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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Enbadhu

From Palaivana Rojakkal · 1986

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Palaivana Rojakkal1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaaa….aaa….aaa….Aaaa….aaa….aaa….
Haa….aaa….aaa…..Haa….aaa….aaa…..
Male
Kaadhal enbathu podhu udamaIs love common property?
Kashtam mattumthaanae thani udamaIs suffering alone private property?
Kaadhal enbathu podhu udamaIs love common property?
Kashtam mattumthaanae thani udamaIs suffering alone private property?
Male
Appanum aaththaalum seraama ponaIf your father and mother hadn't come together,
Neeyumthan porakkamudiyumaCould you yourself have been born?
Idha eppodhum neeyumthan marukka mudiyumaCan you ever deny this truth?
Male
Kaadhal enbathu podhu udamaIs love common property?
Kashtam mattumthaanae thani udamaIs suffering alone private property?
Male
Appanum aaththaalum seraama ponaIf your father and mother hadn't come together,
Neeyumthan porakkamudiyumaCould you yourself have been born?
Idha eppodhum neeyumthan marukka mudiyumaCan you ever deny this truth?
Male
Aasai mattum illaadha aal yedhu kooruTell me, who is the person that has no desire?
Andha vazhi pogaatha aal engu yaaruWhere is the person who hasn't walked down that path?
Buthanum pona padhathaanEven Buddha trod that path,
Pombala ennum bodhaithaanCaptivated by the spell of womanhood.
Andha vegam vanthidum podhuWhen that passionate urge arrives,
Oru veli enbathu yedhuWhere is any boundary or fence?
Idhu naalum naalum thaagamthanThis is a daily, constant thirst;
Unmaiya enni paaradaPonder the truth, my friend.
Idhu ellaatta ulagam engae yethadaWithout this, where would the world accept anything?
Male
Kaadhal enbathu podhu udamaIs love common property?
Kashtam mattumthaanae thani udamaIs suffering alone private property?
Male
Appanum aaththaalum seraama ponaIf your father and mother hadn't come together,
Neeyumthan porakkamudiyumaCould you yourself have been born?
Idha eppodhum neeyumthan marukka mudiyumaCan you ever deny this truth?
Male
Aasai oru neerottam nillaama odumDesire is a running stream that flows without stopping,
Ullukkulla yedhedho sangeetham paadumInside the soul, it plays continuous melodies.
Onnaga kalandha uravuthanA relationship joined as one,
Ennaalum inbam varavuthanBrings an influx of joy forever.
Idhu kaadhal engira kanavuThis dream called love,
Dhinam kaana ennura manasuIs what the mind longs to see every day.
Idhu sera thudikkum vayasuthanThis is the age that yearns to unite;
Vaazhkkaiyae konjakkalaamthaanLife itself lasts only a short duration,
Indha vaazhkkayilaIn this lifetime,
Vaalibam konja neramthaanYouthfulness lasts for just a brief moment.
Male
Kaadhal enbathu podhu udamaIs love common property?
Kashtam mattumthaanae thani udamaIs suffering alone private property?
Male
Appanum aaththaalum seraama ponaIf your father and mother hadn't come together,
Neeyumthan porakkamudiyumaCould you yourself have been born?
Idha eppodhum neeyumthan marukka mudiyumaCan you ever deny this truth?
Neeyumthan porakkamudiyumaCould you yourself have been born?
Idha eppodhum neeyumthan marukka mudiyumaCan you ever deny this truth?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song philosophical tackles the universal nature of love, desire, and human relationships, contrasting socio-political concepts of common ownership ('podhu udama') against individual suffering ('thani udama'). It argues that love and physical attraction are natural, fundamental forces of human existence that cannot be denied or suppressed, as life itself originates from the union of parents.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kaadhal enbathu podhu udama / Kashtam mattumthaanae thani udama

The second consonant 'dhu' rhymes in 'podhu udama' across key chorus lines.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagaimai)

Aasai oru neerottam nillaama odum / Ullukkulla yedhedho sangeetham paadum

Desire is compared to a continuously flowing stream of water ('neerottam') and internal music ('sangeetham').

Rhetorical Question

Appanum aaththaalum seraama pona, Neeyumthan porakkamudiyuma?

The lyricist uses challenging questions to force the listener to accept the fundamental universality of desire and existence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Palaivana Rojakkal' (1986) was directed by Manivannan with a story and dialogues by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. It marked the debut of composer S. A. Rajkumar in Tamil cinema.

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