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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Kaalam Porakkattume

From Kalyana Paravaigal · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Rajan
Details
Kalyana Paravaigal1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nalla kaalam porakkattumaeMay good times be born
Naadum veedum sezhikkattumaeMay the land and home flourish
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Female
Nalla kaalam porakkattumaeMay good times be born
Naadum veedum sezhikkattumaeMay the land and home flourish
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Chorus :Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeChorus: May Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Female
Theepandham ingu yendhi vandhomWe came carrying flaming torches here
Dhisaiyai kizhithu odi vandhomWe came running tearing through all directions
Vaedhanai ingu theerumendruBelieving that our agony will end here
Vidiya vidiya paada vandhomWe came to sing until dawn break
Female
Naangamalai kattukkullaInside the deep forests of Naangamalai
Thanichu vaazhum kaaliyammaMother Kali lives all alone
Thaayae nee sollum solluO Mother, the word that you speak
Saathikelaam needhiyammaIs divine justice for all castes
Female
{Badrakaali{Bhadrakali
Chorus :Badrakaali badrakaaliChorus: Bhadrakali Bhadrakali
Badrakaali badrakaali badrakaaliBhadrakali Bhadrakali Bhadrakali
Badrakaali badrakaali badrakaali} (2)Bhadrakali Bhadrakali Bhadrakali} (2)
Female
Naangamalai kattukkullaInside the deep forests of Naangamalai
Thanichu vaazhum kaaliyammaMother Kali lives all alone
Thaayae nee sollum solluO Mother, the word that you speak
Saathikelaam needhiyammaIs divine justice for all castes
Varushathukkoru thirunaalOnce a year on her festival day
Saadhi sanangalai kootinaalShe gathered her community people together
Chorus :Saadhi sanangalai kootinaalChorus: She gathered her community people together
Female
Nalla kaalam porakkattumaeMay good times be born
Naadum veedum sezhikkattumaeMay the land and home flourish
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Chorus :Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeChorus: May Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Female
Naayagi ava sonna solluThe word spoken by the divine Goddess
Namakku nalla sattamaaIs a righteous law for us
Vandhu vaazhum vaazhkkai ellamIs this entire life we come to live
Dheivam potta thittamaaA plan pre-destined by God?
Female
Boomi ennum medai melaeUpon this grand stage called Earth
Bommalattam nadakkudhammaA puppet show is taking place
Aanum pennum servadhellaamThe coming together of man and woman
Amma vagutha vattam ammaIs a circle drawn by Mother Goddess
Female
{Badrakaali{Bhadrakali
Chorus :Badrakaali badrakaaliChorus: Bhadrakali Bhadrakali
Badrakaali badrakaali badrakaaliBhadrakali Bhadrakali Bhadrakali
Badrakaali badrakaali badrakaali} (2)Bhadrakali Bhadrakali Bhadrakali} (2)
Female
Boomi ennum medai melaeUpon this grand stage called Earth
Bommalattam nadakkudhammaA puppet show is taking place
Aanum pennum servadhellaamThe coming together of man and woman
Amma vagutha vattam ammaIs a circle drawn by Mother Goddess
Female
Ezhainga jaadhi emakkoru needhiJustice for us, the class of the poor
Aanaiyum ponnaiyum aadhariBless and protect our people and prosperity
Chorus :Aanaiyum ponnaiyum aadhariChorus: Bless and protect our people and prosperity
Female
Nalla kaalam porakkattumaeMay good times be born
Naadum veedum sezhikkattumaeMay the land and home flourish
Female
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Chorus
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little
Kaaliyamma sirikkattumaeMay Mother Kali smile
Kanna konjam thirakkattumaeMay she open her eyes a little

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nalla Kaalam Porakkattumae is a folk-devotional song from the 1988 Tamil film Kalyana Paravaigal. Sung as an impassioned prayer to Goddess Bhadrakali residing in the forests of Naangamalai, the villagers carry torches through the night and sing till dawn, pleading for relief from suffering and asking for prosperous times to dawn upon their land and homes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Boomi ennum medai melae / Bommalattam nadakkudhamma

Life on Earth is metaphorically compared to a puppet show performed on a stage ('Boomi ennum medai melae / Bommalattam nadakkudhamma').

Eyaibu (End Rhyme)

Nalla kaalam porakkattumae / Naadum veedum sezhikkattumae

The song uses repetitive ending suffixes '-attumae' across multiple lines to create a rhythmic, ritualistic incantation effect.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Nalla kaalam porakkattumae / Naadum veedum sezhikkattumae

Repetition of the 'Na' consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack for Kalyana Paravaigal (1988) was composed by the musical duo Rajan-Rajan. This song features the legendary playback singer P. Susheela delivering a powerful folk-devotional rendition written by veteran lyricist Vairamuthu.

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