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Lyrics & meaning

Kaadhal Vaanile

From En Jeevan Paduthu · 1988

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Jeevan Paduthu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaadhal vaanilaeIn the sky of love,
Odum megamaeO running cloud,
Female
Kaadhal vaanilaeIn the sky of love,
Odum megamaeO running cloud,
Thoothu sellavaeTo go as a messenger,
Unnai thedinenI searched for you.
Female
Kanavu polaLike a dream,
Malarnthu vanthaThat blossomed,
Azhagai paaduthaeIt sings of beauty.
Female
Kavithai polaLike a poem,
Ninaivu nindraStanding as a memory,
Uravai theduthaeIt searches for the relationship.
Female
Kaadhal vaanilaeIn the sky of love,
Odum megamaeO running cloud,
Thoothu sellavaeTo go as a messenger,
Unnai thedinenI searched for you.
Female
{Malaiyil aadiDancing on the mountains,
Mannil odiRunning on the earth,
Kadalinai serumJoining the ocean,
Nadhiyum undu} (2)There is a river. (2)
Female
Nadhiyin moolamThe origin of a river
TheriyathuIs unknown;
Anbin aazhamThe depth of love
PuriyaathuCannot be understood.
Female
Mun jenma banthamA bond from a previous birth,
Yedho adhuWhatever it may be,
Ennullam kandaSeen within my heart,
Kaadhal idhuThis is love.
Engae neeyoWherever you are,
Angae naanumThere I am too.
Female
Kaadhal vaanilaeIn the sky of love,
Odum megamaeO running cloud,
Thoothu sellavaeTo go as a messenger,
Unnai thedinenI searched for you.
Female
{Moongil meedhuUpon the bamboo,
Thendral veesaAs the gentle breeze blows,
Paadal ondruA song
Kaatril serum} (2)Merges into the air. (2)
Female
Ondril ondruWithout merging
SeraamalInto one another,
Nenjil inbamJoy in the heart
VaaraathuWill not come.
Female
En kovil deepamThe lamp of my temple,
NeeyaagalaamYou may become;
Unn chozhai geedhamThe song of your grove,
NaanagalamI may become.
Engae neeyoWherever you are,
Angae naanumThere I am too.
Female
Kaadhal vaanilaeIn the sky of love,
Odum megamaeO running cloud,
Thoothu sellavaeTo go as a messenger,
Unnai thedinenI searched for you.
Female
Kanavu polaLike a dream,
Malarnthu vanthaThat blossomed,
Azhagai paaduthaeIt sings of beauty.
Female
Kavithai polaLike a poem,
Ninaivu nindraStanding as a memory,
Uravai theduthaeIt searches for the relationship.
Female
Kaadhal vaanilaeIn the sky of love,
Odum megamaeO running cloud,
Thoothu sellavaeTo go as a messenger,
Unnai thedinenI searched for you.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses deep romantic longing and poetic devotion, addressing a passing cloud as a messenger to reach the beloved. Drawing rich metaphors from nature, the lyrics compare love to rivers originating in mountains and traveling across the earth to merge into the vast sea, emphasizing that just as a river's true source remains mystery, the true depth of love is unfathomable and rooted in connections from past births. It further illustrates union through the image of the breeze playing upon bamboo flutes to generate music, asserting that true joy arises only when two souls unite completely. The protagonist offers a vision of complete harmony where one partner becomes the guiding lamp of the temple and the other becomes the song echoing in the grove.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Kanavu pola / Kavithai pola

'Kanavu pola' (Like a dream) and 'Kavithai pola' (Like a poem) use 'pola' (like) to compare love and memories to dreams and poetry.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaadhal vaanilae

'Kaadhal vaanilae' translates love into an expansive sky across which clouds wander as messengers.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Malaiyil aadi / Mannil odi

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels in adjacent words like 'Malaiyil' and 'Mannil'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En kovil deepam / Neeyaagalaam

'En kovil deepam' (The lamp in my temple) metaphorically elevates the beloved to a sacred, guiding light.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Kaadhal Vaanilae' is from the 1988 Tamil feature film 'En Jeevan Paduthu', directed by R. Sundarrajan. The film's soundtrack was composed by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, who also wrote the lyrics for this composition.

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