Kadavul Paadhi
From Aalavandhan · 2001
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Kamal Haasan
- Music director
- Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy
- Details
- Aalavandhan2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hoo…haa…huuu huuu | (Vocalizations) |
| Haha hahahaha….. | (Laughter) |
| Male | |
| Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi | Half god, half beast |
| Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan | I am a mixture created by blending both |
| Velliyae mirugam ullae kadavul | A beast on the outside, a god inside |
| Vilanga mudiyaa kavithai naan | I am an incomprehensible poem |
| Male | |
| Mirugam kondru mirugam kondru | By killing the beast, by killing the beast |
| Kadavul valarkka paarkkindren | I try to nurture the god within |
| Aanaal… | But... |
| Kadavul kondru unavaai thindru | By killing the god and consuming it as food |
| Mirugam mattum valargirathae | Only the beast keeps growing |
| Male | |
| Nandhakumaraa ..nandhakumaraa, | Oh Nandhakumara... oh Nandhakumara, |
| Naalai mirugam kolvaaiyaa | Will you slay the beast tomorrow? |
| Mirugam kondra echam kondu | With the remains left after killing the beast |
| Meendum kadavul seivaayaa | Will you create god once again? |
| Male | |
| Koorangil irunthu manithan endraal | If humans evolved from monkeys |
| Manidhan niraiyaa ganippaanaa | Will human reach full spiritual maturity? |
| Miruga jaathiyil pirantha manithaa | Oh human born of the animal species, |
| Deiva jothaiyil kalappaayaa | Will you merge into the divine light? |
| Haa | (Vocalization) |
| Male | |
| Ha haha..huhahaahah…. | (Laughter) |
| Male | |
| Nandhakumaraa… | Oh Nandhakumara... |
| Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi | Half god, half beast |
| Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan | I am a mixture created by blending both |
| Velliyae mirugam ullae kadavul | A beast on the outside, a god inside |
| Vilanga mudiyaa kavithai naan | I am an incomprehensible poem |
| Male | |
| Mirugam kondru mirugam kondru | By killing the beast, by killing the beast |
| Kadavul valarkka paarkkindren | I try to nurture the god within |
| Kadavul kondru unavaai thindru | By killing the god and consuming it as food |
| Mirugam mattum valargirathae | Only the beast keeps growing |
| Male | |
| Heyyy..hey hey hey…..eyyyyyyyyy | (Vocal chant) |
| Nandhaa…. | Nandha... |
| Heyyy..hey hey hey…..eyyyyyyyyy | (Vocal chant) |
| Male | |
| Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi | Half god, half beast |
| Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan | I am a mixture created by blending both |
| Kaattril yeri malaiyil aadi | Riding the wind and dancing in the rain |
| Kavithai paadum paravai naan | I am a bird singing poetry |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………. | (Instrumental transition) |
| Male | |
| Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi | Half god, half beast |
| Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan | I am a mixture created by blending both |
| Kaattril yeri malaiyil aadi | Riding the wind and dancing in the rain |
| Kavithai paadum paravai naan | I am a bird singing poetry |
| Male | |
| Ovvoru thuliyum ovvoru thuliyum | With every drop, with every drop |
| Uyiril vergal kulirgirathae | The roots of my soul feel cooled |
| Ellaam thuliyil kulirumbodhum | While every other drop cools me down |
| Iru thuli mattum sudugirathae | Just two drops burn me |
| Male | |
| Nandhakumaaraa nandhakumaaraa | Oh Nandhakumara, oh Nandhakumara |
| Malai neer sudaathu theriyaathaa? | Don't you know that rainwater doesn't burn? |
| Kannam valigira kanneer thulithaan | Only the teardrop flowing down the cheek |
| Venneer thuli yena arivaayaa | Will you realize that it is a drop of boiling water? |
| Male | |
| Sutta malaiyum sudatha malaiyum | The rain that burns and the rain that doesn't burn |
| Ondraai kandavan neethaanae | You are the one who saw them both as one |
| Kanneer malaiyil thaneer malaiyil | In the rain of tears and the rain of water |
| Kulikka vaithavan neethaanae… | You are the one who made me bathe... |
| Yeah… | (Exclamation) |
ஹோ ஹா ஹு
ஹு ஹாஹா ஹாஹா
ஹாஹா
(Vocalizations)
(Laughter)
கடவுள் பாதி மிருகம்
பாதி கலந்து செய்த கலவை
நான் வெளியே மிருகம் உள்ளே
கடவுள் விளங்க முடியா கவிதை
நான்
Half god, half beast
I am a mixture created by blending both
A beast on the outside, a god inside
I am an incomprehensible poem
மிருகம் கொன்று
மிருகம் கொன்று கடவுள்
வளர்க்க பார்க்கின்றேன்
ஆனால் கடவுள் கொன்று
உணவாய் தின்று மிருகம்
மட்டும் வளர்கிறதே
By killing the beast, by killing the beast
I try to nurture the god within
But...
By killing the god and consuming it as food
Only the beast keeps growing
நந்தகுமாரா
நந்தகுமாரா நாளை
மிருகம் கொல்வாயா
மிருகம் கொன்ற எச்சம்
கொண்டு மீண்டும் கடவுள்
செய்வாயா
Oh Nandhakumara... oh Nandhakumara,
Will you slay the beast tomorrow?
With the remains left after killing the beast
Will you create god once again?
குரங்கில் இருந்து
மனிதன் என்றால் மனிதன்
நிறையா கணிப்பானா மிருக
ஜாதியில் பிறந்த மனிதா தெய்வ
ஜோதியில் கலப்பாயா ஹா
If humans evolved from monkeys
Will human reach full spiritual maturity?
Oh human born of the animal species,
Will you merge into the divine light?
(Vocalization)
ஹா ஹாஹா
ஹுஹாஹாஹா
(Laughter)
நந்தகுமாரா
கடவுள் பாதி மிருகம்
பாதி கலந்து செய்த கலவை
நான் வெளியே மிருகம் உள்ளே
கடவுள் விளங்க முடியா கவிதை
நான்
Oh Nandhakumara...
Half god, half beast
I am a mixture created by blending both
A beast on the outside, a god inside
I am an incomprehensible poem
மிருகம் கொன்று
மிருகம் கொன்று கடவுள்
வளர்க்க பார்க்கின்றேன்
ஆனால் கடவுள் கொன்று
உணவாய் தின்று மிருகம்
மட்டும் வளர்கிறதே
By killing the beast, by killing the beast
I try to nurture the god within
By killing the god and consuming it as food
Only the beast keeps growing
ஹே ஹே
ஹே ஹே........ நந்தா
ஹே ஹே ஹே ஹே.....
(Vocal chant)
Nandha...
(Vocal chant)
கடவுள் பாதி மிருகம்
பாதி கலந்து செய்த கலவை
நான் காற்றில் ஏறி மலையில்
ஆடி கவிதை பாடும் பறவை
நான்
Half god, half beast
I am a mixture created by blending both
Riding the wind and dancing in the rain
I am a bird singing poetry
......................................
(Instrumental transition)
கடவுள் பாதி மிருகம்
பாதி கலந்து செய்த கலவை
நான் காற்றில் ஏறி மலையில்
ஆடி கவிதை பாடும் பறவை
நான்
Half god, half beast
I am a mixture created by blending both
Riding the wind and dancing in the rain
I am a bird singing poetry
ஒவ்வொரு துளியும்
ஒவ்வொரு துளியும் உயிரில்
வேர்கள் குளிர்கிறதே எல்லாம்
துளியில் குளிரும் போதும் இரு
துளி மட்டும் சுடுகிறதே
With every drop, with every drop
The roots of my soul feel cooled
While every other drop cools me down
Just two drops burn me
நந்தகுமாரா நந்தகுமாரா
மழை நீர் சுடாது தெரியாதா கன்னம்
வழிகிற கண்ணீர் துளிதான் வெந்நீர்
துளி என அறிவாயா
Oh Nandhakumara, oh Nandhakumara
Don't you know that rainwater doesn't burn?
Only the teardrop flowing down the cheek
Will you realize that it is a drop of boiling water?
சுட்ட மழையும் சுடாத
மழையும் ஒன்றாய் கண்டவன்
நீதானே கண்ணீர் மழையில்
தண்ணீர் மழையில் குளிக்க
வைத்தவன் நீதானே யே
The rain that burns and the rain that doesn't burn
You are the one who saw them both as one
In the rain of tears and the rain of water
You are the one who made me bathe...
(Exclamation)
Hoo…haa…huuu huuu
(Vocalizations)
Haha hahahaha…..
(Laughter)
Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi
Half god, half beast
Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan
I am a mixture created by blending both
Velliyae mirugam ullae kadavul
A beast on the outside, a god inside
Vilanga mudiyaa kavithai naan
I am an incomprehensible poem
Mirugam kondru mirugam kondru
By killing the beast, by killing the beast
Kadavul valarkka paarkkindren
I try to nurture the god within
Aanaal…
But...
Kadavul kondru unavaai thindru
By killing the god and consuming it as food
Mirugam mattum valargirathae
Only the beast keeps growing
Nandhakumaraa ..nandhakumaraa,
Oh Nandhakumara... oh Nandhakumara,
Naalai mirugam kolvaaiyaa
Will you slay the beast tomorrow?
Mirugam kondra echam kondu
With the remains left after killing the beast
Meendum kadavul seivaayaa
Will you create god once again?
Koorangil irunthu manithan endraal
If humans evolved from monkeys
Manidhan niraiyaa ganippaanaa
Will human reach full spiritual maturity?
Miruga jaathiyil pirantha manithaa
Oh human born of the animal species,
Deiva jothaiyil kalappaayaa
Will you merge into the divine light?
Haa
(Vocalization)
Ha haha..huhahaahah….
(Laughter)
Nandhakumaraa…
Oh Nandhakumara...
Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi
Half god, half beast
Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan
I am a mixture created by blending both
Velliyae mirugam ullae kadavul
A beast on the outside, a god inside
Vilanga mudiyaa kavithai naan
I am an incomprehensible poem
Mirugam kondru mirugam kondru
By killing the beast, by killing the beast
Kadavul valarkka paarkkindren
I try to nurture the god within
Kadavul kondru unavaai thindru
By killing the god and consuming it as food
Mirugam mattum valargirathae
Only the beast keeps growing
Heyyy..hey hey hey…..eyyyyyyyyy
(Vocal chant)
Nandhaa….
Nandha...
Heyyy..hey hey hey…..eyyyyyyyyy
(Vocal chant)
Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi
Half god, half beast
Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan
I am a mixture created by blending both
Kaattril yeri malaiyil aadi
Riding the wind and dancing in the rain
Kavithai paadum paravai naan
I am a bird singing poetry
………………………….
(Instrumental transition)
Kadavul paadhi mirugam paadhi
Half god, half beast
Kalanthu seidha kalavai naan
I am a mixture created by blending both
Kaattril yeri malaiyil aadi
Riding the wind and dancing in the rain
Kavithai paadum paravai naan
I am a bird singing poetry
Ovvoru thuliyum ovvoru thuliyum
With every drop, with every drop
Uyiril vergal kulirgirathae
The roots of my soul feel cooled
Ellaam thuliyil kulirumbodhum
While every other drop cools me down
Iru thuli mattum sudugirathae
Just two drops burn me
Nandhakumaaraa nandhakumaaraa
Oh Nandhakumara, oh Nandhakumara
Malai neer sudaathu theriyaathaa?
Don't you know that rainwater doesn't burn?
Kannam valigira kanneer thulithaan
Only the teardrop flowing down the cheek
Venneer thuli yena arivaayaa
Will you realize that it is a drop of boiling water?
Sutta malaiyum sudatha malaiyum
The rain that burns and the rain that doesn't burn
Ondraai kandavan neethaanae
You are the one who saw them both as one
Kanneer malaiyil thaneer malaiyil
In the rain of tears and the rain of water
Kulikka vaithavan neethaanae…
You are the one who made me bathe...
Yeah…
(Exclamation)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This psychological song explores the dual nature of man—the perpetual inner conflict between divinity (kadavul) and animality (mirugam). The lyrics capture the tormented psyche of Nandu, a character shaped by childhood trauma, who views himself as an unpredictable blend of good and evil. He struggles to suppress his violent instincts to let his divine, innocent self grow, yet finds that dark urges often consume his noble self.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vilanga mudiyaa kavithai naan”
Compares human duality to 'half god, half beast' and describes himself as an 'incomprehensible poem' (vilanga mudiyaa kavithai).
Contrast / Antithesis
“Velliyae mirugam ullae kadavul”
Contrasts divine qualities (kadavul) with animalistic nature (mirugam), and cool rainwater against burning tears.
Emona (Anaphora/Repetition)
“Mirugam kondru mirugam kondru”
Repetition of initial phrases like 'Mirugam kondru mirugam kondru' to emphasize the obsession with controlling violent impulses.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy with lyrics by Vairamuthu, 'Kadavul Paadhi Mirugam Paadhi' serves as the thematic backbone of the movie Aalavandhan (2001). The song highlights Kamal Haasan's iconic dual-role portrayal, particularly the psychotic yet empathetic antagonist Nandu.
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