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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatru Enbatha

From Perazhagan · 2004

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Mathangi
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Perazhagan2004

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Kaatru enbatha…Is it the wind?
Kaatru enbatha… kaatru enbatha…Is it the wind? Is it the wind?
Kaatru enbatha…Is it the wind?
Kaatru enbatha… kaatru enbatha…Is it the wind? Is it the wind?
Male
Kaatru enbathaShall I call it the wind?
Kaathal enbathaShall I call it love?
Kavithai enbatha solTell me, shall I call it poetry?
Ithai imsai enbathaShall I call this torment?
Inimai enbathaShall I call it sweetness?
Irakkam enbatha solTell me, shall I call it mercy?
Male
Kaatru enbathaShall I call it the wind?
Kaathal enbathaShall I call it love?
Kavithai enbatha solTell me, shall I call it poetry?
Ithai imsai enbathaShall I call this torment?
Inimai enbathaShall I call it sweetness?
Irakkam enbatha solTell me, shall I call it mercy?
Female
Ithai kollaamal kolgindraShall I call this a poison
Visham enbathaThat kills without killing?
Ithu amilathil uruvaanaShall I call this a wave
Alai enbathaBorn out of acid?
Ithu poovalla puyal enbathaIs this not a flower, but a storm?
Hoo hooHoo hoo
Male
{Kaatru enbatha{Shall I call it the wind?
Kaathal enbathaShall I call it love?
Kavithai enbatha solTell me, shall I call it poetry?
Ithai imsai enbathaShall I call this torment?
Inimai enbathaShall I call it sweetness?
Irakkam enbatha sol} (2)Tell me, shall I call it mercy?} (2)
Female
Sutraamal bhoomiEven if the earth
NindraalumaeStops spinning,
En ninaivugal unnaiMy memories will
Sutri varumRevolve around you.
Male
Meghangal amilamEven if the clouds
PeithaalumaeRain down acid,
En kan imai unakkuMy eyelids will become
Kudayaai varumAn umbrella for you.
Female
En kilaigalilOn my branches
Theeyaiyum veithuYou set fire,
En vergalil neer eduthaaiYet you drew water from my roots.
Male
Nee sirikkindraAt the sound
Osaigal ullaOf your laughter,
En naadi thudikkuthadiMy pulse thuds, my girl!
Male
Kaatru enbathaShall I call it the wind?
Kaathal enbathaShall I call it love?
Kavithai enbatha solTell me, shall I call it poetry?
Ithai imsai enbathaShall I call this torment?
Inimai enbathaShall I call it sweetness?
Irakkam enbatha solTell me, shall I call it mercy?
Female
Ye ye… ye ye ….Ye ye… ye ye ….
Kaatrodu kaatraai nee maarinaalIf you transform into wind within the breeze,
En swaasangal unnai sirai veikumaeMy breath will imprison you.
Neerodu neeraai nee odinaalIf you flow as water within water,
En thaagangal unnai kai patrumaeMy thirst will grab hold of you.
Male
Ae azhagiya samaveli nilamaeOh beautiful plain landscape,
En mazhayinai yerpaaiyooWill you accept my rain?
Poo veliyae endrae thalliCalling me a field of flowers and pushing me away,
Poi koapam poopaaiyooWill you bloom in feigned anger?
Male
{Kaatru enbatha{Shall I call it the wind?
Kaathal enbathaShall I call it love?
Kavithai enbatha solTell me, shall I call it poetry?
Ithai imsai enbathaShall I call this torment?
Inimai enbathaShall I call it sweetness?
Irakkam enbatha sol} (2)Tell me, shall I call it mercy?} (2)
Female
Ithai kollaamal kolgindraShall I call this a poison
Visham enbathaThat kills without killing?
Ithu amilathil uruvaanaShall I call this a wave
Alai enbathaBorn out of acid?
Ithu poovalla puyal enbathaIs this not a flower, but a storm?
Haa haaHaa haa
Female
Ye ye… ye ye ….Ye ye… ye ye ….
Male :{Kaatru enbathaMale: {Shall I call it the wind?
Kaathal enbathaShall I call it love?
Kavithai enbatha solTell me, shall I call it poetry?
Ithai imsai enbathaShall I call this torment?
Inimai enbathaShall I call it sweetness?
Irakkam enbatha sol} (2)Tell me, shall I call it mercy?} (2)
Female :Ye ye… ye ye ….Female: Ye ye… ye ye ….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kaatru Enbatha' captures the overwhelming, intoxicating, and enigmatic feeling of falling deeply in love. The lyrics express the lover's confusion and wonder as to whether this intense emotion should be defined as a gentle breeze, love, poetry, torment, sweetness, or mercy. Love is portrayed as a force that is both tender like a flower and fierce like a storm, causing a paradoxical mix of pleasure and pain. In the verses, the singer vows eternal devotion, declaring that even if the Earth ceases to rotate or acid rains down, their thoughts and protection will remain focused on the beloved. The lyrics vividly describe how love captivates every sense—turning breath into a prison for the wind and thirst into a net for flowing water. Ultimately, the song celebrates the inescapable and transformative nature of romantic passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Initial Rhyme (Monaai)

“Kaatru enbatha / Kaathal enbatha / Kavithai enbatha sol”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds and words at the start of consecutive lines (e.g., 'Kaatru enbatha', 'Kaathal enbatha', 'Kavithai enbatha').

Assonance / Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“Ithai imsai enbatha / Inimai enbatha / Irakkam enbatha sol”

Matching second letters in consecutive lines ('imsai', 'inimai', 'irakkam') creating rhythm and harmony.

Oxymoron & Paradox

“Ithai kollaamal kolgindra visham enbatha”

Juxtaposition of conflicting ideas such as 'kollaamal kolgindra visham' (a poison that kills without killing) and setting branches on fire while nourishing roots.

Metaphor & Contrast

“Ithu poovalla puyal enbatha”

Contrasting soft imagery with turbulent nature ('poovalla puyal' - not a flower, but a storm) to convey love's power.

Hyperbole

“En kan imai unakku kudayaai varum”

Exaggerated romantic devotion where the speaker promises that eyelids will act as an umbrella against acid rain.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the 2004 blockbuster movie 'Perazhagan', this romantic track features lyrics written by Pa. Vijay. The movie starred Suriya in a dual role alongside Jyothika, and Yuvan's energetic yet soulful composition made this song one of the soundtrack's standouts.

Keep listening

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