Kaathirunthu Kaathirunthu
From Vaidehi Kathirunthal · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Vaidehi Kathirunthal1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu | Waiting and waiting, |
| Kaalangal poguthadi | Time keeps passing away, my dear. |
| Poothirunthu poothirunthu | Blooming and blooming, |
| Poovizhi noguthadi | My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear. |
| Nethu vara serthu vacha | The desires accumulated until yesterday, |
| Aasaigal veguthadi | Are burning inside me, my dear. |
| Neeyirundu naan anacha | If you are here and I embrace you, |
| Nimmathi aagumadi | Peace will be restored, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu | Waiting and waiting, |
| Kaalangal poguthadi | Time keeps passing away, my dear. |
| Poothirunthu poothirunthu | Blooming and blooming, |
| Poovizhi noguthadi | My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear. |
| Female | |
| Aaa..aariroo aarirooo | Aaa... aariroo aarirooo (lullaby vocalization)... |
| Thanga salanga kondu | Bringing golden anklets, |
| Thaaimaaman varuvaaru | The maternal uncle will arrive. |
| Ponnumaniyum kondu | Bringing gold and precious gems, |
| Ponkooda tharuvaaru | He will gift a golden basket. |
| Pozhudhoda thoonghu kannae | Sleep as night falls, my dear child, |
| Aari aarirooo | Aari aarirooo... |
| Vidinjaakka muzhichikalaam | When dawn breaks, you may wake up, |
| Aari aarirooo | Aari aarirooo... |
| Auulllee aariooo aarirooo | Auulllee aariooo aarirooo... |
| Male | |
| Aaa…haaa…aaa..haaa…aa… | Aaa... haaa... aaa... haaa... aa... |
| Mukkulichu naan yedutha | The one I retrieved by diving deep into the sea, |
| Muthu chippi neethanae | You are that pearl shell. |
| Mutheduthu nenjukkula | Taking out the pearl, inside my heart, |
| Pathiramaa vechenae | I stored it with utmost care. |
| Male | |
| Vechathippo kaanama | Now that which was kept is missing, |
| Naanae theduren | And I am searching for it myself. |
| Raathiriyil thoongama | Without sleeping through the night, |
| Raagam paaduren | I sing a soulful melody. |
| Male | |
| Naan padikkum moganamae | O charming raga that I chant, |
| Naan padaicha seethaname | O precious treasure I created, |
| Thaen vadicha paathiramae | O vessel dripping with sweet honey, |
| Then madura poocharamae | O flower garland of sweet Madurai, |
| Kandathu yennaachu | What happened to what was seen? |
| Kaneeril ninnachu | It has all ended in tears. |
| Male | |
| Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu | Waiting and waiting, |
| Kaalangal poguthadi | Time keeps passing away, my dear. |
| Poothirunthu poothirunthu | Blooming and blooming, |
| Poovizhi noguthadi | My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Neeru nelam naalu pakkam | Water and land on all four directions, |
| Naan thirumbi paathalum | Wherever I turn and look, |
| Antha pakkam intha pakkam | That direction and this direction, |
| Athanaiyum neeyaagum | Everything becomes you. |
| Male | |
| Nenjukkulla neengama | Without ever leaving my heart, |
| Nee thaan vaazhura | Only you are residing. |
| Naadiyila soodethi | Raising the heat in my pulse, |
| Nee thaan vaattura | Only you are tormenting me. |
| Male | |
| Aala itta sengarumbaa | Like red sugarcane put into a crusher, |
| Aattugira en manasa | You churn and grind my heart. |
| Yaara vittu thoothu solli | Through whom shall I send a message, |
| Naanariven un manasa | To understand what is in your heart? |
| Ullamum punnaachu | My heart too has become wounded, |
| Kaaranam penaachu | And writing about it has become the only cause. |
| Male | |
| Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu | Waiting and waiting, |
| Kaalangal poguthadi | Time keeps passing away, my dear. |
| Poothirunthu poothirunthu | Blooming and blooming, |
| Poovizhi noguthadi | My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear. |
| Nethu vara serthu vacha | The desires accumulated until yesterday, |
| Aasaigal veguthadi | Are burning inside me, my dear. |
| Neeyirundu naan anacha | If you are here and I embrace you, |
| Nimmathi aagumadi | Peace will be restored, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu | Waiting and waiting, |
| Kaalangal poguthadi | Time keeps passing away, my dear. |
| Poothirunthu poothirunthu | Blooming and blooming, |
| Poovizhi noguthadi | My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear. |
காத்திருந்து காத்திருந்து
காலங்கள் போகுதடி
பூத்திருந்து பூத்திருந்து
பூவிழி நோகுதடி
நேத்துவரை சேர்த்துவச்ச
ஆசைகள் வேகுதடி
நீ இருந்து நான் அணைச்சா
நிம்மதி ஆகுமடி
Waiting and waiting,
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Blooming and blooming,
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
The desires accumulated until yesterday,
Are burning inside me, my dear.
If you are here and I embrace you,
Peace will be restored, my dear.
காத்திருந்து காத்திருந்து
காலங்கள் போகுதடி
பூத்திருந்து பூத்திருந்து
பூவிழி நோகுதடி
Waiting and waiting,
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Blooming and blooming,
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
ஆஆ...ஆரிரோ..ஆரிரோ..
தங்க சலங்க கொண்டு
தாய்மாமன் வருவாரு
பொண்ணு மணியும் கொண்டு
பொன்கூட தருவாரு
பொழுதோட தூங்கு கண்ணே
ஆரி ஆரிரோ
விடிஞ்சாக்கா முழிச்சுகலாம்
ஆரி ஆரிரோ
Aaa... aariroo aarirooo (lullaby vocalization)...
Bringing golden anklets,
The maternal uncle will arrive.
Bringing gold and precious gems,
He will gift a golden basket.
Sleep as night falls, my dear child,
Aari aarirooo...
When dawn breaks, you may wake up,
Aari aarirooo...
Auulllee aariooo aarirooo...
ஆஆ...ஹா....ஆஆ...ஹா..ஆஆ...
முக்குளிச்சு நானெடுத்த
முத்துச்சிப்பி நீதானே
முத்தெடுத்து நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
பத்திரமா வெச்சேனே
Aaa... haaa... aaa... haaa... aa...
The one I retrieved by diving deep into the sea,
You are that pearl shell.
Taking out the pearl, inside my heart,
I stored it with utmost care.
வெச்சதிப்போ காணாம
நானே தேடுறேன்
ராத்திரியில் தூங்காம
ராகம் பாடுறேன்
Now that which was kept is missing,
And I am searching for it myself.
Without sleeping through the night,
I sing a soulful melody.
நான் படிக்கும் மோகனமே
நான் படைச்ச சீதனமே
தேன் வடிச்ச பாத்திரமே
தென்மதுர பூச்சரமே
கண்டது என்னாச்சு…
கண்ணீரில் நின்னாச்சு
O charming raga that I chant,
O precious treasure I created,
O vessel dripping with sweet honey,
O flower garland of sweet Madurai,
What happened to what was seen?
It has all ended in tears.
காத்திருந்து காத்திருந்து
காலங்கள் போகுதடி
பூத்திருந்து பூத்திருந்து
பூவிழி நோகுதடி
Waiting and waiting,
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Blooming and blooming,
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
நீரு நிலம் நாலு பக்கம்
நான் திரும்பி பாத்தாலும்
அந்தப்பக்கம் இந்தப்பக்கம்
அத்தனையும் நீயாகும்
Water and land on all four directions,
Wherever I turn and look,
That direction and this direction,
Everything becomes you.
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள நீங்காம
நீதான் வாழுற
நாடியிலே சூடேத்தி
நீதான் வாட்டுற
Without ever leaving my heart,
Only you are residing.
Raising the heat in my pulse,
Only you are tormenting me.
ஆலையிட்ட செங்கரும்பா
ஆட்டுகிற எம் மனச
யாரவிட்டு தூதுசொல்லி
நான் அறிவேன் உம் மனச
உள்ளமும் புண்ணாச்சு…
காரணம் பெண்ணாச்சு
Like red sugarcane put into a crusher,
You churn and grind my heart.
Through whom shall I send a message,
To understand what is in your heart?
My heart too has become wounded,
And writing about it has become the only cause.
காத்திருந்து காத்திருந்து
காலங்கள் போகுதடி
பூத்திருந்து பூத்திருந்து
பூவிழி நோகுதடி
நேத்துவரை சேர்த்துவச்ச
ஆசைகள் வேகுதடி
நீ இருந்து நான் அணைச்சா
நிம்மதி ஆகுமடி
Waiting and waiting,
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Blooming and blooming,
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
The desires accumulated until yesterday,
Are burning inside me, my dear.
If you are here and I embrace you,
Peace will be restored, my dear.
காத்திருந்து காத்திருந்து
காலங்கள் போகுதடி
பூத்திருந்து பூத்திருந்து
பூவிழி நோகுதடி
Waiting and waiting,
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Blooming and blooming,
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu
Waiting and waiting,
Kaalangal poguthadi
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Poothirunthu poothirunthu
Blooming and blooming,
Poovizhi noguthadi
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
Nethu vara serthu vacha
The desires accumulated until yesterday,
Aasaigal veguthadi
Are burning inside me, my dear.
Neeyirundu naan anacha
If you are here and I embrace you,
Nimmathi aagumadi
Peace will be restored, my dear.
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu
Waiting and waiting,
Kaalangal poguthadi
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Poothirunthu poothirunthu
Blooming and blooming,
Poovizhi noguthadi
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
Aaa..aariroo aarirooo
Aaa... aariroo aarirooo (lullaby vocalization)...
Thanga salanga kondu
Bringing golden anklets,
Thaaimaaman varuvaaru
The maternal uncle will arrive.
Ponnumaniyum kondu
Bringing gold and precious gems,
Ponkooda tharuvaaru
He will gift a golden basket.
Pozhudhoda thoonghu kannae
Sleep as night falls, my dear child,
Aari aarirooo
Aari aarirooo...
Vidinjaakka muzhichikalaam
When dawn breaks, you may wake up,
Aari aarirooo
Aari aarirooo...
Auulllee aariooo aarirooo
Auulllee aariooo aarirooo...
Aaa…haaa…aaa..haaa…aa…
Aaa... haaa... aaa... haaa... aa...
Mukkulichu naan yedutha
The one I retrieved by diving deep into the sea,
Muthu chippi neethanae
You are that pearl shell.
Mutheduthu nenjukkula
Taking out the pearl, inside my heart,
Pathiramaa vechenae
I stored it with utmost care.
Vechathippo kaanama
Now that which was kept is missing,
Naanae theduren
And I am searching for it myself.
Raathiriyil thoongama
Without sleeping through the night,
Raagam paaduren
I sing a soulful melody.
Naan padikkum moganamae
O charming raga that I chant,
Naan padaicha seethaname
O precious treasure I created,
Thaen vadicha paathiramae
O vessel dripping with sweet honey,
Then madura poocharamae
O flower garland of sweet Madurai,
Kandathu yennaachu
What happened to what was seen?
Kaneeril ninnachu
It has all ended in tears.
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu
Waiting and waiting,
Kaalangal poguthadi
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Poothirunthu poothirunthu
Blooming and blooming,
Poovizhi noguthadi
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
Neeru nelam naalu pakkam
Water and land on all four directions,
Naan thirumbi paathalum
Wherever I turn and look,
Antha pakkam intha pakkam
That direction and this direction,
Athanaiyum neeyaagum
Everything becomes you.
Nenjukkulla neengama
Without ever leaving my heart,
Nee thaan vaazhura
Only you are residing.
Naadiyila soodethi
Raising the heat in my pulse,
Nee thaan vaattura
Only you are tormenting me.
Aala itta sengarumbaa
Like red sugarcane put into a crusher,
Aattugira en manasa
You churn and grind my heart.
Yaara vittu thoothu solli
Through whom shall I send a message,
Naanariven un manasa
To understand what is in your heart?
Ullamum punnaachu
My heart too has become wounded,
Kaaranam penaachu
And writing about it has become the only cause.
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu
Waiting and waiting,
Kaalangal poguthadi
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Poothirunthu poothirunthu
Blooming and blooming,
Poovizhi noguthadi
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
Nethu vara serthu vacha
The desires accumulated until yesterday,
Aasaigal veguthadi
Are burning inside me, my dear.
Neeyirundu naan anacha
If you are here and I embrace you,
Nimmathi aagumadi
Peace will be restored, my dear.
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu
Waiting and waiting,
Kaalangal poguthadi
Time keeps passing away, my dear.
Poothirunthu poothirunthu
Blooming and blooming,
Poovizhi noguthadi
My flower-like eyes are aching, my dear.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kaathirunthu Kaathirunthu' from the film Vaidehi Kathirunthal is a poignant expression of yearning, heartbreak, and unfulfilled longing. The song conveys the agonizing pain of endless waiting as time slips away, leaving the protagonist's eyes aching from constantly watching for the beloved's arrival. Intertwined with maternal lullaby motifs, the lyrics contrast innocent hopes with deeply painful reality, as cherished desires burn into grief.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthoodar (Repetition / Anaphora)
“Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu”
Repetition of words like 'Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu' and 'Poothirunthu poothirunthu' emphasizes the agonizingly prolonged and continuous state of waiting and blooming.
Uvamai (Metaphor)
“Poovizhi noguthadi”
'Poovizhi' metaphorically compares eyes to delicate flowers, illustrating how fragile eyes suffer from watching continuously.
Emona / Monai (Alliteration)
“Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu / Kaalangal poguthadi”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' in 'Kaathirunthu' and 'Kaalangal' creates rhythm and poetic resonance.
Edhai (Second letter rhyming)
“Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu / Poothirunthu poothirunthu”
Rhyming of the second letter '-th-' across 'Kaathirunthu' and 'Poothirunthu' adheres to traditional Tamil poetic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kaathirunthu Kaathirunthu' is an iconic classic composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for Vaidehi Kathirunthal (1984), sung by P. Susheela (solo version) and P. Jayachandran. The song encapsulates the thematic core of the film—endless waiting and tragic yearning.
Keep listening
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