Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kavithai Paadum Alaigal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatrum Poovum Paadum

From Kavithai Paadum Alaigal · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kavithai Paadum Alaigal
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
22 Jan 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaatrum poovum
Paadum paattu
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu
Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu
Kaatrum poovum
Paadum paattu
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Kaaviri endraal karaiyil adangum
Kadalinai thaedi mudivil odungum
Kaadhalin ennam adanguvadhillai
Adangida naanum kaaviri illai
Vaarthaiyil solla vaai varavillai
Vandhennai koodaa nee varavillai
Vaadum ivalo kodi mullai
Kaatrum poovum
Paadum paattu
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Vazhiyai thaedum ival or paravai
Vagai theriyaamal valarthaal uravai
Thani idam thaedi dhinam azhalaanaal
Veyilinil vaadi ival sarugaanaal
Kanavinil thaanae vaazhugiraal
Kannil varum neeraadugiraal
Kaadhal sogam paadugiraal
Kaatrum poovum
Paadum paattu
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu
Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu
Kaatrum poovum
Paadum paattu
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
The wind and the flower,
The song that they sing,
Do you hear it...?
Do you hear it?
This is a poem written by the waves,
And it weeps every single day.
The wind and the flower,
The song that they sing,
Do you hear it...?
Do you hear it?
The river Kaveri stays within its banks,
Searching for the sea, it rests at the end.
The thoughts of love can never be contained,
And I am not the river Kaveri to be held back.
I cannot find the words to speak,
And you have not come to be with me.
Like a tender jasmine vine, she is withering away.
The wind and the flower,
The song that they sing,
Do you hear it...?
Do you hear it?
She is a bird searching for its way,
Without knowing how, she nurtured this bond of love.
Finding a lonely place, she cries every day,
Scorched in the heat, she has withered like a dry leaf.
She lives only in her dreams,
Bathing in the tears from her eyes,
Singing the sorrow of her love.
The wind and the flower,
The song that they sing,
Do you hear it...?
Do you hear it?
This is a poem written by the waves,
And it weeps every single day.
The wind and the flower,
The song that they sing,
Do you hear it...?
Do you hear it?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of unrequited love and longing through metaphors of nature. The narrator asks her beloved if he can hear the subtle songs sung by the wind and flowers, comparing her tears and sorrow to a tragic poem constantly penned by ocean waves. Unlike the river Kaveri which finds closure in the sea and stays bound by its banks, her love knows no boundaries and brings endless agony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

“Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu / Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu”

Attributing human emotions and actions to elements of nature, such as the waves writing a poem that cries daily and the wind/flower singing a song.

Metaphor

“Vaadum ivalo kodi mullai”

Comparing the suffering woman to a wilting jasmine vine (kodi mullai) and a dried leaf (sarugai).

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

“Kaadhalin ennam adanguvadhillai / Adangida naanum kaaviri illai”

The second consonant 'dh' matches in consecutive lines, adding rhythmic and melodic cohesion characteristic of Tamil poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kavithai Paadum Alaigal' (1990) features evocative lyrics written by Gangai Amaran, who frequently drew rich imagery from nature—such as rivers, winds, and waves—to paint vivid pictures of romantic grief.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aavaram Poo2008
PooLongingSeparation
Poojaikkaga Vazhum1982
Kadhal OviyamGriefMelancholic
Ninaivugal2011
KandaenLongingMelancholic
Ammamma Sollamma En1988
Melam Kottu Thaali KattuLongingSeparation
Uyir Urugudhey2022
CobraLongingSeparation
Ye Nilave Ye Nilave2000
MugavariLongingSeparation

From the same album

More songs from Kavithai Paadum Alaigal

View album
Thookkuda Thookkuda1990
Kavithai Paadum AlaigalCelebratory
Unnai Kanaamal1990
Kavithai Paadum AlaigalRomantic
Kanne En Kanmaniye1990
Kavithai Paadum AlaigalRomantic
Samiya Vendikittu1990
Kavithai Paadum AlaigalPlayful
Vaan Nila Then Nila1990
Kavithai Paadum AlaigalRomantic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.