Kaatrai Ketten
From Tharunam · 2025
- Lyricist
- Madhan Karky
- Singer
- Karthik
- Music director
- Darbuka Siva
- Details
- Tharunam2025
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaatrai ketten veesu endru sonnaal | I asked the wind, and it told me to blow. |
| Vaazhvinai ketten veezhu endraal | I asked life, and it told me to fall. |
| Theeyinai ketten kaaindhu kolla sonnaal | I asked the fire, and it told me to warm myself. |
| Hey aatrai ketten paaindhu ooda sonnaal | Hey, I asked the river, and it told me to rush and flow. |
| Male | |
| Avalum ivanum ena sonnal enna | What does it matter what she or he said? |
| Indru neeyenna neeyenna solavaayadi | Today, what will you say, my dear girl? |
| Nodiyil nodiyil nee sonnaal enna | What if you tell me every second? |
| Hey nee enna sonnaalum seivenae | Hey, whatever you say, I will do it. |
| Male | |
| Mudive illadha oru paadalaa | Is it an endless song? |
| Tharaiye theendaadha oru thoorala | Is it a drizzle that never touches the ground? |
| Edhu vendum sol | Tell me, what do you want? |
| Male | |
| Gnayurai naan ketten | I asked the sun, |
| Kadhiraale theendu endraal | It told me to touch with rays. |
| Vennilaavai ketten | I asked the silver moon, |
| …..endraal | ...it said. |
| Poovinai naan ketten | I asked the flower, |
| Niram konde pesu endraal | It told me to speak with colors. |
| Vandinai anaan ketten | I asked the beetle, |
| Hey thenai thedu endraal | Hey, it told me to search for honey. |
| Male | |
| Vaai illadha oru deivathai kettenae | I asked a mute deity, |
| Nee endrathu | And it pointed to you. |
| Vaayai moodatha pesum naalum | Even on days when you speak non-stop without closing your mouth, |
| En kaadhu ketkaadhu | My ears refuse to hear anything else. |
| Male | |
| Unai bodhai endru sollu | Call yourself an intoxication, |
| Vizhi kuppai rendil allu | Gather it with both your eyes. |
| En noor aandu vaazhvedu podhaadhu | Even a hundred years of my life will not be enough. |
| Male | |
| Bothi marathai ketten | I asked the Bodhi tree, |
| Un melae aasai endraal | It said it desires you. |
| Paingiliya endru ketten | I asked the green parrot, |
| Un tholai kettaal | It asked for your shoulders to perch on. |
| Kaniniyai naan ketten | I asked the computer, |
| Unnai seyali enru sonnaal | It said you are an application/software. |
| Minn kann ondrai ketten | I asked an electronic eye/camera, |
| Or thaali vendum endraal | It said a wedding thread is needed. |
| Male | |
| Kaatrai ketten veesu endru sonnaal | I asked the wind, and it told me to blow. |
| Vaazhvinai ketten veezhu endraal | I asked life, and it told me to fall. |
| Theeyinai ketten kaaindhu kolla sonnaal | I asked the fire, and it told me to warm myself. |
| Hey aatrai ketten paaindhu ooda sonnaal | Hey, I asked the river, and it told me to rush and flow. |
| Male | |
| Avalum ivanum ena sonnal enna | What does it matter what she or he said? |
| Indru neeyenna neeyenna solavaayadi | Today, what will you say, my dear girl? |
| Nodiyil nodiyil nee sonnaal enna | What if you tell me every second? |
| Hey nee enna sonnaalum seivenae | Hey, whatever you say, I will do it. |
| Male | |
| Mudive illadha oru paadalaa | Is it an endless song? |
| Tharaiye theendaadha oru thoorala | Is it a drizzle that never touches the ground? |
| Edhu vendum sol | Tell me, what do you want? |
காற்றைக் கேட்டேன் வீசு என்று சொன்னாள்
வாழ்வினை கேட்டேன் வீழு என்றாள்
தீயினை கேட்டேன் காய்ந்து கொள்ள சொன்னாள்
ஏய் ஆற்றை கேட்டேன் பாய்ந்து ஓட சொன்னாள்
I asked the wind, and it told me to blow.
I asked life, and it told me to fall.
I asked the fire, and it told me to warm myself.
Hey, I asked the river, and it told me to rush and flow.
அவளும் இவனும் என்ன சொன்னால் என்ன
இன்று நீயென்ன நீயென்ன சொல்வாயடி
நொடியில் நொடியில் நீ சொன்னால் என்ன
ஏய் நீ என்ன சொன்னாலும் செய்வேனே
What does it matter what she or he said?
Today, what will you say, my dear girl?
What if you tell me every second?
Hey, whatever you say, I will do it.
முடிவே இல்லாத ஒரு பாடலா
தரையே தீண்டாதா ஒரு தூறலா
எது வேணும் சொல்
Is it an endless song?
Is it a drizzle that never touches the ground?
Tell me, what do you want?
ஞாயிறை நான் கேட்டேன்
கதிராலே தீண்டு என்றாள்
வெண்ணிலாவை கேட்டேன்
.....என்றாள்
பூவினை நான் கேட்டேன்
நிறம் கொண்டே பேசு என்றாள்
வண்டினை நான் கேட்டேன்
ஏய் தேனை தேடு என்றாள்
I asked the sun,
It told me to touch with rays.
I asked the silver moon,
...it said.
I asked the flower,
It told me to speak with colors.
I asked the beetle,
Hey, it told me to search for honey.
வாய் இல்லாத ஒரு தெய்வத்தைக் கேட்டேனே
நீ என்றது
வாயை மூடாத பேசும் நாளும்
என் காது கேட்காது
I asked a mute deity,
And it pointed to you.
Even on days when you speak non-stop without closing your mouth,
My ears refuse to hear anything else.
உனை போதை என்று சொல்லு
விழி குப்பை ரெண்டில் அல்லு
என் நூர் ஆண்டு வாழ்வேடு போதாது
Call yourself an intoxication,
Gather it with both your eyes.
Even a hundred years of my life will not be enough.
போதி மரத்தை கேட்டேன்
உன் மேல ஆசை என்றாள்
பைங்கிலியா என்று கேட்டேன்
உன் தோளை கேட்டாள்
கனிணியை நான் கேட்டேன்
உனை சேமி என்று சொன்னாள்
மின் கண் ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
ஒரு தாலி வேண்டும் என்றாள்
I asked the Bodhi tree,
It said it desires you.
I asked the green parrot,
It asked for your shoulders to perch on.
I asked the computer,
It said you are an application/software.
I asked an electronic eye/camera,
It said a wedding thread is needed.
காற்றைக் கேட்டேன் வீசு என்று சொன்னாள்
வாழ்வினை கேட்டேன் வீழு என்றாள்
தீயினை கேட்டேன் காய்ந்து கொள்ள சொன்னாள்
ஏய் ஆற்றை கேட்டேன் பாய்ந்து ஓட சொன்னாள்
I asked the wind, and it told me to blow.
I asked life, and it told me to fall.
I asked the fire, and it told me to warm myself.
Hey, I asked the river, and it told me to rush and flow.
அவளும் இவனும் என்ன சொன்னால் என்ன
இன்று நீயென்ன நீயென்ன சொல்வாயடி
நொடியில் நொடியில் நீ சொன்னால் என்ன
ஏய் நீ என்ன சொன்னாலும் செய்வேனே
What does it matter what she or he said?
Today, what will you say, my dear girl?
What if you tell me every second?
Hey, whatever you say, I will do it.
முடிவே இல்லாத ஒரு பாடலா
தரையே தீண்டாதா ஒரு தூறலா
எது வேணும் சொல்
Is it an endless song?
Is it a drizzle that never touches the ground?
Tell me, what do you want?
Kaatrai ketten veesu endru sonnaal
I asked the wind, and it told me to blow.
Vaazhvinai ketten veezhu endraal
I asked life, and it told me to fall.
Theeyinai ketten kaaindhu kolla sonnaal
I asked the fire, and it told me to warm myself.
Hey aatrai ketten paaindhu ooda sonnaal
Hey, I asked the river, and it told me to rush and flow.
Avalum ivanum ena sonnal enna
What does it matter what she or he said?
Indru neeyenna neeyenna solavaayadi
Today, what will you say, my dear girl?
Nodiyil nodiyil nee sonnaal enna
What if you tell me every second?
Hey nee enna sonnaalum seivenae
Hey, whatever you say, I will do it.
Mudive illadha oru paadalaa
Is it an endless song?
Tharaiye theendaadha oru thoorala
Is it a drizzle that never touches the ground?
Edhu vendum sol
Tell me, what do you want?
Gnayurai naan ketten
I asked the sun,
Kadhiraale theendu endraal
It told me to touch with rays.
Vennilaavai ketten
I asked the silver moon,
…..endraal
...it said.
Poovinai naan ketten
I asked the flower,
Niram konde pesu endraal
It told me to speak with colors.
Vandinai anaan ketten
I asked the beetle,
Hey thenai thedu endraal
Hey, it told me to search for honey.
Vaai illadha oru deivathai kettenae
I asked a mute deity,
Nee endrathu
And it pointed to you.
Vaayai moodatha pesum naalum
Even on days when you speak non-stop without closing your mouth,
En kaadhu ketkaadhu
My ears refuse to hear anything else.
Unai bodhai endru sollu
Call yourself an intoxication,
Vizhi kuppai rendil allu
Gather it with both your eyes.
En noor aandu vaazhvedu podhaadhu
Even a hundred years of my life will not be enough.
Bothi marathai ketten
I asked the Bodhi tree,
Un melae aasai endraal
It said it desires you.
Paingiliya endru ketten
I asked the green parrot,
Un tholai kettaal
It asked for your shoulders to perch on.
Kaniniyai naan ketten
I asked the computer,
Unnai seyali enru sonnaal
It said you are an application/software.
Minn kann ondrai ketten
I asked an electronic eye/camera,
Or thaali vendum endraal
It said a wedding thread is needed.
Kaatrai ketten veesu endru sonnaal
I asked the wind, and it told me to blow.
Vaazhvinai ketten veezhu endraal
I asked life, and it told me to fall.
Theeyinai ketten kaaindhu kolla sonnaal
I asked the fire, and it told me to warm myself.
Hey aatrai ketten paaindhu ooda sonnaal
Hey, I asked the river, and it told me to rush and flow.
Avalum ivanum ena sonnal enna
What does it matter what she or he said?
Indru neeyenna neeyenna solavaayadi
Today, what will you say, my dear girl?
Nodiyil nodiyil nee sonnaal enna
What if you tell me every second?
Hey nee enna sonnaalum seivenae
Hey, whatever you say, I will do it.
Mudive illadha oru paadalaa
Is it an endless song?
Tharaiye theendaadha oru thoorala
Is it a drizzle that never touches the ground?
Edhu vendum sol
Tell me, what do you want?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply romantic and surreal monologue where the protagonist addresses his beloved, expressing how every element of nature and technology points towards her. He asks the wind, fire, sun, rivers, Bodhi tree, birds, and even modern computers and cameras about his life and purpose; every element uniquely directs him back to her presence and love. The lyrics capture the intensity of devotion and affection, blending traditional imagery of nature with quirky modern metaphors (such as the computer calling her an application). The song conveys that the lover's entire existence revolves around whatever she chooses to command or desire.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Kaatrai ketten veesu endru sonnaal”
Elements of nature like the wind, river, sun, flower, and Bodhi tree, as well as inanimate modern gadgets, are given human speech and choices.
Emona / Rhyme (Ethiruka / Monai)
“Vaazhvinai ketten veezhu endraal”
Matching phonetic harmony in the opening word structures across parallel lines (Kaatrai / Vaazhvinai / Theeyinai / Aatrai).
Anaphora / Repetition
“Indru neeyenna neeyenna solavaayadi”
Rhythmic repetition of words like 'Nodiyil nodiyil' and 'Neeyenna neeyenna' to heighten the poetic urgency.
Modern Metaphor / Neologism
“Kaniniyai naan ketten / Unnai seyali enru sonnaal”
Blending contemporary digital terminology (kanini/computer, seyali/application) into classical romantic Tamil lyrics.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Darbuka Siva with lyrics by Madhan Karky, the song blends whimsical acoustic sensibilities with Karky's signature style of mixing modern tech jargon (like 'seyali' for app) into deeply poetic and romantic Tamil verses.
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