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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalam Vanthadhum

From Shanmuga Priya · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Jaya Vijaya
Details
Shanmuga Priya1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaalam vanthathum naan varuvaen"I will come when the time arrives,"
Ena karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows such mercy!
Karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows mercy!
Kanneer vadikkum engalai kaakkaTo protect us who are shedding tears,
Nee illaamal yaaraiyaaWho else is there for us besides you, Lord?
Kanneer vadikkum engalai kaakkaTo protect us who are shedding tears,
Nee illaamal yaaraiyaaWho else is there for us besides you, Lord?
Nee illaamal yaaraiyaaWho else is there for us besides you, Lord?
Male
Kaalam vanthathum naan varuvaen"I will come when the time arrives,"
Ena karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows such mercy!
Karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows mercy!
Male
Ninthanai seithaar kandhanai endraaDid you punish them because they slandered Lord Muruga?
Thandanai thanthaai murugaiyaaOh Lord Muruga, you bestowed punishment upon them!
Ninthanai seithaar kandhanai endraaDid you punish them because they slandered Lord Muruga?
Thandanai thanthaai murugaiyaaOh Lord Muruga, you bestowed punishment upon them!
Vanthanai seithae vaazhnthirunthaalaeShe who lived worshipping you endlessly,
Antha en magalukku urugaiyaaWill you not melt in compassion for that daughter of mine?
Vanthanai seithae vaazhnthirunthaalaeShe who lived worshipping you endlessly,
Antha en magalukku urugaiyaaWill you not melt in compassion for that daughter of mine?
Male
Arivom unnai sodhanai seithaeWe know you test us before revealing yourself;
Adaikkalam tharuvaai murugaiyaaPlease give us refuge, Lord Muruga!
Arivom unnai sodhanai seithaeWe know you test us before revealing yourself;
Adaikkalam tharuvaai murugaiyaaPlease give us refuge, Lord Muruga!
Adaikkalam tharuvaai murugaiyaaPlease give us refuge, Lord Muruga!
Male
Kaalam vanthathum naan varuvaen"I will come when the time arrives,"
Ena karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows such mercy!
Karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows mercy!
Male
Aayiram sodhanai pothum pothumA thousand trials are enough, more than enough,
Oppukkondom thavaraiyaaWe accept our mistakes, Oh Lord!
Aayiram sodhanai pothum pothumA thousand trials are enough, more than enough,
Oppukkondom thavaraiyaaWe accept our mistakes, Oh Lord!
Male
Mayilai kakka mayil meedhaeriTo protect Mayil (Mylapore/the devotee), riding on your peacock,
Varuvaai engal kanthaiyaaCome to us, our Lord Kandha!
Vel vizhi maanai uyir pera seiyyaTo bring life back to the spear-eyed, deer-like maiden,
Veludan varuvaai velaiyaaCome with your divine spear, Oh Velayudha!
Velaiyaa…aa…..aa….aa….aa…Oh Velayudha...
Vel vizhi maanai uyir pera seiyyaTo bring life back to the spear-eyed, deer-like maiden,
Veludan varuvaai velaiyaaCome with your divine spear, Oh Velayudha!
Veludan varuvaai velaiyaa….Come with your divine spear, Oh Velayudha...
Male
Kaalam vanthathum naan varuvaen"I will come when the time arrives,"
Ena karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows such mercy!
Karunai kaattum velaiyaaOh Lord Velayudha who shows mercy!
Male
Saravanapavanae karthigai balaOh Saravanabhava, child raised by the Krittikas,
Thanikaasalanae engal shanmugaaOh Lord of Tiruttani, our Shanmuga!
Vayaloor aalum vadivelaaOh Vadivelu who rules over Vayalur,
Kuraigal theerppaai kurunaathaaResolve our grievances and sorrows, Oh Supreme Teacher!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful devotional song is a passionate plea to Lord Muruga (Velayudha/Shanmuga) by a distressed father seeking divine intervention to save his daughter's life. The devotee recalls Muruga's promise that He will appear when the appointed time comes, acknowledging that Lord Muruga tests his devotees before bestowing His grace. The singer surrenders completely, admitting human faults and asking for mercy after undergoing numerous trials, begging Muruga to arrive on His peacock with His divine spear (Vel) to restore life and health to his beloved daughter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ninthanai seithaar kandhanai endraa / Thandanai thanthaai murugaiyaa

Matching second consonants in adjacent lines creating rhythm, such as 'Ninthanai' and 'Thandanai' or 'Vanthanai'.

Monaai (First-letter Alliteration)

Vel vizhi maanai uyir pera seiyya / Veludan varuvaai velaiyaa

Matching starting consonant sounds in words across lines or within a line, like 'Vel' and 'Velayudha'.

Metaphor / Imagery (Uruvagaim)

Vel vizhi maanai uyir pera seiyya

Describing the daughter using 'Vel vizhi maanai' (a maiden with eyes sharp as a spear and gentle like a deer).

Anaphora (Repetition)

Aayiram sodhanai pothum pothum

Repetition of the phrase 'Aayiram sodhanai pothum pothum' to emphasize extreme suffering and longing for grace.

Did you know?

Trivia

The twin composer duo Jaya Vijaya (Jayan and Vijayan), renowned for their iconic devotional tunes across South India, composed the music for this film. Sung powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan, this song remains one of Kannadasan's most emotionally resonant devotional tracks dedicated to Lord Muruga in Tamil cinema.

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