Kalviyil Saraswathi
From Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- Vani Jairam, S. P. Sailaja, Uma Ramanan, B. S. Sasirekha
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi | You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth, |
| Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa | And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman. |
| Aayinum nalla naayagi | Even so, as a good heroine, |
| Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa | Live like that legendary Nalayini. |
| Female | |
| Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi | You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth. |
| Female | |
| Kallaanaalum pullaanaalum | Even if he is a stone or a piece of grass, |
| Kanavanai kondaadu | Celebrate your husband. |
| Avan kaaladi nizhalil vaazhvathuthaanae | Living in the shadow of his feet, |
| Kulamagal kula panpaadu | Is the cultured duty of a good family daughter. |
| Female | |
| Yaenendru kelvigal ketkaathae | Do not ask questions demanding reasons. |
| Yaerittu mugaththai paarkkaathae | Do not look directly into his face. |
| Kodu kizhiththaal thaandaathae | Do not cross the line if he draws one. |
| Kobaththai konjam thoondaathae… | Do not provoke his anger even a bit... |
| Female | |
| Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi | You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth, |
| Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa | And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman. |
| Aayinum nalla naayagi | Even so, as a good heroine, |
| Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa | Live like that legendary Nalayini. |
| Female | |
| Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi | You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth. |
| Female | |
| Perum pugazhu purushanai saera | For great fame to reach a husband, |
| Kaaranam manaviyammaa | The wife is the sole reason. |
| Antha valluvan arivai vaiyagam arinthathu | The world recognized Valluvar's intellect, |
| Vaasuki udhaviyammaa | Only through Vasuki's help. |
| Female | |
| Aanavam kondu pesaathae | Do not speak with arrogance. |
| Adangi povathu mariyaathai | Submitting gracefully is respectful. |
| Arivaal edhaiyum edai podu | Weigh everything with wisdom. |
| Thavaraai nadanthaal thadai podu | If things go wrong, put a stop to it. |
| Female | |
| Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi | You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth, |
| Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa | And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman. |
| Aayinum veera thaayena annai | Even so, as a brave mother, |
| Indiragandhi pol vaazhammaa | Live like Mother Indira Gandhi. |
| Female | |
| Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi | You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth. |
| Female | |
| Veedaanaalum naadaanaalum | Whether it is a household or a nation, |
| Vilanganum pennaalae | It should shine because of a woman. |
| Aval thannai nabum thairiyaththodu | With self-confidence and courage, |
| Vazhanum mannmelae | She must live upon this earth. |
| Female | |
| Sodhanai vanthaal thaangividu | Endure trials when they come. |
| Saathanai seithu vendru vidu | Achieve success and conquer. |
| Veeranin thaayena perai edu | Earn a name as the mother of a warrior. |
| Un kai uyarum kavalai vidu | Your status will rise, drop your worries. |
| Female | |
| Vaasuki yaaru valluvan yaaru | Who is Vasuki? Who is Valluvar? |
| Onnum puriyavillai | I do not understand a single thing. |
| Intha paadam ellaam padikkira class-kku | To the class where all these lessons are taught, |
| Naan innum varavillai | I haven't arrived yet. |
| Female | |
| Appa solli tharavillai | Father did not teach me this. |
| Hostel pakkam varathilla | He doesn't come near my hostel. |
| Ammavukkum pala velai | Mother also has many chores, |
| Ennai ninaikka time illai…. | She has no time to think of me.... |
உமா ரமணன் மற்றும் பி. எஸ். சசிரேகா
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth,
And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman.
Even so, as a good heroine,
Live like that legendary Nalayini.
கல்வியில் சரஸ்வதி செல்வத்தில் லட்சுமி
கருணையில் பார்வதி நீயம்மா
ஆயினும் நல்ல நாயகி
அந்த நளாயினி போல் வாழம்மா...........
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth.
கல்வியில் சரஸ்வதி செல்வத்தில் லட்சுமி
Even if he is a stone or a piece of grass,
Celebrate your husband.
Living in the shadow of his feet,
Is the cultured duty of a good family daughter.
கல்லானாலும் புல்லானாலும்
கணவனை கொண்டாடு
அவன் காலடி நிழலில் வாழ்வதுதானே
குலமகள் குலப்பண்பாடு
Do not ask questions demanding reasons.
Do not look directly into his face.
Do not cross the line if he draws one.
Do not provoke his anger even a bit...
ஏனென்று கேள்விகள் கேட்காதே
ஏறிட்டு முகத்தைப் பார்க்காதே
கோடு கிழித்தால் தாண்டாதே
கோபத்தை கொஞ்சம் தூண்டாதே.......
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth,
And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman.
Even so, as a good heroine,
Live like that legendary Nalayini.
கல்வியில் சரஸ்வதி செல்வத்தில் லட்சுமி
கருணையில் பார்வதி நீயம்மா
ஆயினும் நல்ல நாயகி
அந்த வாசுகி போல் வாழம்மா.......
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth.
கல்வியில் சரஸ்வதி செல்வத்தில் லட்சுமி
For great fame to reach a husband,
The wife is the sole reason.
The world recognized Valluvar's intellect,
Only through Vasuki's help.
பேரும் புகழும் புருஷனை சேர
காரணம் மனவியம்மா
அந்த வள்ளுவன் அறிவை வையகம் அறிந்தது
வாசுகி உதவியம்மா
Do not speak with arrogance.
Submitting gracefully is respectful.
Weigh everything with wisdom.
If things go wrong, put a stop to it.
ஆணவம் கொண்டு பேசாதே
அடங்கி போவது மரியாதை
அறிவால் எதையும் எடை போடு
தவறாய் நடந்தால் தடை போடு
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth,
And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman.
Even so, as a brave mother,
Live like Mother Indira Gandhi.
கல்வியில் சரஸ்வதி செல்வத்தில் லட்சுமி
கருணையில் பார்வதி நீயம்மா
ஆயினும் வீரத் தாயென அன்னை
இந்திராகாந்தி போல் வாழம்மா..........
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth.
கல்வியில் சரஸ்வதி செல்வத்தில் லட்சுமி
Whether it is a household or a nation,
It should shine because of a woman.
With self-confidence and courage,
She must live upon this earth.
வீடானாலும் நாடானாலும்
விளங்கணும் பெண்ணாலே –அவள்
தன்னை நம்பும் தைரியத்தோடு
வாழணும் மண்மேலே
Endure trials when they come.
Achieve success and conquer.
Earn a name as the mother of a warrior.
Your status will rise, drop your worries.
சோதனை வந்தால் தாங்கிவிடு
சாதனை செய்து வென்று விடு
வீரனின் தாயென பேரை எடு
உன் கை உயரும் கவலை விடு
Who is Vasuki? Who is Valluvar?
I do not understand a single thing.
To the class where all these lessons are taught,
I haven't arrived yet.
வாசுகி யாரு வள்ளுவன் யாரு
ஒண்ணும் புரியவில்லை
இந்த பாடம் எல்லாம் படிக்கிற கிளாசுக்கு
நான் இன்னும் வரவில்லை
Father did not teach me this.
He doesn't come near my hostel.
Mother also has many chores,
She has no time to think of me....
வாசுகி யாரு வள்ளுவன் யாரு
ஒண்ணும் புரியவில்லை
இந்த பாடம் எல்லாம் படிக்கிற கிளாசுக்கு
நான் இன்னும் வரவில்லை
அப்பா சொல்லி தரவில்லை
ஹாஸ்டல் பக்கம் வரதில்ல
அம்மாவுக்கும் பல வேலை
என்னை நினைக்க டைம் இல்லை......
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth,
Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa
And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman.
Aayinum nalla naayagi
Even so, as a good heroine,
Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa
Live like that legendary Nalayini.
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth.
Kallaanaalum pullaanaalum
Even if he is a stone or a piece of grass,
Kanavanai kondaadu
Celebrate your husband.
Avan kaaladi nizhalil vaazhvathuthaanae
Living in the shadow of his feet,
Kulamagal kula panpaadu
Is the cultured duty of a good family daughter.
Yaenendru kelvigal ketkaathae
Do not ask questions demanding reasons.
Yaerittu mugaththai paarkkaathae
Do not look directly into his face.
Kodu kizhiththaal thaandaathae
Do not cross the line if he draws one.
Kobaththai konjam thoondaathae…
Do not provoke his anger even a bit...
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth,
Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa
And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman.
Aayinum nalla naayagi
Even so, as a good heroine,
Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa
Live like that legendary Nalayini.
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth.
Perum pugazhu purushanai saera
For great fame to reach a husband,
Kaaranam manaviyammaa
The wife is the sole reason.
Antha valluvan arivai vaiyagam arinthathu
The world recognized Valluvar's intellect,
Vaasuki udhaviyammaa
Only through Vasuki's help.
Aanavam kondu pesaathae
Do not speak with arrogance.
Adangi povathu mariyaathai
Submitting gracefully is respectful.
Arivaal edhaiyum edai podu
Weigh everything with wisdom.
Thavaraai nadanthaal thadai podu
If things go wrong, put a stop to it.
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth,
Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa
And Parvathi in compassion, my dear woman.
Aayinum veera thaayena annai
Even so, as a brave mother,
Indiragandhi pol vaazhammaa
Live like Mother Indira Gandhi.
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
You are Saraswathi in education, Lakshmi in wealth.
Veedaanaalum naadaanaalum
Whether it is a household or a nation,
Vilanganum pennaalae
It should shine because of a woman.
Aval thannai nabum thairiyaththodu
With self-confidence and courage,
Vazhanum mannmelae
She must live upon this earth.
Sodhanai vanthaal thaangividu
Endure trials when they come.
Saathanai seithu vendru vidu
Achieve success and conquer.
Veeranin thaayena perai edu
Earn a name as the mother of a warrior.
Un kai uyarum kavalai vidu
Your status will rise, drop your worries.
Vaasuki yaaru valluvan yaaru
Who is Vasuki? Who is Valluvar?
Onnum puriyavillai
I do not understand a single thing.
Intha paadam ellaam padikkira class-kku
To the class where all these lessons are taught,
Naan innum varavillai
I haven't arrived yet.
Appa solli tharavillai
Father did not teach me this.
Hostel pakkam varathilla
He doesn't come near my hostel.
Ammavukkum pala velai
Mother also has many chores,
Ennai ninaikka time illai….
She has no time to think of me....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kalviyil Saraswathi from Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam (1981) presents a multi-faceted discourse on the societal roles and expectations placed on women. Through different female voices, the song spans conservative ideals of absolute wifely devotion (comparing women to Nalayini and Vasuki) to modern ideals of female empowerment, wisdom, and leadership (evoking Indira Gandhi), concluding with an innocent, youthful perspective that feels detached from these rigid cultural expectations.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi / Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa”
Directly equates a woman's knowledge to Goddess Saraswathi, wealth to Lakshmi, and mercy to Parvathi.
Simile (Upamai)
“Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa / Indiragandhi pol vaazhammaa”
Uses 'pol' (like) to compare how a woman should live to exemplary figures such as Nalayini and Indira Gandhi.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Sodhanai vanthaal thaangividu / Saathanai seithu vendru vidu”
The second letters 'd' and 't' match harmoniously across lines, creating structured cadence.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song uniquely features four prominent playback singers—Vani Jairam, S. P. Sailaja, Uma Ramanan, and B. S. Sasirekha—each representing distinct female characters and generational views within Visu's family drama film.
Keep listening
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