- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Music director
- Himesh Reshammiya
- Movie name
- Dasavathaaram
- Movie release year
- 2008
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Jul 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This song, 'Kallai Mattum Kandaal' from the movie Dasavathaaram (2008), portrays the intense devotion of Rangaraja Nambi, a 12th-century Vaishnavite saint who stands firm against religious persecution by a Shaivite king. Set during the Chola era clash between Shaivism and Vaishnavism, the song articulates the philosophical debate between seeing the physical world (the stone) and recognizing the transcendent Divine (God within the stone). Through poetic symbolism written by Vaali, the lyrics contrast the Ashtakshara mantra (eight syllables: Om Namo Narayanaya) with the Panchakshara mantra (five syllables: Na Ma Shi Va Ya), symbolizing unshakeable faith. The narrator asserts that physical power and tyrannical royal decrees cannot diminish eternal truth or divine justice, comparing true devotion to the sky and moon which remain unaffected by rain or wind.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Contrast / Antimetabole (Muran / Etir-marai)
“Kallai mattum kandaal Kadavul theriyadhu...”
Contrasts perception of the physical image vs. spiritual divinity using inverted phrase structure ('Kallai mattum kandaal / Kadavul theriyadhu' vs 'Kadavul mattum kandaal / Kalladi theriyadhu').
Numeric Symbolism & Metaphor
“Ettil aindhu enn kazhiyum endrum / Aindhil ettu yen kazhiyadhu”
Compares mathematical subtraction of 8 and 5 to the philosophical supremacy and distinction between the 8-syllable Ashtaksharam (Om Namo Narayanaya) and 5-syllable Panchaksharam (Na Ma Shi Va Ya).
Rhetorical Question & Analogy (Upamai)
“Veesum katru vandhu vilakkanaikkum / Vennilaavai adhu anaiththiduma”
Uses nature analogies (wind blowing out a lamp vs. extinguishing the moon, rain wetting land vs. wetting the sky) to show that divine faith cannot be destroyed by worldly tyranny.
Emoni / Rhyme (Monai and Etukai)
“Neerukkullae moozhginaalum Needhi saagadhu...”
Classic Tamil poetic rhyming scheme where the second letter matches across consecutive lines (Neerukkullae / Needhi, Nenjukkullae / Engal).
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Trivia
The song depicts the historical conflict in the 12th century when Chola ruler Second Kulothunga (or Virarajendra Chola) ordered the removal of the Vishnu idol from the Chidambaram Nataraja temple complex. In the film's prologue, Kamal Haasan portrays Rangaraja Nambi, who ties himself to the idol as it is cast into the ocean. The lyrics were penned by veteran poet Vaali, and the song was composed by Himesh Reshammiya and sung by Hariharan.
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