Kadhal Illaathathu
From Mani Rathnam · 1994
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
- Music director
- Adithyan
- Details
- Mani Rathnam1994
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa | Can a life exist without love? |
| Female | |
| Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa | Can a vision appear without eyes? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa | Can a life exist without love? |
| Female | |
| Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa | Can a vision appear without eyes? |
| Male | |
| Pennai thodaadhadhu oru perumaiyaagumaa | Is it a matter of pride not to touch a woman? |
| Female | |
| Mutham sindhaamalae adhu muzhumaiyaagumaa | Will life be complete without sharing a kiss? |
| Muzhumaiyaagumaa | Will it become complete? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa | Can a life exist without love? |
| Female | |
| Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa | Can a vision appear without eyes? |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………. | ... |
| Male | |
| Dhaanam vaeru kannae kaadhal vaeru pennae | Charity is one thing, my dear, love is another, my girl. |
| Dhaegam thaedum kaamam deivam thaedum kaadhal | Lust is what the body seeks; love is what the divine seeks. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal endru sollil kaamam konjam undu | There is a small trace of desire within the word love itself. |
| Idaiyil chinnathodu ada adhu dhaan romba paadu | A gentle touch at the waist—oh, that causes such a commotion! |
| Male | |
| Kodu podu adhai thaanda maatten | Draw a boundary line, and I shall not cross it. |
| Female :Thaanda cholli unnai thoonda maatten | Female: I will not entice you to cross it either. |
| Male | |
| Unnodu kattil sammadham vaangum varaiyilum | Until I receive your consent for the marital bed, |
| Kaaman pandigai kondaadamaatten | I will not celebrate the festival of the god of desire. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa | Can a life exist without love? |
| Male | |
| Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa | Can a vision appear without eyes? |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………………. | ... |
| Female | |
| Kadhirgal mutri ponaal kalathil saera vaendum | When crops ripen, they must reach the threshing floor. |
| Kaadhal mttri ponaal adhu engae saera vaendum | When love ripens, where ought it to lead? |
| Male | |
| Malargal konjam saaindhaal ilaigal thaanga vaendum | If the flowers tilt slightly, the leaves must support them. |
| Mangai konjam saaindhaal en maarbil thaanga vaendum | If a young woman leans a little, my chest must hold her. |
| Female | |
| Ondril ondraai maara vaendum | We ought to merge one into the other. |
| Male :Unnil ennai thaeda vaendum | Male: I must find myself within you. |
| Female | |
| Eppodhum idai vidaamalum | Constantly without any interval, |
| Nagam padaamalum | And without even a scratch of a fingernail, |
| Katti poovai nee kaiyaala vaendum | You must handle this delicate flower tenderly. |
| Male | |
| {Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa | {Can a life exist without love? |
| Female | |
| Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa} (2) | Can a vision appear without eyes?} (2) |
| Male | |
| Pennai thodaadhadhu oru perumaiyaagumaa | Is it a matter of pride not to touch a woman? |
| Female | |
| Mutham sindhaamalae adhu muzhumaiyaagumaa | Will life be complete without sharing a kiss? |
| Muzhumaiyaagumaa | Will it become complete? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa | Can a life exist without love? |
| Female | |
| Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa | Can a vision appear without eyes? |
காதல் இல்லாதது ஒரு வாழ்க்கையாகுமா
Can a life exist without love?
கண்கள் இல்லாமலே ஒரு காட்சி தோன்றுமா
Can a vision appear without eyes?
காதல் இல்லாதது ஒரு வாழ்க்கையாகுமா
Can a life exist without love?
கண்கள் இல்லாமலே ஒரு காட்சி தோன்றுமா
Can a vision appear without eyes?
பெண்ணை தொடாதது ஒரு பெருமையாகுமா
Is it a matter of pride not to touch a woman?
முத்தம் சிந்தாமலே அது முழுமையாகுமா
முழுமையாகுமா
Will life be complete without sharing a kiss?
Will it become complete?
காதல் இல்லாதது ஒரு வாழ்க்கையாகுமா
Can a life exist without love?
கண்கள் இல்லாமலே ஒரு காட்சி தோன்றுமா
Can a vision appear without eyes?
................................
...
தானம் வேறு கண்ணே காதல் வேறு பெண்ணே
தேகம் தேடும் காமம் தெய்வம் தேடும் காதல்
Charity is one thing, my dear, love is another, my girl.
Lust is what the body seeks; love is what the divine seeks.
காதல் என்று சொல்லில் காமன் கொஞ்சம் உண்டு
இடையில் சின்னத்தோடு அட்ட அதுதான் ரொம்ப பாடு
There is a small trace of desire within the word love itself.
A gentle touch at the waist—oh, that causes such a commotion!
கொடு போடு அதை தாண்டமாட்டேன்
தாண்ட சொல்லி உன்னை தூண்ட மாட்டேன்
Draw a boundary line, and I shall not cross it.
Female: I will not entice you to cross it either.
உன்னோடு கட்டில் சம்மதம் வாங்கும் வரையிலும்
காமன் பண்டிகை கொண்டாடமாட்டேன்
Until I receive your consent for the marital bed,
I will not celebrate the festival of the god of desire.
காதல் இல்லாதது ஒரு வாழ்க்கையாகுமா
Can a life exist without love?
கண்கள் இல்லாமலே ஒரு காட்சி தோன்றுமா
Can a vision appear without eyes?
....................................
...
கதிர்கள் முற்றி போனால களத்தில சேர வேண்டும்
காதல் முற்றி போனால் அது எங்கே சேர வேண்டும்
When crops ripen, they must reach the threshing floor.
When love ripens, where ought it to lead?
மலர்கள் கொஞ்சம் சாய்ந்தால் இலைகள் தாங்க வேண்டும்
மங்கை கொஞ்சம் சாய்ந்தால் எ மார்பில் தாங்க வேண்டும்
If the flowers tilt slightly, the leaves must support them.
If a young woman leans a little, my chest must hold her.
ஒன்றில் ஒன்றாய் மாற வேண்டும்
உன்னில் என்னை தேட வேண்டும்
We ought to merge one into the other.
Male: I must find myself within you.
எப்போதும் இடை விடாமலும்
நகம் படாமலும்
கட்டி பூவை நீ கையாள வேண்டும்
Constantly without any interval,
And without even a scratch of a fingernail,
You must handle this delicate flower tenderly.
{காதல் இல்லாதது ஒரு வாழ்க்கையாகுமா
{Can a life exist without love?
கண்கள் இல்லாமலே ஒரு காட்சி தோன்றுமா} (2)
Can a vision appear without eyes?} (2)
பெண்ணை தொடாதது ஒரு பெருமையாகுமா
Is it a matter of pride not to touch a woman?
முத்தம் சிந்தாமலே அது முழுமையாகுமா
முழுமையாகுமா
Will life be complete without sharing a kiss?
Will it become complete?
காதல் இல்லாதது ஒரு வாழ்க்கையாகுமா
Can a life exist without love?
கண்கள் இல்லாமலே ஒரு காட்சி தோன்றுமா
Can a vision appear without eyes?
Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa
Can a life exist without love?
Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa
Can a vision appear without eyes?
Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa
Can a life exist without love?
Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa
Can a vision appear without eyes?
Pennai thodaadhadhu oru perumaiyaagumaa
Is it a matter of pride not to touch a woman?
Mutham sindhaamalae adhu muzhumaiyaagumaa
Will life be complete without sharing a kiss?
Muzhumaiyaagumaa
Will it become complete?
Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa
Can a life exist without love?
Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa
Can a vision appear without eyes?
………………………….
...
Dhaanam vaeru kannae kaadhal vaeru pennae
Charity is one thing, my dear, love is another, my girl.
Dhaegam thaedum kaamam deivam thaedum kaadhal
Lust is what the body seeks; love is what the divine seeks.
Kaadhal endru sollil kaamam konjam undu
There is a small trace of desire within the word love itself.
Idaiyil chinnathodu ada adhu dhaan romba paadu
A gentle touch at the waist—oh, that causes such a commotion!
Kodu podu adhai thaanda maatten
Draw a boundary line, and I shall not cross it.
Female :Thaanda cholli unnai thoonda maatten
Female: I will not entice you to cross it either.
Unnodu kattil sammadham vaangum varaiyilum
Until I receive your consent for the marital bed,
Kaaman pandigai kondaadamaatten
I will not celebrate the festival of the god of desire.
Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa
Can a life exist without love?
Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa
Can a vision appear without eyes?
……………………………….
...
Kadhirgal mutri ponaal kalathil saera vaendum
When crops ripen, they must reach the threshing floor.
Kaadhal mttri ponaal adhu engae saera vaendum
When love ripens, where ought it to lead?
Malargal konjam saaindhaal ilaigal thaanga vaendum
If the flowers tilt slightly, the leaves must support them.
Mangai konjam saaindhaal en maarbil thaanga vaendum
If a young woman leans a little, my chest must hold her.
Ondril ondraai maara vaendum
We ought to merge one into the other.
Male :Unnil ennai thaeda vaendum
Male: I must find myself within you.
Eppodhum idai vidaamalum
Constantly without any interval,
Nagam padaamalum
And without even a scratch of a fingernail,
Katti poovai nee kaiyaala vaendum
You must handle this delicate flower tenderly.
{Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa
{Can a life exist without love?
Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa} (2)
Can a vision appear without eyes?} (2)
Pennai thodaadhadhu oru perumaiyaagumaa
Is it a matter of pride not to touch a woman?
Mutham sindhaamalae adhu muzhumaiyaagumaa
Will life be complete without sharing a kiss?
Muzhumaiyaagumaa
Will it become complete?
Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa
Can a life exist without love?
Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa
Can a vision appear without eyes?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This romantic duet explores the essential nature of love and physical affection in human life, comparing life without love to a world without vision. The lovers engage in a playful yet respectful dialogue regarding the balance between physical desire (kaamam) and spiritual love (kaadhal), establishing boundaries and mutual respect until marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kangal illamalae oru kaatchi thondrumaa”
Comparing vision without eyes to life without love highlights how love is indispensable to living fully.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Dhaanam vaeru kannae kaadhal vaeru pennae”
The second letter ' ' (na) matches across 'Dhaanam' and 'Dhaegam', adding rhythmic harmony.
Rhetorical Question
“Kaadhal illaadhadhu oru vaazhkaiyaagumaa”
The repeated interrogative ending 'aagumaa' poses questions to emphasize the emotional truth that life requires love.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is from the 1994 Tamil film 'Mani Rathnam', directed by Keyaar and starring Napoleon. The soundtrack was composed by Sirpy, featuring lyrics written by Vairamuthu.
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