Kolam Inge Vaasal Enge
From Kalyana Paravaigal · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Rajan
- Details
- Kalyana Paravaigal1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kolam ingae vaasal engae | Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway? |
| Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae | Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes? |
| Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae | The husband himself is like a child here. |
| Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae | If you break this bond, where is the world? |
| Male | |
| Kolam ingae vaasal engae | Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway? |
| Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae | Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes? |
| Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae | The husband himself is like a child here. |
| Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae | If you break this bond, where is the world? |
| Male | |
| Neeyum naanum azhudha kanneer aaranadhu | The tears you and I shed turned into a river. |
| Andha neeril parisil ingae pogindrathu | In that water, a boat goes floating away here. |
| Neeyum naanum azhudha kanneer aaranadhu | The tears you and I shed turned into a river. |
| Andha neeril parisil ingae pogindrathu | In that water, a boat goes floating away here. |
| Male | |
| Kodai naalil neerumillai | There is no water during summer days. |
| Odaikkenna nindhanai | Why blame the dry stream? |
| Udhadu undu mutham illai | Lips are present, but there is no kiss. |
| Naangu kannil vaedhanai | There is anguish in four eyes. |
| Vidhi vandhu thaan yedho thadai pottadhu | Fate came and placed some obstruction. |
| Idharkaagava thaali mudi pottadhu | Was the sacred knot tied only for this? |
| Male | |
| Kolam ingae vaasal engae | Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway? |
| Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae | Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes? |
| Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae | The husband himself is like a child here. |
| Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae | If you break this bond, where is the world? |
| Male | |
| Indha gnyaayam indha dharmam | This justice, this societal code, |
| Yen vandhadhu | Why did it ever come? |
| Paasam konda jeevan rendu thalladudhu | Two souls filled with love are faltering. |
| Indha gnyaayam indha dharmam | This justice, this societal code, |
| Yen vandhadhu | Why did it ever come? |
| Paasam konda jeevan rendu thalladudhu | Two souls filled with love are faltering. |
| Male | |
| Saadhi ingae sadhigal seidhaal | If caste plays treacherous tricks here, |
| Needhi engae povathu | Where will justice go? |
| Vaeli vandhu kaalil thaithaal payanam | If the protective fence pierces the foot, |
| Enna aavadhu | What will happen to the journey? |
| Thuyar theerumae konjam mayangaathiru | Sorrow will end, do not lose hope for a moment. |
| Sugam aagumae nenjae kalangaathiru | Happiness will return, oh heart, do not be troubled. |
| Male | |
| Kolam ingae vaasal engae | Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway? |
| Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae | Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes? |
| Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae | The husband himself is like a child here. |
| Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae | If you break this bond, where is the world? |
| Male | |
| Kolam ingae vaasal engae | Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway? |
| Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae | Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes? |
| Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae | The husband himself is like a child here. |
| Aariraroo aaraaroo aariraroo aaraaroo | Lullaby: Aariraroo aaraaroo aariraroo aaraaroo... |
கோலம் இங்கே வாசல் எங்கே
இமைகள் இங்கே விழிகள் எங்கே
கணவன் தானே குழந்தை இங்கே
உறவை பிரித்தால் உலகம் எங்கே
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
The husband himself is like a child here.
If you break this bond, where is the world?
கோலம் இங்கே வாசல் எங்கே
இமைகள் இங்கே விழிகள் எங்கே
கணவன் தானே குழந்தை இங்கே
உறவை பிரித்தால் உலகம் எங்கே
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
The husband himself is like a child here.
If you break this bond, where is the world?
நீயும் நானும் அழுத கண்ணீர் ஆறானது
அந்த நீரில் பரிசல் இங்கே போகின்றது
நீயும் நானும் அழுத கண்ணீர் ஆறானது
அந்த நீரில் பரிசல் இங்கே போகின்றது
The tears you and I shed turned into a river.
In that water, a boat goes floating away here.
The tears you and I shed turned into a river.
In that water, a boat goes floating away here.
கோடை நாளில் நீருமில்லை
ஓடைக்கென்ன நிந்தனை
உதடு உண்டு முத்தம் இல்லை
நான்கு கண்ணில் வேதனை
விதி வந்துதான் ஏதோ தடைப்போட்டது
இதற்காகவா தாலி முடிப் போட்டது
There is no water during summer days.
Why blame the dry stream?
Lips are present, but there is no kiss.
There is anguish in four eyes.
Fate came and placed some obstruction.
Was the sacred knot tied only for this?
கோலம் இங்கே வாசல் எங்கே
இமைகள் இங்கே விழிகள் எங்கே
கணவன் தானே குழந்தை இங்கே
உறவை பிரித்தால் உலகம் எங்கே
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
The husband himself is like a child here.
If you break this bond, where is the world?
இந்த ஞாயம் இந்த தர்மம் ஏன் வந்தது
பாசம் கொண்ட ஜீவன் ரெண்டு தள்ளாடுது
இந்த ஞாயம் இந்த தர்மம் ஏன் வந்தது
பாசம் கொண்ட ஜீவன் ரெண்டு தள்ளாடுது
This justice, this societal code,
Why did it ever come?
Two souls filled with love are faltering.
This justice, this societal code,
Why did it ever come?
Two souls filled with love are faltering.
சாதி இங்கே சதிகள் செய்தால்
நீதி எங்கே போவது
வேலி வந்து காலில் தைத்தால்
பயணம் என்ன ஆவது
துயர் தீருமே கொஞ்சம் மயங்காதிரு
சுகம் ஆகுமே நெஞ்சே கலங்காதிரு
If caste plays treacherous tricks here,
Where will justice go?
If the protective fence pierces the foot,
What will happen to the journey?
Sorrow will end, do not lose hope for a moment.
Happiness will return, oh heart, do not be troubled.
கோலம் இங்கே வாசல் எங்கே
இமைகள் இங்கே விழிகள் எங்கே
கணவன் தானே குழந்தை இங்கே
உறவை பிரித்தால் உலகம் எங்கே
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
The husband himself is like a child here.
If you break this bond, where is the world?
கோலம் இங்கே வாசல் எங்கே
இமைகள் இங்கே விழிகள் எங்கே
கணவன் தானே குழந்தை இங்கே
ஆரிராரோ ஆராரோ ஆரிராரோ ஆராரோ...
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
The husband himself is like a child here.
Lullaby: Aariraroo aaraaroo aariraroo aaraaroo...
Kolam ingae vaasal engae
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae
The husband himself is like a child here.
Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae
If you break this bond, where is the world?
Kolam ingae vaasal engae
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae
The husband himself is like a child here.
Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae
If you break this bond, where is the world?
Neeyum naanum azhudha kanneer aaranadhu
The tears you and I shed turned into a river.
Andha neeril parisil ingae pogindrathu
In that water, a boat goes floating away here.
Neeyum naanum azhudha kanneer aaranadhu
The tears you and I shed turned into a river.
Andha neeril parisil ingae pogindrathu
In that water, a boat goes floating away here.
Kodai naalil neerumillai
There is no water during summer days.
Odaikkenna nindhanai
Why blame the dry stream?
Udhadu undu mutham illai
Lips are present, but there is no kiss.
Naangu kannil vaedhanai
There is anguish in four eyes.
Vidhi vandhu thaan yedho thadai pottadhu
Fate came and placed some obstruction.
Idharkaagava thaali mudi pottadhu
Was the sacred knot tied only for this?
Kolam ingae vaasal engae
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae
The husband himself is like a child here.
Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae
If you break this bond, where is the world?
Indha gnyaayam indha dharmam
This justice, this societal code,
Yen vandhadhu
Why did it ever come?
Paasam konda jeevan rendu thalladudhu
Two souls filled with love are faltering.
Indha gnyaayam indha dharmam
This justice, this societal code,
Yen vandhadhu
Why did it ever come?
Paasam konda jeevan rendu thalladudhu
Two souls filled with love are faltering.
Saadhi ingae sadhigal seidhaal
If caste plays treacherous tricks here,
Needhi engae povathu
Where will justice go?
Vaeli vandhu kaalil thaithaal payanam
If the protective fence pierces the foot,
Enna aavadhu
What will happen to the journey?
Thuyar theerumae konjam mayangaathiru
Sorrow will end, do not lose hope for a moment.
Sugam aagumae nenjae kalangaathiru
Happiness will return, oh heart, do not be troubled.
Kolam ingae vaasal engae
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae
The husband himself is like a child here.
Uravai pirithaal ulagam engae
If you break this bond, where is the world?
Kolam ingae vaasal engae
Here is the kolam, but where is the doorway?
Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae
Here are the eyelids, but where are the eyes?
Kanavan thaanae kuzhandhai ingae
The husband himself is like a child here.
Aariraroo aaraaroo aariraroo aaraaroo
Lullaby: Aariraroo aaraaroo aariraroo aaraaroo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kolam Ingae Vaasal Engae from the 1988 film Kalyana Paravaigal is a deeply sorrowful and reflective track sung by K. J. Yesudas. The protagonist laments the tragic fate that has fractured his marital life and family bond. Through vivid metaphors—such as decorative kolam patterns drawn without a doorstep or eyelids existing without eyes—the lyrics capture the total absurdity and emptiness of living without a loved one. The song powerfully critiques rigid social structures like caste and cruel twists of destiny that tear apart compassionate souls, while ending on a soft lullaby tone meant to console a troubled heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kolam ingae vaasal engae / Imaigal ingae vizhigal engae”
Compares an incomplete or shattered life to a decorative kolam drawn without a doorway to enter, or eyelids existing without sight.
Hyperbole (Athiyosayam)
“Neeyum naanum azhudha kanneer aaranadhu”
Exaggerates the immense grief by stating that the tears shed by the lovers formed an entire river capable of carrying a boat.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Vaeli vandhu kaalil thaithaal payanam”
Refers to social barriers or guardians as a protective fence ('vaeli') that hypocritically pricks the traveler's foot.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Saadhi ingae sadhigal seidhaal / Needhi engae povathu”
The second consonant sound 'dhi' rhymes across lines in Tamil poetic tradition (Saadhi / Needhi).
Rhetorical Questioning (Vinathal)
“Idharkaagava thaali mudi pottadhu”
Expresses agony by questioning the purpose of sacred marriage rituals in the face of suffering.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the duo Rajan-Nagendra, the song stands out for K. J. Yesudas's emotionally charged delivery that seamlessly shifts from a sorrowful lamentation into a gentle lullaby at the end.
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