- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Sujatha, Srinivas, Anuradha Sriram, Palakkad Sriram
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Movie name
- Thaalam
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 12 Feb 2018
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamalae saava
Thaenin iniyathu
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Female :Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Nam uyirin arththam
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Female :Indha ulagam asaivathum
Chorus :Kaadhalae
…………………………
Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamalae saava
Ohooo..oooo
{Thaenin iniyathu
Kaadhalae
Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Kaadhalae} (2)
Nam uyirin arththam
Kaadhalae
Indha ulagam asaivathum
Kaadhalae
{Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamal
Saavadhu saava} (2)
Thaenin iniyathu
Kaadhalae
Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Kaadhalae
Nam uyirin arththam
Kaadhalae
Indha ulagam asaivathum
Kaadhalae
{Kaadhalin mozhiyil
Oli kidaiyathu
Valarpirai valarnthal
Osaigal yethu} (2)
Kaadhalin valiyil
Vali kidaiyathu
Mottukkal udainthaal
Kodi thudikkathu
{Orr irulil therivathu
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Female :Orr oliyil maraivathu
Chorus :Kaadhalae} (2)
………………………….
{Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamal
Saavadhu saava} (2)
{Thaenin iniyathu
Kaadhalae
Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Kaadhalae} (2)
Kaadhaliththal
Puthu nesam varum
Poo kodikalukkum
Poo vasam varum
Andha kadavul iruppathu
Melulagam
Indha kaadhal iruppathu
Kilulagam
Kadavul iruppathu
Thooramada
Un kaadhal iruppathu
Anmaiyada
Nee kadavulai adaivathu
Saththiyama
Illai kaadhalai adaivathu
Saththiyama
Nee kaadhalai adaivathu
Saththiyamae saththiyamae
Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamalae saava
Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamalae saava
Thaenin iniyathu
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Male :Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Nam uyirin arththam
Chorus :Kaadhalae
Male :Indha ulagam asaivathum
Chorus :Kaadhalae
……………………
{Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamal
Saavadhu saava} (2)
{Thaenin iniyathu
Kaadhalae
Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Kaadhalae} (2)
Kaadhalae…4
Female :……………………
{Kaadhal illamal
Vazhvathum vazhvaa
Kaadhal illamal
Saavadhu saava} (2)
{Thaenin iniyathu
Kaadhalae
Uyir dhegam thanthathu
Kaadhalae} (2)
Kaadhalae…16
Female :……………………
Without love
Is living really living?
Is dying without love a true death?
Sweeter than honey is
Chorus: Love
Female: That which gave life and body is
Chorus: Love
The meaning of our life is
Chorus: Love
Female: That which moves this world is
Chorus: Love
......................
Without love
Is living really living?
Is dying without love a true death?
Ohooo..oooo
{Sweeter than honey is
Love
That which gave life and body is
Love} (2)
The meaning of our life is
Love
That which moves this world is
Love
{Without love
Is living really living?
Without love
Is dying really dying?} (2)
Sweeter than honey is
Love
That which gave life and body is
Love
The meaning of our life is
Love
That which moves this world is
Love
{In the language of love
Sound does not exist
When the waxing moon grows
Is there any sound?} (2)
In the pain of love
There is no pain
When flower buds blossom
The vine does not quiver
{That which is seen in deep darkness is
Chorus: Love
Female: That which vanishes in bright light is
Chorus: Love} (2)
.......................
{Without love
Is living really living?
Without love
Is dying really dying?} (2)
{Sweeter than honey is
Love
That which gave life and body is
Love} (2)
If you love
A new affection dawns
Even for flower vines
A floral fragrance dawns
That God resides in
The upper world
This love resides in
The world below
Where God resides is
Far away, my friend
Where your love resides is
Nearby, my friend
Reaching God for you,
Is it certain?
Or is reaching love
Certain?
Reaching love for you is
Certain indeed, certain indeed
Without love
Is living really living?
Is dying without love a true death?
Without love
Is living really living?
Is dying without love a true death?
Sweeter than honey is
Chorus: Love
Male: That which gave life and body is
Chorus: Love
The meaning of our life is
Chorus: Love
Male: That which moves this world is
Chorus: Love
................
{Without love
Is living really living?
Without love
Is dying really dying?} (2)
{Sweeter than honey is
Love
That which gave life and body is
Love} (2)
Love...4
Female: ................
{Without love
Is living really living?
Without love
Is dying really dying?} (2)
{Sweeter than honey is
Love
That which gave life and body is
Love} (2)
Love...16
Female: ................
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic song from 'Thaalam' is a soulful philosophical celebration of love as the supreme force governing human existence. It questions whether life or death holds any significance in the absence of love, elevating love as something sweeter than honey and essential to the soul, body, and universe itself.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Kaadhal illamal / Vazhvathum vazhvaa”
The opening lines question whether living without love can truly be called living, emphasizing love's indispensability.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Thaenin iniyathu / Kaadhalae”
Love is directly equated to honey's sweetness and the true essence/meaning of human life.
Contrast / Antithesis (Muran Ani)
“Andha kadavul iruppathu / Melulagam / Indha kaadhal iruppathu / Kilulagam”
Contrasts God residing in the high distant heavens ('Melulagam') with love residing right here on Earth ('Kilulagam').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Thaalam' (1999) is the Tamil dubbed version of Subhash Ghai's smash hit Bollywood film 'Taal'. The original Hindi song 'Ishq Bina' was composed by A.R. Rahman, and poet Vairamuthu penned the Tamil lyrics to fit Rahman's iconic melody while adding distinct Tamil poetic nuances.
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