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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathalo Kathal

From Thenkinnam · 1971

Lyricist
Kumaradevan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Eswari
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Thenkinnam
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
22 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Kaalam vanthathu neram thanthathu kadhal
Kaalam vanthathu neram thanthathu kadhal
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Kaayaai irunthathu kaniyaai kaninthathu kadhal
Kaayaai irunthathu kaniyaai kaninthathu kadhal
Maiyaalae kulichchu manmathan aanavarae
Maiyaalae kulichchu manmathan aanavarae
Kaiyaalae konjam anaikattumaa
Ponnaana udambu punnaagalaama
Ponnaana udambu punnaagalaama
Poovaalae oththadam kudukkattumaa
Poovaalae oththadam kudukkattumaa
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Pompalaiyaa poranthu
Aampalaiyaa valarntha
Pompalaiyaa poranthu
Aampalaiyaa valarntha
Pokkiriyonnu uttuputtaen
Appadiyilla ippadithaannu
Appadiyilla ippadithaannu appuramaa therinju
Thottukittaen ippa ottikkittaen
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Antha kadhai pazhasu intha kadhai pudhusu
Antha kadhai pazhasu intha kadhai pudhusu
Aarambam ippo sarithaanaa
Yaennu ketkka yaarumae illai
Yaennu ketkka yaarumae illai
Inimael thaviththida viduvenaa
Kannaana kadhalukku
Advance vaangittu
Kannaana kadhalukku
Advance vaangittu
Kadhalikka vanthaen ippo ippo
Maappillai ponnaa manjaththil onnaa
Maappillai ponnaa manjaththil onnaa
Konjaamal konjuvathu eppo eppo
Kadhalo kadhal kadhalo kadhal
Female :Kaayaai irunthathu kaniyaai kaninthathu kadhal
Both :Kaalam vanthathu neram thanthathu kadhal
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
The time has come, the right moment has brought this love!
The time has come, the right moment has brought this love!
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
What was once raw and unripe has ripened into sweet love!
What was once raw and unripe has ripened into sweet love!
Bathed in dark kohl, you have become Manmathan (the god of love)!
Bathed in dark kohl, you have become Manmathan (the god of love)!
Shall I hold you close in my arms for a while?
Should your golden body suffer any ache or bruise?
Should your golden body suffer any ache or bruise?
Shall I soothe it gently with a touch of flowers?
Shall I soothe it gently with a touch of flowers?
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
Born as a girl,
and raised like a boy,
Born as a girl,
and raised like a boy,
I gave up my wild tomboy ways!
Realizing that it wasn't like that, but like this,
Understanding later that it wasn't like that, but like this,
I touched you, and now I hold tight to you!
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
That old story is in the past, this story is brand new!
That old story is in the past, this story is brand new!
Is it right to make our fresh start now?
There is no one here to question us,
There is no one here to question us,
Will I ever let you yearn in longing anymore?
For this precious love of ours,
having taken an advance,
For this precious love of ours,
having taken an advance,
I have come to love you right here and now!
As groom and bride, together on the bed,
As groom and bride, together on the bed,
When will we share our sweet caresses, tell me when?
Oh, this is love, sweet love!
Female: What was once raw and unripe has ripened into sweet love!
Both: The time has come, the right moment has brought this love!
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kadhalo Kadhal is a vibrant, flirtatious duet from the 1971 Tamil film Thenkinnam, composed by Shankar-Ganesh and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and L. R. Eswari. The song celebrates the blossoming of romantic love, comparing the emotional evolution of the lovers to an unripe fruit that slowly ripens into sweetness. The lyrics reflect a transformation from youthful, headstrong independence to intimate romantic devotion, filled with playful teasing and affectionate banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

“Kaayaai irunthathu kaniyaai kaninthathu kadhal”

Comparing love to an unripe fruit that ripens over time ('Kaayaai irunthathu kaniyaai kaninthathu').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kaayaai irunthathu kaniyaai kaninthathu kadhal”

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across words in the line ('Kaayaai', 'Kaniyaai', 'Kaninthathu', 'Kadhal').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Antha kadhai pazhasu intha kadhai pudhusu”

Matching second consonants in contrasting words ('Antha' / 'Intha').

Hyperbole / Metaphor

“Ponnaana udambu punnaagalaama”

Referring to the human body as golden ('Ponnaana udambu') and soothing wounds with flowers ('Poovaalae oththadam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Thenkinnam (1971) featured comedy star Nagesh in a lead role alongside Vijayalalitha. The song 'Kadhalo Kadhal' showcases the energetic vocal chemistry between T. M. Soundararajan and L. R. Eswari, typical of popular early 1970s commercial tracks composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh.

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