Kaatu Vazhi
From Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam · 2005
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam2005
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya | Walking by foot through the forest path, |
| Pora thambi | You are going, my young brother. |
| Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya | Walking by foot through the forest path, |
| Pora thambi | You are going, my young brother. |
| Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam | Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to, |
| Serndhuvidu | Reach it in time! |
| Male | |
| Kaalayilae ila veiyulu kadumai illa | In the morning, the mild sunlight is not harsh. |
| Un kaal adiyil karuthu vecha kavalai illa | If you pay close attention to your steps, there is no worry. |
| Male | |
| Pogum vazhi mela | Along the path you walk, |
| Pudhu pudhusa paadam varum | Brand new lessons will appear. |
| Gavanam irundhaalae | As long as you remain attentive, |
| Ethirkaalam kai koodum | A bright future will fall into place. |
| Manasonnuthaan manushannukku | A pure mind alone for a human being |
| Thunai irukkum | Will stand as a true companion. |
| Male | |
| Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya | Walking by foot through the forest path, |
| Pora thambi | You are going, my young brother. |
| Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam | Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to, |
| Serndhuvidu | Reach it in time! |
| Male | |
| Vathaadha jeeva nadhi | An unceasing perennial river, |
| Vaazhkai ada | That is what life is, my friend! |
| Nambikkai thaan | Faith alone |
| Iru pakkamum karaigalada | Acts as the riverbanks on either side. |
| Nikkama odatummae | Let it flow without stopping, |
| Odavidu | Let it run free! |
| Vazhi adacha thengividum | If you block the pathway, it will stagnate, |
| Tharandhu vidu | So open the passage! |
| Male | |
| Nadhi pol vegathilae | At the speed of a rushing river, |
| Andha naalum oduthada | Those days are running past as well. |
| Oru nimidam ponaalum | Even if a single minute slips away, |
| Thirumbaadhu therunjikkada | It will never return, understand this! |
| Indha ilavayasil | At this youthful age, |
| Muzhuchikitta vazhi irukku | If you stay alert, a way forward exists. |
| Male | |
| Kanavinilae oruthi angae | In a dream, a girl over there, |
| Vandhaala | Did she appear? |
| Nalla kanivodu oru pechu | With deep sweet affection, a word, |
| Sonnaala | Did she speak? |
| Kaalam ellam thunai irupen | "I will stay by your side forever," |
| Endraala | Did she promise? |
| Ada kan muzhicha kai vilagi | Ah, once you wake up, slipping away from your hands, |
| Ponaala | Did she disappear? |
| Male | |
| Nenaivum kanavaaga | Can a mere memory turn into a dream, |
| Inga nejama nadandhiduma | And actually manifest as reality here? |
| Dhenamum andha nenaipil | Every day in that nostalgia, |
| Un vaazhvum thodarndhiduma | Will your life continue forward? |
| Vaazhkai kanavilla nenaivillai | Life is neither a dream nor a static memory, |
| Unmaiadaa…. | It is the truth! |
| Male | |
| Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya | Walking by foot through the forest path, |
| Pora thambi | You are going, my young brother. |
| Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam | Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to, |
| Serndhuvidu | Reach it in time! |
| Chorus | |
| La la la la…. | La la la la.... |
| La la la la…. | La la la la.... |
| La la la la…. | La la la la.... |
| La la la la…. | La la la la.... |
காட்டு வழி
கால் நடையா போற
தம்பி காட்டு வழி கால்
நடையா போற தம்பி
பொழுதாகும் முன்னே
போற இடம் சேர்ந்துவிடு
Walking by foot through the forest path,
You are going, my young brother.
Walking by foot through the forest path,
You are going, my young brother.
Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to,
Reach it in time!
காலையிலே இள
வெயிலு கடுமை இல்ல
உன் கால் அடியில் கருத்து
வெச்சா கவலை இல்ல
In the morning, the mild sunlight is not harsh.
If you pay close attention to your steps, there is no worry.
போகும் வழி மேல
புது புதுசா பாடம் வரும்
கவனம் இருந்தாலே
எதிர்காலம் கை கூடும்
மனசொன்னுதான் மனுஷனுக்கு
துணை இருக்கும்
Along the path you walk,
Brand new lessons will appear.
As long as you remain attentive,
A bright future will fall into place.
A pure mind alone for a human being
Will stand as a true companion.
காட்டு வழி கால்
நடையா போற தம்பி
பொழுதாகும் முன்னே
போற இடம் சேர்ந்துவிடு
Walking by foot through the forest path,
You are going, my young brother.
Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to,
Reach it in time!
வத்தாத ஜீவ
நதி வாழ்க்கை அட
நம்பிக்கை தான் இரு
பக்கமும் கரைகளடா
நிக்காம ஓடட்டுமே
ஓடவிடு வழி அடச்சா
தேங்கிவிடும் திறந்து
விடு
An unceasing perennial river,
That is what life is, my friend!
Faith alone
Acts as the riverbanks on either side.
Let it flow without stopping,
Let it run free!
If you block the pathway, it will stagnate,
So open the passage!
நதி போல்
வேகத்திலே அந்த நாளும்
ஓடுதடா ஒரு நிமிடம்
போனாலும் திரும்பாது
தெரிஞ்சுக்கடா இந்த
இளவயசில் முழுச்சிகிட்டா
வழி இருக்கு
At the speed of a rushing river,
Those days are running past as well.
Even if a single minute slips away,
It will never return, understand this!
At this youthful age,
If you stay alert, a way forward exists.
கனவினிலே
ஒருத்தி அங்கே வந்தாளா
நல்ல கனிவோடு ஒரு பேச்சு
சொன்னாளா காலம் எல்லாம்
துணை இருப்பேன் என்றாளா
அட கண் முழிச்சா கை விலகி
போனாளா
In a dream, a girl over there,
Did she appear?
With deep sweet affection, a word,
Did she speak?
"I will stay by your side forever,"
Did she promise?
Ah, once you wake up, slipping away from your hands,
Did she disappear?
நினைவும் கனவாக
இங்க நிஜமா நடந்திடுமா
தெனமும் அந்த நினைப்பில்
உன் வாழ்வும் தொடர்ந்திடுமா
வாழ்க்கை கனவில்ல
நினைவில்லை உண்மையடா
Can a mere memory turn into a dream,
And actually manifest as reality here?
Every day in that nostalgia,
Will your life continue forward?
Life is neither a dream nor a static memory,
It is the truth!
காட்டு வழி கால்
நடையா போற தம்பி
பொழுதாகும் முன்னே
போற இடம் சேர்ந்துவிடு
Walking by foot through the forest path,
You are going, my young brother.
Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to,
Reach it in time!
ல ல ல ல
ல ல ல ல ல ல
ல ல ல ல ல ல
La la la la....
La la la la....
La la la la....
La la la la....
Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya
Walking by foot through the forest path,
Pora thambi
You are going, my young brother.
Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya
Walking by foot through the forest path,
Pora thambi
You are going, my young brother.
Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam
Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to,
Serndhuvidu
Reach it in time!
Kaalayilae ila veiyulu kadumai illa
In the morning, the mild sunlight is not harsh.
Un kaal adiyil karuthu vecha kavalai illa
If you pay close attention to your steps, there is no worry.
Pogum vazhi mela
Along the path you walk,
Pudhu pudhusa paadam varum
Brand new lessons will appear.
Gavanam irundhaalae
As long as you remain attentive,
Ethirkaalam kai koodum
A bright future will fall into place.
Manasonnuthaan manushannukku
A pure mind alone for a human being
Thunai irukkum
Will stand as a true companion.
Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya
Walking by foot through the forest path,
Pora thambi
You are going, my young brother.
Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam
Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to,
Serndhuvidu
Reach it in time!
Vathaadha jeeva nadhi
An unceasing perennial river,
Vaazhkai ada
That is what life is, my friend!
Nambikkai thaan
Faith alone
Iru pakkamum karaigalada
Acts as the riverbanks on either side.
Nikkama odatummae
Let it flow without stopping,
Odavidu
Let it run free!
Vazhi adacha thengividum
If you block the pathway, it will stagnate,
Tharandhu vidu
So open the passage!
Nadhi pol vegathilae
At the speed of a rushing river,
Andha naalum oduthada
Those days are running past as well.
Oru nimidam ponaalum
Even if a single minute slips away,
Thirumbaadhu therunjikkada
It will never return, understand this!
Indha ilavayasil
At this youthful age,
Muzhuchikitta vazhi irukku
If you stay alert, a way forward exists.
Kanavinilae oruthi angae
In a dream, a girl over there,
Vandhaala
Did she appear?
Nalla kanivodu oru pechu
With deep sweet affection, a word,
Sonnaala
Did she speak?
Kaalam ellam thunai irupen
"I will stay by your side forever,"
Endraala
Did she promise?
Ada kan muzhicha kai vilagi
Ah, once you wake up, slipping away from your hands,
Ponaala
Did she disappear?
Nenaivum kanavaaga
Can a mere memory turn into a dream,
Inga nejama nadandhiduma
And actually manifest as reality here?
Dhenamum andha nenaipil
Every day in that nostalgia,
Un vaazhvum thodarndhiduma
Will your life continue forward?
Vaazhkai kanavilla nenaivillai
Life is neither a dream nor a static memory,
Unmaiadaa….
It is the truth!
Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya
Walking by foot through the forest path,
Pora thambi
You are going, my young brother.
Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam
Before dusk sets in, the place you are heading to,
Serndhuvidu
Reach it in time!
La la la la….
La la la la....
La la la la….
La la la la....
La la la la….
La la la la....
La la la la….
La la la la....
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kaatu Vazhi Kaal Nadaiya' from Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam is a deeply philosophical advisory song written by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Using the metaphor of a traveler journeying on foot through a dense forest, the song offers wisdom to a young man about navigating life's challenges. It emphasizes the importance of staying alert, moving forward before time (symbolized by daylight) runs out, and understanding that every experience along the way serves as a vital lesson for building one's future. The second half compares life to a perennial flowing river guided by faith. It cautions against losing oneself in romantic fantasies, dreams, or static memories. The song highlights that life is an ongoing reality that requires action, resilience, and realistic focus during one's youth rather than dwelling on illusions that vanish upon waking up.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Vathaadha jeeva nadhi Vaazhkai ada”
Life is directly compared to an unceasing perennial river ('Vathaadha jeeva nadhi / Vaazhkai ada') where faith serves as the riverbanks on both sides ('Nambikkai thaan / Iru pakkamum karaigalada').
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaatu vazhi kaal nadaiya”
The repetition of the 'Ka' sound across words in the same line creates a rhythmic flow characteristic of traditional Tamil prosody.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kanavinilae oruthi angae Vandhaala ... Sonnaala ... Endraala ... Ponaala”
The verse employs repetitive rhyming endings ('Vandhaala', 'Sonnaala', 'Endraala', 'Ponaala') to create a rhythmic, questioning cadence regarding dreams.
Symbolism
“Pozhuthaagum munnae pora idam Serndhuvidu”
'Pozhuthaagum munnae' (before daylight fades/dusk falls) symbolizes the passing of youth and time, urging immediate focus before it is too late.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Adhu Oru Kana Kaalam' (2005) was directed by acclaimed veteran filmmaker Balu Mahendra and starred Dhanush and Priyamani. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja not only composed the musical score but also penned the lyrics for this song, infusing it with his trademark philosophical depth regarding time, youth, and human existence.
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