Kalaiye Jegam
From Mangayar Ullam Mangatha Selvam · 1962
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- Ghantasala
- Music director
- P. Aadhinarayana Rao
- Details
- Mangayar Ullam Mangatha Selvam1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae jegam pugazh jeevakalaiyae | Oh art, the living art praised by the entire world! |
| Kalainjanin vaazhvil yenindha nilaiyae | Why is there such a tragic state in the life of an artist? |
| Kalainjanum ulagil kaavalan andro | Is not an artist a protector of this world too? |
| Kalaiyae…kalaiyae | Oh art... oh art! |
| Male | |
| Arivu sudaraaga valar thamizhthaaye | Oh Mother Tamil, growing as the glowing flame of wisdom! |
| Arasan mun idamillaiyae | There is no place for you in front of the king! |
| Andha avaiyil unakkidamillaiyae | There is no place for you in that royal court! |
| Paedhai kalainjanin vaedhanai paaraai | Look at the deep anguish of this helpless artist, |
| Pralayamae kondu vaaraai | Bring forth a cosmic deluge of destruction! |
| Pralayamae kondu vaaraai | Bring forth a cosmic deluge of destruction! |
| Kalaiyae kalaiyae…aaaaaa..aaaa.. | Oh art, oh art... aaaaaa..aaaa.. |
| Kalaiyae kalaiyae…haaaaaa..aaaa..haaa…aaa | Oh art, oh art... haaaaaa..aaaa..haaa...aaa |
| Kalaiyae kalaiyae… | Oh art, oh art... |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae kalaiyae… | Oh art, oh art... |
கலையே ஜெகம் புகழ் ஜீவக்கலையே
கலைஞனின் வாழ்வில் ஏனிந்த நிலையே
கலைஞனும் உலகில் காவலன்றோ
கலையே...கலையே...
Oh art, the living art praised by the entire world!
Why is there such a tragic state in the life of an artist?
Is not an artist a protector of this world too?
Oh art... oh art!
அறிவு சுடராக வளர் தமிழ்த்தாயே
அரசன் முன் இடமில்லையே
அந்த அவையில் உனக்கிடமில்லையே
பேதை கலைஞனின் வேதனை பாராய்
பிரளயமே கொண்டு வாராய்..
பிரளயமே கொண்டு வாராய்..
கலையே...கலையே...ஆ....ஆ......ஆ.....
கலையே...கலையே...ஹா ஆ.....ஹா ஆ.....
கலையே...கலையே...
Oh Mother Tamil, growing as the glowing flame of wisdom!
There is no place for you in front of the king!
There is no place for you in that royal court!
Look at the deep anguish of this helpless artist,
Bring forth a cosmic deluge of destruction!
Bring forth a cosmic deluge of destruction!
Oh art, oh art... aaaaaa..aaaa..
Oh art, oh art... haaaaaa..aaaa..haaa...aaa
Oh art, oh art...
கர்நாடிக் :
.................
Oh art, oh art...
கலையே...கலையே...
கர்நாடிக் :
.................
Kalaiyae jegam pugazh jeevakalaiyae
Oh art, the living art praised by the entire world!
Kalainjanin vaazhvil yenindha nilaiyae
Why is there such a tragic state in the life of an artist?
Kalainjanum ulagil kaavalan andro
Is not an artist a protector of this world too?
Kalaiyae…kalaiyae
Oh art... oh art!
Arivu sudaraaga valar thamizhthaaye
Oh Mother Tamil, growing as the glowing flame of wisdom!
Arasan mun idamillaiyae
There is no place for you in front of the king!
Andha avaiyil unakkidamillaiyae
There is no place for you in that royal court!
Paedhai kalainjanin vaedhanai paaraai
Look at the deep anguish of this helpless artist,
Pralayamae kondu vaaraai
Bring forth a cosmic deluge of destruction!
Pralayamae kondu vaaraai
Bring forth a cosmic deluge of destruction!
Kalaiyae kalaiyae…aaaaaa..aaaa..
Oh art, oh art... aaaaaa..aaaa..
Kalaiyae kalaiyae…haaaaaa..aaaa..haaa…aaa
Oh art, oh art... haaaaaa..aaaa..haaa...aaa
Kalaiyae kalaiyae…
Oh art, oh art...
Kalaiyae kalaiyae…
Oh art, oh art...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotionally charged song expresses the sorrow and anger of an artist who faces rejection and injustice despite devoting his life to art. Addressing both Art itself and Mother Tamil as symbols of supreme wisdom and beauty, the singer laments that true artists—who ought to be revered as guardians of culture—are denied respect and space in royal courts and society. Overwhelmed by pain and helplessness, the artist calls upon a catastrophic cosmic deluge ('pralayam') to wipe out a world that fails to value true knowledge and artistic genius, highlighting the timeless struggle between artistic passion and societal neglect.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Arivu sudaraaga valar thamizhthaaye”
Mother Tamil is personified as 'Arivu sudar' (flame of wisdom), highlighting language and art as spiritual illumination.
Initial Alliteration (Monai)
“Kalaiyae jegam pugazh jeevakalaiyae”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across initial words ('Kalaiyae', 'Kalainjanin', 'Kalainjanum').
End Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Kalainjanin vaazhvil yenindha nilaiyae”
The matching '-iyae' sound at line endings ('jeevakalaiyae', 'nilaiyae', 'idamillaiyae').
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)
“Pralayamae kondu vaaraai”
Calling for 'pralayam' (universal destruction/deluge) to express extreme existential despair.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track features the powerful vocal rendition of legendary singer Ghantasala and was composed by P. Adinarayana Rao. The movie 'Mangayar Ullam Mangatha Selvam' (1962) was produced simultaneously in Telugu as 'Swarnamanjari', starring Gemini Ganesan and Anjali Devi. The song remains a quintessential Tamil film classic depicting the grief and dignity of an aggrieved court artist.
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