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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Indha Kadhal

From Kangalin Vaarthaigal · 1998

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
Unnikrishnan, Harini
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kangalin Vaarthaigal1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiThe work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Chorus
Mm…mm…mm…mmm……Mm…mm…mm…mmm……
Female
Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiThe work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Ini podhum podhum endruSaying 'enough, enough now',
Adhai yaaru thalla koodumWho can push it away?
Kaadhalar idhayangal thudippadhumThe beating of lovers' hearts,
Kanavinil ninaivinil midhappadhumFloating in dreams and memories,
Chorus
Kaadhalar idhayangal thudippadhumThe beating of lovers' hearts,
Kanavinil ninaivinil midhappadhumFloating in dreams and memories,
Female
Adadaa yen solvenOh dear, how shall I explain it?
Chorus
Aa….aaa….aaaAa….aaa….aaa
Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiThe work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Ini podhum podhum endruSaying 'enough, enough now',
Adhai yaaru thalla koodumWho can push it away?
Female
Andhi kuyil aanandha paattuThe joyful song of the evening cuckoo,
Ketpadhandha kaadhal mozhiyaeIs that what we hear as the language of love?
Ketpadhandha kaadhal mozhiyaeIs that what we hear as the language of love?
Chorus
Ketpadhandha kaadhal mozhiyaeIs that what we hear as the language of love?
Ketpadhandha kaadhal mozhiyaeIs that what we hear as the language of love?
Female
Sindhum mazhai megam paaduThe singing of rainy clouds pouring down,
Sindhu isai kaadhal mozhiyaeIs the classical song, the language of love,
Sindhu isai kaadhal mozhiyaeIs the classical song, the language of love,
Chorus
Sindhu isai kaadhal mozhiyaeIs the classical song, the language of love,
Sindhu isai kaadhal mozhiyaeIs the classical song, the language of love,
Female
Nillaamal odum nadhigalThe rivers running ceaselessly,
Adhu sollaamal karaiyil thullumLeap along the riverbanks without a word,
Pollaadha ulagam engumAcross this entire wicked world,
Nammai kollaamal kaadhal kollumLove slays us without truly killing us,
Engum iruppadhu kaadhalLove is present everywhere,
Endrum adharkkillai saadhalAnd it never faces death,
Indhiran chandhiran ennaWhether it is Indra or the Moon God,
Sundharan manmadhan ennaOr the handsome Cupid (Manmadhan),
Kaadhalai virumbaadhavar yaaroWho is there that does not desire love?
Chorus
Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiThe work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Ini podhum podhum endruSaying 'enough, enough now',
Adhai yaaru thalla koodumWho can push it away?
Female
Kaadhalar idhayangal thudippadhumThe beating of lovers' hearts,
Kanavinil ninaivinil midhappadhumFloating in dreams and memories,
Chorus
Nananana nananana nanananaaNananana nananana nanananaa
Nananana nananana nanananaaNananana nananana nanananaa
Female
Adadaa yen solvenOh dear, how shall I explain it?
Chorus
Aaa….aa….aaa…Aaa….aa….aaa…
Female
Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiThe work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Ini podhum podhum endruSaying 'enough, enough now',
Adhai yaaru thalla koodumWho can push it away?
Male
Thalli thalli engo sendraalEven if you move far, far away,
Angum unnai kaadhal thodarumLove will follow you even there,
Angum unnai kaadhal thodarumLove will follow you even there,
Chorus
Endrum unnai kaadhal thodarumLove will follow you forever,
Endrum unnai kaadhal thodarumLove will follow you forever,
Male
Ellai illaa kaadhal adhu thaanIt is boundless love indeed,
Angum ingum engum padarumSpreading here, there, and everywhere,
Angum ingum engum padarumSpreading here, there, and everywhere,
Chorus
Angum ingum engum padarumSpreading here, there, and everywhere,
Angum ingum engum padarumSpreading here, there, and everywhere,
Male
Inbathai tharugindra kaadhalLove gives immense joy,
Adhu thunbathai tharuvadhum yaenoYet why does it also cause pain?
Noyaaga varuvadhum kaadhalLove comes like a disease,
Andha noi theerkkum marundhum kaadhalAnd love itself is the cure that heals that disease,
Engum iruppadhu kaadhalLove is present everywhere,
Endrum adharkkillai saadhalAnd it never faces death,
Indhiran chandhiran ennaWhether it is Indra or the Moon God,
Sundharan manmadhan ennaOr the handsome Cupid (Manmadhan),
Kaadhalai virumbaadhavar yaaroWho is there that does not desire love?
Male
Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiThe work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Ini podhum podhum endruSaying 'enough, enough now',
Adhai yaaru thalla koodumWho can push it away?
Kaadhalar idhayangal thudippadhumThe beating of lovers' hearts,
Kanavinil ninaivinil midhappadhumFloating in dreams and memories,
Kaadhalar idhayangal thudippadhumThe beating of lovers' hearts,
Kanavinil ninaivinil midhappadhumFloating in dreams and memories,
Adadaa yen solvenOh dear, how shall I explain it?
Chorus
Mmm…mm..mmm…mm….Mmm…mm..mmm…mm….
Male :{Indha kaadhal seiyum velaiMale: {The work that this love performs,
Idhai yaaru solla koodumWho can truly describe it?
Ini podhum podhum endruSaying 'enough, enough now',
Adhai yaaru thalla koodum }Who can push it away?}

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Indha Kaadhal Seiyum Velai is a poetic song celebrating the mystical power, omnipresence, and eternal nature of love. It portrays love as an inescapable force that sways lovers' hearts, lingering continuously in both dreams and reality. The song beautifully integrates nature into its themes, equating the sounds of evening cuckoos, falling rain, and flowing rivers with the natural language of love. Furthermore, the lyrics contemplate the dual nature of love—how it delivers immense joy yet inflicts pain, acting as both an afflicting illness and its ultimate remedy. It asserts that from mortals to celestial beings like Indra and Manmadhan, no one can resist or deny the spell of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Ini podhum podhum endru

The word 'podhum' is repeated sequentially ('podhum podhum') to emphasize the sense of overwhelmed fulfillment in love.

Paradox / Oxymoron

Noyaaga varuvadhum kaadhal / Andha noi theerkkum marundhum kaadhal

Love is poetically characterized as both the sickness and the medicine that cures it.

Etuhaai / Rhyme (Monai and Rhyme scheme)

Engum iruppadhu kaadhal / Endrum adharkkillai saadhal

Matching end rhymes and internal rhythm ('kaadhal' / 'saadhal') highlight the eternal quality of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track belongs to the 1998 Tamil film Kangalin Vaarthaigal. The lyrics draw heavily from classical Sangam-style imagery, equating natural phenomena like cuckoo calls and rain clouds with the expression of human affection.

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