Kalaiyae En Vazhkaiyin Duet
From Meenda Sorgam · 1960
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela (Humming, A. M. Rajah
- Music director
- T. Chalapathi Rao
- Details
- Meenda Sorgam1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Aa aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…. | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa….aaa….aaa…. | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa…aaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa… | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa…aa..aa…. | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa…aa….aaa…aaa..aaa…. | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa..aaa…aaa…aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa…aa… | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..aa…aa…aaa..aaa..aaa…aaa… | (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin | Oh Art, of my life |
| Dhisai maatrinaai | You changed the direction |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin | Oh Art, of my life |
| Dhisai maatrinaai | You changed the direction |
| Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae | Without you, I do not exist |
| Female | |
| Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa…… | (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin | Oh Art, of my life |
| Dhisai maatrinaai | You changed the direction |
| Male | |
| Maalaiyilum adhi kaalaiyilum | In the evening and in the early morning |
| Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa…… | Female: (Vocalizing) |
| Male :Malar maevum silai maeniyilum | Male: Even in the statue-like body adorned with flowers |
| Aadidum azhagae | Oh dancing beauty |
| Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa..aa….aa | Female: (Vocalizing) |
| Male :Aadidum azhagae arppudha ulagil | Male: Oh dancing beauty, in this wonderful world |
| Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae | Without you, I do not exist |
| Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa…… | Female: (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin | Oh Art, of my life |
| Dhisai maatrinaai | You changed the direction |
| Male | |
| Koyil kanden angu dheivamillai | I saw a temple, but there was no deity there |
| Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa…… | Female: (Vocalizing) |
| Male :Koyil kanden angu dheivamillai | Male: I saw a temple, but there was no deity there |
| Odi vandhen ingae nee irundhaai | I came running here, where you were present |
| Baavamum raagamum thaalamum neeyae | Expression, melody, and rhythm are all you |
| Baavamum raagamum thaalamum neeyae | Expression, melody, and rhythm are all you |
| Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae | Without you, I do not exist |
| Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa…… | Female: (Vocalizing) |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin | Oh Art, of my life |
| Dhisai maatrinaai | You changed the direction |
| Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae | Without you, I do not exist |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin | Oh Art, of my life |
| Dhisai maatrinaai | You changed the direction |
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ....ஆ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
கலையே என் வாழ்க்கையின்
திசை மாற்றினாய்
Oh Art, of my life
You changed the direction
கலையே என் வாழ்க்கையின்
திசை மாற்றினாய்
நீ இல்லையேல் நானில்லையே
Oh Art, of my life
You changed the direction
Without you, I do not exist
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
(Vocalizing)
கலையே என் வாழ்க்கையின்
திசை மாற்றினாய்
Oh Art, of my life
You changed the direction
மாலையிலும் அதி காலையிலும்
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
மலர் மேவும் சிலை மேனியிலும்
ஆடிடும் அழகே
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
ஆடிடும் அழகே அற்புத உலகில்
நீ இல்லையேல் நானில்லையே
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
In the evening and in the early morning
Female: (Vocalizing)
Male: Even in the statue-like body adorned with flowers
Oh dancing beauty
Female: (Vocalizing)
Male: Oh dancing beauty, in this wonderful world
Without you, I do not exist
Female: (Vocalizing)
கலையே என் வாழ்க்கையின்
திசை மாற்றினாய்
Oh Art, of my life
You changed the direction
கோயில் கண்டேன்
அங்கு தெய்வமில்லை
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
கோயில் கண்டேன்
அங்கு தெய்வமில்லை
ஓடி வந்தேன் இங்கே நீ இருந்தாய்
பாவமும் ராகமும் தாளமும் நீயே
பாவமும் ராகமும் தாளமும் நீயே
நீ இல்லையேல் நானில்லையே
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
I saw a temple, but there was no deity there
Female: (Vocalizing)
Male: I saw a temple, but there was no deity there
I came running here, where you were present
Expression, melody, and rhythm are all you
Expression, melody, and rhythm are all you
Without you, I do not exist
Female: (Vocalizing)
கலையே என் வாழ்க்கையின்
திசை மாற்றினாய்
நீ இல்லையேல் நானில்லையே
Oh Art, of my life
You changed the direction
Without you, I do not exist
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆ......ஆஅ....ஆ.....
Oh Art, of my life
You changed the direction
கலையே என் வாழ்க்கையின்
திசை மாற்றினாய்
Aa aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa….
(Vocalizing)
Aaa….aaa….aaa….
(Vocalizing)
Aaa…aaaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
(Vocalizing)
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aa..aa….
(Vocalizing)
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aa….aaa…aaa..aaa….
(Vocalizing)
Aaa…aaa…aaa..aaa…aaa…aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa…aa…
(Vocalizing)
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa..aa…aa…aaa..aaa..aaa…aaa…
(Vocalizing)
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin
Oh Art, of my life
Dhisai maatrinaai
You changed the direction
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin
Oh Art, of my life
Dhisai maatrinaai
You changed the direction
Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae
Without you, I do not exist
Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa……
(Vocalizing)
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin
Oh Art, of my life
Dhisai maatrinaai
You changed the direction
Maalaiyilum adhi kaalaiyilum
In the evening and in the early morning
Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa……
Female: (Vocalizing)
Male :Malar maevum silai maeniyilum
Male: Even in the statue-like body adorned with flowers
Aadidum azhagae
Oh dancing beauty
Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa..aa….aa
Female: (Vocalizing)
Male :Aadidum azhagae arppudha ulagil
Male: Oh dancing beauty, in this wonderful world
Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae
Without you, I do not exist
Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa……
Female: (Vocalizing)
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin
Oh Art, of my life
Dhisai maatrinaai
You changed the direction
Koyil kanden angu dheivamillai
I saw a temple, but there was no deity there
Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa……
Female: (Vocalizing)
Male :Koyil kanden angu dheivamillai
Male: I saw a temple, but there was no deity there
Odi vandhen ingae nee irundhaai
I came running here, where you were present
Baavamum raagamum thaalamum neeyae
Expression, melody, and rhythm are all you
Baavamum raagamum thaalamum neeyae
Expression, melody, and rhythm are all you
Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae
Without you, I do not exist
Female :Aaa….aaa…aaa….aaa….aaa…aa……
Female: (Vocalizing)
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin
Oh Art, of my life
Dhisai maatrinaai
You changed the direction
Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae
Without you, I do not exist
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin
Oh Art, of my life
Dhisai maatrinaai
You changed the direction
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin from Meenda Sorgam (1960) is a deeply artistic ode to the divine power of classical performing arts. Penned by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, the song expresses a protagonist's ultimate devotion to Art, claiming that art itself gave meaning and direction to an otherwise aimless life, to the extent that the artist cannot exist without it. The song elevates art above traditional religious structures. Finding no living deity inside a physical temple, the protagonist runs towards dance and music, recognizing that true divinity lives in the triad of classical performance: Baavam (expression), Raagam (melody), and Thaalam (rhythm).
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification / Apostrophe
“Kalaiyae en vaazhkkaiyin Dhisai maatrinaai”
Art ('Kalai') is directly addressed as a living, guiding entity that has changed the speaker's life trajectory.
Refrain / Anaphora
“Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae”
The phrase 'Nee illaiyael naanillaiyae' (Without you, I do not exist) is repeated throughout the song to emphasize absolute reliance on art.
Contrast / Paradox
“Koyil kanden angu dheivamillai Odi vandhen ingae nee irundhaai”
Contrasts the emptiness of a physical temple without a deity against finding true divinity in the presence of art.
Triplet / Asyndeton
“Baavamum raagamum thaalamum neeyae”
Combines the three fundamental elements of Indian classical arts (Bhava, Raga, Tala) to define the essence of the divine art form.
Did you know?
Trivia
Meenda Sorgam (1960) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and starred Gemini Ganesan alongside the accomplished classical dancer Padmini. The film's music was composed by T. Chalapathi Rao, featuring vocal alaaps designed to highlight elaborate Bharatanatyam dance choreography on screen.
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