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Naan Sonnathey Sattam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idhu Kaadhal Nenjam

From Naan Sonnathey Sattam · 1988

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Naan Sonnathey Sattam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
20 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Adhil kalandhu kolla
Unnai thaedum vegam
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Adhil kalandhu kolla
Unnai thaedum vegam
Mazhai megam indri
Vandhadhenna minnalo
Oru theeyai thoovum
Thendral enna thendralo
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Adhil kalandhu kolla
Unnai thaedum vegam
Vellai vellai megam
Vaan veedhi engum pogum
Alli thoovum panneer
Kannil inba kanneer
Maalai vandha velai
En mannan thotta velai
Kaatru vandhu theendum
Kaadhal noyai thoondum
Kaalam naeram illai
Indha kaadhal romba thollai
Thaevai endrum thaevai
Endhan dhaevan undhan saevai
Ennavo ennavo pannudhae nenjam
Manmadhan mandhiram sollavaa konjam
Aadai kooda baaram aanadhae
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Adhil kalandhu kolla
Unnai thaedum vegam
Mazhai megam indri
Vandhadhenna minnalo
Oru theeyai thoovum
Thendral enna thendralo
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Pattu vanna kannam
Nee thottu thandha chinnam
Maaravillai innum
Ponnai pola minnum
Alli alli thaavi
En angam engum neevi
Enna maayam seidhaai
Endhan nenjai koidhaai
Paada paada raagam
Unai paarkka paarkka mogam
Thunbam pondra inbam
Adhai thaedi odum nenjam
Kaadhalin vaedhanai yaaridam solla
Kanmani paavaiyai thaedi vaa mella
Paadum paadal ketkavillaiyaa
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Adhil kalandhu kolla
Unnai thaedum vegam
Mazhai megam indri
Vandhadhenna minnalo
Oru theeyai thoovum
Thendral enna thendralo
Idhu kaadhal nenjam
Kavidhai paadum neram
Adhil kalandhu kolla
Unnai thaedum vegam
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
To join in with it,
it rushes in search of you.
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
To join in with it,
it rushes in search of you.
Without any rain clouds,
what is this lightning that struck?
Scattering sparks of fire,
what kind of breeze is this?
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
To join in with it,
it rushes in search of you.
White, white clouds
drift across the wide sky.
Like rosewater sprinkled everywhere,
tears of joy fill my eyes.
When evening arrives,
the shoulder my king touched
is caressed by the breeze,
stirring up the sweet ache of love.
There is no sense of time or hour;
this love is such sweet trouble!
Needed, always needed,
is your loving presence, my lord.
Something unexplainable is happening to my heart.
Shall I whisper Manmathan's (god of love) spell a little?
Even my clothes have become a burden!
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
To join in with it,
it rushes in search of you.
Without any rain clouds,
what is this lightning that struck?
Scattering sparks of fire,
what kind of breeze is this?
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
On my silky-soft cheek,
the mark left by your touch
has not faded yet;
it still shines like gold.
Embracing me eagerly,
caressing every part of me,
what magic did you work?
You stole my heart away!
As I keep singing, the melody flows;
as I keep looking at you, passion grows.
A pleasure that feels like pain,
my heart runs chasing after it.
To whom can I tell this ache of love?
Come softly searching for your sweet darling.
Don't you hear the song I sing?
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
To join in with it,
it rushes in search of you.
Without any rain clouds,
what is this lightning that struck?
Scattering sparks of fire,
what kind of breeze is this?
This is a heart in love,
it is time to sing a poem.
To join in with it,
it rushes in search of you.
Female
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Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
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Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Idhu Kaadhal Nenjam' expresses the overwhelming emotions and intense longing experienced by a lover. The lyrics compare romantic passion to unexpected natural phenomena, such as lightning appearing without rain clouds and a cool breeze carrying sparks of fire, emphasizing how love can simultaneously bring sweet pleasure and agonizing desire. Across the verses, the protagonist describes the sensory sensations of love—from gentle touches and skin-tingling passion to the sweet burden of romance—urging the beloved to come closer and listen to the song born from their heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagatu)

“Vaan veedhi engum pogum”

The sky is described as a 'veedhi' (street) where clouds drift, turning the vast expanse into a familiar walkway.

Oxymoron (Eranaiya Ani)

“Thunbam pondra inbam”

Combines contradictory ideas of pain ('thunbam') and joy ('inbam') to express the bitter-sweet intensity of romance.

Rhetorical Question

“Mazhai megam indri vandhadhenna minnalo”

The speaker questions how lightning could appear without rain clouds, expressing surprise at the sudden intensity of emotion.

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

“Ponnai pola minnum”

Compares the enduring mark of the lover's touch to gold that shines continuously.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Vellai vellai megam”

The repetition of 'vellai' (white) and 'alli' (scoop) enhances the rhythmic flow and visual imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naan Sonnathey Sattam' is a 1988 Tamil action-drama film starring Sarath Babu and Charan Raj. The soundtrack features melodies characteristic of 1980s Tamil cinema, blending romantic lyricism with expressive orchestrations.

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