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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalaiyil Pookum

From Kaadhale Nimmadhi · 1998

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singers
Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Kaadhale Nimmadhi1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaalaiyil pookkumO flower blooming in the morning,
Kalloori poovae…ae…hae…College flower...
Female
Enai maalaiyil mayakkumMesmerizing me in the evening,
Nanmadhan nee dhaanae…ae…Aren't you the good Cupid himself?
Male
Poovil serndhu pooti kolvomLet us lock ourselves together inside a flower,
Female:Mutha chaetril maati kolvomFemale: Let us get caught in the mire of kisses,
Male:Kabavukku parisalippomMale: Let us bestow a gift upon dreams,
Female
Vaanam sendru neelam kolvomLet us go to the sky and gather its blue,
Male :Kaadhal kondu kaalam velvomMale: With love, let us conquer time,
Female :Nizhalukku uyir tharuvomFemale: Let us give life to shadows!
Male
Kaadhale nimmathiLove is peace!
Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiChorus: Love is peace!
Female :Kaadhale nimmathiFemale: Love is peace!
Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiChorus: Love is peace!
Male :Kaadhale nimmathiMale: Love is peace!
Chorus
……………………………….
Female
Kaadhalukkum karpu unduLove too possesses chastity,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Male :Aaa….aa…Male: Ah... ah...
Karpu mattum kaadhal illai sol solBut chastity alone is not love, tell me, tell me!
Female :Gyaani thanni kaadhal vellumFemale: Wise sages can conquer love alone,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Male :Kaadhalukkum gyaanam unduMale: Even love possesses wisdom,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Female
Nootraandai nootraandaiCenturies and centuries,
Nodiyinil kadandhavar yaaroWho are those who crossed them in a single second?
Male :Kaatrae sol kaatrae solMale: Tell me wind, tell me wind,
Kaadhalil vendravar thaanoIs it those who won in love?
Female
Paurnami madi tharaAs the full moon offers its lap,
Viyarvaigal udai tharaAnd sweat drops serve as clothes,
Manmadham malargiradhaeCupid's passion blooms!
Male
Kaadhale nimmathiLove is peace!
Female Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiFemale Chorus: Love is peace!
Female :Kaadhale nimmathiFemale: Love is peace!
Male Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiMale Chorus: Love is peace!
Male :Kaadhale nimmathiMale: Love is peace!
Chorus
……………………………….
Male
Kadhalukku nermai unduLove possesses honesty,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Female :Nermaiyilum thuimai unduFemale: Even in honesty, there is purity,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Male :Kaadhalukku aanamai unduMale: Love possesses masculinity,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Female :Aanmaikkullum thaaimai unduFemale: Within masculinity lies motherliness,
Sol solTell me, tell me!
Male
Kannaalae kannaalaeWith our eyes, with our eyes,
Kaadhalai vanangida thaanaeJust to worship love,
Female :Vandhomae vandhomaeFemale: We have come, we have come,
Kaadhalin pillaigal naamaeWe are the children of love!
Male
Kavidhaigal vazhi viduMake way, O poems!
Kanavugal vidai peraAs dreams take their leave,
Thidum ena vidigiradhaeDawn arrives suddenly!
Female
Kaadhale nimmathiLove is peace!
Female Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiFemale Chorus: Love is peace!
Male :Aaaa….Male: Ah...
Kaadhale nimmathiLove is peace!
Male Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiMale Chorus: Love is peace!
Male :Kaadhale nimmathiMale: Love is peace!
Male
Kaalaiyil pookkumO flower blooming in the morning,
Kalloori poovae…ae…hae…College flower...
Female
Enai maalaiyil mayakkumMesmerizing me in the evening,
Nanmadhan nee dhaanae…ae…Aren't you the good Cupid himself?
Male
Poovil serndhu pooti kolvomLet us lock ourselves together inside a flower,
Female :Mutha chaetril maati kolvomFemale: Let us get caught in the mire of kisses,
Male :Kabavukku parisalippomMale: Let us bestow a gift upon dreams,
Female
Vaanam sendru neelam kolvomLet us go to the sky and gather its blue,
Male :Kaadhal kondu kaalam velvomMale: With love, let us conquer time,
Female :Nizhalukku uyir tharuvomFemale: Let us give life to shadows!
Male
Kaadhale nimmathiLove is peace!
Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiChorus: Love is peace!
Female :Kaadhale nimmathiFemale: Love is peace!
Chorus :Kaadhale nimmathiChorus: Love is peace!
Both :Kaadhale nimmathiBoth: Love is peace!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kaadhale Nimmadhi' is a deeply poetic and philosophical duet celebrating love as the ultimate source of peace and spiritual fulfillment. Through an engaging musical debate, the lovers explore how love encompasses virtues such as chastity, wisdom, honesty, purity, masculinity, and motherly affection. They portray love not merely as romantic attraction, but as a timeless force capable of granting life to dreams and bringing inner tranquility.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Mutha chaetril maati kolvom

Comparing kisses to mud/mire ('Mutha chaetril') and the beloved to a college flower ('Kalloori poovae').

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Sol sol

Repeated words like 'Sol sol', 'Nootraandai nootraandai', and 'Vandhomae vandhomae' add rhythmic cadence and lyrical emphasis.

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme)

Kaadhalukkum karpu undu

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines like 'Kaadhalukkum' and 'Karpu'.

Personification

Kaatrae sol kaatrae sol

Attributing human qualities to elements like wind ('Kaatrae sol') and shadows ('Nizhalukku uyir tharuvom').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is from the 1998 Tamil film 'Kaadhale Nimmadhi', starring Suriya and Prashanth. The music was composed by Deva, and the lyrics were written by prominent Tamil poet and lyricist Arivumathi.

Keep listening

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