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Lyrics & meaning

Kalviya Selvama Veerama

From Saraswathi Sabatham · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Saraswathi Sabatham
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
23 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Annaiya thanthaiya deivama
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Annaiya thanthaiya deivama
Ondrillamal matrondru uruvaguma
Idhil uyarvendrum thazhvendrum pirivaguma
Ondrillamal matrondru uruvaguma
Idhil uyarvendrum thazhvendrum pirivaguma
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Annaiya thanthaiya deivama
Kattorkku porul indri pasi theeruma
Kattorkku porul indri pasi theeruma
Porul petrorkku arivindri pugal seruma
Kattorkku porul indri pasi theeruma
Porul petrorkku arivindri pugal seruma
Kattraalum petraalum balam aaguma
Kattraalum petraalum balam aaguma
Veeram kaanaadha vaazh endrum vaazhvaaguma
Veeram kaanaadha vaazh endrum vaazhvaaguma
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Padithavan karuthellaam sabhai yeruma
Panam padaithavan karuthanaal sabhai meeruma
Padithavan karuthellaam sabhai yeruma
Panam padaithavan karuthanaal sabhai meeruma
Padithavan padaithavan yaarayinum
Padithavan padaithavan yaarayinum
Balam padaithirunthal avanukkinayaguma
Balam padaithirunthal avanukkinayaguma
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Ondrukkul ondraaga karuvaanadhu
Adhu ondrinil ondraaga porulaanadhu
Ondrukkul ondraaga karuvaanadhu
Adhu ondrinil ondraaga porulaanadhu
Ondrai ondru pagaithaal uyarvedhu
Ondrai ondru pagaithaal uyarvedhu
Moondrum ooridathil irundhaal nigaryedhu
Moondrum ooridathil irundhaal nigaryedhu
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Moondru thalai muraikum nidhi venduma
Kaalam mutrum pugazh valarkkum madhi venduma
Moondru thalai muraikum nidhi venduma
Kaalam mutrum pugazh valarkkum madhi venduma
Thoongum pagai nadungum balam venduma
Thoongum pagai nadungum balam venduma
Ivai moondrum thunai irukkum nalam venduma
Ivai moondrum thunai irukkum nalam venduma
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Annaiya thanthaiya deivama
Ondrillamal matrondru uruvaguma
Idhil uyarvendrum thazhvendrum pirivaguma
Kalviya..selvama veerama
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Is it mother, father, or God?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Is it mother, father, or God?
Can one exist without the other?
Can they ever be divided into higher and lower?
Can one exist without the other?
Can they ever be divided into higher and lower?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Is it mother, father, or God?
Without wealth, can the hunger of the learned be satisfied?
Without wealth, can the hunger of the learned be satisfied?
Without wisdom, can the wealthy gain true fame?
Without wealth, can the hunger of the learned be satisfied?
Without wisdom, can the wealthy gain true fame?
Even with learning and wealth, does that make one strong?
Even with learning and wealth, does that make one strong?
Without courage, can life ever truly be a life?
Without courage, can life ever truly be a life?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Will every idea of the learned be accepted by the court?
Can a court ever dare to defy the will of the rich?
Will every idea of the learned be accepted by the court?
Can a court ever dare to defy the will of the rich?
Whether learned or wealthy, whoever they may be,
Whether learned or wealthy, whoever they may be,
If one possesses mighty strength, can anyone ever match him?
If one possesses mighty strength, can anyone ever match him?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Each one is conceived within the other,
And each finds its meaning united as one.
Each one is conceived within the other,
And each finds its meaning united as one.
If they turn against each other, where is the greatness?
If they turn against each other, where is the greatness?
If all three dwell in a land, what could ever rival it?
If all three dwell in a land, what could ever rival it?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Do you want wealth that lasts for three generations?
Do you want wisdom that brings lasting fame through all time?
Do you want wealth that lasts for three generations?
Do you want wisdom that brings lasting fame through all time?
Do you want strength that makes even sleeping foes tremble?
Do you want strength that makes even sleeping foes tremble?
Or do you want the blessing of having all three by your side?
Or do you want the blessing of having all three by your side?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Is it mother, father, or God?
Can one exist without the other?
Can they ever be divided into higher and lower?
Is it knowledge, wealth, or valor?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kalviya Selvama Veerama' is a philosophical debate song from the 1966 Tamil mythological film 'Saraswathi Sabatham'. Written by Kannadasan and set to music by K. V. Mahadevan, the song poses a fundamental question: which among Knowledge (Saraswathi), Wealth (Lakshmi), and Courage (Parvathi) is the supreme virtue? The lyrics compare this trio to mother, father, and God, questioning if one can exist without the others. Through a series of thought-provoking rhetorical queries, the poet illustrates the shortcomings of possessing one virtue without the rest. Knowledge cannot satisfy hunger without wealth; wealth cannot gain genuine fame without wisdom; and neither education nor riches can offer protection without courage and strength. The song concludes that no single virtue is superior or inferior, as true prosperity and perfection exist only when all three co-exist harmoniously.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etuhaai (Second letter rhyming)

“Kattorkku porul indri pasi theeruma / Porul petrorkku arivindri pugal seruma”

Rhyming of the second consonant across lines, such as in 'Kattorkku' and 'Porul' or 'Padithavan' and 'Panam'.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Alangaaram)

“Kalviya..selvama veerama / Annaiya thanthaiya deivama”

Using continuous rhetorical questions to challenge the audience to reflect on the interdependency of virtues.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Ivai moondrum thunai irukkum nalam venduma”

Repetition of phrases like 'Ivai moondrum' and 'Ondrukkul ondraaga' across lines to reinforce the core message of unity among the three virtues.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Saraswathi Sabatham' (1966) was directed by A. P. Nagarajan, starring Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, Geminis Ganesan, and Savitri. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this iconic debate song was sung by T. M. Soundararajan, perfectly capturing the movie's central theme of debate between Saraswathi, Lakshmi, and Parvathi.

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