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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Geetham

From Konjum Salangai · 1962

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Konjum Salangai1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard?
En kavalai yaavum neengumaWill all my worries vanish?
Kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard?
Meendum kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard again?
En kavalai yaavum neengumaWill all my worries vanish?
Kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard?
Male
Thanimai ennum theeyilaeIn the fire called solitude,
Naan thavithu vaadum bothilaeAs I suffer and wither away,
Thanimai ennum theeyilaeIn the fire called solitude,
Naan thavithu vaadum bothilaeAs I suffer and wither away,
Male
Kanavil paadum gaanam polaeLike a song sung in a dream,
Ae……ae……..ae……..ae……ae…….ae….Ae……ae……..ae……..ae……ae…….ae….
Kanavil paadum gaanam polaeLike a song sung in a dream,
Inimaiyodum enai azhaithaThat called out to me with sweetness,
Kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard?
Male
Kallam illaa kaadhalukkaeFor a love that is pure and guileless,
Karai amaithaar thandhaiyaeMy father set up a boundary,
Thalli sella vazhi illaamalWithout any path to move forward,
Thadaigal vanthathum vindhaiyaeIt is strange how obstacles have arisen,
Male
Ellai illaa anbu vadivaiThe personification of boundless affection,
Ethiril kaana nilaiyilumEven in a state where I cannot see them before me,
Idhayam paadum gaanam polaeLike a song sung by the heart,
Ae……ae……..ae……..ae……ae…….ae….Ae……ae……..ae……..ae……ae…….ae….
Idhayam paadum gaanam polaeLike a song sung by the heart,
Engirunthoo enai azhaithaThat called out to me from somewhere,
Kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard?
En kavalai yaavum neengumaWill all my worries vanish?
Kaadhal geetham ketkumaWill the song of love be heard?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song conveys the intense grief, yearning, and helplessness of a protagonist suffering in isolation. Trapped in a fire of loneliness and faced with obstacles set up by family against pure, innocent love, she wonders if the sweet, comforting voice of her beloved will ever reach her again and cure her deep-seated anxieties. Despite the physical distance and overwhelming barriers, her heart continues to resonate with memories of love that once called to her like a dream. The song balances a sense of tragic melancholy with a persistent hope that the music of love will echo once more to alleviate her suffering.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Thanimai ennum theeyilae

Solitude is explicitly compared to a burning fire ('Thanimai ennum theeyilae') to emphasize the intense pain of suffering alone.

Simile (Uvamai)

Kanavil paadum gaanam polae

The calling voice of love is compared to a song heard in a dream ('Kanavil paadum gaanam polae').

Rhetorical Question

Kaadhal geetham ketkuma

Asking 'Kaadhal geetham ketkuma' (Will the song of love be heard?) repeatedly highlights emotional uncertainty and yearning rather than seeking a literal answer.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ellai illaa anbu vadivai

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('Thanimai' and 'Naan thavithu', with 'th' sound, and 'Kallam' / 'Thalli' / 'Ellai').

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Trivia

From the film 'Konjum Salangai' (1962), this acclaimed song was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, written by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, and rendered by the legendary playback singer P. Leela. The film is famous for being one of the landmark musical films in Tamil cinema featuring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri.

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