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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatril Or Varthai

From Varalaaru · 2006

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Sadhana Sargam, Reena Bharadwaj
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Varalaaru2006

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaatril orr vaarthai…I saw a word in the air...
Midhandhu vara kandenFloating towards me
Adhai naan vaangi….I captured it...
Kavithai seidhu kondenAnd turned it into a poem
Female
Hey hey sha ki ba..Hey hey sha ki ba..
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey eh hey eh hey ehHey eh hey eh hey eh
Female
Hey hey sha ki ba..Hey hey sha ki ba..
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey hey sha ki baHey hey sha ki ba
Female
Kaatril orr vaarthai…I saw a word in the air...
Midhandhu vara kandenFloating towards me
Adhai naan vaangi….I captured it...
Kavithai seidhu kondenAnd turned it into a poem
Female
Kangalai thulaithu vittu…Having lost my eyes...
Kaigallaal thulaavi vandhenI came groping with my hands
Mannilae kidantha kannai…The eye that lay on the ground...
Indruthaan arinthu kondenI realized/found it only today
Unn kannil thaan… kan vizhipen…Only in your eyes... will I open my eyes...
Female
Hey hey sha ki ba..Hey hey sha ki ba..
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey eh hey eh hey ehHey eh hey eh hey eh
Female
Kaatril orr vaarthai…I saw a word in the air...
Midhandhu vara kandenFloating towards me
Male
Snehithi…Female :Ah haaFemale friend... Ah haa
Male :Snehithi…Female :Ah ahMale: Female friend... Female: Ah ah
Male :Aaaa….aaaaMale: Aaaa....aaaa
Sutri ennai thurathumThe sorrow that chases me
Thuyarammadi..All around, my dear..
Ennai netri pottukadiyil vaithukollaidiKeep me protected under your forehead mark, my dear
Female
Netri pottu udhirndhaalIf the forehead mark falls off
VeyiladikkumThe harsh sun will beat down
Unnai.. nenjukkullae maraipaalShe will hide you inside her heart
IlaiyakkodiLike a tender creeper
Male
Marundhugal illaaEven in a land
Dhesathil kooda….Without medicines...
Maivizhi paarvaigal poodhumLooks from kohl-rimmed eyes are enough
Female
Kavithaigal illaaEven in languages
Mozhigalil kooda…Without poetry...
Kaadhalan punnagai podhumA lover's smile is enough
Male
Ulagangal ezhumEven when seven worlds
Pani moodum podhum…Are enveloped in mist...
Female :Unn maarbinFemale: On your chest
Veppam podhumThe warmth is enough
Chorus
Hey hey snehitha…Hey hey male friend…
Hey hey snehitha…Hey hey male friend…
Hey hey snehitha…Hey hey male friend…
Hey eh hey eh hey ehHey eh hey eh hey eh
Female
Kaatril orr vaarthai…I saw a word in the air...
Midhandhu vara kandenFloating towards me
Male
…………………………………………………………………………………………
Male
Vithaigalai kizhithuTearing open the seeds
Chedi mulaikkumA plant sprouts
Anbae vidhigalai udaithuMy love, breaking through fate
Unnai manappenI will marry you
Female
Sathai konda mayakam..After the physical attraction
Kalintha pinnaeFades away
Unthan sathiyathin nizhalilUnder the shadow of your truth
Kudi iruppenI will reside
Male
Kaadhali udhariyaAs the lover's discarded
Davaani paranthu…Half-saree flew away...
Vaanavil aanathenna…Why did it turn into a rainbow...
Female
Kaadhalan sidhariyaIn the ink scattered
Penaa maiyil…From the lover's pen...
Vaanam thondriyathu ennaWhy did the sky appear
Male
Nootraandaai neelumKisses that stretch for a century
Muthangal vendumAre needed
Female :Vaa kannae vaangi kollaenFemale: Come my dear, take them
Female
Hey hey sha ki ba..Hey hey sha ki ba..
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey hey sha ki ba…Hey hey sha ki ba…
Hey eh hey eh hey ehHey eh hey eh hey eh
Male
Kaatril orr vaarthai…I saw a word in the air...
Midhandhu vara kandenFloating towards me
Male & Female :Male & Female:
Adhai naan vaangi….I captured it...
Kavithai seidhu kondenAnd turned it into a poem
Male
Kangalai thulaithu vittu…Having lost my eyes...
Kaigallaal thulaavi vandhenI came groping with my hands
Female :Oh mannilae kidantha kannai…Female: Oh the eye that lay on the ground...
Indruthaan arinthu kondenI realized/found it only today
Male :Unn kannil thaan… kan vizhipen…Male: Only in your eyes... will I open my eyes...
Female
{Hey hey snehitha…{Hey hey male friend…
Hey hey snehitha…Hey hey male friend…
Hey hey snehitha…Hey hey male friend…
Hey eh hey eh hey eh} (2)Hey eh hey eh hey eh} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaatril Orr Vaarthai from Varalaaru is a romantic duet expressing deep emotional connection and unconditional love. The song portrays love as an ethereal word caught from the breeze and transformed into poetry, symbolizing how true love brings light, clarity, and purpose to life even after losing one's metaphorical way or sight. Through rich imagery of warmth, comfort, and cosmic beauty, the lovers describe how their devotion transcends fate, physical attraction, and worldly difficulties. The poetic discourse highlights how simple acts like a smile, a loving gaze, or shared warmth can overcome any hardship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaatril orr vaarthai… Midhandhu vara kanden / Adhai naan vaangi…. Kavithai seidhu konden

Comparing spoken thoughts floating in the wind to raw material that is crafted into poetry.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)

Nootraandaai neelum muthangal vendum

An exaggerated expression of desire, wishing for kisses that last across an entire century.

Rhyme & Alliteration (Monai / Edhugai)

Kangalai thulaithu vittu… Kaigallaal thulaavi vandhen

Use of initial and internal rhyming sounds in 'Kangalai' and 'Kaigallaal' to create rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 2006 blockbuster 'Varalaaru' directed by K.S. Ravikumar, this song was sung by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam and Sadhana Sargam with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

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