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Kaatrukenna Veli album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadal Meethile

From Kaatrukenna Veli · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Sivaji Raja
Movie name
Kaatrukenna Veli
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
1 Mar 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hae haeh hae….
Haa haah haa…..aa….
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Alai modhidum ramayanam
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
Kangal selllum thoorangal engum
Kannan avan kaanal neer kandaan
Koodu vitta kogilam paadavillai enganum
Koodu vitta kogilam paadavillai enganum
Kovil seithaan dheivam illai rekha….aa….
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Alai modhidum ramayanam
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
Pookkal illai poonjolai kandaan
Poovaiyillai nedunjaalai kandaan
Saalai engum vaaganam maanidargal naadagam
Saalai engum vaaganam maanidargal naadagam
Thannai kandaan thanimai kandaan rekha….aa….
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Alai modhidum ramayanam
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Alai modhidum ramayanam
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Alai modhidum ramayanam
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Alai modhidum ramayanam
Hey heh hey...
Ha hah ha... aa...
Across the sea, he searched for his fish,
Through the vast forest, he searched for his deer.
Where is the path your feet have walked, my love?
Won't you turn your eyes this way, my love?
Calling out "Sita!" just like Lord Rama,
A Ramayana tossed on restless waves.
Across the sea, he searched for his fish,
Through the vast forest, he searched for his deer.
As far as his eyes could see,
That young man saw only mirages.
The cuckoo that left its nest sings nowhere,
The cuckoo that left its nest sings nowhere.
He built a temple, but found no goddess inside, Rekha... ah...
Where is the path your feet have walked, my love?
Won't you turn your eyes this way, my love?
Calling out "Sita!" just like Lord Rama,
A Ramayana tossed on restless waves.
Across the sea, he searched for his fish,
Through the vast forest, he searched for his deer.
He saw a flower garden, but with no blooms;
He saw a long highway, but without his beloved.
Vehicles crowd every road, a drama of human lives;
Vehicles crowd every road, a drama of human lives.
He looked at himself and found only loneliness, Rekha... ah...
Where is the path your feet have walked, my love?
Won't you turn your eyes this way, my love?
Calling out "Sita!" just like Lord Rama,
A Ramayana tossed on restless waves.
Calling out "Sita!" just like Lord Rama,
A Ramayana tossed on restless waves.
Across the sea, he searched for his fish,
Through the vast forest, he searched for his deer.
Where is the path your feet have walked, my love?
Won't you turn your eyes this way, my love?
Calling out "Sita!" just like Lord Rama,
A Ramayana tossed on restless waves.
Calling out "Sita!" just like Lord Rama,
A Ramayana tossed on restless waves.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of separation and longing felt by the protagonist searching for his lost beloved, Rekha. Drawing mythical parallels to Lord Rama searching for Sita in the forest and a fisherman looking for his fish in the endless sea, the lyricist captures the helplessness and anguish of searching in vain.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Seethaa endru sriraamanae Alai modhidum ramayanam”

Compares the protagonist's search for his woman to Rama searching for Sita in the epic Ramayana.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan / Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ka' in Kadal and Kaattilae.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kangal selllum thoorangal engum / Kannan avan kaanal neer kandaan”

The second letter consonant harmony between 'Kangal' and 'Kannan'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Kaatrukenna Veli' (1982) features soulful vocal delivery by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with evocative lyrics by Vairamuthu, highlighting dramatic narrative elements in 1980s Tamil cinema soundtracks.

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