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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaathodu Kaathanen

From Jail · 2015

Lyricist
Kabilan
Singers
Dhanush, Aditi Rao Hydari
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Jail2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oh pennae oh pennaeOh girl, oh girl
Neethaanae neethaanaeYou are the one, you are the one
Oh pennae oh pennaeOh girl, oh girl
Neethaanae neethaanaeYou are the one, you are the one
Male
Kaathodu kaathaanenI became the wind along with the wind
Kannae un moochaanenMy darling, I became your breath
Neerodu neeraanenI became water along with the water
Un kooda meenaanenI became a fish together with you
Kaagitham polae un melaUpon you like a piece of paper
Oviyam varaiyum nagamaanenI became a fingernail drawing a picture
Mogathil pennae unnaalaeOh girl, because of you in passion
Muththangal vaazhum mugamaanenI became a face where kisses reside
Male
Ilai maraivil malarnthirundhomWe blossomed hidden behind the leaves
Mazhai thuliyai kalanthirundhomWe blended together like raindrops
Female
Kaathodu kaathaanenI became the wind along with the wind
Kannae un moochaanenMy darling, I became your breath
Neerodu neeraanenI became water along with the water
Un kooda meenaanenI became a fish together with you
Female
Naa nana naa…(4)Naa nana naa...
Female
Nana naa..(3)Nana naa...
Male
Ilaiyil malarin kai regaiThe palm lines of a flower on a leaf
Imaigal yaavum mayil thogaiAll the eyelashes are like peacock feathers
Female
Aayiram aandugal aanaalumEven if a thousand years pass
Aanandha vanmam maravenaeI will not forget this blissful affection
Male
Mazhalai polavae madiyil thavazhndhaCrawling on the lap like an infant
Mayakkam theeravae illaiThe intoxication/trance never ends
Female
Irandu perumae ini mel yaaroWho are both of us from now on?
Iraivan kaigalil pillaiWe are children in the hands of God
Male
Kanmani poo pookkaFor the darling flower to bloom
Kaadhal vidhaiyaanomWe became the seeds of love
Female
Kaaman naatkuripilIn the diary of the God of Love
Kaadhal kadhaiyaanom..mmmWe became a story of love
Female
Kaathodu kaathaanenI became the wind along with the wind
Kannae un moochaanenMy darling, I became your breath
Neerodu neeraanenI became water along with the water
Un kooda meenaanenI became a fish together with you
Male
Poovin meedhu koothaadumDancing atop a flower
Bodhai vandu pol aanenI became like an intoxicated beetle
Female
Pullin meedhu boomiyai polLike the Earth resting on a blade of grass
Undhan baaram naan kandenI felt the weight of your love
Male
Idhazhin aatrilae kudhikkum podhuWhen jumping into the river of lips
Karaigal enbathae illaiThere are no shores at all
Female
Karaigal illai parava illaiNo shores, no worries
Kadalae kaadhalin ellaiThe ocean itself is the limit of love
Male
Kaathodu kaathaanenI became the wind along with the wind
Kannae un moochaanenMy darling, I became your breath
Neerodu neeraanenI became water along with the water
Un kooda meenaanenI became a fish together with you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaathodu Kaathaanen from the movie Jail is a serene romantic song that celebrates the profound unity and intimacy shared between two lovers. The lyrics beautifully describe how the lovers merge seamlessly into each other's lives, comparing their bonding to natural elements like wind blending into air, fish swimming in water, and rain droplets merging together. The song portrays love as a divine force that transcends time, creating a sense of childlike innocence and boundless joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaathodu kaathaanen / Kannae un moochaanen

The protagonist directly equates his existence to elements of nature such as breath ('un moochaanen') and a fish in water ('un kooda meenaanen') to express absolute oneness.

Simile (Uvamai)

Mazhalai polavae madiyil thavazhndha

The poet uses 'polavae' (like) to draw a comparison between the lover's sweet dependency and a child crawling on a lap.

Alliteration (Moona)

Kanmani poo pookka / Kaadhal vidhaiyaanom / Kaaman naatkuripil

Repetition of the 'Ka' consonant sound across consecutive lines creates a rhythmic and melodic flow in the verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kaathodu Kaathaanen is a hit track from the film Jail, directed by Vasanthabalan. The song was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar and sung by actor Dhanush alongside Aditi Rao Hydari, with lyrical phrasing penned by Kabilan.

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