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Nandha album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kalli Adi Kalli

From Nandha · 2001

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singers
Anuradha Sriram, Srimathumitha, Chorus
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Nandha
Movie release year
2001
Lyrics added on
11 Jan 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalli adi kalli
Engae kandaai
Mudhalil enna kadhaichaai
Unnmai ellaam sollu
Sirithidum vaavi karaiyoram
Kaathu naan kidanthanan
Pathungi mella vanthavan
Pagudi pagudi yenna pongadi
Muzhu nilavu kaayum
Nilavil meengal vaadum thaennaadu
Angae irunthu ingae
Vaazha vantha pennae nee paadu
Nammai anaikka aalillai
Endru thanathi kidanthom nenjukkullae
Chorus :Tamilar sontham naam ennaalum…
Aaahaaah ….
Nalloorin vidhiyendru
Thirinthomadi
Thaerin pinnae alainthomadi
Kadalondru naduvilae
Illai endru kolvinam
Engal naadum intha naadum
Ondruthaan
Tamilan….tamilanthaan
Aa…aaa…aaa…haa…aaa
Aa…aaa…aaa…haa…aaa
Aa…aaa…aaa…haa…aaa
Nammathu uravellaam
Nam naattilthaan
Endrum ninaithom thavaraagathaan
Ingum uravu ullathu
Tamilar manathu periyathu
Ada unakkena
Vantha idathil
Marumagal aagi naan
Aei pudhiya paalam
Kannil therigirathae
Entha kalangamum
Illai endru aaguthae
Therudi vaazhvaayae
Kalli adi kalli
Ungal kaigal inaiyum antha poluthil
Engal vaazhkai viriyum
Merkkae marainthaalum
Kilakkae uthikkum
Antha kathirin sudaraai
Engal vidiyal theriyum
Kanavugal enathu ena ninaithen
Indru naan arinthanan
Irulin karam vilagumae
Ungal kanavum nanavaagumae…
You sly girl, hey you sneaky girl!
Where did you see him?
What did you talk about at first?
Tell us the whole truth!
By the edge of the laughing lagoon,
I was waiting and waiting...
He quietly sneaked up, and then...
You're just teasing me, oh go away, girls!
Where the full moon shines bright,
in that sweet land where fish play under the moonlight,
from there to here,
oh girl who came to build a life, sing your song!
"There is no one to hold us close,"
we grieved, burning inside our hearts.
Chorus: Tamils are our own kin, forever...
Aahaha...
Thinking it was our fate in Nallur,
we wandered aimlessly, my friend,
roaming behind the temple chariot in sorrow.
Let us believe that no ocean
stands between us—
our homeland and this land
are one and the same.
A Tamil is a Tamil, through and through.
Aa... aaa... aaa... haa... aa
Aa... aaa... aaa... haa... aa
Aa... aaa... aaa... haa... aa
"All our loved ones
are only back in our homeland,"
we mistakenly used to think.
There is family here too,
for the heart of a Tamil is vast.
Ah, right here where you came,
made especially for you,
as I become a daughter-in-law,
hey, a brand new bridge
is visible before my eyes!
Without any stain or sorrow,
everything has become pure.
May you live with hope and clarity!
You sly girl, hey you sneaky girl!
The moment your hands unite,
our lives will blossom wide.
Even if it sets in the west,
it will rise again in the east—
like the bright rays of that sun,
our own dawn is now in sight.
I used to think my dreams were only mine,
but today I have come to realize—
the grip of darkness will fall away,
and your dreams will come true as well...
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film 'Nandha' portrays a tender emotional connection, cultural unity, and the shared heritage of Tamils across borders, particularly referencing Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora experience alongside Indian Tamil identity. Through playful exchanges between female characters, it explores themes of love, displacement, acceptance, and finding a sense of home in a new land.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kalli adi kalli

The second letters 'll' in 'Kalli' and 'Mulla' (implied rhythm pattern) or 'ng' in 'Engal' and 'Ondru' create a traditional Tamil poetic harmony.

Metaphor

Aei pudhiya paalam / Kannil therigirathae

'Pudhiya paalam' (a new bridge) serves as a metaphor for the union of hearts and cultural connection bridging separated Tamil communities.

Symbolism

Merkkae marainthaalum / Kilakkae uthikkum / Antha kathirin sudaraai

The setting sun in the west and rising sun in the east symbolize loss followed by renewal and hope for a bright future.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although lyricist Thamarai wrote this touching song, it was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for Bala's critically acclaimed film 'Nandha' (2001). The song highlights Sri Lankan Tamil cultural touchpoints, such as 'Nalloor' (Nallur Kandaswamy Temple in Jaffna), reflecting the background of characters in the film.

Keep listening

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