Kadhal Kasukuthaiya
From Aan Paavam · 1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Manam thaan love love-nu adikkum | The heart beats 'love love' |
| Love-nu thaan thudikkum | It throbs only for love |
| Thottu ponaa kudikkum | If it fails, one turns to drinking |
| Paithiyam pidikkum | One goes crazy |
| Kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Male | |
| Yaaraaro kaadhalichu… uuu | So many people fell in love... ooh |
| Yaaraaro kaadhalichu | So many people fell in love |
| Uruppadala onnum sarippadala | Nobody prospered, nothing turned out right |
| Vaazhkkaiyila endrum sugappadala | Never found joy in life |
| Kaadhal padam eduthaa odumunga | If a movie on love is made, it runs well |
| Theatre-la sanam koodumunga | People crowd in the theatre |
| Male | |
| Dhevadhaas avan paarvathi | Devadas and his Parvathi |
| Ambigapathi amaravathi | Ambigapathi and Amaravathi |
| Kadhaiya kelu mudiva paaru | Listen to their story, look at their fate |
| Kadaisiyil seraamal vaazhaama sethaanga | In the end, without uniting or living, they died |
| Male | |
| Enakkindha kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | To me, this love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Manam thaan love love-nu adikkum | The heart beats 'love love' |
| Love-nu thaan thudikkum | It throbs only for love |
| Thothu ponaa kudikkum | If it loses, one drinks |
| Paithiyam pidikkum | One goes crazy |
| Kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Male | |
| Ethanai cinema | How many movies |
| Ethanai drama paathaachu | How many plays we have watched |
| Ethanai duet | How many duets |
| Ethanai tune kettaachu | How many tunes we have heard |
| Ethanai paathu | Having watched so many |
| Ethanai kettu ennaachu | Having heard so many, what happened? |
| Buthiyum kettu | Intellect was ruined |
| Sakthiyum kettu ninnaachu | Strength was lost, and we ended up standing helpless |
| Male | |
| Kittappaa andha kaalathula | In the era of S. G. Kittappa |
| Kaayaadha kaanagatha | 'Kaayaadha kaanagathe' |
| P U chinnappaa vandha kaalathula | In the era when P. U. Chinnappa came |
| Kaadhal kani rasamae | 'Kaadhal kani rasame' |
| Manmadha leelai M K T kaalathula | In the era of M. K. T. Bhagavathar's Manmadha Leelai |
| Male | |
| Nadaiyaa idhu nadaiyaa | 'Nadaiyaa idhu nadaiyaa' |
| Namma nadigar thilagam baaniyilae | In the style of our Nadigar Thilagam |
| Hello hello sugamaa | 'Hello hello sugamaa' |
| Ada aamaa neenga nalamaa | Ah yes, are you doing fine? |
| Engaeyum thaan kettom | Everywhere we heard |
| Annan M G R paattukkala | The songs of brother M. G. R. |
| Male | |
| Indha kaala ilainjar | For the love made by |
| Seiyum kaadhalukku | Today's youth |
| Ilaiyaraja endhan paattirukku | My man Ilaiyaraaja has songs ready |
| Veettula adha paadunga | Sing them at home |
| Pondaattiya love pannunga | Love your own wife |
| Namma thagappan pecha | Respect our father's words |
| Thaayin pecha madhikkanum | Respect our mother's words |
| Neeyaaga pen theda koodaadhu | You shouldn't seek a girl on your own |
| Male | |
| Enakkindha kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | To me, this love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Manam thaan love love-nu adikkum | The heart beats 'love love' |
| Love-nu thaan thudikkum | It throbs only for love |
| Thothu ponaa kudikkum | If it loses, one drinks |
| Paithiyam pidikkum | One goes crazy |
| Kaadhal modhal saadhal | Love, clash, death |
| Kaadhal kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa | Love, love feels bitter, oh dear |
| Kasakkudhaiyaa kasakkudhaiyaa… | It feels bitter, it feels bitter... |
காதல் கசக்குதயா
வர வர காதல் கசக்குதயா
மனம்தான் லவ் லவ்வுன்னு அடிக்கும்
லவ்வுன்னுதான் துடிக்கும்
தோத்து போனா குடிக்கும்
பைத்தியம் புடிக்கும்
காதல் கசக்குதயா
வர வர காதல் கசக்குதயா
Love feels bitter, oh dear
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
The heart beats 'love love'
It throbs only for love
If it fails, one turns to drinking
One goes crazy
Love feels bitter, oh dear
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
யாராரோ காதலிச்சு....ஊஉ....
யாராரோ காதலிச்சு
உருப்படல ஒண்ணும் சரிப்படல
வாழ்கையிலே என்றும் சுகப்படல
காதல்ல படம் எடுத்தா ஓடுமுங்க
தியேட்டரிலே ஜனம் கூடுமுங்க
So many people fell in love... ooh
So many people fell in love
Nobody prospered, nothing turned out right
Never found joy in life
If a movie on love is made, it runs well
People crowd in the theatre
தேவதாஸ் அவன் பார்வதி
அம்பிகாபதி அமராவதி
கதைய கேளு முடிவ பாரு
கடைசியில் சேராம
வாழாம செத்தாங்க
Devadas and his Parvathi
Ambigapathi and Amaravathi
Listen to their story, look at their fate
In the end, without uniting or living, they died
எனக்கிந்த காதல் கசக்குதயா
வர வர காதல் கசக்குதயா......
மனம்தான் லவ் லவ்வுன்னு அடிக்கும்
லவ்வுன்னுதான் துடிக்கும்
தோத்து போனா குடிக்கும்
பைத்தியம் புடிக்கும்
காதல் கசக்குதயா
வர வர காதல் கசக்குதயா
To me, this love feels bitter, oh dear
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
The heart beats 'love love'
It throbs only for love
If it loses, one drinks
One goes crazy
Love feels bitter, oh dear
எத்தனை சினிமா
எத்தனை டிராமா பாத்தாச்சு
எத்தனை டூயட்
எத்தனை டியூன் கேட்டாச்சு
எத்தனை பாட்டு
இத்தனை கேட்டு என்னாச்சு
புத்தியும் கெட்டு
சக்தியும் கெட்டு நின்னாச்சு
How many movies
How many plays we have watched
How many duets
How many tunes we have heard
Having watched so many
Having heard so many, what happened?
Intellect was ruined
Strength was lost, and we ended up standing helpless
கிட்டப்பா அந்த காலத்துல
காயாத கானகத்தே
பி யூ சின்னப்பா வந்த காலத்துல
காதல் கனி ரசமே
மன்மத லீலை எம் கே டி காலத்துல
In the era of S. G. Kittappa
'Kaayaadha kaanagathe'
In the era when P. U. Chinnappa came
'Kaadhal kani rasame'
In the era of M. K. T. Bhagavathar's Manmadha Leelai
நடையா இது நடையா
நம்ம நடிகர் திலகம் பாணியிலே
ஹலோ ஹலோ சுகமா
அட ஆமாம் நீங்க நலமா
எங்கேயும்தான் கேட்டோம்
அண்ணன் எம்ஜிஆர் பாட்டுக்கள
'Nadaiyaa idhu nadaiyaa'
In the style of our Nadigar Thilagam
'Hello hello sugamaa'
Ah yes, are you doing fine?
Everywhere we heard
The songs of brother M. G. R.
இந்த கால இளைஞர்
செய்யும் காதலுக்கு
இளையராஜா எந்தன் பாட்டிருக்கு
வீட்டுல அதை பாடுங்க
பொண்டாட்டிய லவ் பண்ணுங்க
நம்ம தகப்பன் பேச்ச
தாயின் பேச்ச மதிக்கணும்
நீயாக பெண் தேட கூடாது
For the love made by
Today's youth
My man Ilaiyaraaja has songs ready
Sing them at home
Love your own wife
Respect our father's words
Respect our mother's words
You shouldn't seek a girl on your own
எனக்கிந்த காதல் கசக்குதயா
வர வர காதல் கசக்குதயா........
மனம்தான் லவ் லவ்வுன்னு அடிக்கும்
லவ்வுன்னுதான் துடிக்கும்
தோத்து போனா குடிக்கும்
பைத்தியம் புடிக்கும்
காதல் கசக்குதயா
வர வர காதல் கசக்குதயா
கசக்குதயா கசக்குதயா
To me, this love feels bitter, oh dear
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
The heart beats 'love love'
It throbs only for love
If it loses, one drinks
One goes crazy
Love, clash, death
Love, love feels bitter, oh dear
It feels bitter, it feels bitter...
Kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Love feels bitter, oh dear
Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
Manam thaan love love-nu adikkum
The heart beats 'love love'
Love-nu thaan thudikkum
It throbs only for love
Thottu ponaa kudikkum
If it fails, one turns to drinking
Paithiyam pidikkum
One goes crazy
Kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Love feels bitter, oh dear
Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
Yaaraaro kaadhalichu… uuu
So many people fell in love... ooh
Yaaraaro kaadhalichu
So many people fell in love
Uruppadala onnum sarippadala
Nobody prospered, nothing turned out right
Vaazhkkaiyila endrum sugappadala
Never found joy in life
Kaadhal padam eduthaa odumunga
If a movie on love is made, it runs well
Theatre-la sanam koodumunga
People crowd in the theatre
Dhevadhaas avan paarvathi
Devadas and his Parvathi
Ambigapathi amaravathi
Ambigapathi and Amaravathi
Kadhaiya kelu mudiva paaru
Listen to their story, look at their fate
Kadaisiyil seraamal vaazhaama sethaanga
In the end, without uniting or living, they died
Enakkindha kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
To me, this love feels bitter, oh dear
Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
Manam thaan love love-nu adikkum
The heart beats 'love love'
Love-nu thaan thudikkum
It throbs only for love
Thothu ponaa kudikkum
If it loses, one drinks
Paithiyam pidikkum
One goes crazy
Kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Love feels bitter, oh dear
Ethanai cinema
How many movies
Ethanai drama paathaachu
How many plays we have watched
Ethanai duet
How many duets
Ethanai tune kettaachu
How many tunes we have heard
Ethanai paathu
Having watched so many
Ethanai kettu ennaachu
Having heard so many, what happened?
Buthiyum kettu
Intellect was ruined
Sakthiyum kettu ninnaachu
Strength was lost, and we ended up standing helpless
Kittappaa andha kaalathula
In the era of S. G. Kittappa
Kaayaadha kaanagatha
'Kaayaadha kaanagathe'
P U chinnappaa vandha kaalathula
In the era when P. U. Chinnappa came
Kaadhal kani rasamae
'Kaadhal kani rasame'
Manmadha leelai M K T kaalathula
In the era of M. K. T. Bhagavathar's Manmadha Leelai
Nadaiyaa idhu nadaiyaa
'Nadaiyaa idhu nadaiyaa'
Namma nadigar thilagam baaniyilae
In the style of our Nadigar Thilagam
Hello hello sugamaa
'Hello hello sugamaa'
Ada aamaa neenga nalamaa
Ah yes, are you doing fine?
Engaeyum thaan kettom
Everywhere we heard
Annan M G R paattukkala
The songs of brother M. G. R.
Indha kaala ilainjar
For the love made by
Seiyum kaadhalukku
Today's youth
Ilaiyaraja endhan paattirukku
My man Ilaiyaraaja has songs ready
Veettula adha paadunga
Sing them at home
Pondaattiya love pannunga
Love your own wife
Namma thagappan pecha
Respect our father's words
Thaayin pecha madhikkanum
Respect our mother's words
Neeyaaga pen theda koodaadhu
You shouldn't seek a girl on your own
Enakkindha kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
To me, this love feels bitter, oh dear
Varavara kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Gradually, love feels bitter, oh dear
Manam thaan love love-nu adikkum
The heart beats 'love love'
Love-nu thaan thudikkum
It throbs only for love
Thothu ponaa kudikkum
If it loses, one drinks
Paithiyam pidikkum
One goes crazy
Kaadhal modhal saadhal
Love, clash, death
Kaadhal kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa
Love, love feels bitter, oh dear
Kasakkudhaiyaa kasakkudhaiyaa…
It feels bitter, it feels bitter...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a satirical and philosophical take on romantic love and its depiction across generations of Tamil cinema and music. The singer warns about the perils of falling in love, pointing out how tragic love stories like Devadas and Parvathi or Ambigapathi and Amaravathi end in heartbreak and death, despite being popular box-office hits. The narrative traces the evolution of Tamil romantic songs across musical eras—from S. G. Kittappa, P. U. Chinnappa, M. K. T. Bhagavathar, Sivaji Ganesan, and M. G. R., up to Ilaiyaraaja. Ultimately, the song advises young men to avoid self-arranged romance, respect their parents' wishes, and love their wedded wife instead of chasing tragic love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Emoni (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Uruppadala onnum sarippadala”
The second consonant 'da' matches across lines: 'Uruppadala', 'sarippadala', 'sugappadala'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Ethanai cinema / Ethanai drama paathaachu”
The lines end with matching rhyming suffixes: ' cinema', ' drama', ' duet', ' tune'.
Alliteration / Antanakalasi
“Kaadhal modhal saadhal / Kaadhal kaadhal kasakkudhaiyaa”
Repetition of words starting with 'Kaadhal' to emphasize the central theme.
Metonymy and Cultural Intertextuality
“Kittappaa andha kaalathula / Kaayaadha kaanagatha”
Referencing iconic historical singers (Kittappa, Chinnappa, MKT, Sivaji, MGR, Ilaiyaraaja) and classic songs to represent eras of Tamil culture.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Kaadhal Kasakkudhaiyaa' is from the 1985 blockbuster movie 'Aan Paavam', directed by Pandiarajan. Music for the movie was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vaali, and sung by Ilaiyaraaja himself along with Malaysia Vasudevan. The lyricist Vaali brilliantly weaves a musical timeline of Tamil cinema music in this song.
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