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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Kaadhal Theeye

From Irandaam Ulagam · 2013

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Irandaam Ulagam2013

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
En kaadhal theeYou are the fire of my love
Thee vaasam neeYou are the fragrance of fire
Kann paarthom vaaWe exchanged glances, come
Kai serppom vaaLet us join hands, come
Male
Pala uyirgal yeriyumMany lives burn away
Udalgal maariyumBodies keep changing
Payanappaduvathu kaadhalLove continues its eternal journey
Kaadhal saadhalLove and death
Male
Kaadhal saadhalLove and death
Rendum ondruBoth are one and the same
Enna vindhaiyadiWhat a wonder it is, my dear!
Andha sorgam pogaTo reach that heavenly realm
Rendum vendumBoth are required
Kannae unmaiyadiMy darling, this is the truth
Male
Kaadhal saadhalLove and death
Rendum ondruBoth are one
Enna vindhaiyadiWhat a wonder it is, my dear!
Andha sorgam pogaTo reach that heavenly realm
Rendum vendumadiBoth are required, my dear
Male
En kaadhal theeYou are the fire of my love
Thee vaasam neeYou are the fragrance of fire
Kann paarthom vaaWe exchanged glances, come
Kai serppom vaaLet us join hands, come
Male
Udalgal irandum serum munBefore two physical bodies unite
Ullam irandum serumaeTwo inner souls unite
Udalin vazhiyae uyirai thoduvathuTouching the soul through the physical body
KaadhalaeIs love
Male
Idhayam irandum dhooram thaanThough two hearts remain distant
Idhazhgal naangum arugil thaanFour lips stay close together
Idhazhgal vazhiyae idhayam thoduvathuTouching the heart through the lips
KaadhalaeIs love
Male
Oosi podum rendu kangalilWith two piercing needle-like eyes
Uyirai kudithaval neeYou are the one who drank my soul
Uyaram kaattum pookkal irandinilWith two towering floral blooms
Ulagai udaippaval neeYou are the one who shatters the world
Male
Kaadhal saadhalLove and death
Rendum ondruBoth are one
Enna vindhaiyadiWhat a wonder it is, my dear!
Andha sorgam pogaTo reach that heavenly realm
Rendum vendumBoth are required
Kannae unmaiyadiMy darling, this is the truth
Chorus
Kaadhal saadhalLove and death
Rendum ondruBoth are one
Enna vindhaiyadiWhat a wonder it is, my dear!
Andha sorgam pogaTo reach that heavenly realm
Rendum vendumadiBoth are required, my dear
Male
Ulagil kaadhal pazhaiyathuLove in this world is ancient
Uttra pozhuthae pudhiyathuYet it feels brand new the moment it occurs
Ellaa nilathum ellaa pozhuthumAcross every land and in every era
NigazhvathuIt comes to pass
Male
Ulagin neruppu kaadhalaeLove is the fire of this universe
Uyiril iruppu kaadhalaeLove is the breath within life
Unmai kaadhal ulagai vidavumTrue love, compared to the entire world
PeriyathuIs far greater
Male
Kurinji mullai marutham neithalinAcross Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, and Neithal
Kulungum poovithuvaeThis is the vibrant, swaying flower
Paalai veyililum kaanal veliyilumEven in desert heat and mirage expanses
Padarum nizhal ithuvaeThis is the comforting, spreading shade
Chorus
Kandaar mayangumA flower that entrances all who behold it
Vandaar malaraeAttracting the hovering bees
Nindror mozhi solladiSpeak the language of those who stand enchanted
Un pinnae piranthuBorn behind you
Munnae valarnthathuGrown far ahead of you
Ennae sezhumaiyadiWhat splendid richness this is, my dear!
Male & Chorus :Male & Chorus :
Un pinnae piranthuBorn behind you
Munnae valarnthathuGrown far ahead of you
Ennae sezhumaiyadiWhat splendid richness this is, my dear!
Male
Adhai moththam eduthuTaking all of it together
Siththam thudikkuthadiMy inner mind throbs with desire, my dear
Male
Penn paavaai vaaCome, my fair maiden
Chorus :Penn paavaai vaaChorus: Come, my fair maiden
Male :Kann paavaai vaaMale: Come, apple of my eye
Chorus :Kann paavaai vaaChorus: Come, apple of my eye
Male :Sengodaai vaaMale: Come like a golden scepter
Chorus :Sengodaai vaaChorus: Come like a golden scepter
Male :Senthaenaai vaaMale: Come like pure red honey
Chorus :Senthaenaai vaaChorus: Come like pure red honey

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

En Kaadhal Thee from Irandaam Ulagam is a deeply philosophical and surreal love song that equates true love ('Kaadhal') with death or spiritual transition ('Saadhal'). The lyrics emphasize that both love and death are non-different phenomena—twin gateways required to experience absolute spiritual bliss (Sorgam). Love transcends multiple births, changing bodies, and infinite lifetimes, serving as the immortal thread connecting two souls across parallel worlds and eras.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron

Kaadhal saadhal / Rendum ondru

Equating love (creation/life) with dying/death ('Kaadhal saadhal rendum ondru'), highlighting their shared transformative power.

Literary Allusion (Sangam Ainthinai)

Kurinji mullai marutham neithalin / Kulungum poovithuvae

References four of the five ancient Tamil Sangam landscapes (Kurinji, Mullai, Marutham, Neithal, and Paalai) to show love's omnipresence across all biomes.

Etukai (Tamil Monorhyme / Assonance)

Kaadhal saadhal

The rhythmic rhyming of 'Kaadhal' and 'Saadhal' establishes a musical cadence while emphasizing thematic unity.

Metaphor

Ulagin neruppu kaadhalae / Uyiril iruppu kaadhalae

Comparing love to the fundamental fire ('neruppu') of the universe and the breath ('iruppu') of life itself.

Did you know?

Trivia

Irandaam Ulagam (2013), directed by Selvaraghavan, marked the first and only collaboration between director Selvaraghavan and music composer Harris Jayaraj. The song 'En Kaadhal Thee' was sung by Vijay Prakash and Chinmayi, featuring lyricist Vairamuthu's rich classical Tamil imagery.

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