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Madrasapattinam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatrile

From Madrasapattinam · 2010

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Hariharan, Zia
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Movie name
Madrasapattinam
Movie release year
2010
Lyrics added on
12 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aayiram aayudham
Edhu varum pothum
Anbenum sakthiyai vendravar illai
Kaarirul neengidum kaalaiyil marubadi
Kizakkinil oli varume
Peigalum narigalum
Thurathidum pothum
Paadhaiyil pallangal
Paduthidum pothum
Porkkalam naduvilum ragasiyamaaga
Poo ondru malarndhidumae
Vizundhom ….ezhundhom….
Kaatrilae kaatrilae
Eerangal kooduthae
Kangalin neer adhu
Kaatrinil seruthae
Nee endru naan endru
Thani aanathu
Indru naam endru ondraagum
Nilai aanathu
Nenjodu nesiththa bandham idhu
Indru kai sera kanneerae vilai aanathu
Aayiram aayudham
Edhu varum pothum
Anbenum sakthiyai vendravar illai
Kaarirul neengidum kaalaiyil marubadi
Kizakkinil oli varume
Peigalum narigalum
Thurathidum pothum
Paadhaiyil pallangal
Paduthidum pothum
Porkkalam naduvilum ragasiyamaaga
Poo ondru malarndhidumae
Nadhi pogum vaziyil yaarum
Anai pottu thaduthida koodum
Megathil anai poda vazhi illaiyae
Nigazh kaalam kannin munnae
Varungaalam kanavin pinnae
Vidhi podum kanakkirkku vidai illaiyae
Iravum pagalum nagarum
Veyilum mazaiyum thodaarum
Idhayam inaiyum tharunam
Varumaa..
Irulum oliyum pazhagum
Vidinthum vidiyaa nimidam
Vidinthaal vazhkkai thodangum
Kanava…
Peigalum narigalum
Thurathidum pothum
Paadhaiyil pallangal
Paduthidum pothum
Porkkalam naduvilum ragasiyamaaga
Poo ondru malarndhidumae
{Vandhae maatharam
Chorus : Vandhae maatharam} (4)
Oru vaanam podhaadhendru
Pala vaanam ketppom endru
Kai korthu ondraaga paranthodavae
Nedungaalam kanavil vaazhnthom
Ippothu kaigal korthom
Iranthaalum ethirppomae piriyaamalae
Idhamum padhamum yudham
Idaiyil uyirin satham
Idhayam muzhukka kettaal
Sugamae…
Ethirum pudhirum vaanam
Irunthum nenjil veeram
Anbae endrum inbam
Tharumae…
Aayiram aayudham
Edhu varum pothum
Anbenum sakthiyai vendravar illai
Kaarirul neengidum kaalaiyil marubadi
Kizakkinil oli varume
Peigalum narigalum
Thurathidum pothum
Paadhaiyil pallangal
Paduthidum pothum
Porkkalam naduvilum ragasiyamaaga
Poo ondru malarndhidumae
Vizundhom ….ezhundhom….
Kaatrilae kaatrilae
Eerangal kooduthae
Kangalin neer adhu
Kaatrinil seruthae
Nee endru naan endru
Thani aanathu
Indru naam endru ondraagum
Nilai aanathu
Nenjodu nesiththa bandham idhu
Indru kai sera kanneerae vilai aanathu
Even if a thousand weapons
or whatever comes our way,
no one has ever defeated the power of love.
The deep darkness will fade, and in the morning,
light will return in the east.
Even when demons and jackals
chase after us,
and the pitfalls along the road
trouble and torment us,
even in the middle of a battlefield, secretly,
a flower will bloom.
We fell... we rose...
In the wind, in the wind,
moisture gathers,
and the tears from our eyes
merge with the breeze.
What was once "you" and "me",
standing all alone,
has now become one as "us",
united forever.
This is a bond cherished deep in the heart;
for our hands to join today, tears became the price.
Even if a thousand weapons
or whatever comes our way,
no one has ever defeated the power of love.
The deep darkness will fade, and in the morning,
light will return in the east.
Even when demons and jackals
chase after us,
and the pitfalls along the road
trouble and torment us,
even in the middle of a battlefield, secretly,
a flower will bloom.
Across the path of a flowing river,
anyone could build a dam and stop it,
but there is no way to dam the clouds.
The present stands before our eyes,
the future waits behind our dreams,
yet there is no answer to the riddle of fate.
Night and day will pass by,
sun and rain will carry on,
will the moment when hearts unite
ever arrive?
Darkness and light blend into one
in this twilight moment before daybreak;
if dawn breaks, a new life begins—
or is it just a dream?
Even when demons and jackals
chase after us,
and the pitfalls along the road
trouble and torment us,
even in the middle of a battlefield, secretly,
a flower will bloom.
{Vande Mataram (I bow to you, Motherland)
Chorus: Vande Mataram} (4)
Thinking one sky was not enough,
and wishing to ask for many skies,
we hold hands and fly away together.
For a long time, we lived only in dreams;
now our hands are joined,
and even if we die, we will resist without ever parting.
A battle between comfort and tender care,
with the sound of life beating in between;
if heard deeply within the heart,
it brings pure joy...
The sky may be full of conflicts and riddles,
yet courage remains in our hearts;
love will always
bring us happiness...
Even if a thousand weapons
or whatever comes our way,
no one has ever defeated the power of love.
The deep darkness will fade, and in the morning,
light will return in the east.
Even when demons and jackals
chase after us,
and the pitfalls along the road
trouble and torment us,
even in the middle of a battlefield, secretly,
a flower will bloom.
We fell... we rose...
In the wind, in the wind,
moisture gathers,
and the tears from our eyes
merge with the breeze.
What was once "you" and "me",
standing all alone,
has now become one as "us",
united forever.
This is a bond cherished deep in the heart;
for our hands to join today, tears became the price.
Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This evocative composition from Madrasapattinam captures the triumph of love and human spirit amidst war, colonialism, and political turmoil. Set against the backdrop of 1940s Madras, the song asserts that no weapon or external adversity can ever conquer the enduring force of love. Using vivid imagery of nature, dawn following deep darkness, and flowers blooming on battlefields, it highlights hope and resilience in times of profound crisis. The narrative transitions from individual pain and separation ('You' and 'I') into a unified collective identity ('We'), intertwining personal romance with a nationalist urge for freedom. It expresses how true emotional bonds transcend barriers, turning sacrifice and tears into the foundation of togetherness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Porkkalam naduvilum ragasiyamaaga / Poo ondru malarndhidumae

Compares love blooming secretly in times of conflict to a delicate flower blossoming in the middle of a battlefield.

Alliteration (Monai)

Paadhaiyil pallangal / Paduthidum pothum

Repetition of the 'P' consonant sound at the start of adjacent words to add rhythmic musicality.

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

Irulum oliyum pazhagum / Vidinthum vidiyaa nimidam

Juxtaposes darkness and light to symbolize fear versus hope and despair versus awakening.

Visual Imagery

Nadhi pogum vaziyil yaarum / Anai pottu thaduthida koodum / Megathil anai poda vazhi illaiyae

Evokes natural water currents and atmospheric elements to show that human emotion and nature cannot be artificially contained.

Did you know?

Trivia

Madrasapattinam (2010), directed by A. L. Vijay, features music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar with lyrics by late National Award-winning poet Na. Muthu Kumar. The film's soundtrack earned widespread critical acclaim for capturing the vintage musical essence of pre-independence India.

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