Kadal Meethile
From Kaatrukenna Veli · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Sivaji Raja
- Details
- Kaatrukenna Veli1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hae haeh hae…. | Hae haeh hae…. |
| Haa haah haa…..aa…. | Haa haah haa…..aa…. |
| Male | |
| Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan | He searched for his fish over the ocean, |
| Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan | He searched for his deer in the vast forest. |
| Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa | Where is the path your feet took, my dear? |
| Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa | Look here with at least one eye, my dear. |
| Seethaa endru sriraamanae | Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes, |
| Alai modhidum ramayanam | A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds. |
| Male | |
| Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan | He searched for his fish over the ocean, |
| Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan | He searched for his deer in the vast forest. |
| Male | |
| Kangal selllum thoorangal engum | As far as his eyes could see everywhere, |
| Kannan avan kaanal neer kandaan | This Kannan saw only a mirage. |
| Koodu vitta kogilam paadavillai enganum | The cuckoo that left its nest sang nowhere, |
| Koodu vitta kogilam paadavillai enganum | The cuckoo that left its nest sang nowhere, |
| Kovil seithaan dheivam illai rekha….aa…. | He built a temple, but there is no deity, Rekha…aa…. |
| Male | |
| Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa | Where is the path your feet took, my dear? |
| Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa | Look here with at least one eye, my dear. |
| Seethaa endru sriraamanae | Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes, |
| Alai modhidum ramayanam | A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds. |
| Male | |
| Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan | He searched for his fish over the ocean, |
| Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan | He searched for his deer in the vast forest. |
| Male | |
| Pookkal illai poonjolai kandaan | He saw a flower garden without any flowers, |
| Poovaiyillai nedunjaalai kandaan | He saw a long highway without his beloved woman. |
| Saalai engum vaaganam maanidargal naadagam | Vehicles everywhere on the road, a drama played by humans, |
| Saalai engum vaaganam maanidargal naadagam | Vehicles everywhere on the road, a drama played by humans, |
| Thannai kandaan thanimai kandaan rekha….aa…. | He found himself, and he found loneliness, Rekha…aa…. |
| Male | |
| Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa | Where is the path your feet took, my dear? |
| Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa | Look here with at least one eye, my dear. |
| Seethaa endru sriraamanae | Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes, |
| Alai modhidum ramayanam | A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds. |
| Seethaa endru sriraamanae | Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes, |
| Alai modhidum ramayanam | A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds. |
| Male | |
| Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan | He searched for his fish over the ocean, |
| Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan | He searched for his deer in the vast forest. |
| Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa | Where is the path your feet took, my dear? |
| Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa | Look here with at least one eye, my dear. |
| Seethaa endru sriraamanae | Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes, |
| Alai modhidum ramayanam | A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds. |
| Seethaa endru sriraamanae | Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes, |
| Alai modhidum ramayanam | A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds. |
ஹே ஹேஹ் ஹே......
ஹா ஹாஹ் ஹா.....ஆ......
Hae haeh hae….
Haa haah haa…..aa….
கடல் மீதிலே தன் மீனைத் தேடினான்
பெரும் காட்டிலே தன் மானைத் தேடினான்
எங்கே உன் கால் போன பாதையம்மா
இங்கே உன் ஒரு கண்ணை பாராயம்மா
சீதா என்று ஸ்ரீராமனே
அலை மோதிடும் ராமாயணம்
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
கடல் மீதிலே தன் மீனைத் தேடினான்
பெரும் காட்டிலே தன் மானைத் தேடினான்
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
கண்கள் செல்லும் தூரங்கள் எங்கும்
கண்ணன் அவன் கானல் நீர் கண்டான்
கூடு விட்ட கோகிலம் பாடவில்லை எங்கணும்
கூடு விட்ட கோகிலம் பாடவில்லை எங்கணும்
கோவில் செய்தான் தெய்வம் இல்லை ரேகா.......ஆ......
As far as his eyes could see everywhere,
This Kannan saw only a mirage.
The cuckoo that left its nest sang nowhere,
The cuckoo that left its nest sang nowhere,
He built a temple, but there is no deity, Rekha…aa….
எங்கே உன் கால் போன பாதையம்மா
இங்கே உன் ஒரு கண்ணை பாராயம்மா
சீதா என்று ஸ்ரீராமனே
அலை மோதிடும் ராமாயணம்
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
கடல் மீதிலே தன் மீனைத் தேடினான்
பெரும் காட்டிலே தன் மானைத் தேடினான்
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
பூக்கள் இல்லை பூஞ்சோலை கண்டான்
பூவையில்லை நெடுஞ்சாலை கண்டான்
சாலை எங்கும் வாகனம் மானிடர்கள் நாடகம்
சாலை எங்கும் வாகனம் மானிடர்கள் நாடகம்
தன்னைக் கண்டான் தனிமை கண்டான் ரேகா.....ஆ....
He saw a flower garden without any flowers,
He saw a long highway without his beloved woman.
Vehicles everywhere on the road, a drama played by humans,
Vehicles everywhere on the road, a drama played by humans,
He found himself, and he found loneliness, Rekha…aa….
எங்கே உன் கால் போன பாதையம்மா
இங்கே உன் ஒரு கண்ணை பாராயம்மா
சீதா என்று ஸ்ரீராமனே
அலை மோதிடும் ராமாயணம்....
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
கடல் மீதிலே தன் மீனைத் தேடினான்
பெரும் காட்டிலே தன் மானைத் தேடினான்
எங்கே உன் கால் போன பாதையம்மா
இங்கே உன் ஒரு கண்ணை பாராயம்மா
சீதா என்று ஸ்ரீராமனே
அலை மோதிடும் ராமாயணம்
சீதா என்று ஸ்ரீராமனே
அலை மோதிடும் ராமாயணம்
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Hae haeh hae….
Hae haeh hae….
Haa haah haa…..aa….
Haa haah haa…..aa….
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
Alai modhidum ramayanam
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
Kangal selllum thoorangal engum
As far as his eyes could see everywhere,
Kannan avan kaanal neer kandaan
This Kannan saw only a mirage.
Koodu vitta kogilam paadavillai enganum
The cuckoo that left its nest sang nowhere,
Koodu vitta kogilam paadavillai enganum
The cuckoo that left its nest sang nowhere,
Kovil seithaan dheivam illai rekha….aa….
He built a temple, but there is no deity, Rekha…aa….
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
Alai modhidum ramayanam
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
Pookkal illai poonjolai kandaan
He saw a flower garden without any flowers,
Poovaiyillai nedunjaalai kandaan
He saw a long highway without his beloved woman.
Saalai engum vaaganam maanidargal naadagam
Vehicles everywhere on the road, a drama played by humans,
Saalai engum vaaganam maanidargal naadagam
Vehicles everywhere on the road, a drama played by humans,
Thannai kandaan thanimai kandaan rekha….aa….
He found himself, and he found loneliness, Rekha…aa….
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
Alai modhidum ramayanam
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
Alai modhidum ramayanam
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Kadal meethilae than meenai thedinaan
He searched for his fish over the ocean,
Perum kaattilae than maanai thedinaan
He searched for his deer in the vast forest.
Engae un kaal pona paadhaiyammaa
Where is the path your feet took, my dear?
Ingae un oru kannai paaraayammaa
Look here with at least one eye, my dear.
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
Alai modhidum ramayanam
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Seethaa endru sriraamanae
Calling out 'Seetha', Lord Sri Rama goes,
Alai modhidum ramayanam
A wave-tossed Ramayana unfolds.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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