Ravishankar, a terminally ill patient, returns to his ancestral home with his wife Malini to spend the rest of his time there in comfort. Malini who works as a lecturer has to go back as she cannot get any more vacation without resigning from her job. Ravi’s aunt and his family friend Durga assures Malini that he will be taken care of while she is away and that she can visit on weekends. Durga takes Ravi on short walks and helps him reminisce the past in little bits. She sings for him a poem he had written long back in a notebook she had saved. A song about deeply hidden passion from the movie Sukrutham.

To listen to the song, click play:

Kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
Kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
kathir chinnum muthu pole, pavizham pole
[In the blue recesses of the sea
like a pearl which radiates light, like a coral,]
kamani nin hrudayathin aazhathil aararum
ariyathe kaathu vachathu aethu raagam?++
[hey beautiful lady, in the depths of your heart,
without revealing to anyone, which color did you safeguard?]

Arumayaam anuraaga padmaraagam*
[It is the adorable red sapphire of love]

Kathir chinnum muthu pole, pavizham pole
kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
[Like a pearl which radiates light, like a coral,]
in the blue recesses of the sea]

Nin nerkku ezhum en nigoodamaam raagathin chemmani maanikyam
Nin nerkku ezhum en nigoodamaam raagathin chemmani maanikyam
[Rising towards you, my mysterious passion’s beautiful red ruby]
Ente manassin agaadha hrudayathil undu innu athu eduthu kolka
[It is in the depths of my heart, please take it today]
Aaaa…

Kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
kathir chinnum muthu pole, pavizham pole
[In the blue recesses of the sea
like a pearl which radiates light, like a coral]

Narthanam aaduvaan mohamaanengil ee hruthadam vediyaakku
narthanam aaduvaan mohamaanengil ee hruthadam vediyaakku
[If you wish to dance, please use this heart as your stage]
En antharanga nikunjanthil aetho gandharvar paadan vannu
[In my inner bower, some heavenly beings came to sing]
Aaaa…

Kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
Kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
kathir chinnum muthu pole, pavizham pole
[In the deep recesses of the sea
like a pearl which radiates light, like a coral]
kamani nin hrudayathin aazhathil aararum
ariyathe kaathu vachathu aethu raagam?
[hey beautiful, in the depths of your heart,
without revealing to anyone, which color did you safeguard?]
Arumayaam anuraaga padmaraagam
[It is the adorable red sapphire of love]
Kathir chinnum muthu pole, pavizham pole
kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
kadalin agadhamaam neelimayil
[Like a pearl which radiates light, like a coral,
in the blue recesses of the sea]

++Ragam/raga is usually used in the context of music as the formation of sounds to make a melody, but here I believe the lyricist is using it in its original definition which means color or passion. The song has references to colors and red precious stones. Red is usually associated with passion and love.
* Sapphire is usually blue in color, but padmaragam is a variation which is lotus pink/red in color. The name signifies it – padma (lotus) + ragam (color). Here is a research paper which talks about padmaragam.

+Image copyright to the original uploader.