raathiri' at the end of consecutive lines creates a hypnotic, rhythmic focus on the central theme of 'night'.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kanneer aaraaga en kangalil ezhum raathiri”
Metaphorical usage comparing severe hardships to 'Sivaraathiri' and overwhelming grief to tears flowing like a river ('Kanneer aaraaga').
Did you know?
Trivia
The song demonstrates Vaali's poetic mastery by building an entire narrative around variations of the word 'Raathiri' (including Suba raathiri, Sivaraathiri, Mana raathiri, Nadu raathiri, and Navaraathiri), portraying the progression of life, mistake, repentance, and divine romantic union.
Keep listening
More from Velli Ratham
Velli Ratham
Velli Ratham