Kalaiye Un Ezhil Meni
From Kalai Arasi · 1963
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Bhanumathi, Seerkazhi Govindarajan
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Kalai Arasi1963
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen | Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit? |
| Kaadhal kana neram pirindhaalum | Why does love, even if separated for a split moment, |
| Kanal aavadhaen | Turn into burning embers? |
| Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen | Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit? |
| Kaadhal kana neram pirindhaalum | Why does love, even if separated for a split moment, |
| Kanal aavadhaen | Turn into burning embers? |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen | Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit? |
| Female | |
| Uravaadum ivvelai pirivenbadhaen | Why talk of separation at this time of intimate bond? |
| Nam uyirodu uyir serndhu | As our souls unite with one another, |
| Perum inba thaen | Sweet nectar of great happiness flows. |
| Uravaadum ivvelai pirivenbadhaen | Why talk of separation at this time of intimate bond? |
| Nam uyirodu uyir serndhu | As our souls unite with one another, |
| Perum inba thaen | Sweet nectar of great happiness flows. |
| Male | |
| Iru vaeru porul koorum | Why does a glance of the eyes |
| Kan paarvai yaen | Convey two different meanings? |
| Iru vaeru porul koorum | Why does a glance of the eyes |
| Kan paarvai yaen | Convey two different meanings? |
| Ondru noi thandhadhaen | Why did one give a sickness, |
| Ondru marundhaanadhaen | While the other became the cure? |
| Female | |
| Paruvathilae oru paarvai | A single glance in youth |
| Noyaagumae ezhil | Becomes a sickness; the beautiful |
| Uruvathin thunai sera | Union with the beloved form |
| Marundhaagumae | Becomes the cure! |
| Male | |
| Sirikkindra idhazh kooda | Even the smiling lips |
| Kalai pesudhae | Speak of art, |
| Vaai manakkindra mozhi yaavum | All words fragrant from the mouth |
| Kavi paadudhae | Sing poetry! |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen | Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit? |
| Kaadhal kana neram pirindhaalum | Why does love, even if separated for a split moment, |
| Kanal aavadhaen | Turn into burning embers? |
| Female | |
| Ninaikkindra ninaivugal | The thoughts that were imagined |
| Ninaivaanadhae adhil | Came into real existence, and within them, |
| Pirakkindra naanam kalaiyaanadhae | The shyness that was born turned into art! |
| Ninaikkindra ninaivugal | The thoughts that were imagined |
| Ninaivaanadhae adhil | Came into real existence, and within them, |
| Pirakkindra naanam kalaiyaanadhae | The shyness that was born turned into art! |
| Male | |
| Ezhil annamae engum | Oh beautiful swan, everywhere |
| Un vannamae | Is your colorful splendour, |
| Female | |
| Kalai mannavaa endhan | Oh king of arts, are you not |
| Uyir allavaa | My very life? |
| Male | |
| Ezhil annamae engum | Oh beautiful swan, everywhere |
| Un vannamae | Is your colorful splendour, |
| Female | |
| Kalai mannavaa endhan | Oh king of arts, are you not |
| Uyir allavaa | My very life? |
கலையே உன் எழில் மேனி கனியாவதேன்
காதல் கணநேரம் பிரிந்தாலும்
கனல் ஆவதேன்
கலையே உன் எழில் மேனி கலையாவதேன்
காதல் கணநேரம் பிரிந்தாலும்
கனல் ஆவதேன்
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Why does love, even if separated for a split moment,
Turn into burning embers?
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Why does love, even if separated for a split moment,
Turn into burning embers?
கலையே உன் எழில் மேனி கனியாவதேன்
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
உறவாடும் இவ்வேளை பிரிவென்பதேன்
நம் உயிரோடு உயிர் சேர்ந்து
பெறும் இன்பத்தேன்
உறவாடும் இவ்வேளை பிரிவென்பதேன்
நம் உயிரோடு உயிர் சேர்ந்து
பெறும் இன்பத்தேன்
Why talk of separation at this time of intimate bond?
As our souls unite with one another,
Sweet nectar of great happiness flows.
Why talk of separation at this time of intimate bond?
As our souls unite with one another,
Sweet nectar of great happiness flows.
இரு வேறு பொருள் கூறும்
கண்பார்வை ஏன்
இரு வேறு பொருள் கூறும்
கண்பார்வை ஏன்
ஒன்று நோய் தந்ததேன்
ஒன்று மருந்தானதேன்
Why does a glance of the eyes
Convey two different meanings?
Why does a glance of the eyes
Convey two different meanings?
Why did one give a sickness,
While the other became the cure?
பருவத்தின் ஒரு பார்வை
நோயாகுமே எழில்
உருவத்தின் துணை சேர
மருந்தாகுமே
A single glance in youth
Becomes a sickness; the beautiful
Union with the beloved form
Becomes the cure!
சிரிக்கின்ற இதழ் கூட
கலை பேசுதே
வாய் மணக்கின்ற மொழியாவும்
கவி பாடுதே
Even the smiling lips
Speak of art,
All words fragrant from the mouth
Sing poetry!
கலையே உன் எழில் மேனி கனியாவதேன்
காதல் கணநேரம் பிரிந்தாலும்
கனல் ஆவதேன்
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Why does love, even if separated for a split moment,
Turn into burning embers?
நினைக்கின்ற நினைவுங்கள்
நினைவானதே அதில்
பிறக்கின்ற நாணம் கலையானதே
நினைக்கின்ற நினைவுங்கள்
நினைவானதே அதில்
பிறக்கின்ற நாணம் கலையானதே
The thoughts that were imagined
Came into real existence, and within them,
The shyness that was born turned into art!
The thoughts that were imagined
Came into real existence, and within them,
The shyness that was born turned into art!
எழில் அன்னமே எங்கும்
உன் வண்ணமே
Oh beautiful swan, everywhere
Is your colorful splendour,
கலை மன்னவா எந்தன்
உயிர் அல்லவா
Oh king of arts, are you not
My very life?
எழில் அன்னமே எங்கும்
உன் வண்ணமே
Oh beautiful swan, everywhere
Is your colorful splendour,
கலை மன்னவா எந்தன்
உயிர் அல்லவா
Oh king of arts, are you not
My very life?
கணம் கூடப்பிரியாமல் உறவாடுவோம்
நம் மனம் நாடும் சுகம் யாவும்
தினம் காணுவோம்
கணம் கூடப்பிரியாமல் உறவாடுவோம்
Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Kaadhal kana neram pirindhaalum
Why does love, even if separated for a split moment,
Kanal aavadhaen
Turn into burning embers?
Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Kaadhal kana neram pirindhaalum
Why does love, even if separated for a split moment,
Kanal aavadhaen
Turn into burning embers?
Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Uravaadum ivvelai pirivenbadhaen
Why talk of separation at this time of intimate bond?
Nam uyirodu uyir serndhu
As our souls unite with one another,
Perum inba thaen
Sweet nectar of great happiness flows.
Uravaadum ivvelai pirivenbadhaen
Why talk of separation at this time of intimate bond?
Nam uyirodu uyir serndhu
As our souls unite with one another,
Perum inba thaen
Sweet nectar of great happiness flows.
Iru vaeru porul koorum
Why does a glance of the eyes
Kan paarvai yaen
Convey two different meanings?
Iru vaeru porul koorum
Why does a glance of the eyes
Kan paarvai yaen
Convey two different meanings?
Ondru noi thandhadhaen
Why did one give a sickness,
Ondru marundhaanadhaen
While the other became the cure?
Paruvathilae oru paarvai
A single glance in youth
Noyaagumae ezhil
Becomes a sickness; the beautiful
Uruvathin thunai sera
Union with the beloved form
Marundhaagumae
Becomes the cure!
Sirikkindra idhazh kooda
Even the smiling lips
Kalai pesudhae
Speak of art,
Vaai manakkindra mozhi yaavum
All words fragrant from the mouth
Kavi paadudhae
Sing poetry!
Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen
Oh Art, why does your beautiful body ripen like a fruit?
Kaadhal kana neram pirindhaalum
Why does love, even if separated for a split moment,
Kanal aavadhaen
Turn into burning embers?
Ninaikkindra ninaivugal
The thoughts that were imagined
Ninaivaanadhae adhil
Came into real existence, and within them,
Pirakkindra naanam kalaiyaanadhae
The shyness that was born turned into art!
Ninaikkindra ninaivugal
The thoughts that were imagined
Ninaivaanadhae adhil
Came into real existence, and within them,
Pirakkindra naanam kalaiyaanadhae
The shyness that was born turned into art!
Ezhil annamae engum
Oh beautiful swan, everywhere
Un vannamae
Is your colorful splendour,
Kalai mannavaa endhan
Oh king of arts, are you not
Uyir allavaa
My very life?
Ezhil annamae engum
Oh beautiful swan, everywhere
Un vannamae
Is your colorful splendour,
Kalai mannavaa endhan
Oh king of arts, are you not
Uyir allavaa
My very life?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet from the film Kalai Arasi (1963) explores the sweet torment and ecstatic bliss of romantic love. The lovers question why love causes intense ache during even a brief separation—comparing it to burning embers—while togetherness yields sweet nectar. They discuss the duality of a lover's gaze, which can simultaneously cause love-sickness and serve as its ultimate cure. Throughout the song, poet Kannadasan elevates romantic feelings into classical art forms. A smile becomes fine art, soft words turn into poetry, and coy bashfulness transforms into creative expression. The lovers end by extolling each other as their very soul and radiance.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis / Paradox
“Ondru noi thandhadhaen / Ondru marundhaanadhaen”
Presents a poetic contradiction where one gaze causes love-sickness ('noi') while another gaze acts as the remedy ('marundhu').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Nam uyirodu uyir serndhu / Perum inba thaen”
Compares the intense happiness of two souls joining to sweet, flowing nectar ('perum inba thaen').
Initial Rhyme (Emonae / Moonae)
“Kalaiyae un ezhil maeni kaniyaavadhaen”
Repetition of consonant/vowel sounds at the beginning of words in successive phrases ('Kalaiyae', 'Kaniyaavadhaen', 'Kanal').
Personification
“Sirikkindra idhazh kooda kalai pesudhae”
Attributes artistic speech and poetry to human lips and spoken words.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kalai Arasi (1963), starring M. G. Ramachandran and P. Bhanumathi, is historically significant for being one of the earliest Indian science-fiction films featuring extraterrestrials and space travel. The soundtrack was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this specific duet was sung by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela.
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