Iruthalai Kolli
From Naatpadu Theral 2 · 2022
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Naatpadu Theral 22022
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hae ye ye | Hey yeah yeah |
| Irudhalai kolli erumbukku | For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends, |
| Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae! | Unrequited love has arrived! |
| Irudhalai kolli erumbukku | For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends, |
| Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae! | Unrequited love has arrived! |
| Male | |
| Thannai thaanae | By itself, |
| Malaiyil eriyum | Burning behind the mountain, |
| Sooriyanai polae | Just like the sun, |
| Naanae ennai | I myself |
| Erindhu kondaen | Have consumed myself in flames |
| Nachellaik kullae | Inside the poisonous termite mound. |
| Male | |
| Malaiyil vizhundha sooriyanai | The sun that sets behind the mountains, |
| Malaigal thalluvadhillai | The mountains do not push away. |
| Allik kolluvaayo | Will you embrace me, |
| Thallich selvaayo | Or will you push me away? |
| Solli chelladi nachellai | Tell me and go, my dear sweet termite, |
| Male | |
| Theda sellum | Going in search. |
| Male | |
| Hae | Hey |
| Pattaamboochidhaan kaadhal | Love is like a butterfly; |
| Kitta chella thathi thaavum | It flutters away when you get close, |
| Thuratha thuratha dhooram pogum | The more you chase it, the farther it flies. |
| Male | |
| Hae | Hey |
| Chalavaikkaari pol kaadhal | Love is like a washerwoman; |
| Inbathil ennai nanaikkiradhae | It soaks me in joy, |
| Thunbathil adithu thuvaikkiradhae | And thrashes and washes me in sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Thanadhu nizhalil | In its own shadow, |
| Thaan odhungaadha | Where it cannot take shelter, |
| Virutcham polae | Like a massive tree, |
| Enadhu kaadhalil | In my own love, |
| Naan odhungavae idamillaiyae | There is no room for me to take refuge. |
| Aiyo kaadhal | Alas, love! |
| Amazon kaadu | It is the Amazon rainforest; |
| Ullae nuzhaivadhu elidhu | It is easy to enter, |
| Veliyae varuvadhu kadidhu | But difficult to find a way out. |
| Male | |
| Hae hae hae | Hey hey hey |
| Kaathiruppudhaan kaadhal | Love is a long wait, |
| Pipravari muppadhukkaaga | Waiting for the 30th of February, |
| Natchathirangalin virpanaikkaaga | Waiting for a sale of stars in the market. |
| Male | |
| Eekkal ponradhu kaadhal | Love is like houseflies; |
| Kaniyilum vaayai vaikkiradhae | It lands on sweet fruits, |
| Kaayathin meedhum moikkiradhae | Yet swarms over painful wounds as well. |
| Male | |
| Kaatru veliyin | In the vast atmosphere, |
| Ozone koorai kizhisal polae | Like a tear in the ozone layer, |
| Kaadhal kizhitha | Torn apart by love, |
| Idhayam thaikkavae vazhiyillaiyae | There is no way to stitch back this broken heart. |
| Aiyo kaadhal | Alas, love! |
| Amazon kaadu | It is the Amazon rainforest; |
| Ullae nuzhaivadhu elidhu | It is easy to enter, |
| Veliyae varuvadhu kadidhu | But difficult to find a way out. |
| Male | |
| Irudhalai kolli erumbukku | For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends, |
| Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae! | Unrequited love has arrived! |
| Irudhalai kolli erumbukku | For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends, |
| Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae! | Unrequited love has arrived! |
| Male | |
| Thannai thaanae | By itself, |
| Malaiyil eriyum | Burning behind the mountain, |
| Sooriyanai polae | Just like the sun, |
| Naanae ennai | I myself |
| Erindhu kondaen | Have consumed myself in flames |
| Nachellaik kullae | Inside the poisonous termite mound. |
| Male | |
| Malaiyil vizhundha sooriyanai | The sun that sets behind the mountains, |
| Malaigal thalluvadhillai | The mountains do not push away. |
| Allik kolluvaayo | Will you embrace me, |
| Thallich selvaayo | Or will you push me away? |
| Solli chelladi nachellai | Tell me and go, my dear sweet termite, |
| Male | |
| Theda sellum | Going in search. |
ஹே ஏய் ஏய்...
இருதலைக் கொள்ளி எறும்புக்கு
ஒருதலைக் காதல் வந்ததே!
இருதலைக் கொள்ளி எறும்புக்கு
ஒருதலைக் காதல் வந்ததே!
Hey yeah yeah
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Unrequited love has arrived!
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Unrequited love has arrived!
தன்னைத் தானே
மலையில் எறியும்
சூரியனைப் போலே
நானே என்னை
எறிந்து கொண்டேன்
நச்செள்ளைக் குள்ளே
By itself,
Burning behind the mountain,
Just like the sun,
I myself
Have consumed myself in flames
Inside the poisonous termite mound.
மலையில் விழுந்த சூரியனை
மலைகள் தள்ளுவதில்லை
அள்ளிக் கொள்ளுவாயோ
தள்ளிச் செல்வாயோ
சொல்லிச் செல்லடி நச்செள்ளை
The sun that sets behind the mountains,
The mountains do not push away.
Will you embrace me,
Or will you push me away?
Tell me and go, my dear sweet termite,
தேட செல்லும் ...
Going in search.
ஹே பட்டாம்பூச்சிதான் காதல்
கிட்டச் செல்ல தத்தித் தாவும்
துரத்தத் துரத்த தூரம் போகும்
ஹே ஹே தூரம் போகும்
Hey
Love is like a butterfly;
It flutters away when you get close,
The more you chase it, the farther it flies.
ஹே சலவைக்காரி போல் காதல்
இன்பத்தில் என்னை நனைக்கிறதே
துன்பத்தில் அடித்துத் துவைக்கிறதே
Hey
Love is like a washerwoman;
It soaks me in joy,
And thrashes and washes me in sorrow.
தனது நிழலில்
தான் ஒதுங்காத விருட்சம்போலே
எனது காதலில்
நான் ஒதுங்கவே இடமில்லையே
அய்யோ காதல்
அமேசான் காடு
உள்ளே நுழைவது எளிது
வெளியே வருவது கடிது
In its own shadow,
Where it cannot take shelter,
Like a massive tree,
In my own love,
There is no room for me to take refuge.
Alas, love!
It is the Amazon rainforest;
It is easy to enter,
But difficult to find a way out.
ஹே ஹே ஹே
காத்திருப்புதான் காதல்
பிப்ரவரி முப்பதுக்காக
நட்சத்திரங்களின் விற்பனைக்காக
Hey hey hey
Love is a long wait,
Waiting for the 30th of February,
Waiting for a sale of stars in the market.
ஈக்கள் போன்றது காதல்
கனியிலும் வாயை வைக்கிறதே
காயத்தின் மீதும் மொய்க்கிறதே
Love is like houseflies;
It lands on sweet fruits,
Yet swarms over painful wounds as well.
காற்று வெளியின்
ஓசோன் கூரைக் கிழிசல் போலே
காதல் கிழித்த
இதயம் தைக்கவே வழியில்லையே
அய்யோ காதல்
அமேசான் காடு
உள்ளே நுழைவது எளிது
வெளியே வருவது கடிது
In the vast atmosphere,
Like a tear in the ozone layer,
Torn apart by love,
There is no way to stitch back this broken heart.
Alas, love!
It is the Amazon rainforest;
It is easy to enter,
But difficult to find a way out.
இருதலைக் கொள்ளி எறும்புக்கு
ஒருதலைக் காதல் வந்ததே!
இருதலைக் கொள்ளி எறும்புக்கு
ஒருதலைக் காதல் வந்ததே!
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Unrequited love has arrived!
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Unrequited love has arrived!
தன்னைத் தானே
மலையில் எறியும்
சூரியனைப் போலே
நானே என்னை
எறிந்து கொண்டேன்
நச்செள்ளைக் குள்ளே
By itself,
Burning behind the mountain,
Just like the sun,
I myself
Have consumed myself in flames
Inside the poisonous termite mound.
மலையில் விழுந்த சூரியனை
மலைகள் தள்ளுவதில்லை
அள்ளிக் கொள்ளுவாயோ
தள்ளிச் செல்வாயோ
சொல்லிச் செல்லடி நச்செள்ளை
The sun that sets behind the mountains,
The mountains do not push away.
Will you embrace me,
Or will you push me away?
Tell me and go, my dear sweet termite,
தேட செல்லும் ...
Going in search.
Hae ye ye
Hey yeah yeah
Irudhalai kolli erumbukku
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae!
Unrequited love has arrived!
Irudhalai kolli erumbukku
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae!
Unrequited love has arrived!
Thannai thaanae
By itself,
Malaiyil eriyum
Burning behind the mountain,
Sooriyanai polae
Just like the sun,
Naanae ennai
I myself
Erindhu kondaen
Have consumed myself in flames
Nachellaik kullae
Inside the poisonous termite mound.
Malaiyil vizhundha sooriyanai
The sun that sets behind the mountains,
Malaigal thalluvadhillai
The mountains do not push away.
Allik kolluvaayo
Will you embrace me,
Thallich selvaayo
Or will you push me away?
Solli chelladi nachellai
Tell me and go, my dear sweet termite,
Theda sellum
Going in search.
Hae
Hey
Pattaamboochidhaan kaadhal
Love is like a butterfly;
Kitta chella thathi thaavum
It flutters away when you get close,
Thuratha thuratha dhooram pogum
The more you chase it, the farther it flies.
Hae
Hey
Chalavaikkaari pol kaadhal
Love is like a washerwoman;
Inbathil ennai nanaikkiradhae
It soaks me in joy,
Thunbathil adithu thuvaikkiradhae
And thrashes and washes me in sorrow.
Thanadhu nizhalil
In its own shadow,
Thaan odhungaadha
Where it cannot take shelter,
Virutcham polae
Like a massive tree,
Enadhu kaadhalil
In my own love,
Naan odhungavae idamillaiyae
There is no room for me to take refuge.
Aiyo kaadhal
Alas, love!
Amazon kaadu
It is the Amazon rainforest;
Ullae nuzhaivadhu elidhu
It is easy to enter,
Veliyae varuvadhu kadidhu
But difficult to find a way out.
Hae hae hae
Hey hey hey
Kaathiruppudhaan kaadhal
Love is a long wait,
Pipravari muppadhukkaaga
Waiting for the 30th of February,
Natchathirangalin virpanaikkaaga
Waiting for a sale of stars in the market.
Eekkal ponradhu kaadhal
Love is like houseflies;
Kaniyilum vaayai vaikkiradhae
It lands on sweet fruits,
Kaayathin meedhum moikkiradhae
Yet swarms over painful wounds as well.
Kaatru veliyin
In the vast atmosphere,
Ozone koorai kizhisal polae
Like a tear in the ozone layer,
Kaadhal kizhitha
Torn apart by love,
Idhayam thaikkavae vazhiyillaiyae
There is no way to stitch back this broken heart.
Aiyo kaadhal
Alas, love!
Amazon kaadu
It is the Amazon rainforest;
Ullae nuzhaivadhu elidhu
It is easy to enter,
Veliyae varuvadhu kadidhu
But difficult to find a way out.
Irudhalai kolli erumbukku
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae!
Unrequited love has arrived!
Irudhalai kolli erumbukku
For an ant trapped on a log burning at both ends,
Orudhalaik kaadhal vandhadhae!
Unrequited love has arrived!
Thannai thaanae
By itself,
Malaiyil eriyum
Burning behind the mountain,
Sooriyanai polae
Just like the sun,
Naanae ennai
I myself
Erindhu kondaen
Have consumed myself in flames
Nachellaik kullae
Inside the poisonous termite mound.
Malaiyil vizhundha sooriyanai
The sun that sets behind the mountains,
Malaigal thalluvadhillai
The mountains do not push away.
Allik kolluvaayo
Will you embrace me,
Thallich selvaayo
Or will you push me away?
Solli chelladi nachellai
Tell me and go, my dear sweet termite,
Theda sellum
Going in search.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song explores the agony, absurdity, and intensity of unrequited love (Oruthalai Kaadhal). Using vivid and unconventional imagery crafted by poet Vairamuthu, the protagonist compares his predicament to an ant trapped on a piece of wood burning at both ends. He expresses how love promises joy but delivers suffering, drawing comparisons to a washerwoman thrashing clothes, a dense Amazon forest with no exit, and a futile wait for impossible dates like February 30th.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile)
“Pattaamboochidhaan kaadhal / Chalavaikkaari pol kaadhal”
Compares love to a butterfly ('Pattaamboochidhaan kaadhal') that flies away as you approach, and to a washerwoman ('Chalavaikkaari pol kaadhal') who cleans in joy and beats in sorrow.
Metaphor & Idiom
“Irudhalai kolli erumbukku / Amazon kaadu / Ozone koorai kizhisal polae”
Uses the traditional Tamil idiom 'Irudhalai kolli erumbu' (an ant on a stick burning at both ends) to portray complete helplessness, combined with modern metaphors like the 'Amazon forest' and 'ozone layer tear'.
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Pipravari muppadhukkaaga / Natchathirangalin virpanaikkaaga”
Describes waiting for 'February 30th' and 'buying stars', highlighting the impossible and absurd nature of unrequited expectations.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Naatpadu Theral 2' is a prestigious musical-poetry initiative conceived by veteran lyricist Vairamuthu, featuring 10 songs composed by prominent music directors. This track marks a popular collaboration between Vairamuthu and composer Yuvan Shankar Raja, who also performed the vocals.
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