Kaatrum Poovum Paadum
From Kavithai Paadum Alaigal · 1990
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kavithai Paadum Alaigal1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaatrum poovum | The wind and the flower |
| Paadum paattu | The song they sing |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa… | Do you hear it in your ears... |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa | Do you hear it in your ears? |
| Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu | This is a poem written by the waves |
| Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu | It cries every day |
| Female | |
| Kaatrum poovum | The wind and the flower |
| Paadum paattu | The song they sing |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa… | Do you hear it in your ears... |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa | Do you hear it in your ears? |
| Female | |
| Kaaviri endraal karaiyil adangum | The river Kaveri is contained within its banks |
| Kadalinai thaedi mudivil odungum | Seeking the ocean, it ultimately settles |
| Kaadhalin ennam adanguvadhillai | The desire of love never settles |
| Adangida naanum kaaviri illai | And I am not the Kaveri to be contained |
| Female | |
| Vaarthaiyil solla vaai varavillai | Words fail to come to my mouth |
| Vandhennai koodaa nee varavillai | You did not come to join me |
| Vaadum ivalo kodi mullai | She, who wilts, is like a jasmine creeper |
| Female | |
| Kaatrum poovum | The wind and the flower |
| Paadum paattu | The song they sing |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa… | Do you hear it in your ears... |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa | Do you hear it in your ears? |
| Female | |
| Vazhiyai thaedum ival or paravai | She is a bird searching for her way |
| Vagai theriyaamal valarthaal uravai | Without understanding, she nurtured a relationship |
| Thani idam thaedi dhinam azhalaanaal | Seeking a lonely place, she wept every day |
| Veyilinil vaadi ival sarugaanaal | Withered in the heat, she became a dry leaf |
| Female | |
| Kanavinil thaanae vaazhugiraal | She lives only in her dreams |
| Kannil varum neeraadugiraal | She bathes in the tears from her eyes |
| Kaadhal sogam paadugiraal | She sings the sorrow of love |
| Female | |
| Kaatrum poovum | The wind and the flower |
| Paadum paattu | The song they sing |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa… | Do you hear it in your ears... |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa | Do you hear it in your ears? |
| Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu | This is a poem written by the waves |
| Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu | It cries every day |
| Female | |
| Kaatrum poovum | The wind and the flower |
| Paadum paattu | The song they sing |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa… | Do you hear it in your ears... |
| Kaadhil ketkiradhaa | Do you hear it in your ears? |
காற்றும் பூவும்
பாடும் பாட்டு
காதில் கேட்கிறதா ஆ......
காதில் கேட்கிறதா
அலை எழுதும் கவிதை இது
அது தினமும் அழுகிறது
The wind and the flower
The song they sing
Do you hear it in your ears...
Do you hear it in your ears?
This is a poem written by the waves
It cries every day
காற்றும் பூவும்
பாடும் பாட்டு
காதில் கேட்கிறதா ஆ......
காதில் கேட்கிறதா
The wind and the flower
The song they sing
Do you hear it in your ears...
Do you hear it in your ears?
காவிரி என்றால்
கரையில் அடங்கும்
கடலினைத் தேடி
முடிவில் ஒடுங்கும்
காதலின் எண்ணம்
அடங்குவதில்லை
அடங்கிட நானும்
காவிரி இல்லை
The river Kaveri is contained within its banks
Seeking the ocean, it ultimately settles
The desire of love never settles
And I am not the Kaveri to be contained
வார்த்தையில் சொல்ல
வாய் வரவில்லை
வந்தென்னைக் கூட நீ வரவில்லை
வாடும் இவளோ கொடி முல்லை
Words fail to come to my mouth
You did not come to join me
She, who wilts, is like a jasmine creeper
காற்றும் பூவும்
பாடும் பாட்டு
காதில் கேட்கிறதா ஆ......
காதில் கேட்கிறதா
The wind and the flower
The song they sing
Do you hear it in your ears...
Do you hear it in your ears?
வழியைத் தேடும்
இவள் ஓர் பறவை
வகை தெரியாமல்
வளர்த்தாள் உறவை
தனி இடம் தேடி தினம்
அழலானாள்
வெயிலினில் வாடி
இவள் சருகானாள்
She is a bird searching for her way
Without understanding, she nurtured a relationship
Seeking a lonely place, she wept every day
Withered in the heat, she became a dry leaf
கனவினில் தானே
வாழுகிறாள்
கண்ணில் வரும் நீராடுகிறாள்
காதல் சோகம் பாடுகிறாள்
She lives only in her dreams
She bathes in the tears from her eyes
She sings the sorrow of love
காற்றும் பூவும்
பாடும் பாட்டு
காதில் கேட்கிறதா ஆ......
காதில் கேட்கிறதா
அலை எழுதும் கவிதை இது
அது தினமும் அழுகிறது
The wind and the flower
The song they sing
Do you hear it in your ears...
Do you hear it in your ears?
This is a poem written by the waves
It cries every day
காற்றும் பூவும்
பாடும் பாட்டு
காதில் கேட்கிறதா ஆ......
காதில் கேட்கிறதா...
The wind and the flower
The song they sing
Do you hear it in your ears...
Do you hear it in your ears?
Kaatrum poovum
The wind and the flower
Paadum paattu
The song they sing
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Do you hear it in your ears...
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Do you hear it in your ears?
Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu
This is a poem written by the waves
Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu
It cries every day
Kaatrum poovum
The wind and the flower
Paadum paattu
The song they sing
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Do you hear it in your ears...
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Do you hear it in your ears?
Kaaviri endraal karaiyil adangum
The river Kaveri is contained within its banks
Kadalinai thaedi mudivil odungum
Seeking the ocean, it ultimately settles
Kaadhalin ennam adanguvadhillai
The desire of love never settles
Adangida naanum kaaviri illai
And I am not the Kaveri to be contained
Vaarthaiyil solla vaai varavillai
Words fail to come to my mouth
Vandhennai koodaa nee varavillai
You did not come to join me
Vaadum ivalo kodi mullai
She, who wilts, is like a jasmine creeper
Kaatrum poovum
The wind and the flower
Paadum paattu
The song they sing
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Do you hear it in your ears...
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Do you hear it in your ears?
Vazhiyai thaedum ival or paravai
She is a bird searching for her way
Vagai theriyaamal valarthaal uravai
Without understanding, she nurtured a relationship
Thani idam thaedi dhinam azhalaanaal
Seeking a lonely place, she wept every day
Veyilinil vaadi ival sarugaanaal
Withered in the heat, she became a dry leaf
Kanavinil thaanae vaazhugiraal
She lives only in her dreams
Kannil varum neeraadugiraal
She bathes in the tears from her eyes
Kaadhal sogam paadugiraal
She sings the sorrow of love
Kaatrum poovum
The wind and the flower
Paadum paattu
The song they sing
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Do you hear it in your ears...
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Do you hear it in your ears?
Alai ezhudhum kavidhai idhu
This is a poem written by the waves
Adhu dhinamum azhugiradhu
It cries every day
Kaatrum poovum
The wind and the flower
Paadum paattu
The song they sing
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa aaa…
Do you hear it in your ears...
Kaadhil ketkiradhaa
Do you hear it in your ears?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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