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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalaivaniye

From Sindhu Bhairavi · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sindhu Bhairavi1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Tha tha reenaaaTha tha reenaaa
Thathareenaa….mm…Thathareenaa….mm…
Thathareena…..naaa….aaaThathareena…..naaa….aaa
Thathareena…..naaa….naaThathareena…..naaa….naa
Thathareena…..naaa….naaThathareena…..naaa….naa
Thathareena…..naaa….naa naaThathareena…..naaa….naa naa
Thathareena…..naaa….ree…ee…Thathareena…..naaa….ree…ee…
Male
KalaivaaniyaeO Goddess of Arts (Saraswati)!
Kalaivaaniyae unaithaanaeO Goddess of Arts, it is you only...
Azhaithaen...I have called out for!
Uyirththeeyai valarthaenI nurtured the flame of life within me.
Varavendum varam vendumYou must come, I need your boon.
Thudiththaen thozhudhaenI yearned, I worshipped.
Palamurai ninaiththaenI thought of you many times.
Azhudhen isai tharumI wept, O music-bestowing...
Male
Kalaivaaniyae unaithaanae...Goddess of Arts, it is you...
Azhaithaen...I called out for!
Uyirththeeyai valarthaenI nurtured the flame of life within me.
Varavendum varam vendumYou must come, I need your boon.
Thudiththaen thozhudhaenI yearned, I worshipped.
Palamurai ninaiththaenI thought of you many times.
Azhudhen isai tharum kalaivaaniyaeI wept, O music-bestowing Goddess of Arts!
Male
Suram paadi siriththaaiYou sang musical notes and smiled.
Sirippaalae eriththaaiWith that very smile, you burned me.
Madi meedhu mariththaenI died upon your lap.
Maru jenmam koduththaaiAnd you gave me a rebirth.
Male
Siru viralgalil thalai kodhiStroking my hair with your gentle fingers,
Madidhanil enai valarththaai...you nurtured me on your lap.
Isai enum varam varum neramWhen the time came for the boon of music to arrive,
Dhisai sollavillai marandhaai...you forgot to show me the direction.
Male
Mugam kaatta maruththaai….You refused to show your face....
Aaaaaa…..aaa…..aaa….Aaaaaa…..aaa…..aaa….
Mugam kaatta maruththaaiYou refused to show your face.
Mugavariyai maraithaaiYou hid your address.
Nee mun vandhu poochchindhuCome forward and shower flowers,
Vizhiththuligal therikkiradhu thudaithuvidu...teardrops are spurting from my eyes, wipe them away!
Male
Kalaivaaniyae unaithaanaeO Goddess of Arts, it is you...
Azhaithaen...I called out for!
Uyirththeeyai valarthaenI nurtured the flame of life within me.
Varavendum varam vendumYou must come, I need your boon.
Thudiththaen thozhudhaenI yearned, I worshipped.
Palamurai ninaiththaenI thought of you many times.
Azhudhen isai tharum kalaivaaniyaeI wept, O music-bestowing Goddess of Arts!
Male
Ullam azhudhadhuMy heart wept,
Unnai thozhudhadhu...it worshipped you.
Unadhu uyiril ivan paadhiIn your soul, this man is one half.
Gangai thalaiyinil mangai udalinilWith Ganga on His head and Goddess Parvati in His body,
Sivanum ivanum oru jaadhi...Lord Shiva and this man belong to the same kind.
Male
Raaman oruvagaiRama is of one nature,
Kannan oruvagai...Krishna is of another nature,
Irandum ulagil samaneedhi...and both are equal justice in this world.
Angae thirumagal ingae kalaimagalThere (in heaven) is Goddess Lakshmi, here is Goddess Saraswati,
Avalum ivalum saripaadhi...she and this woman are equal halves.
Male
Kanneer perugiyadhae…Tears welled up...
Aaaaaa….aaaa……aaa….aaa….aaa…Aaaaaa….aaaa……aaa….aaa….aaa…
Kanneer perugiya kannil un mugamIn the eyes overflowing with tears, your face...
Azhagiya nilavena midhakkum...floats like a beautiful moon.
Uyirae… uyirin uyirae…O life... life of my life...
Azhagae… azhagin azhagaeO beauty... beauty of beauty...
Male
Ini azha valuvillaiNow I have no strength left to cry,
Vizhigalil thuliyillai...there are no tears left in my eyes.
Ini oru pirivillaiThere will be no more separation from now on,
Thuyar vara vazhiyillai...there is no path left for sorrow to enter.
Varuvaai….Please come!...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Kalaivaaniyae' from the movie Sindhu Bhairavi (1985), the protagonist—a classical musician named J.K. Balaganapathy—sings a deeply emotional plea addressing both the Goddess of Music (Kalaivani / Saraswati) and his soulmate Sindhu, who is his artistic muse. He expresses how music and love have consumed his soul, giving him a rebirth while leaving him tormented by distance and emotional agony. He compares his complex love and duality to divine mythologies like Lord Shiva carrying Ganga while sharing his body with Parvati, justifying his deep bond with two women.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Madi meedhu mariththaen / Madidhanil enai valarththaai

Matching second consonant 'di' in adjacent lines ('Madi meedhu' and 'Madidhanil').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Uyirththeeyai valarthaen

Comparing his inner agony and creative drive to a flame of life ('Uyirththeeyai').

Simile (Uvamai)

Azhagiya nilavena midhakkum

Comparing the reflection of the beloved's face in tear-filled eyes to a floating beautiful moon ('Azhagiya nilavena').

Mythological Allusions (Illakkia Kurippu)

Gangai thalaiyinil mangai udalinil

Referencing Lord Shiva holding Ganges on his head while sharing his body with Parvati to justify dual deep relationships.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Dr. K. J. Yesudas with lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Kalaivaaniyae' is set in the classical Raga Kalyani. The film Sindhu Bhairavi won three National Film Awards, including Best Music Direction for Ilaiyaraaja and Best Male Playback Singer for K. J. Yesudas.

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