Adhikaalai
From Natpu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Natpu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal sonna kaagidham | The paper that conveyed love |
| Poovaai ponadhu | Blossomed into a tender flower |
| Vaanil pona dhevadhai | An angel drifting through the sky |
| Vaazhthu chonnadhu | Showered her divine blessings |
| Female | |
| Oru thaththai kadidhaththai | As a parrot reads this love letter |
| Than nenjukkullae vaasikka | Deeply within its own heart |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Male | |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Male | |
| Anbae vaa vaa anaikkavaa | Come my beloved, shall I embrace you? |
| Nee nilavukku pirandhavalaa | Were you born to the glowing moon? |
| Female :Bodhai vandae poruththiru | Female: O intoxicated bee, hold your patience |
| Indru malarukku thirappu vizhaa | Today is the opening ceremony for the flower |
| Male | |
| Unnai vandhu paaraamal | Without coming to see you |
| Thookkam thollaiyae | Sleep remains a constant struggle |
| Female :Unnai vandhu paarthaalum | Female: Even if I do come to see you |
| Thookkam illaiyae | Sleep is nowhere to be found |
| Male | |
| Oru baaram udai meerum | A heavy desire overflows its boundaries |
| Niram maarum thaniyae | Colors change in quiet solitude |
| Female :Idhazhoram amudhoorum | Female: Nectar drips from the edges of lips |
| Parimaarum iniyae | Serving sweetness to be shared |
| Male | |
| Adi thappi poga koodaadhae | Oh girl, you must not slip away now |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Female | |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Female | |
| Thendral vandhu theendinaal | If the gentle breeze comes and touches |
| Indha thalir enna thadai sollumaa | Will this tender shoot voice any objection? |
| Male :Penmai baaram thaangumaa | Male: Can delicate womanhood bear such weight? |
| Andha idai oru vidai sollumaa | Will that slender waist provide an answer? |
| Female | |
| Ennai cherndha unnullam | Your heart that has joined mine |
| Eeram maarumaa | Will its deep affection ever fade? |
| Male :Thangam enna suttaalum | Male: No matter how much gold is burned in fire |
| Saaram pogumaa | Will its core essence ever be lost? |
| Female | |
| Ilangodhai oru paedhai | This young maiden is innocent and tender |
| Ival paadhai unadhu | Her life's path now belongs to you |
| Male :Malar maalai aniyaamal | Male: Without wearing the wedding garland |
| Uranghaadhu manadhu | The heart refuses to sleep |
| Female | |
| Idhu podhum | This moment alone is enough |
| Sorgam ver yedhu | What other heaven could there be? |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Male | |
| Adhi kaalai suba velai | At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal sonna kaagidham | The paper that conveyed love |
| Poovaai ponadhu | Blossomed into a tender flower |
| Vaanil pona dhevadhai | An angel drifting through the sky |
| Vaazhthu chonnadhu | Showered her divine blessings |
| Male | |
| Oru thaththai kadidhaththai | As a parrot reads this love letter |
| Than nenjukkullae vaasikka | Deeply within its own heart |
| Both :Adhi kaalai suba velai | Both: At the auspicious hour of early dawn |
| Un olai vandhadhu | Your palm-leaf letter arrived |
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
காதல் சொன்ன காகிதம்
பூவாய்ப் போனது
வானில் போன தேவதை
வாழ்த்துச் சொன்னது
ஒரு தத்தை கடிதத்தைத்
தன் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே வாசிக்க
The paper that conveyed love
Blossomed into a tender flower
An angel drifting through the sky
Showered her divine blessings
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
As a parrot reads this love letter
Deeply within its own heart
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
அன்பே வா வா அணைக்கவா
நீ நிலவுக்குப் பிறந்தவளா
போதை வண்டே பொறுத்திரு
இன்று மலருக்குத் திறப்பு விழா
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
உன்னை வந்து பாராமல்
தூக்கம் தொல்லையே
உன்னை வந்து பார்த்தாலும்
தூக்கம் இல்லையே
Come my beloved, shall I embrace you?
Were you born to the glowing moon?
Female: O intoxicated bee, hold your patience
Today is the opening ceremony for the flower
ஒரு பாரம் உடை மீறும்
நிறம் மாறும் கனியே
இதழோரம் அமுதூறும்
பரிமாறும் இனியே
அடி தப்பி போகக்கூடாது
Without coming to see you
Sleep remains a constant struggle
Female: Even if I do come to see you
Sleep is nowhere to be found
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
A heavy desire overflows its boundaries
Colors change in quiet solitude
Female: Nectar drips from the edges of lips
Serving sweetness to be shared
தென்றல் வந்து தீண்டினால்
இந்தத் தளிர் என்ன
தடை சொல்லுமா
பெண்மை பாரம் தாங்குமா
அந்த இடை
ஒரு விடை சொல்லுமா
Oh girl, you must not slip away now
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
என்னைச் சேர்ந்த உன்னுள்ளம்
ஈரம் மாறுமா
தங்கம் என்ன சுட்டாலும்
சாரம் போகுமா
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
இளங்கோதை ஒரு பேதை
இவள் பாதை உனது
மலர் மாலை அணியாமல்
உறங்காது மனது
இது போதும் சொர்க்கம் வேறேது
If the gentle breeze comes and touches
Will this tender shoot voice any objection?
Male: Can delicate womanhood bear such weight?
Will that slender waist provide an answer?
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
Your heart that has joined mine
Will its deep affection ever fade?
Male: No matter how much gold is burned in fire
Will its core essence ever be lost?
காதல் சொன்ன காகிதம்
பூவாய்ப் போனது
வானில் போன தேவதை
வாழ்த்துச் சொன்னது
ஒரு தத்தை கடிதத்தைத்
தன் நெஞ்சுக்குள்ளே வாசிக்க
This young maiden is innocent and tender
Her life's path now belongs to you
Male: Without wearing the wedding garland
The heart refuses to sleep
அதிகாலை சுபவேளை
உன் ஓலை வந்தது
This moment alone is enough
What other heaven could there be?
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
The paper that conveyed love
Blossomed into a tender flower
An angel drifting through the sky
Showered her divine blessings
As a parrot reads this love letter
Deeply within its own heart
Both: At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Kaadhal sonna kaagidham
The paper that conveyed love
Poovaai ponadhu
Blossomed into a tender flower
Vaanil pona dhevadhai
An angel drifting through the sky
Vaazhthu chonnadhu
Showered her divine blessings
Oru thaththai kadidhaththai
As a parrot reads this love letter
Than nenjukkullae vaasikka
Deeply within its own heart
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Anbae vaa vaa anaikkavaa
Come my beloved, shall I embrace you?
Nee nilavukku pirandhavalaa
Were you born to the glowing moon?
Female :Bodhai vandae poruththiru
Female: O intoxicated bee, hold your patience
Indru malarukku thirappu vizhaa
Today is the opening ceremony for the flower
Unnai vandhu paaraamal
Without coming to see you
Thookkam thollaiyae
Sleep remains a constant struggle
Female :Unnai vandhu paarthaalum
Female: Even if I do come to see you
Thookkam illaiyae
Sleep is nowhere to be found
Oru baaram udai meerum
A heavy desire overflows its boundaries
Niram maarum thaniyae
Colors change in quiet solitude
Female :Idhazhoram amudhoorum
Female: Nectar drips from the edges of lips
Parimaarum iniyae
Serving sweetness to be shared
Adi thappi poga koodaadhae
Oh girl, you must not slip away now
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Thendral vandhu theendinaal
If the gentle breeze comes and touches
Indha thalir enna thadai sollumaa
Will this tender shoot voice any objection?
Male :Penmai baaram thaangumaa
Male: Can delicate womanhood bear such weight?
Andha idai oru vidai sollumaa
Will that slender waist provide an answer?
Ennai cherndha unnullam
Your heart that has joined mine
Eeram maarumaa
Will its deep affection ever fade?
Male :Thangam enna suttaalum
Male: No matter how much gold is burned in fire
Saaram pogumaa
Will its core essence ever be lost?
Ilangodhai oru paedhai
This young maiden is innocent and tender
Ival paadhai unadhu
Her life's path now belongs to you
Male :Malar maalai aniyaamal
Male: Without wearing the wedding garland
Uranghaadhu manadhu
The heart refuses to sleep
Idhu podhum
This moment alone is enough
Sorgam ver yedhu
What other heaven could there be?
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Adhi kaalai suba velai
At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Kaadhal sonna kaagidham
The paper that conveyed love
Poovaai ponadhu
Blossomed into a tender flower
Vaanil pona dhevadhai
An angel drifting through the sky
Vaazhthu chonnadhu
Showered her divine blessings
Oru thaththai kadidhaththai
As a parrot reads this love letter
Than nenjukkullae vaasikka
Deeply within its own heart
Both :Adhi kaalai suba velai
Both: At the auspicious hour of early dawn
Un olai vandhadhu
Your palm-leaf letter arrived
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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