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Isaimozhi
Natpu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Adhikaalai

From Natpu · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Natpu
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
25 Dec 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Kaadhal sonna kaagidham
Poovaai ponadhu
Vaanil pona dhevadhai
Vaazhthu chonnadhu
Oru thaththai kadidhaththai
Than nenjukkullae vaasikka
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Anbae vaa vaa anaikkavaa
Nee nilavukku pirandhavalaa
Female :Bodhai vandae poruththiru
Indru malarukku thirappu vizhaa
Unnai vandhu paaraamal
Thookkam thollaiyae
Female :Unnai vandhu paarthaalum
Thookkam illaiyae
Oru baaram udai meerum
Niram maarum thaniyae
Female :Idhazhoram amudhoorum
Parimaarum iniyae
Adi thappi poga koodaadhae
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Thendral vandhu theendinaal
Indha thalir enna thadai sollumaa
Male :Penmai baaram thaangumaa
Andha idai oru vidai sollumaa
Ennai cherndha unnullam
Eeram maarumaa
Male :Thangam enna suttaalum
Saaram pogumaa
Ilangodhai oru paedhai
Ival paadhai unadhu
Male :Malar maalai aniyaamal
Uranghaadhu manadhu
Idhu podhum
Sorgam ver yedhu
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
Kaadhal sonna kaagidham
Poovaai ponadhu
Vaanil pona dhevadhai
Vaazhthu chonnadhu
Oru thaththai kadidhaththai
Than nenjukkullae vaasikka
Both :Adhi kaalai suba velai
Un olai vandhadhu
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
The paper that spoke of love
turned into a flower.
An angel passing through the sky
sent her blessings.
As a sweet parrot reads
the letter close to her heart,
in the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
Come, my love, come, let me hold you;
were you born of the moon?
Female: Intoxicated bee, wait a while;
today is the opening of the flower.
Without coming to see you,
sleep is impossible.
Female: Even after seeing you,
sleep never comes!
A heavy longing bursts past my clothes,
and blushing glows in solitude.
Female: Sweet nectar gathers at the edge of my lips,
to be served from now on.
Darling, you must not slip away!
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
When the gentle breeze touches it,
will this tender sprout object?
Male: Can your gentle body bear the weight?
Will that slender waist give an answer?
Once we are united, will the warmth
in your heart ever fade?
Male: No matter how hot gold is burned,
will its pure essence ever be lost?
This young girl is simple and innocent;
her path belongs to you.
Male: Without placing the wedding garland,
my heart will never rest.
This is enough;
what other heaven could there be?
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
The paper that spoke of love
turned into a flower.
An angel passing through the sky
sent her blessings.
As a sweet parrot reads
the letter close to her heart,
Both: In the auspicious early morning,
your letter arrived.
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet celebrates the joy and intimacy of receiving a love letter in the tranquil hours of early morning. The lovers exchange poetic metaphors, expressing their deep longing, affection, and anticipation of being united. The female protagonist playfully asks her lover for patience like a opening flower teasing a bee, while acknowledging that seeing him deprives her of sleep just as much as missing him does. The male protagonist praises her beauty, comparing her purity to gold that retains its essence no matter how hot the fire burns. Together, they reflect on their unbreakable emotional bond and conclude that experiencing such pure love is equivalent to finding heaven on earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Kaadhal sonna kaagidham / Poovaai ponadhu”

The love letter is metaphorically described as turning into a blooming flower ('Kaadhal sonna kaagidham poovaai ponadhu').

Personification / Metaphor

“Female :Bodhai vandae poruththiru”

Addressing the male lover as an intoxicated bee awaiting the opening of a flower ('Bodhai vandae').

Rhetorical Question (Analogy)

“Male :Thangam enna suttaalum / Saaram pogumaa”

Using the analogy of purifying gold through fire to illustrate that true love's essence never degrades.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Male :Thangam enna suttaalum / Ilangodhai oru paedhai”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound in adjacent lines ('Thangam' and 'Ilangodhai').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Adhi Kaalai Suba Velai' belongs to the 1986 Tamil film 'Natpu' starring Vijayakanth and Radha. The music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, forming part of their celebrated collaborative era in the mid-1980s.

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