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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadalodu Nathikkenna Kobam

From Arthangal Aayiram · 1981

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Movie name
Arthangal Aayiram
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
23 Apr 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
Ilangaatru theendaatha solai
Ilangaatru theendaatha solai
Mannil engeyum paarthaaiyoo
En thotta poovae
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
{Neela vaanam megam pola
Kaadhal vaanil thavazhugiren
Neerilaadum poovai pola
Aasai nenjam mayanguguren
Odai meenae jaadai pesu} (2)
Vana mogini vanithamani
Pudhumaangani suvaiyae thani
Pudhu vellam polae vaaraai
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
Ilangaatru theendaatha solai
Ilangaatru theendaatha solai
Mannil engeyum paarthaaiyoo
En thotta poovae
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
Kulunga kulunga idaiyum kenja aadu
Salangai muzhanga nadaiyil thaalam podu
Kulunga kulunga idaiyum kenja aadu
Salangai muzhanga nadaiyil thaalam podu
Thazhuvidava alaiyenavae
Thazhuvidava alaiyenavae
Amudha mazhaiyil nanindhu inimai kaanavae
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
Moga veenai endru unnai
Naanum meetti paadidavaa
Paarijaadha maalai pola
Mmaarbil unnai sodavaa
Bodhai neeyae maedai naanae
Manam veesidum kanai paainthidum
Malar maeniyil kulir odai neeyae vaa vaa
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
Ilangaatru theendaatha solai
Ilangaatru theendaatha solai
Mannil engeyum paarthaaiyoo
En thotta poovae
Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam
Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
A grove untouched by a gentle breeze—
A grove untouched by a gentle breeze—
Have you ever seen one anywhere on this earth,
O flower of my garden?
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
Like a cloud in the blue sky,
I drift across the sky of love.
Like a flower swaying in the water,
My longing heart is enchanted.
Speak through your playful glances, little fish of the stream!
Enchantress of the forest, jewel among women,
Like a fresh mango with a taste all its own,
Come rushing to me like a fresh river flood!
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
A grove untouched by a gentle breeze—
A grove untouched by a gentle breeze—
Have you ever seen one anywhere on this earth,
O flower of my garden?
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
Dance, letting your swaying waist beg for rest,
Set the beat with your steps as your anklets chime... ah...
Dance, letting your swaying waist beg for rest,
Set the beat with your steps as your anklets chime!
Shall I embrace you like a wave?
Shall I embrace you like a wave?
Drenching in sweet nectar rain to taste pure joy?
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
Treating you as a veena (traditional string instrument) of desire,
Shall I pluck your strings and sing?
Like a garland of parijata flowers,
Shall I wear you close across my chest?
You are the intoxication, and I am the master.
Fragrant arrows of love fly and strike,
Heat rises in your flower-soft body; come to me like a cooling stream!
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
A grove untouched by a gentle breeze—
A grove untouched by a gentle breeze—
Have you ever seen one anywhere on this earth,
O flower of my garden?
Why is the river angry with the sea?
Why are your eyes too shy to sing a poem of love?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kadalodu Nadhikkenna Kobam is a classic romantic song from the 1981 Tamil film Arthangal Aayiram, written by the renowned lyricist Vaali. In this track, the protagonist gently coaxing his beloved to drop her shyness and embrace love. He uses rich, nature-inspired allegories, comparing her mock hesitation to a river's playfulness with the sea and describing her as a delicate flower untouched by breezes. Throughout the verses, the mood escalates into an expression of intense passion, music, and dance. The lyrics weave metaphors of streams, clouds, veena instruments, and sweet rain to capture the ecstatic feeling of romance and physical proximity between lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question

“Kadalodu nadhikkenna kobam / Kaadhal kavi paada vizhikkenna naanam”

The opening line asks why the river is angry at the ocean to poetically query the heroine's romantic shyness.

Simile (Upamai)

“Neela vaanam megam pola / Neerilaadum poovai pola”

The lyrics compare the floating feeling of love to clouds in the sky and floating blossoms using 'pola'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Moga veenai endru unnai / Naanum meetti paadidavaa”

The beloved is metaphorically addressed as a instrument of desire ('Moga veenai') to be played by her lover.

Personification

“Kulunga kulunga idaiyum kenja aadu / Odai meenae jaadai pesu”

Attributes human traits of begging to the waist and speaking to the stream's fish.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Arthangal Aayiram (1981) featured music composed by legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam during his notable phase as a film composer, with lyrics masterfully written by Vaali.

Keep listening

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