Kaadhal Kaadhal
From Veedu Manaivi Makkal · 1988
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Veedu Manaivi Makkal1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Mmheem….kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Mmheem... love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Aadhaam yaevaal ulakukellaam | What Adam and Eve to all the world |
| Kattru thanthathu kadhal | Taught was love. |
| Unnai ennai annai thannai | You, me, and mother herself, |
| Pettru thanthathu kadhal | Birthed us all with love. |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Megaththila thoongum neerinai polae | Like water sleeping inside a cloud, |
| Veli theriyaathu thu oru kadhal | Hidden from the outside is this love. |
| Poonaikku kooda pudavaiyirunthaal | Even if a cat were dressed in a saree, |
| Puththi thadumaarum idhu oru kadhal | Mind would falter; such is this love. |
| Male | |
| Kadhal enbathu deiveegamaa | Is love something divine? |
| Kaaviyam ellaam poi sollumaa | Do all epic stories tell lies? |
| Kadhal enbathu karpanaiyaa | Is love merely an imagination? |
| Kaamaththukku athu oppanaiyaa | Is it a disguise for lust? |
| Kadhal endra vaarththai avasiyaa poiyaa | Is the word 'love' necessary or a lie? |
| Kadhal endra vaarththai avasiyaa poiyaa | Is the word 'love' necessary or a lie? |
| Male | |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Aadhaam yaevaal ulakukellaam | What Adam and Eve to all the world |
| Kattru thanthathu kadhal | Taught was love. |
| Unnai ennai annai thannai | You, me, and mother herself, |
| Pettru thanthathu kadhal | Birthed us all with love. |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Varang konda saami vazhi maranthaalum | Even if the boon-granting god forgets the path, |
| Thavanga kondu vaazhum idhu oru kadhal | Enduring through penance, this is love. |
| Karakkindra pothu surakkindra paal pol | Like milk yielding while being milked, |
| Kadamaiyil thondrum idhu oru kadhal | Blossoming out of duty, this is love. |
| Male | |
| Paarvaikku naraigal vizhuntha pinnum | Even after greyness touches the vision, |
| Paruvaththin thevai kazhaintha pinnum | Even after the needs of youth have passed, |
| Eriginra pirachchanai thadukkaiyilum | Even while fending off burning problems, |
| Tholukku mel pillai irukkaiyilum | Even when a child grows beyond one's shoulder, |
| Kizhadugal paadum idhu oru kadhal…. | This is the love that elders sing of... |
| Kizhadugal paadum idhu oru kadhal…. | This is the love that elders sing of... |
| Male | |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Aadhaam yaevaal ulakukellaam | What Adam and Eve to all the world |
| Kattru thanthathu kadhal | Taught was love. |
| Unnai ennai annai thannai | You, me, and mother herself, |
| Pettru thanthathu kadhal | Birthed us all with love. |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Male | |
| Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Love... love... love... |
| Mmheem….kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal…. | Mmheem... love... love... love... |
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
ம்ம்ஹூம்....காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
Love... love... love...
Mmheem... love... love... love...
ஆதாம் ஏவாள் உலகுக்கெல்லாம்
கற்று தந்தது காதல்
உன்னை என்னை அன்னை தன்னை
பெற்றுத் தந்தது காதல்
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்......
What Adam and Eve to all the world
Taught was love.
You, me, and mother herself,
Birthed us all with love.
Love... love... love...
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
Love... love... love...
மேகத்தில் தூங்கும் நீரினை போலே
வெளித் தெரியாது இது ஒரு காதல்
பூனைக்கு கூட புடவையிருந்தால்
புத்தி தடுமாறும் இது ஒரு காதல்
Like water sleeping inside a cloud,
Hidden from the outside is this love.
Even if a cat were dressed in a saree,
Mind would falter; such is this love.
காதல் என்பது தெய்வீகமா
காவியம் எல்லாம் பொய் சொல்லுமா
காதல் என்பது கற்பனையா
காமத்துக்கது ஒப்பனையா
காதல் என்ற வார்த்தை அவசிய பொய்யா
காதல் என்ற வார்த்தை அவசிய பொய்யா
Is love something divine?
Do all epic stories tell lies?
Is love merely an imagination?
Is it a disguise for lust?
Is the word 'love' necessary or a lie?
Is the word 'love' necessary or a lie?
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
Love... love... love...
ஆதாம் ஏவாள் உலகுக்கெல்லாம்
கற்று தந்தது காதல்
உன்னை என்னை அன்னை தன்னை
பெற்றுத் தந்தது காதல்
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்......
What Adam and Eve to all the world
Taught was love.
You, me, and mother herself,
Birthed us all with love.
Love... love... love...
வரங் கொண்ட சாமி வழி மறந்தாலும்
தவங் கொண்டு வாழும் இது ஒரு காதல்
கறக்கின்ற போது சுரக்கின்ற பால் போல்
கடமையில் தோன்றும் இது ஒரு காதல்
Even if the boon-granting god forgets the path,
Enduring through penance, this is love.
Like milk yielding while being milked,
Blossoming out of duty, this is love.
பார்வைக்கு நரைகள் விழுந்த பின்னும்
பருவத்தின் தேவை கழிந்த பின்னும்
எரிகின்ற பிரச்சனை தடுக்கையிலும்
தோளுக்கு மேல் பிள்ளை இருக்கையிலும்
கிழடுகள் பாடும் இது ஒரு காதல்...
கிழடுகள் பாடும் இது ஒரு காதல்...
Even after greyness touches the vision,
Even after the needs of youth have passed,
Even while fending off burning problems,
Even when a child grows beyond one's shoulder,
This is the love that elders sing of...
This is the love that elders sing of...
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
Love... love... love...
ஆதாம் ஏவாள் உலகுக்கெல்லாம்
கற்று தந்தது காதல்
உன்னை என்னை அன்னை தன்னை
பெற்றுத் தந்தது காதல்
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்......
What Adam and Eve to all the world
Taught was love.
You, me, and mother herself,
Birthed us all with love.
Love... love... love...
காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
ம்ம்ஹூம்....காதல்.....காதல்...காதல்....
Love... love... love...
Mmheem... love... love... love...
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Mmheem….kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Mmheem... love... love... love...
Aadhaam yaevaal ulakukellaam
What Adam and Eve to all the world
Kattru thanthathu kadhal
Taught was love.
Unnai ennai annai thannai
You, me, and mother herself,
Pettru thanthathu kadhal
Birthed us all with love.
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Megaththila thoongum neerinai polae
Like water sleeping inside a cloud,
Veli theriyaathu thu oru kadhal
Hidden from the outside is this love.
Poonaikku kooda pudavaiyirunthaal
Even if a cat were dressed in a saree,
Puththi thadumaarum idhu oru kadhal
Mind would falter; such is this love.
Kadhal enbathu deiveegamaa
Is love something divine?
Kaaviyam ellaam poi sollumaa
Do all epic stories tell lies?
Kadhal enbathu karpanaiyaa
Is love merely an imagination?
Kaamaththukku athu oppanaiyaa
Is it a disguise for lust?
Kadhal endra vaarththai avasiyaa poiyaa
Is the word 'love' necessary or a lie?
Kadhal endra vaarththai avasiyaa poiyaa
Is the word 'love' necessary or a lie?
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Aadhaam yaevaal ulakukellaam
What Adam and Eve to all the world
Kattru thanthathu kadhal
Taught was love.
Unnai ennai annai thannai
You, me, and mother herself,
Pettru thanthathu kadhal
Birthed us all with love.
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Varang konda saami vazhi maranthaalum
Even if the boon-granting god forgets the path,
Thavanga kondu vaazhum idhu oru kadhal
Enduring through penance, this is love.
Karakkindra pothu surakkindra paal pol
Like milk yielding while being milked,
Kadamaiyil thondrum idhu oru kadhal
Blossoming out of duty, this is love.
Paarvaikku naraigal vizhuntha pinnum
Even after greyness touches the vision,
Paruvaththin thevai kazhaintha pinnum
Even after the needs of youth have passed,
Eriginra pirachchanai thadukkaiyilum
Even while fending off burning problems,
Tholukku mel pillai irukkaiyilum
Even when a child grows beyond one's shoulder,
Kizhadugal paadum idhu oru kadhal….
This is the love that elders sing of...
Kizhadugal paadum idhu oru kadhal….
This is the love that elders sing of...
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Aadhaam yaevaal ulakukellaam
What Adam and Eve to all the world
Kattru thanthathu kadhal
Taught was love.
Unnai ennai annai thannai
You, me, and mother herself,
Pettru thanthathu kadhal
Birthed us all with love.
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Love... love... love...
Mmheem….kadhal…..kadhal….kadhal….
Mmheem... love... love... love...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical song explores the origin, depth, and evolution of love across human life. It begins by attributing love as the primal lesson handed down from Adam and Eve that sustains humanity across generations. The lyricist ponders whether love is divine and noble or merely an imaginary gloss over basic primal desires. The second half of the song shifts to mature, enduring love within a family context. It portrays love not merely as youthful romance, but as a steadfast, duty-bound commitment that persists through financial struggles, aging, and raising children, ultimately celebrated as a deep companionate bond that lasts into old age.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Uvamai)
“Megaththila thoongum neerinai polae”
Compares hidden, internal love to water stored inside a cloud without being visible outside.
Rhetorical Questions (Vinaa Aani)
“Kadhal enbathu deiveegamaa”
A series of reflective questions questioning the philosophical nature, divinity, and reality of love versus lust.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Karakkindra pothu surakkindra paal pol”
Compares love emerging from dutiful care to milk flowing naturally during milking.
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Unnai ennai annai thannai”
Rhyming of the second letter 'nnai' and 'ttru' across balanced poetic lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Veedu Manaivi Makkal' (1988) is a classic Tamil family drama directed by T. P. Gajendran, starring Visu, K. R. Vijaya, and Pandiyan. The soundtrack was composed by the famous duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu, highlighting Visu's signature themes of domestic life and marital values.
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