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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nalla Kaalam Porakkuthu

From Karuvelam Pookkal · 2000

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
M. S. Vishwanathan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Karuvelam Pookkal2000

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Tharikida thom thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Tharikida thom thom)
Thakka tharikida thom thom thakkaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thakka tharikida thom thom thakka)
Thom tharikida theem tharikidaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thom tharikida theem tharikida)
Thaam tharikida theem tharikida thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaam tharikida theem tharikida thom)
Tharikida thom thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Tharikida thom thom)
Thakka tharikida thom thom thakkaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thakka tharikida thom thom thakka)
Thom tharikida theem tharikidaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thom tharikida theem tharikida)
Thaam tharikida theem tharikida thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaam tharikida theem tharikida thom)
Thattheem thinakka thakkaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thattheem thinakka thakka)
Thadhimi thakka junuRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thadhimi thakka junu)
Thattheem thinakka thakkaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thattheem thinakka thakka)
Thadhimi thakka junuRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thadhimi thakka junu)
Thaam tharikida thakkaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaam tharikida thakka)
Thaam tharikida thakkaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaam tharikida thakka)
Tharikida tharikida thaaRhythmic solkattu syllables (Tharikida tharikida thaa)
Male
Nalla kaalam porakkudhuGood times are dawning
Thollai ellaam parakkudhuAll troubles are flying away
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Nanma vandhu sirikkudhuGoodness comes and smiles
Nalladhukku azhaikkudhuIt invites us towards prosperity
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Male
Velaikku velai aachuWork has been scheduled time to time
Mudinjaa adhu kaasaachuOnce done, it turned into money
Ezhainga vaazhkkai ellaamThe lives of the poor people
Inimel ingu lesaachuWill become easy from now on here
Male
Velaikku velai aachuWork has been scheduled time to time
Mudinjaa adhu kaasaachuOnce done, it turned into money
Ezhainga vaazhkkai ellaamThe lives of the poor people
Inimel ingu lesaachuWill become easy from now on here
Male
Nalla kaalam porakkudhuGood times are dawning
Thollai ellaam parakkudhuAll troubles are flying away
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Nanma vandhu sirikkudhuGoodness comes and smiles
Nalladhukku azhaikkudhuIt invites us towards prosperity
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Male
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thatthakku dhumRhythmic vocal beat finish (Thatthakku dhum)
Male
Eppa mazha kottumunnuWondering when the rain would pour
Etti ninnu vaanathaiyaeStanding at a distance looking at the sky
Annaandhu paathadhoru kaalamStaring up with hope was a past era
Oru kaalamA past era
Podhum adhu podhumEnough, that is enough
Haa haa haaHaa haa haa
Male
Kaanju pona kaattukkullaInside the dried-up forest
Kallum mullum kutha kuthaAs stones and thorns pricked hard
Kashta pattu ninnadhoru kaalamStanding through immense suffering was a past era
Oru kaalamA past era
Podhum adhu podhumEnough, that is enough
Haa haa haahaaHaa haa haahaa
Male
Thappaana thaalangala pottadhumWhen wrong rhythms were set
Uppu chappillaamaWithout any taste or spark
Vaarthai ellaam ponadhumWhen all words lost their charm
Otta kudisaiyila nondhadhumSuffering inside a leaking hut
Padum paatta nenachuThinking of the hardship endured
Manam vendhadhumThe heart burned in agony
Male
Chittaa parakkudhuIt flies like a swift bird
Sollaama odudhuIt runs without telling anyone
Hmm aahaa hmm aahaa hmm aahaaHmm aahaa hmm aahaa hmm aahaa
Chittaa parakkudhu sollaama odudhuIt flies swiftly and runs away without a word
Sandhosha vaazhkka onna thedudhuSearching for a happy life ahead
Male
Nalla kaalam porakkudhuGood times are dawning
Thollai ellaam parakkudhuAll troubles are flying away
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Nanma vandhu sirikkudhuGoodness comes and smiles
Nalladhukku azhaikkudhuIt invites us towards prosperity
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Male
Velaikku velai aachuWork has been scheduled time to time
Mudinjaa adhu kaasaachuOnce done, it turned into money
Ezhainga vaazhkkai ellaamThe lives of the poor people
Inimel ingu lesaachuWill become easy from now on here
Male
Nalla kaalam porakkudhuGood times are dawning
Thollai ellaam parakkudhuAll troubles are flying away
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Nanma vandhu sirikkudhuGoodness comes and smiles
Nalladhukku azhaikkudhuIt invites us towards prosperity
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Male
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thatthakku dhumRhythmic vocal beat finish (Thatthakku dhum)
Male
Kaalaiyilae endhirichuWaking up early in the morning
Kanjikkaaga yengikkittuLonging for a bowl of porridge
Kaathirundha kaalathai ennuCount the past days spent waiting
Konjam ennuCount them a little
Nalla kannu chella kannuMy good eyes, my precious eyes
Hmm aahaa hmm aahaa hmm haahaaHmm aahaa hmm aahaa hmm haahaa
Male
Kuchigala alli pottuGathering wooden sticks together
Theeppettiya senju poduMake matchboxes out of them
Vaaram oru sambalatha ennuCount a weekly wage earned
Kanakku pannuDo the math
Nalla kannu chella kannuMy good eyes, my precious eyes
Dhumkku nakka jinnaa jikku nakka jingRhythmic beat syllables (Dhumkku nakka jinnaa jikku nakka jing)
Male
Dooringu kottagaikku pogavaaShall I go to the touring cinema tent?
Angu ottugira padangala paakkavaaShall I watch the movies playing there?
Pandigaikku pattu chatta podavaaShall I wear a silk shirt for the festival?
Nalla paattu paadi ishtam pola aadavaaShall I sing a good song and dance to my heart's desire?
Male
Otta kudisaiyae odaaga maathalaamWe can transform the leaking hut into a tiled house
Thakkum dhinakkum dhinakkadiRhythmic beat syllables (Thakkum dhinakkum dhinakkadi)
Dhikku nakkadiRhythmic beat syllables (Dhikku nakkadi)
Otta kudisaiyae odaaga maathalaamWe can transform the leaking hut into a tiled house
Onnaaga serndhu vela seiyalaamWe can work hard together as one
Male
Nalla kaalam porakkudhuGood times are dawning
Thollai ellaam parakkudhuAll troubles are flying away
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Nanma vandhu sirikkudhuGoodness comes and smiles
Nalladhukku azhaikkudhuIt invites us towards prosperity
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Male
Velaikku velai aachuWork has been scheduled time to time
Mudinjaa adhu kaasaachuOnce done, it turned into money
Ezhainga vaazhkkai ellaamThe lives of the poor people
Inimel ingu lesaachuWill become easy from now on here
Male
Nalla kaalam porakkudhuGood times are dawning
Thollai ellaam parakkudhuAll troubles are flying away
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Nanma vandhu sirikkudhuGoodness comes and smiles
Nalladhukku azhaikkudhuIt invites us towards prosperity
Naan padikkum sangadhiya keluListen to the news I am reciting
Male
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkumRhythmic vocal beat (Thaangidu thaam thakkum thikkum)
Thatthakku dhimRhythmic vocal beat finish (Thatthakku dhim)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Karuvelam Pookkal' is an uplifting and energetic folk ballad celebrating the turn of fortune for impoverished working-class folk. It begins with traditional rhythm syllables (solkattu) and moves into a narrative proclaiming that dark, desperate days of drought, starvation, and grueling physical hardship are finally over. The lyrics emphasize honest labor, specifically matchstick manufacturing and manual work, which turns daily effort into tangible wages, enabling the poor to rise above poverty. With optimistic imagery of moving from a leaky hut to a tiled home, enjoying simple pleasures like touring talkies cinema and wearing festive clothes, the song emphasizes collective work ethic and hope. Written with Ilaiyaraaja's signature folk sensibility, the song serves as a beacon of joy and resilience, announcing that better days have arrived for the hardworking community.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme / Anaaphora)

Nalla kaalam porakkudhu / Thollai ellaam parakkudhu

Matching second consonants across consecutive lines, creating a classic Tamil rhythmic flow ('Nalla' / 'Thollai' and 'Velaikku' / 'Ezhainga').

Personification (Uruvagatham)

Nanma vandhu sirikkudhu / Nalladhukku azhaikkudhu

'Goodness' (Nanma) is personified as an entity that walks up, smiles, and invites people towards prosperity.

Solkattu / Rhythm Vocalization

Tharikida thom thom / Thakka tharikida thom thom thakka

Use of traditional rhythm syllables (Tharikida, Thakka, Thadhimi) to structure the musical pulse before lyrical verses.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Karuvelam Pookkal' (2000), directed by P. Kalaimani, featured a soundtrack entirely composed and written by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja. The film deals with socio-economic struggles in rural Tamil Nadu, and this song serves as a central celebratory track highlighting working-class empowerment.

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