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Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Aiyo Kadhal

From Kalyani (1952) · 1952

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Dakshinamoorthi
Music directors
S. Dakshinamurthi, G. Ramanathan
Details
Kalyani (1952)1952

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kadhal aiyo kadhal aiyyayo kadhalLove, oh love, alas love!
Kamalaavai kandathu mudhalEver since I saw Kamala,
Vanthathae enakkum antha kadhalThat love has come to me as well!
Aiyo kadhal aiyaiyo kadhalOh love, alas love!
Male
Collage-u pengalukku kadarkaraiyilaeFor college girls, it happens at the beach,
PattikkaattilirukkumFor girls living
Pengalukku kolakkaraiyilaein the village, it happens by the pond bank,
Collage-u pengalukku kadarkaraiyilaeFor college girls, it happens at the beach,
PattikkaattilirukkumFor girls living
Pengalukku kolakkaraiyilaein the village, it happens by the pond bank,
Avalukkum enakkum adhu aduppangaraiyilaeFor her and me, it happened in the kitchen!
Adikkadi varathunga aalaiyae urukkuthungaIt comes frequently and melts a person completely!
Male
Kadhal aiyo kadhal aiyyayo kadhalLove, oh love, alas love!
Male
Kanni pennai kandaaWhen it sees a young maiden,
Adhu current pola paayungaIt strikes fast like an electric current!
Kanni pennai kandaaWhen it sees a young maiden,
Adhu current pola paayungaIt strikes fast like an electric current!
Kaala neramillae adhukku control-lum illeengaIt has no specific time or season, and it has no control!
Oru vayasu jaathi keethi onnum paarppathilleengaIt doesn't consider age, caste, or reputation at all!
Oru vayasu jaathi keethi onnum paarppathilleengaIt doesn't consider age, caste, or reputation at all!
Uththaravillaamal adhu oodiyae varuthungaWithout needing any permission, it comes running!
Male
Kadhal aiyo kadhal aiyyayo kadhalLove, oh love, alas love!
Male
Ramayanam ketkka pona raman sethai love-ngaIf you go to hear the Ramayana, it is about Rama and Sita's love,
Ramayanam ketkka pona raman sethai love-ngaIf you go to hear the Ramayana, it is about Rama and Sita's love,
Naadakaththa parkka ponaa nadunaduae love-ngaIf you go to watch a play, love is right in the middle of it,
Cinema pada paappamunnaa scene-kku scene love-ngaIf you watch a movie, there is love from scene to scene,
Theru vazhiyae poyi paaththaa kadakki kada love-ngaIf you walk down the street, love is in every shop,
Male
Aaththulaeyum love-ngaThere is love in the river,
Kolaththulaiyum love-ngaThere is love in the pond,
Aduththa veettula love-ngaThere is love in the neighboring house,
Edhuththa veettula love-ngaThere is love in the house opposite,
Angumingum kanakkillaamaWithout any limit or count, here and there,
Engum neranjirukkumLove is filled everywhere!
Love-u….love-u….love-u….love-u…..Love... love... love... love...
Male
Kadhal aiyo kadhal aiyyayo kadhalLove, oh love, alas love!
Kamalaavai kandathu mudhalEver since I saw Kamala,
Vanthathae enakkum antha kadhalThat love has come to me as well!
Aiyo kadhal aiyaiyo kadhalOh love, alas love!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kadhal Aiyo Kadhal' is a light-hearted, satirical song from the 1952 movie Kalyani. Written by Kannadasan and rendered by musician S. Dakshinamoorthi, the singer humorously laments how love struck him the moment he laid eyes on Kamala. He playfully compares the settings of romance—where college youth find love on beaches and village girls find it by pond banks—with his own comical love story unfolding in a mundane kitchen.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Adhu current pola paayunga

Compares the sudden and powerful onset of love to an electric current striking someone.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Avalukkum enakkum adhu aduppangaraiyilae

Rhyming place endings 'kadarkaraiyilae', 'kolakkaraiyilae', and 'aduppangaraiyilae' create rhythmic harmony.

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Kamalaavai kandathu mudhal

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across words creates a catchy lyrical rhythm.

Anaphora / End Repetition

Aaththulaeyum love-nga / Kolaththulaiyum love-nga

Repeated use of 'love-nga' at the end of consecutive lines emphasizes the omnipresence of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This early 1950s song showcases Kannadasan's playful style in incorporating English words like 'college', 'current', 'control', and 'love' into Tamil lyrics, reflecting the emerging urban musical comedy genre of early Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Kalyani (1952)