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Lyrics & meaning

Kallirukkum Malar

From Kalyaniyin Kanavan · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Leela, Kamala, Thangappan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Kalyaniyin Kanavan1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kallirukkum malar koondhal jaanagiyaiFor Janaki, whose hair is adorned with honey-laden flowers,
Ilangaiyar kon kalavu soozhnthaWhen the king of Lanka stealthily abducted her,
Kallamara sriraman kalang konduTo remove the deception, Lord Rama took his bow,
Kai Valaiththu thoduththa vaaliBending his hand to shoot the arrow,
Male
Ullirukkum uyir konduTaking the inner breath of life,
Ilangaiyar kon udalaiThe body of Lanka's king,
Verunkoodu seithuMaking it an empty shell,
Vellamena kurithi varaAs blood flowed like a flood,
Tharmaththin vetri varaAs the victory of righteousness prevailed,
Vilainthathamma….aa….aa….Victory came to fruition... ah... ah...
Vetri vilainthathamma…Victory came to fruition...
Vetri vilainthathamma…Victory came to fruition...
Chorus
Azhagukku azhgu seivomLet us enhance beauty itself,
Karpin amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar of chastity,
Amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar,
Azhagukku azhgu seivomLet us enhance beauty itself,
Karpin amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar of chastity,
Amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar,
Chorus
Sempanju poosiya paadhaththilOn the feet smeared with red cotton dye,
Siru viral mothiram valaiththu vaippomLet us place a ring curved around the toe,
Sempanju poosiya paadhaththilOn the feet smeared with red cotton dye,
Siru viral mothiram valaiththu vaippomLet us place a ring curved around the toe,
Ambinum kooriya kangalilaeIn those eyes sharper than arrows,
Anjana maiyittu azhagu seivomLet us beautify by applying kohl,
Chorus
Amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar,
Azhagukku azhgu seivomLet us enhance beauty itself,
Karpin amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar of chastity,
Amuthinai alangarippomLet us adorn the nectar,
Male
Vaiyam nilaiyariyaFor the world to know her true nature,
Mannaargal unaiyariyaFor the kings to know about you,
Vaiyam…..mmm…..nilaiyariyaFor the world... mmm... to know her true nature,
Mannaargal unaiyariyaFor the kings to know about you,
Aiyam marainthupadaFor all doubts to disappear,
Anaiththulagam paninthu varaFor the entire world to bow down,
Poi thavirntha naermaiThe honesty devoid of falsehood,
Ponmalaraam jaanagiyaiTo Janaki who is like a golden flower,
Nei valarththa theeyilIn the fire fed with ghee,
Neenthi vara aanaiyittaen…I ordered her to swim across...
Aanaiyittaen…I commanded...
Female
Neruppinai nerupae neeyumOh fire, if you can even dare to touch,
Nerunguthal iyalumaayinTouch fire itself if it is possible,
Neriya enathu maeniMy virtuous body,
Nerunguga neruppae indruApproach me, oh fire, today!
Female
Marupena thiranda tholinBefore the eyes of the king with broad shoulders,
Mannavan kan munnaalaeBefore the king's eyes,
Mai kuzhal malaraiyenumOr will you burn even the flower in my dark hair?
Erippaiyo nerupae vaa….Will you burn me? Come, oh fire!
Erippaiyo nerupae vaa….Will you burn me? Come, oh fire!
Erippaiyo nerupae vaa….Will you burn me? Come, oh fire!
Chorus
Kaana vendum latcham kangalA hundred thousand eyes must behold this,
Kaana vendum latcham kangalA hundred thousand eyes must behold this,
Seethaa deviyin kaalukku nigaro pengalAre other women equal to Goddess Sita's feet?
Kaana vendum latcham kangalA hundred thousand eyes must behold this,
Seethaa deviyin kaalukku nigaro pengalAre other women equal to Goddess Sita's feet?
Kaana vendum latcham kangalA hundred thousand eyes must behold this,
Chorus
Navaraththina thangaththoduAdorned with gold set with nine gems,
Nadaiyilae annappaeduWith a walk like a majestic swan,
Navaraththina thangaththoduAdorned with gold set with nine gems,
Nadaiyilae annappaeduWith a walk like a majestic swan,
Avanukku illai eeduThere is no match for him,
Avanukku avalae eeduOnly she is the equal match for him,
Chorus
Kaana vendum latcham kangalA hundred thousand eyes must behold this.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This dance drama song recounts the central narrative of the Ramayana following the defeat of Ravana and the trial by fire (Agni Pariksha) of Goddess Sita. It begins with an ode to Rama's victory over Ravana to uphold righteousness, followed by the joyful preparation and adornment of Sita, hailing her divine virtue and chastity. The song then captures Rama's solemn decree ordering Sita to walk through fire to demonstrate her purity to the world, and Sita's fearless challenge to the fire god Agni. Finally, it concludes with a celebratory praise of Sita's unmatched grace, beauty, and virtue, declaring that she alone is the ideal match for Lord Rama.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Karpin amuthinai alangarippom

Chastity is metaphorically described as nectar (Karpin amudhu), emphasizing its divine and precious nature.

Simile (Upamai)

Ambinum kooriya kangalilae

Sita's sharp eyes are compared directly to arrows (Ambinum kooriya kangal), highlighting their striking intensity.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Vellamena kurithi vara

Exaggeration describing blood flowing like a massive flood (Vellamena kurithi vara) during the defeat of Ravana.

Assonance/Alliteration (Monai)

Neruppinai nerupae neeyum

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ne' creating poetic rhythm and dramatic tension.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalyaniyin Kanavan (1963) is a Tamil film starring Sivaji Ganesan and B. Saroja Devi. This particular song is structured as a classical dance-drama (Sangeetha Nritya) portraying key moments from the Ramayana, penned masterfully by the legendary poet Kannadasan.

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