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Velli Ratham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalaimagal Alaimagal Malaimagal

From Velli Ratham · 1979

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, P. Jayachandran
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Velli Ratham
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
31 May 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Endhan thalaivanai azhagiya ilainganai
Mudhanmudhalil tharisitha raathiri
Navaraathiri suba raathiri
Orumagal azhaginil thirumagal ena ivan
Tharisitha raathiri navaraathiri
Aval vilaimagal illai oru kulamagal en ivan
Arindha nal rathiri mana raathiri
Nadu raathiri subha raathiri
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri
Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri
Pennaaga pirandhadhu oru raathiri
Naan poovaaga malarndhadhu oru raathiri
Kalyaana vaibogam oru raathiri
Kaathu kidappenae sugam kaana pala raathiri
Naaldhorum naan kanden sivaraathiri
Endha nangaikkum naan sondham sila raathiri
Naaldhorum naan kanden sivaraathiri
Endha nangaikkum naan sondham sila raathiri
Paavangal naan seidhen pagal raathiri
Adhan palan kanden unaikanda mudhal raathiri
Nava raathiri indru nava raathiri
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
Anbae nee neelamaagi varum raathiri
En aasaigal arthangal perum raathiri
Adhuthaanae en vaazhvil pudhu raathiri
Adhai kaanamal enakkingu yedhu raathiri
Enakkaaga varam kettu muzhu raathiri
Kangal imaikkaamal nee vendi thozhum raathiri
En theengai naan enni azhum raathiri
Kanneer aaraaga en kangalil ezhum raathiri
Nava raathiri indru nava raathiri
Kalaimagal alaimagal malaimagal moovarum
Kulavidum raathiri navaraathiri
The goddess of learning, the goddess of wealth, and the goddess of mountains,
The night all three come together in joy is Navarathri.
My beloved, a handsome young man—
The night I saw him for the very first time,
Is a Navarathri night, an auspicious night.
Seeing her as a radiant, noble woman,
The night he beheld her was a Navarathri night.
"She is not a bought woman, but a woman of honour"—
The blessed night he realized this was our first night together,
In the deep of the night, an auspicious night...
The goddess of learning, the goddess of wealth, and the goddess of mountains,
The night all three come together in joy is Navarathri.
Being born as a woman happened on one night,
Blossoming into womanhood happened on another night,
Being born as a woman happened on one night,
Blossoming into womanhood happened on another night,
The wedding celebration lasts for one night,
Yet I waited through many nights to find true happiness.
Every day was a sleepless night for me (like Sivarathri),
Belonging to different women for only a few nights.
Every day was a sleepless night for me (like Sivarathri),
Belonging to different women for only a few nights.
I committed many wrongs day and night,
And I received my true blessing the first night I met you.
Navarathri, today is Navarathri!
The goddess of learning, the goddess of wealth, and the goddess of mountains,
The night all three come together in joy is Navarathri.
My love, the night you recover and return in good health,
Is the night all my desires will find their meaning.
That alone will be a brand new night in my life,
Without seeing that, what kind of night is there for me?
Pleading for a blessing for me through the whole night,
The night you pray without even closing your eyes,
Is the night I weep, remembering the wrongs I have done,
The night tears flow like a river from my eyes.
Navarathri, today is Navarathri!
The goddess of learning, the goddess of wealth, and the goddess of mountains,
The night all three come together in joy is Navarathri.
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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