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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kalayil Dhinamum

From New · 2004

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Unnikrishnan, Sadhana Sargam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
New2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Kaalayil dhinamum{ Every morning
Kan vizhithaal naan kaiWhen I open my eyes, the goddess
Thodum devathai ammaMy hands touch is my mother
Anbendraalae amma enIf one speaks of love, can anyone
Thaaipol aagiduma } (2)Become equal to my mother? } (2)
Male
Imai pol iravum pagalumLike an eyelid protecting night and day,
Enai kaatha annaiyaeO mother who protected me!
Unathanbu paartha pinbuAfter witnessing your love,
Adhaivida vaanam boomiEven the sky and the earth
Aagum siriyathuBecome smaller than that.
Male
{ Kaalayil dhinamum{ Every morning
Kan vizhithaal naan kaiWhen I open my eyes, the goddess
Thodum devathai ammaMy hands touch is my mother
Anbendraalae amma enIf one speaks of love, can anyone
Thaaipol aagiduma } (2)Become equal to my mother? } (2)
Male
Imai pol iravum pagalumLike an eyelid protecting night and day,
Enai kaatha annaiyaeO mother who protected me!
Unathanbu paartha pinbuAfter witnessing your love,
Adhaivida vaanam boomiEven the sky and the earth
Aagum siriyathuBecome smaller than that.
Male
Niraimaatha nilavae vaa vaaO full-term moon, come, come
Nadai podu methuva methuvaWalk slowly, slowly
Azhagae un paadu ariven ammaO beautiful one, I know your struggles, dear mother
Male
Masakaigal mayakam konduWith morning sickness and dizziness,
Madisaayum vaazhai thanduLeaning down like a tender banana stem,
Sumai alla baaram sugamthaan ammaThis burden is not a heavy load, it is pure bliss, mother
Male
Thaai aana pinbu thaan nee penmaniOnly after becoming a mother are you truly a complete woman
Thozh meethu thoonkadi kanmani kanmaniSleep on my shoulder, my darling, my darling
Male
Kaalayil dhinamumEvery morning
Kan vizhithaal naan kaiWhen I open my eyes, the goddess
Thodum devathai ammaMy hands touch is my mother
Anbendraalae amma enIf one speaks of love, can anyone
Thaaipol aagidumaBecome equal to my mother?
Male
Imai pol iravum pagalumLike an eyelid protecting night and day,
Enai kaatha annaiyaeO mother who protected me!
Unathanbu paartha pinbuAfter witnessing your love,
Adhaivida vaanam boomiEven the sky and the earth
Aagum siriyathuBecome smaller than that.
Female
………………………………..………………………………..
Female
Oru pillai karuvil konduCarrying one child in the womb,
Oru pillai kaiyil konduHolding another child in her arms,
Uravaadum yogam oru thaai kendruThis fortune of bonding belongs uniquely to a mother
Female
Mazhalai pol undhan nenjamMay your heart, innocent like a child,
Urangatum paavam konjamSleep now, poor thing,
Thaaikupin thaaram naanthaaneyaIs it not said 'Wife comes after mother'?
Female
Thaalelo paaduven nee thoonkudaI will sing a lullaby, you go to sleep
Thaai aaki vaithadhae neeyada neeyadaIt is you who made me a mother, my dear, my dear
Female
Thalaiva needhaan endhanO leader, you are my
Chella pillai paadugiren naan thaaloDear child, I sing a lullaby for you
Thanisai poovae thaalo ponmani thaaleloO unique flower, lullaby, golden jewel, lullaby
Female
Nilavo nilathil irangi unnai konja ennudhaeEven the moon wishes to descend to earth to cuddle you
Adhi kaalai seval koovum adhu varaiUntil the early morning rooster crows,
Panju nenjil neeyum urangiduYou sleep on this soft cotton heart
Female
Thalaiva needhaan endhanO leader, you are my
Chella pillai paadugiren naan thaaloDear child, I sing a lullaby for you
Thanisai poovae thaalo ponmani thaaleloO unique flower, lullaby, golden jewel, lullaby
Ponmani thaalelo ponmani thaaleloGolden jewel, lullaby, golden jewel, lullaby
Ponmani thaaleloGolden jewel, lullaby
Female
……………………………………………..……………………………………………..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional track from the film New (2004) celebrates the unparalleled depth of maternal affection and the divine bond between a mother and child. Written by legendary lyricist Vaali, the song exalts a mother as a living goddess whose boundless love dwarfs even the vastness of the sky and the earth. The song delicately captures both the hardships of pregnancy—such as dizziness and physical strain—and the profound spiritual joy of motherhood, portraying every struggle as a sweet blessing. Through tender imagery and lullaby rhythms, it underscores how true unconditional love originates in a mother's embrace.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Imai pol iravum pagalum

Compares the mother's constant protection to an eyelid safeguarding the eye night and day.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Unathanbu paartha pinbu / Adhaivida vaanam boomi / Aagum siriyathu

Exaggerates the magnitude of a mother's love by stating that the entire cosmos (sky and earth) pales in comparison.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Niraimaatha nilavae vaa vaa

Metaphorically compares an expectant mother to a full, glowing moon ('Niraimaatha nilavae').

Alliteration (Monai)

Masakaigal mayakam kondu / Madisaayum vaazhai thandu

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound across adjacent words creates melodic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for the movie New (2004), directed by S. J. Suryah, this song is rendered by Unni Krishnan and Sadhana Sargam. Vaali's poignant lyrics capture the theme of maternal devotion and the unique narrative twist of the film.

Keep listening

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