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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Kayangale Neengal

From Aankalai Nambathey · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Devandran
Details
Aankalai Nambathey1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Aaaa…..aaaa….aaa….Aaaa…..aaaa….aaa….
Haa….aaa….aaa…. haa…haa….Haa….aaa….aaa…. haa…haa….
Male
Kaadhal kaayangalae neengal aarungalaeOh wounds of love, heal yourselves!
Soga nenjangalae jodi maarungalaeOh sorrowful hearts, change your partners!
Pengal ullangal nilai maari kilai maarumaeWomen's hearts lose stability and switch branches like birds.
Aangal ullam kaneerodu alaipaayumaeMen's hearts wander helplessly with tears.
Male
Kaadhal poiyaanadhu vaazhkai meiyanadhuLove turned out to be false, life became the reality.
Aanadhu aagattum koppai yendhugalaeLet whatever happened happen, raise your wine glasses!
Kaadhal kaayangalae neengal aarungalaeOh wounds of love, heal yourselves!
Soga nenjangalae jodi maarungalaeOh sorrowful hearts, change your partners!
Male
{Vaanam adhu ondru thaanThere is only one sky above,
Vaanil nilavondru thaanThere is only one moon in that sky,
Kaadhal kalainthaalum manadhilEven if love dissolves, in the heart,
En ninaivondru thaan} (2)My memory remains as the single constant.
Male
Thaalam illamalae paadal naan solgirenI sing a song without any rhythm or beat,
Deivam illamalae poojai nana seigirenI perform worship without a deity present.
Unmai kaadhal endrum katchi maari pogadhadaTrue love never changes its allegiance, my friend,
Kaadhalin vaedhanai endrum theeradhadaaThe agony of love never comes to an end, my friend.
Male
Kaadhal kaayangalae neengal aarungalaeOh wounds of love, heal yourselves!
Soga nenjangalae jodi maarungalaeOh sorrowful hearts, change your partners!
Male
{Penmai polladhadhuWomanhood is cruel and deceitful,
Nermai illadhadhuIt lacks honesty and integrity,
Unmai theriyadha manidhaOh man who does not realize the truth,
Un manam yenguthu} (2)Why does your heart yearn like this?
Male
Unmai kaadhal endru ingu ondrum illaiThere is no such thing as true love here,
Neeyum kaadhal kolla veru pennaa illaiAre there no other women for you to love?
Neeyum vaazhum podhu vaazha vendum vazhiya illaiWhile you live, isn't there a proper way for you to live?
Innum nee oothada bottle sruthiyae illaiPour more, my friend, the bottle has not reached its pitch yet!
Innum nee oothada bottle sruthiyae illaiPour more, my friend, the bottle has not reached its pitch yet!
Male
Kaadhal kaayangalae neengal aarungalaeOh wounds of love, heal yourselves!
Soga nenjangalae jodi maarungalaeOh sorrowful hearts, change your partners!
Pengal ullangal nilai maari kilai maarumaeWomen's hearts lose stability and switch branches like birds.
Aangal ullam kaneerodu alaipaayumaeMen's hearts wander helplessly with tears.
Male
Kaadhal poiyaanadhu vaazhkai meiyanadhuLove turned out to be false, life became the reality.
Aanadhu aagattum koppai yendhugalaeLet whatever happened happen, raise your wine glasses!
Kaadhal kaayangalae neengal aarungalaeOh wounds of love, heal yourselves!
Soga nenjangalae jodi maarungalaeOh sorrowful hearts, change your partners!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses heartbreak, cynicism, and philosophical acceptance following a romantic betrayal. The protagonist addresses heartbroken men in a tavern setting, urging them to move on from unfaithful relationships, drown their sorrows, and drink away the pain. The lyrics criticize the fickle nature of love and compare changing partners to birds changing branches, emphasizing that life must go on despite romantic failure.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagamm)

Pengal ullangal nilai maari kilai maarumae

Compares women's hearts to perching birds shifting from branch to branch ('kilai maarumae').

Rhyme / Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Kaadhal kaayangalae neengal aarungalae

Assonance/Monai using similar starting sound 'Kaa' across consecutive words ('Kaadhal kaayangalae').

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vaanam adhu ondru thaan / Vaanil nilavondru thaan

The second letter 'n' matches across lines ('Vaanam' and 'Vaanil').

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1987 Tamil film 'Aankalai Nambathey', the song explores heartbreak through a typical 'bar song' trope popular in 1980s Tamil cinema, blending melancholic melodies with cynical social commentary on love.

Keep listening

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