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Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

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
Movie name
Kudumbam Oru Kadhambam
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
18 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa
Aayinum nalla naayagi
Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
Kallaanaalum pullaanaalum
Kanavanai kondaadu
Avan kaaladi nizhalil vaazhvathuthaanae
Kulamagal kula panpaadu
Yaenendru kelvigal ketkaathae
Yaerittu mugaththai paarkkaathae
Kodu kizhiththaal thaandaathae
Kobaththai konjam thoondaathae…
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa
Aayinum nalla naayagi
Antha nalaayini pol vaazhammaa
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
Perum pugazhu purushanai saera
Kaaranam manaviyammaa
Antha valluvan arivai vaiyagam arinthathu
Vaasuki udhaviyammaa
Aanavam kondu pesaathae
Adangi povathu mariyaathai
Arivaal edhaiyum edai podu
Thavaraai nadanthaal thadai podu
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
Karunaiyil paarvathy neeyammaa
Aayinum veera thaayena annai
Indiragandhi pol vaazhammaa
Kalviyil saraswathi selvaththil laksmi
Veedaanaalum naadaanaalum
Vilanganum pennaalae
Aval thannai nabum thairiyaththodu
Vazhanum mannmelae
Sodhanai vanthaal thaangividu
Saathanai seithu vendru vidu
Veeranin thaayena perai edu
Un kai uyarum kavalai vidu
Vaasuki yaaru valluvan yaaru
Onnum puriyavillai
Intha paadam ellaam padikkira class-kku
Naan innum varavillai
Appa solli tharavillai
Hostel pakkam varathilla
Ammavukkum pala velai
Ennai ninaikka time illai….
In learning you are Saraswathi, in wealth Lakshmi,
In compassion you are Parvathi, dear girl;
Yet, as a good wife,
Live like Nalayani (the legendary devoted wife)!
In learning you are Saraswathi, in wealth Lakshmi!
Whether he is hard as stone or worthless as grass,
Cherish and honour your husband;
For living in the shadow of his feet
Is the true culture of a noble woman!
Never question him asking "why?",
Do not look straight into his face,
If he draws a line, do not cross it,
Do not provoke his anger even a bit...
In learning you are Saraswathi, in wealth Lakshmi,
In compassion you are Parvathi, dear girl;
Yet, as a good wife,
Live like Nalayani (the legendary devoted wife)!
In learning you are Saraswathi, in wealth Lakshmi!
For a husband to achieve great fame,
The wife is the true reason!
The world came to know the wisdom of poet Valluvar
Only through the help of his wife Vasuki!
Do not speak with arrogance,
Yielding with humility brings respect;
Weigh everything with your intellect,
If anything goes wrong, put a stop to it!
In learning you are Saraswathi, in wealth Lakshmi,
In compassion you are Parvathi, dear girl;
Yet, as a brave and valiant mother,
Live like Mother Indira Gandhi!
In learning you are Saraswathi, in wealth Lakshmi!
Whether it is the household or the nation,
It must shine because of a woman;
With faith in herself and great courage,
She must live upon this earth!
When hardships come, endure them bravely,
Achieve great deeds and emerge victorious!
Win the name of a brave hero's mother,
You will rise to greatness, leave your worries behind!
Who is Vasuki? Who is Valluvar?
I don't understand any of this!
To the class where all these lessons are taught,
I haven't even reached yet!
Dad didn't teach me any of this,
He doesn't even visit my hostel;
Mom has so much work of her own,
She has no time to even think of me...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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