En Kathal Odangal
From Anjatha Nenjangal · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. Janaki, S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Anjatha Nenjangal1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo | Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo |
| Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo | Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo |
| Ho oo oo oo oo hoo oo oo | Ho oo oo oo oo hoo oo oo |
| Female | |
| En kaadhal odangal | The boats of my love |
| Karai serum nerangal | Are reaching the shore at these moments |
| Poongaatru melum veesudhae | The gentle breeze keeps blowing further |
| Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae | The waves come and shower flowers |
| Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae | The flower arrow has struck the heart |
| Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae | Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes |
| Female | |
| En kaadhal odangal | The boats of my love |
| Karai serum nerangal | Are reaching the shore at these moments |
| Poongaatru melum veesudhae | The gentle breeze keeps blowing further |
| Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae | The waves come and shower flowers |
| Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae | The flower arrow has struck the heart |
| Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae | Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes |
| Male | |
| ………………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Thee meedhu veezhndha meen ondru | A fish that fell onto fire |
| Thannerai meendum thaedum | Searches for water once again |
| Veesum kaatril veezhndha poo ondru | A flower fallen in the blowing wind |
| Kilai meedhu endru serum | When will it ever rejoin its branch? |
| Female | |
| Neela vaanil jodi megam | When a pair of clouds in the blue sky passes by |
| Pogum podhu soga raagam | A sad melody plays |
| Oru kannil salanam | Agitation in one eye |
| Maru kannil maunam | Silence in the other eye |
| Sooriyan yenguthu thaamarai thoongudhu | The sun yearns while the lotus sleeps |
| Female | |
| En kaadhal odangal | The boats of my love |
| Karai serum nerangal | Are reaching the shore at these moments |
| Poongaatru melum veesudhae | The gentle breeze keeps blowing further |
| Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae | The waves come and shower flowers |
| Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae | The flower arrow has struck the heart |
| Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae | Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes |
| Male | |
| …………………….. | ... |
| Female | |
| Paavai nenjil nooru kaayangal | A hundred wounds reside in the maiden's heart |
| Aaraamal kaadhal yedhu | What love exists without healing? |
| Kannil soga aaru paarungal | Look at the river of sorrow in her eyes |
| Kannerae endhan thoodhu | Tears are my messengers |
| Female | |
| Kodhai veedu sarintha podhu | When the maiden's house collapses |
| Kolam poda vaasal yedhu | Where is the entrance left to draw decorative patterns? |
| Kanavugal meedhu uranginaal maadhu | The woman slept upon her dreams |
| Nenjilae aasaigal mounamae baashaigal | Desires fill the heart while silence remains the language |
| Female | |
| En kaadhal odangal | The boats of my love |
| Karai serum nerangal | Are reaching the shore at these moments |
| Poongaatru melum veesudhae | The gentle breeze keeps blowing further |
| Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae | The waves come and shower flowers |
| Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae | The flower arrow has struck the heart |
| Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae | Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes |
| Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae | The flower arrow has struck the heart |
| Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae | Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes |
ஹோ ஓஒ ஓ ஹோ ஓஒ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓஒ ஓ ஹோ ஓஒ ஓஒ
ஹோ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஹோ ஓ ஓ
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo
Ho oo oo oo oo hoo oo oo
என் காதல் ஓடங்கள்
கரை சேரும் நேரங்கள்
பூங்காற்று மேலும் வீசுதே....
அலை வந்து பூக்கள் தூவுதே...
மலர்கணை நெஞ்சில் பாய்ந்ததே
ஆனால் விழிகளில் சோகம் ஊறுதே....
The boats of my love
Are reaching the shore at these moments
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
The waves come and shower flowers
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
என் காதல் ஓடங்கள்
கரை சேரும் நேரங்கள்
பூங்காற்று மேலும் வீசுதே....
அலை வந்து பூக்கள் தூவுதே...
மலர்கணை நெஞ்சில் பாய்ந்ததே
ஆனால் விழிகளில் சோகம் ஊறுதே....
The boats of my love
Are reaching the shore at these moments
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
The waves come and shower flowers
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
....................................
...
தீ மீது வீழ்ந்த மீனொன்று
தண்ணீரை மீண்டும் தேடும்
வீசும் காற்றில் வீழ்ந்த பூ ஒன்று
கிளை மீது என்று சேரும்
A fish that fell onto fire
Searches for water once again
A flower fallen in the blowing wind
When will it ever rejoin its branch?
நீலவானில் ஜோடி மேகம்
போகும் போது சோக ராகம்
ஒரு கண்ணில் சலனம்
மறு கண்ணில் மௌனம்
சூரியன் ஏங்குது தாமரை தூங்குது.....
When a pair of clouds in the blue sky passes by
A sad melody plays
Agitation in one eye
Silence in the other eye
The sun yearns while the lotus sleeps
என் காதல் ஓடங்கள்
கரை சேரும் நேரங்கள்
பூங்காற்று மேலும் வீசுதே....
அலை வந்து பூக்கள் தூவுதே...
மலர்கணை நெஞ்சில் பாய்ந்ததே
ஆனால் விழிகளில் சோகம் ஊறுதே....
The boats of my love
Are reaching the shore at these moments
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
The waves come and shower flowers
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
....................................
...
பாவை நெஞ்சில் நூறு காயங்கள்
ஆறாமல் காதல் ஏது
கண்ணில் சோக ஆறு பாருங்கள்
கண்ணீரே எந்தன் தூது
A hundred wounds reside in the maiden's heart
What love exists without healing?
Look at the river of sorrow in her eyes
Tears are my messengers
கோதை வீடு சரிந்த போது
கோலம் போட வாசல் ஏது
கனவுகள் மீது உறங்கினள் மாது
நெஞ்சிலே ஆசைகள் மௌனமே பாஷைகள்
When the maiden's house collapses
Where is the entrance left to draw decorative patterns?
The woman slept upon her dreams
Desires fill the heart while silence remains the language
என் காதல் ஓடங்கள்
கரை சேரும் நேரங்கள்
பூங்காற்று மேலும் வீசுதே....
அலை வந்து பூக்கள் தூவுதே...
மலர்கணை நெஞ்சில் பாய்ந்ததே
ஆனால் விழிகளில் சோகம் ஊறுதே....
மலர்கணை நெஞ்சில் பாய்ந்ததே
ஆனால் விழிகளில் சோகம் ஊறுதே....
The boats of my love
Are reaching the shore at these moments
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
The waves come and shower flowers
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo hoo ooo ooo
Ho oo oo oo oo hoo oo oo
Ho oo oo oo oo hoo oo oo
En kaadhal odangal
The boats of my love
Karai serum nerangal
Are reaching the shore at these moments
Poongaatru melum veesudhae
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae
The waves come and shower flowers
Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
En kaadhal odangal
The boats of my love
Karai serum nerangal
Are reaching the shore at these moments
Poongaatru melum veesudhae
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae
The waves come and shower flowers
Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
…………………………..
...
Thee meedhu veezhndha meen ondru
A fish that fell onto fire
Thannerai meendum thaedum
Searches for water once again
Veesum kaatril veezhndha poo ondru
A flower fallen in the blowing wind
Kilai meedhu endru serum
When will it ever rejoin its branch?
Neela vaanil jodi megam
When a pair of clouds in the blue sky passes by
Pogum podhu soga raagam
A sad melody plays
Oru kannil salanam
Agitation in one eye
Maru kannil maunam
Silence in the other eye
Sooriyan yenguthu thaamarai thoongudhu
The sun yearns while the lotus sleeps
En kaadhal odangal
The boats of my love
Karai serum nerangal
Are reaching the shore at these moments
Poongaatru melum veesudhae
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae
The waves come and shower flowers
Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
……………………..
...
Paavai nenjil nooru kaayangal
A hundred wounds reside in the maiden's heart
Aaraamal kaadhal yedhu
What love exists without healing?
Kannil soga aaru paarungal
Look at the river of sorrow in her eyes
Kannerae endhan thoodhu
Tears are my messengers
Kodhai veedu sarintha podhu
When the maiden's house collapses
Kolam poda vaasal yedhu
Where is the entrance left to draw decorative patterns?
Kanavugal meedhu uranginaal maadhu
The woman slept upon her dreams
Nenjilae aasaigal mounamae baashaigal
Desires fill the heart while silence remains the language
En kaadhal odangal
The boats of my love
Karai serum nerangal
Are reaching the shore at these moments
Poongaatru melum veesudhae
The gentle breeze keeps blowing further
Alai vandhu pookkal thoovudhae
The waves come and shower flowers
Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae
The flower arrow has struck the heart
Aanaal vizhigalil sogam oorudhae
Yet, sorrow wells up in the eyes
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'En Kaadhal Odangal' expresses the profound melancholy and unfulfilled longing of love. Even as love approaches its destination—metaphorically described as boats reaching the shore or flower arrows striking the heart—a deep sense of sorrow overhangs the protagonist's spirit. The lyrics paint poignant pictures of distress: a fish fallen in fire yearning for water, a wind-swept flower unable to rejoin its tree branch, and a home destroyed with no doorway remaining for celebratory patterns. Through rich imagery, the song portrays a lover navigating the contrast between external romantic beauty and internal agonizing grief, where tears become the sole messenger and silence becomes the only articulate language.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvam (Metaphor)
“En kaadhal odangal / Karai serum nerangal”
Compares love to boats reaching the shore ('En kaadhal odangal karai serum nerangal') and arrows made of flowers striking the heart ('Malar kanai nenjil paaindhadhae').
Uvamaani (Analogy)
“Thee meedhu veezhndha meen ondru / Thannerai meendum thaedum”
Illustrates extreme pain and helplessness by likening the lover's suffering to a fish falling on fire and searching for water.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Sooriyan yenguthu thaamarai thoongudhu”
Highlights emotional duality by contrasting agitation in one eye with silence in the other, and the longing sun with a sleeping lotus.
Personification
“Kannerae endhan thoodhu”
Attributes human actions to tears, giving them the role of messengers conveying inner distress.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by poet Vairamuthu during the early 1980s, this track showcases his characteristic blend of classical Sangam imagery (such as 'Malar kanai' referring to Kama's flower arrows) with modern melancholic cinematic expression. The song featured in the 1981 film 'Anjatha Nenjangal'.
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