Kalaiyo Silaiyo
From Pagalil Oru Iravu · 1979
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pagalil Oru Iravu1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Kalaiyo silaiyo | Is she a piece of art or a sculpted statue? |
| Idhu pon maan nilaiyo | Is this the graceful poise of a golden deer? |
| Paniyo poongiliyo | Is she gentle dew, or a sweet parrot amidst flowers? |
| Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo} (2) | Is she the moon that descended to behold the earth? |
| Kalaiyo silaiyo | Is she a piece of art or a sculpted statue? |
| Male | |
| Aadaadha thaer kolam | Like a decorated, still temple chariot pattern, |
| Nadai pottadho | Has it begun to walk on its own? |
| Aadaadha thaer kolam | Like a decorated, still temple chariot pattern, |
| Nadai pottadho | Has it begun to walk on its own? |
| Male | |
| Ariyaadha ullam endru | Considering her innocent, unawakened heart, |
| Malaraagumo | Will it blossom into a full flower? |
| Vadivamo kannikolam | Is her exquisite form a vision of maidenhood? |
| Vaalibam poomazhai | Her youthfulness is a gentle rain of flowers. |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyo silaiyo | Is she art or a sculpted statue? |
| Idhu pon maan nilaiyo | Is this the poise of a golden deer? |
| Paniyo poongiliyo | Is she soft dew or a sweet parrot? |
| Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo | Is she the moon that came down to see the earth? |
| Kalaiyo silaiyo | Is she art or a sculpted statue? |
| Male | |
| Poongothai mounam dhan | Is the silence of this flower-adorned maiden |
| Paribaashaiyo | A subtle, secret language of love? |
| Poongothai mounam dhan | Is the silence of this flower-adorned maiden |
| Paribaashaiyo | A subtle, secret language of love? |
| Male | |
| Puriyaadha jaadai enna | What does this enigmatic gesture mean? |
| Mariyaadhaiyo | Is it a mark of respect and modesty? |
| Thudippilae pillaithaano | Is it childlike innocence beating in her heart? |
| Kodhaiyin bhaavamo | Or is it the true emotional expression of the maiden? |
| Male | |
| Kalaiyo silaiyo | Is she art or a sculpted statue? |
| Idhu pon maan nilaiyo | Is this the poise of a golden deer? |
| Paniyo poongiliyo | Is she soft dew or a sweet parrot? |
| Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo | Is she the moon that came down to see the earth? |
| Kalaiyo silaiyo | Is she art or a sculpted statue? |
{கலையோ சிலையோ
இது பொன் மான் நிலையோ
பனியோ பூங்கிளியோ
நிலம் பார்க்க வந்த நிலவோ} (2)
கலையோ சிலையோ..........
Is she a piece of art or a sculpted statue?
Is this the graceful poise of a golden deer?
Is she gentle dew, or a sweet parrot amidst flowers?
Is she the moon that descended to behold the earth?
Is she a piece of art or a sculpted statue?
ஆடாத தேர் கோலம்
நடை போட்டதோ
ஆடாத தேர் கோலம்
நடை போட்டதோ
Like a decorated, still temple chariot pattern,
Has it begun to walk on its own?
Like a decorated, still temple chariot pattern,
Has it begun to walk on its own?
அறியாத உள்ளம் என்று
மலர் ஆகுமோ
வடிவமோ கன்னி கோலம்
வாலிபம் பூ மழை
Considering her innocent, unawakened heart,
Will it blossom into a full flower?
Is her exquisite form a vision of maidenhood?
Her youthfulness is a gentle rain of flowers.
கலையோ சிலையோ
இது பொன் மான் நிலையோ
பனியோ பூங்கிளியோ
நிலம் பார்க்க வந்த நிலவோ
கலையோ சிலையோ..........
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
Is this the poise of a golden deer?
Is she soft dew or a sweet parrot?
Is she the moon that came down to see the earth?
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
பூங்கோதை மௌனம்தான்
பரிபாஷையோ
பூங்கோதை மௌனம்தான்
பரிபாஷையோ
Is the silence of this flower-adorned maiden
A subtle, secret language of love?
Is the silence of this flower-adorned maiden
A subtle, secret language of love?
புரியாத ஜாடை என்ன
மரியாதையோ
துடிப்பிலே பிள்ளை தானோ
கோதையின் பாவமோ
What does this enigmatic gesture mean?
Is it a mark of respect and modesty?
Is it childlike innocence beating in her heart?
Or is it the true emotional expression of the maiden?
கலையோ சிலையோ
இது பொன் மான் நிலையோ
பனியோ பூங்கிளியோ
நிலம் பார்க்க வந்த நிலவோ
கலையோ சிலையோ..........
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
Is this the poise of a golden deer?
Is she soft dew or a sweet parrot?
Is she the moon that came down to see the earth?
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
{Kalaiyo silaiyo
Is she a piece of art or a sculpted statue?
Idhu pon maan nilaiyo
Is this the graceful poise of a golden deer?
Paniyo poongiliyo
Is she gentle dew, or a sweet parrot amidst flowers?
Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo} (2)
Is she the moon that descended to behold the earth?
Kalaiyo silaiyo
Is she a piece of art or a sculpted statue?
Aadaadha thaer kolam
Like a decorated, still temple chariot pattern,
Nadai pottadho
Has it begun to walk on its own?
Aadaadha thaer kolam
Like a decorated, still temple chariot pattern,
Nadai pottadho
Has it begun to walk on its own?
Ariyaadha ullam endru
Considering her innocent, unawakened heart,
Malaraagumo
Will it blossom into a full flower?
Vadivamo kannikolam
Is her exquisite form a vision of maidenhood?
Vaalibam poomazhai
Her youthfulness is a gentle rain of flowers.
Kalaiyo silaiyo
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
Idhu pon maan nilaiyo
Is this the poise of a golden deer?
Paniyo poongiliyo
Is she soft dew or a sweet parrot?
Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo
Is she the moon that came down to see the earth?
Kalaiyo silaiyo
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
Poongothai mounam dhan
Is the silence of this flower-adorned maiden
Paribaashaiyo
A subtle, secret language of love?
Poongothai mounam dhan
Is the silence of this flower-adorned maiden
Paribaashaiyo
A subtle, secret language of love?
Puriyaadha jaadai enna
What does this enigmatic gesture mean?
Mariyaadhaiyo
Is it a mark of respect and modesty?
Thudippilae pillaithaano
Is it childlike innocence beating in her heart?
Kodhaiyin bhaavamo
Or is it the true emotional expression of the maiden?
Kalaiyo silaiyo
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
Idhu pon maan nilaiyo
Is this the poise of a golden deer?
Paniyo poongiliyo
Is she soft dew or a sweet parrot?
Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo
Is she the moon that came down to see the earth?
Kalaiyo silaiyo
Is she art or a sculpted statue?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kalaiyo Silaiyo' is a poetic Tamil romantic song in which the protagonist expresses profound admiration for a maiden's beauty, modesty, and mysterious charm. Through a series of poetic questions, he wonders whether she is an intricate sculpture, a golden deer, dew drops, or the moon itself visiting earth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Questions (Sandeha Alankaram)
“Kalaiyo silaiyo”
The song extensively uses the poetic interrogative suffix '-o' (Kalaiyo, silaiyo, paniyo, nilavo) to express wonder and hyperbole regarding the heroine's beauty.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Vadivamo kannikolam / Vaalibam poomazhai”
Comparing youth to a shower of blossom flowers ('Vaalibam poomazhai') and the maiden to the moon descending to earth.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Paniyo poongiliyo / Nilam paarkka vandha nilavo”
Consistent end rhyming using the '-o' sound across consecutive lines creates melodic rhythm and aesthetic elegance.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kalaiyo Silaiyo' from the 1979 film Pagalil Oru Iravu features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas, featuring poet Kannadasan's signature evocative love imagery.
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