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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatru Kuthirayile

From Kadhalan · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Sujatha Mohan, Minmini
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Kadhalan1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaaaa….aaaaaa….aaaaa…Aaaaa… aaaaaa… aaaaa…
Aaaaaa….aaaa….aaaaa…mmm…mmm…Aaaaaa… aaaa… aaaaa… mmm… mmm…
Female
Katru kudhiraiyilaeUpon the horse of the wind,
En karkuzhal thoodhu vittenI have sent my dark tresses as a messenger.
Katru kudhiraiyilaeUpon the horse of the wind,
En karkuzhal thoodhu vittenI have sent my dark tresses as a messenger.
Female
Adhu netru nadandhadhanaiMay it write upon your heart
Un nenjil ezhudhattumaeEverything that happened yesterday.
Chorus :Mmmmm….mmmmmChorus: Mmmmm… mmmmm
Female
Atrangarai pudharilLike the river foam caught and dancing
Sikki aadum nurai polaeAmidst the bushes on the riverbank,
Vetru giragathilaeWhen will we go to play together
Naam vilayada povadheppo….On an alien planet of our own?
Chorus
Mmmm…..mmmm….Mmmm… mmmm…
Mmmm…..mmmm….Mmmm… mmmm…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This sensual and deeply poetic passage captures a lover expressing her intense longing and surreal desire for intimacy. She poetically describes sending her dark hair carried by the wind as a messenger to etch memories of their encounter onto her beloved's heart. Using evocative natural imagery, she compares their helpless, passionate entanglement to foam caught swirling in bushes along a riverbank. Ultimately, she yearns to escape the eyes of the ordinary world and play freely with her lover on a completely secluded, alien world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Katru kudhiraiyilae En karkuzhal thoodhu vitten

'Katru kudhirai' (Wind-horse) metaphorically frames the wind as a swift steed delivering messages, while 'Karkuzhal thoodhu' presents her dark hair as the messenger.

Simile (Uwamai)

Atrangarai pudharil Sikki aadum nurai polae

'Nurai polae' uses a simile to compare their restless, captive love play to fragile white river foam caught swirling inside riverbank thickets.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Katru kudhiraiyilae / Adhu netru nadandhadhanai

Matching second consonants ('t-r') across lines creates a rhythmic cadence in 'Katru' and 'Netru'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This delicate poetic sequence features music by A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Vairamuthu from the landmark 1994 romantic thriller 'Kadhalan', directed by S. Shankar. Vairamuthu seamlessly blends ancient Sangam-style classical imagery (sending hair/wind as a messenger) with modern sci-fi themes ('Vetru giragam' or alien planet).

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