- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Harris Jayaraj
- Movie name
- Irandaam Ulagam
- Movie release year
- 2013
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Oct 2018
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Irandaam Ulagam
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.