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Lyrics & meaning

Kaatru Vegama Illai

From Kaalam Bathil Sollum · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kaalam Bathil Sollum1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
………………….....
Male
Hae hae hae haeh…Hae hae hae haeh...
Male
Kaattru vegamaa illai kadhal vegamaaIs the wind faster, or is love faster?
Kaattru vegamaa illai kadhal vegamaaIs the wind faster, or is love faster?
Potti podalaama vaammaa potti podalaamShall we compete, come on lady, let us compete!
Kola maamayil kooda irukkaiyilWhen staying beside a beautiful peacock...
Kola maamayil kooda irukkaiyilWhen staying beside a beautiful peacock...
Konja thonuthae yaemmaa konja thonuthaeIt makes me want to cuddle, why lady, it makes me want to cuddle!
Female
Kola maamayil kooda irukkaiyilWhen staying beside a beautiful peacock...
Konja thonuthae yaemmaa konja thonuthaeIt makes me want to cuddle, why lady, it makes me want to cuddle!
Kaattru vegamaa illai kadhal vegamaaIs the wind faster, or is love faster?
Potti podalaam vaaiyaa potti podalaamLet us compete, come on sir, let us compete!
Male
Vinnukku neelamIs the blue of the sky...
Intha kangal itta pitchaiyoAn alms given by these eyes?
Ponnukku manjal vannamIs the golden-yellow color of gold...
Kannam konda michchamoThe leftover glow from these cheeks?
Male
Vinnukku neelamIs the blue of the sky...
Intha kangal itta pitchaiyoAn alms given by these eyes?
Ponnukku manjal vannamIs the golden-yellow color of gold...
Kannam konda michchamoThe leftover glow from these cheeks?
Male
Maalai Mayanguthu mayangattum vidammaaThe evening swoons, let it swoon, leave it lady!
Maiyal thodanguthu thodangattum kodammaaInfatuation begins, let it begin, give it lady!
Maalai Mayanguthu mayangattum vidammaaThe evening swoons, let it swoon, leave it lady!
Maiyal thodanguthu thodangattum kodammaaInfatuation begins, let it begin, give it lady!
Female
Inbathin ellai engaeWhere is the limit of pleasure?
Etti etti sellumoWill it stretch further and further away?
Ennangal pogum vegamWill the speed at which thoughts travel...
Ennai unnai vellumoConquer both you and me?
Female
Inbathin ellai engaeWhere is the limit of pleasure?
Etti etti sellumoWill it stretch further and further away?
Ennangal pogum vegamWill the speed at which thoughts travel...
Ennai unnai vellumoConquer both you and me?
Female
Paattu pirakkuthu pirakkattum vidaiyyaaA song is born, let it be born, let it go sir!
Aasai nadhikkoru anaikkattu yaedhaiyyaaIs there a dam for a river of desires, sir?
Paattu pirakkuthu pirakkattum vidaiyyaaA song is born, let it be born, let it go sir!
Aasai nadhikkoru anaikkattu yaedhaiyyaaIs there a dam for a river of desires, sir?
Male
Kaattru vegamaa illai kadhal vegamaaIs the wind faster, or is love faster?
Female
Pachchai pul medaiyendruThinking it was a green grass stage...
Thendral enni kondathoDid the gentle breeze assume so?
Pattu poo meththai meedhuOn a bed of silky flowers...
Thaththi thaththi sendrathiIt hopped and skipped along!
Female
Pachchai pul medaiyendruThinking it was a green grass stage...
Thendral enni kondathoDid the gentle breeze assume so?
Pattu poo meththai meedhuOn a bed of silky flowers...
Thaththi thaththi sendrathiIt hopped and skipped along!
Female
Kadhal pavaniyil idhu oru vidhamaaIs this a style in the procession of love?
Kaana kidaiththathu manathukku idhamaaIs seeing this comforting to the mind?
Male
Angae vaa thennajcholaiLook there, the coconut grove...
ondraiyondru pinnuthuIntertwines with one another!
Ammaadi thennai polaeOh my, like those coconut trees...
Unnai ullam ennuthuMy heart thinks of you!
Male
Sontham anaikkuthu anaikkattum vidammaaRelationship embraces, let it embrace, leave it lady!
Sorkkapurikkukoru padikkattu yaethammaaIs there a flight of stairs to the heavenly realm, lady?
Male
Kaattru vegamaa illai kadhal vegamaaIs the wind faster, or is love faster?
Potti podalaama vaammaa potti podalaamShall we compete, come on lady, let us compete!
Female : Potti podalaam vaaiyaa potti podalaamFemale: Let us compete, come on sir, let us compete!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaattru Vegamaa Illai Kadhal Vegamaa is a vibrant romantic duet in which a pair of lovers playfully debate whether the wind or love moves with greater speed. The male lover marvels at his partner's beauty with poetic hyperbole, suggesting that the sky derived its blue color as charity from her eyes and gold derived its hue from her radiant cheeks. In response, the female lover equates her surging feelings to a river of desire that no dam can contain. Surrounded by idyllic natural imagery—breezes skipping across grassy meadows like flower beds, and coconut palms intertwining—the song captures the joy of blossoming romance. Ultimately, both agree that the speed of human emotion and affection easily outpaces even the swiftest natural wind.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarnavu Navitchi)

Vinnukku neelam Intha kangal itta pitchaiyo

Exaggerating the heroine's beauty by claiming the sky borrowed its blue from her eyes and gold derived its color from her cheeks.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Aasai nadhikkoru anaikkattu yaedhaiyyaa

Describing human desire as an uncontainable river that cannot be blocked by a dam.

Personification (Tharkurippetratani)

Pachchai pul medaiyendru Thendral enni kondatho

Attributing human intent to the gentle breeze, portraying it as mistaking the grass meadow for a silk flower bed and skipping across it.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Vaali, this duet brings together the unique vocal pairing of Malaysia Vasudevan and Vani Jairam. The song features a lively conversational structure structured as a friendly lyrical competition ('potti') between the lead characters.

Keep listening

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