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Isaimozhi
Urudhi Mozhi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Anbu Kathai

From Urudhi Mozhi · 1990

Lyricist
R. V. Udhaya Kumar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Urudhi Mozhi
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
4 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
Kan pattadhanaal pun pattadhu naan
Kan pattadhanaalae
Manam pun pattadhu naanae
Andha kadhai thunba kadhaiyae
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
{Poo ondru manam veesi
Pudhu raagam paada
Puriyaadha pudhiraagi
Dhisai maari poga} (2)
{Kaadhal oru odam
Adhu odum pozhudhu
Naalum thadumaarum
Alai modhum pozhudhu} (2)
Karuvil uruvaagum
Oru uyirin kadhaiyae
Uyiril uravaagum
Adhu kaadhal kadhaiyae
Pazhi paavam ariyaadhu
Adhu endhan kadhaiyae
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
{Neerodum nadhi oram
Naanum oru thoni
Karai saera mudiyaamal
Vaadum oru nyaani} (2)
{Kaanum vizhi oram
Pudhu kaadhal varavu
Kaadhal vazhi maara
Dhinam kanneer selavu} (2)
Vaazhum varai thaane
Varum varavum selavum
Pogum varai thaanae
Varum uravum pirivum
Oru paasam adhil naesam
Adhu yaavum kanavu
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
Kan pattadhanaal pun pattadhu naan
Kan pattadhanaalae
Manam pun pattadhu naanae
Andha kadhai thunba kadhaiyae
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai
Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae
Chinna kadhai vanna kadhai
Andha kadhai modhal kadhaiyae
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
Struck by the evil eye, I was wounded;
because an evil eye fell upon it,
my own heart was wounded.
That story is a story of sorrow.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
As a flower spread its fragrance
and sang a new tune,
it turned into an unsolved mystery
and drifted off its path.
Love is like a boat;
as it sails along,
it falters every day
whenever the waves crash against it.
Conceived in the womb,
it is the story of a living soul.
Becoming a bond within the soul,
it is a story of love.
Innocent of guilt and sin,
that is my story.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
Beside a flowing river,
I am like a boat;
unable to reach the shore,
I am like a wise soul languishing.
In the corner of seeing eyes,
a fresh love arrives as a gain;
when love strays from its course,
tears become the daily expense.
Only as long as we live
do gains and losses happen;
only until we depart this life
do togetherness and separation exist.
An affection, and the love within it—
all of it is just a dream.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
Struck by the evil eye, I was wounded;
because an evil eye fell upon it,
my own heart was wounded.
That story is a story of sorrow.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
A story of love, a story of gossip,
my story is a story of love.
A little story, a colorful story,
that story is a story of conflict.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Anbu Kadhai Vambu Kadhai' reflects philosophically on the pain, unpredictability, and grief of love. The protagonist describes his life story as a blend of affection, conflict, and heartbreak. Using rich metaphors such as a boat tossed on turbulent waves and a raft unable to reach the shore, he captures the emotional instability brought by a failed romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emonai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai / Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Anbu' and 'Endhan' or 'Chinna' and 'Andha'.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Anbu kadhai vambu kadhai / Endhan kadhai kaadhal kadhaiyae

Repetition of ending suffixes '-kadhai' and '-kadhaiyae' across consecutive lines.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kaadhal oru odam

Comparing love to a fragile boat ('Kaadhal oru odam') and oneself to a drift-bound raft ('Naanum oru thoni').

Wordplay / Paronomasia

Kan pattadhanaal pun pattadhu naan

Alliterative play between 'Kan' (eye) and 'Pun' (wound/hurt).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1990 action film 'Urudhi Mozhi' starring Prabhu and Gautami, this song features vocals by K. J. Yesudas. It serves as an introspective musical moment contrasting with the action-heavy storyline of the movie.

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