Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kayal Vizhi Karigai

From Then Chittugal · 1982

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vijaya Ramani
Movie name
Then Chittugal
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
21 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kayalvizhi kaarigaiyae
Kaaviyaththin naayagiyae
Mayil koduththa kazhuththinilae
Mayanga vaikkum perazhagae
Oyilaana idai asaiya
Ooviyamaai vanthavalae
Tharaiyariyaa nadai nadanthu
Thendralena mithappavalae
Naan nalla rasigan nee nalla rasigai
Ezhunthu vaa aadal undu
Isainthu thaa paadal ondru
Achcham naanam ingae innum yaenadi
Mayakkamaa thayakkamaa mayakkamaa thayakkamaa
Naan nalla rasigai nee nalla rasigan
Thodangavaa aadal ingae
Thuninthu thaa paadal ondru haa
Ennai vellum mannan ingae yaaraiyyaa
Mayakkamaa thayakkamaa mayakkamaa thayakkamaa
Vannam oaadum ullam
Kanni unnai vellum
Enthan raagam thaalam pallavi
Vannam oaadum ullam
Kanni unnai vellum
Enthan raagam thaalam pallavi
Idhu aattamaa thindaattamaa
Female :Sangeethamaa santhegamaa
Male :Idhu aattamaa thindaattamaa
Female :Sangeethamaa santhegamaa
Male :Mayakkamaa thayakkamaa mayakkamaa thayakkamaa
Female :Naan nalla rasigai nee nalla rasigan
Thangapaatham aadum
Mangai podum thaalam
Aattathil bharathakalai thorkumaa
Male :Mangai aadumpothu
Thanga paatham nogum
Paattukku parathakalai thorkumae
Idhu aattamaa
Male :Thindaattamaa
Female :Sangeethamaa
Male :Santhegamaa
Female :Idhu aattamaa
Male :Thindaattamaa
Female :Sangeethamaa
Male :Santhegamaa…..
O woman with fish-shaped eyes,
O heroine of classic poetry,
With a graceful neck like a peacock's,
O captivating beauty who leaves everyone spellbound,
With your slender waist swaying gracefully,
You who arrived like a painting come to life,
Walking so lightly the ground barely feels your steps,
Floating gently just like a southern breeze,
I appreciate good art, and you appreciate it too,
Rise and come, there is a dance,
Agree and sing a song with me,
Why still have fear and shyness here, girl?
Is it a trance or hesitation? Is it a trance or hesitation?
I appreciate good art, and you appreciate it too,
Shall I begin the dance here?
Be bold and give me a song, ha!
Who is the king here who could ever defeat me, sir?
Is it a trance or hesitation? Is it a trance or hesitation?
My heart filled with vibrant colors,
Will conquer you, young woman,
Along with my melody, rhythm, and verse,
My heart filled with vibrant colors,
Will conquer you, young woman,
Along with my melody, rhythm, and verse,
Is this a dance, or is it a struggle?
Female: Is it music, or is it doubt?
Male: Is this a dance, or is it a struggle?
Female: Is it music, or is it doubt?
Male: Is it a trance or hesitation? Is it a trance or hesitation?
Female: I appreciate good art, and you appreciate it too,
Golden feet dance,
As this young woman sets the beat,
Can the art of Bharatanatyam ever lose in a dance contest?
Male: When a woman dances,
Her golden feet will begin to ache,
And the art of Bharatanatyam will surely surrender to song!
Is this a dance?
Male: A struggle?
Female: Is it music?
Male: Or doubt?
Female: Is this a dance?
Male: A struggle?
Female: Is it music?
Male: Or doubt...?
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a playful and competitive musical duet between a male and female vocalist who challenge each other in dance and song. The male singer begins by showering poetic praise on the woman's beauty, comparing her grace to a peacock and her light footsteps to a gentle breeze, while urging her to shed her shyness and step up to dance. In response, the female singer confidently accepts the challenge, asserting that her vocal melody and rhythmic footwork will prevail over his singing. Their banter unfolds into a friendly duel exploring whether dance or vocal music reigns supreme.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kayalvizhi kaarigaiyae

Comparing the heroine's eyes to a fish (Kayalvizhi) to depict traditional visual beauty.

Simile (Uvamai)

Thendralena mithappavalae

Comparing her graceful movement to a floating gentle breeze (Thendralena).

Rhyme (Emoni & Edhugai)

Mayakkamaa thayakkamaa mayakkamaa thayakkamaa

Use of matching internal rhyming syllables such as 'Aattamaa' and 'Thindaattamaa' or 'Mayakkamaa' and 'Thayakkamaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Then Chittugal (1982) features music scored by composer Vijaya Ramani, showcasing a classic rhythmic duet format popularized in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Then Chittugal

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.