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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Dandiya Aatamum Aada

From Kadhalar Dhinam · 1999

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Unni Menon, M. G. Sreekumar, Kavita Krishnamurthy
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kadhalar Dhinam1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Dhaandiyaa aattamumaada dhasaraa koottamum koodaAs the Dandiya dance plays and the Dussehra crowd gathers,
Gujaraath kumarigalaada kaadhalan kaadhaliyai thedaAs Gujarat maidens dance, the lover searches for his beloved.
Aval thenpaduvaalo endhan kan maraivaagaWill she appear, or will she remain hidden from my eyes?
Indru kaadhal solvaalo nenjodu…Will she express her love today from the heart?
Aval engae ena kaanaamal vaada ennaithaan yenga vaippaaloWill she leave me yearning, wilting without seeing where she is?
Male
Dhaandiyaa aattamumaada dhasaraa koottamum koodaAs the Dandiya dance plays and the Dussehra crowd gathers,
Gujaraath kumarigalaada kaadhalan kaadhaliyai thedaAs Gujarat maidens dance, the lover searches for his beloved.
Male
Unnai kandu ennam yaavum mella oomaiyaagi nindradhenna sollaSeeing you, all my thoughts fell silent, how can I express it?
Nooru vaarthai alla alla oru vaarthai puriyadhaaNot a hundred words, couldn't you understand even a single word?
Female
Endha vaarthai sollavillaiyo nee andha vaarthai endhan kangalaal naanThe word you left unspoken, I conveyed through my eyes,
Nooru jaadaiyil sonnenae theriyaadhaa puriyaadhaaExpressed through a hundred gestures, don't you know, don't you understand?
Male
Ooo..ohohoh…{ maiyai pola naanum kannil seravendum} (2)Oh... like kohl, I want to join your eyes.
Poovai pola naanum undhan koondhal seravendumLike a flower, I want to join your hair.
Female
Ohh.. kannil vaitha maiyum karaindhu pogakoodumOh, the kohl placed in the eyes might smudge away.
Koondhal vaitha vanna poovum vaadi pogakoodumThe colorful flower placed in the hair might fade away.
Male
Seri kaadhal nenjai naan tharalaamaa un kanavanaaga naan VaralaamaaAlright, shall I give my loving heart? May I become your husband?
Female
Indha vaarthai mattumae nijamaanal oru jenmam podhumIf only these words come true, one lifetime is enough.
Male
Uyirae vaa..Female :Anbae vaaCome my life... (Female: Come my love)
Male
Uyirae vaa…Female :Anbae vaaCome my life... (Female: Come my love)
Male
Dhaandiyaa aattamumaada dhasaraa koottamum koodaAs the Dandiya dance plays and the Dussehra crowd gathers,
Gujaraath kumarigalaada kaadhalan kaadhaliyai theda…As Gujarat maidens dance, the lover searches for his beloved...
Aval thenpaduvaalo endhan kan maraivaagaWill she appear, or will she remain hidden from my eyes?
Indru kaadhal solvaalo nenjoduWill she express her love today from the heart?
Aval engae ena kaanaamal vaada ennaithaan yenga vaippaaloWill she leave me yearning, wilting without seeing where she is?
Female
Kaadhal paarvaigal ellaamae azhagu kaadhal vaarthaigal ellaamae kavidhaiAll loving glances are beautiful, all loving words are poetry.
Kaadhal seivadhae ennaalum deiveegam deiveegamLoving each other is forever divine, divine.
Male
Kaadhal enbadhai kandu pidithavan kaalam muzhuvadhum nandrikkuriyavanThe one who discovered love deserves gratitude for all eternity.
Kaadhal illaiyel ennaagum bhoologam bhoologamWithout love, what would become of this earth, this earth?
Female
Ohh..hohoho.. ullam endra ondrai unnidathil thandhenOh... I gave you this thing called my heart.
Thandha ullam bathiramaa therindhu kolla vandhenI came to find out if the heart I gave is safe.
Male
Ohhoo… ennai pattri needhaan enniyadhu thavaruOh... what you thought about me is wrong.
Ennaivida undhan ullam ennudaiya uyiruMore than my own, your heart is my very life.
Female
Iru uyirgal enbadhae kidaiyaadhu idhil unadhu enadhu ena pirivedhuThere are no two separate lives here, so where is the division of mine and yours?
Male
Indha vaarthai mattumae nijamaanaal oru jenmam podhumIf only these words come true, one lifetime is enough.
Female
Uyirae vaa..Male :Anbae vaaCome my life... (Male: Come my love)
Female
Uyirae vaa…Male :Anbae vaaCome my life... (Male: Come my love)
Male
{ Vaaliba nenjangal uravu kondaada vandhadhu ingoru raathiriA night has arrived here for youthful hearts to celebrate togetherness,
Dhaandiyaa endroru raathiri } (2)A night known as Dandiya.
Female
Ohoo…ho..ho..ho…ho..ho…oho..ho..ho..ho..oho..ho..ho..oho..oohOhoo...ho..ho..ho...ho..ho...
Female
Ohoo…ho..ho..ho…ho..ho…oho..ho..ho..ho..oho..ho..ho..oho..oohOhoo...ho..ho..ho...ho..ho...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Dhandiya from Kadhalar Dhinam (1999) is a vibrant festive song set against the energetic backdrop of a Garba and Dandiya Raas celebration during Dussehra. The narrative follows two lovers navigating through the festive Gujarati crowd searching for each other, exchanging playful banter and romantic confessions amidst the rhythm of the dance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

maiyai pola naanum kannil seravendum

The speaker compares their desire to be intimately close to the beloved to kohl (mai) adorning the eyes.

Simile (Uvamai)

Poovai pola naanum undhan koondhal seravendum

The speaker compares joining the lover's life to a flower woven into hair.

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaadhal paarvaigal ellaamae azhagu kaadhal vaarthaigal ellaamae kavidhai

Repetition of initial consonant sounds 'Ka' across consecutive phrases creating rhythmic harmony.

Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Kaadhal seivadhae ennaalum deiveegam deiveegam

Emphatic repetition of 'deiveegam' and 'bhoologam' to emphasize the sacredness and global importance of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in the prompt, this iconic track was composed by A. R. Rahman for the 1999 romantic drama Kadhalar Dhinam directed by Kathir. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly seamlessly integrated Gujarati festive celebration tropes with classical Tamil poetic romantic tropes. The song featured vocals by Unni Menon, Kavita Krishnamurthy, and Prashanthini.

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