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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Oru Kolam

From Vaa Vaa Vasanthame · 1992

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vaa Vaa Vasanthame
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
20 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaadhal oru kolam
Naalum adhu maarum
Kanneer odum
Paadhai oru paadhai
Yeno thadumaatram
Nenjam thaedum
Kaadhal oru kolam
Naalum adhu maarum
Kanneer odum
Paadhai oru paadhai
Yaeno thadumaatram
Nenjam thaedum
Thaanaaga serum aanaalum maarum
Endraalum kaadhal vaazhudhae
Kaadhal oru kolam
Naalum adhu maarum
Kanneer odum
Paavai endraalae kelvi endraagum
Paasam ellaam vaesham endru paarvai sonnadhu
Kaadhal poi endru paadal pala undu
Mogam ennum theeyil ullam mullaai ponadhu
Kaadhal konda ullam andru ondraai vaazhndhadhu
Kangal patta vegam indru mannil veezhndhadhu
Pogaadha paadhai moodaadha podhu
Vazhi yaedhu vaasal yaedhu
Kaadhal oru kolam
Naalum adhu maarum
Kanneer odum
Paadhai oru paadhai
Yaeno thadumaatram
Nenjam thaedum
Kaalam ponaalum nyaanam vaaraadhu
Vaazhum penmai ennum poiyil kaalam thaeyudhu
Ingae yaaraalum maatram naeraadhu
Kaalam andha kaalam thottu kaadhal yeithadhu
Paarvai valai paarthu ilam kaalai veezhndhadhu
Paadhai vazhi maari manam keezhae saaindhadhu
Paadaadha raagam podaadha thaalam
Adhil naalum sogam sogam
Kaadhal oru kolam
Naalum adhu maarum
Kanneer odum
Paadhai oru paadhai
Yaeno thadumaatram
Nenjam thaedum
Thaanaaga serum aanaalum maarum
Endraalum kaadhal vaazhudhae
Kaadhal oru kolam
Naalum adhu maarum
Kanneer odum
Paadhai oru paadhai
Yaeno thadumaatram
Nenjam thaedum
Love is like a kolam (decorative floor pattern),
It changes every day,
And tears flow.
There is a path,
Yet why this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
Love is like a kolam (decorative floor pattern),
It changes every day,
And tears flow.
There is a path,
Yet why this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
It comes together on its own, yet it changes,
Even so, love lives on.
Love is like a kolam (decorative floor pattern),
It changes every day,
And tears flow.
Mention a woman, and she becomes a question,
Her gaze said that all affection is just a disguise.
There are many songs saying love is a lie,
In the fire of desire, the heart turned into thorns.
The hearts in love once lived as one,
Struck by the force of a glance, today it fell to the dust.
When an untraveled path does not close,
Where is the way? Where is the doorway?
Love is like a kolam (decorative floor pattern),
It changes every day,
And tears flow.
There is a path,
Yet why this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
Even as time passes, wisdom does not come,
Time wears away in the illusion of womanhood.
No one here can bring about a change,
From the dawn of time, love has shot its arrows.
Trapped in the net of her gaze, the young man fell,
Straying from its path, the heart collapsed.
An unsung melody, an unplayed rhythm,
In it, every day brings only sorrow and grief.
Love is like a kolam (decorative floor pattern),
It changes every day,
And tears flow.
There is a path,
Yet why this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
It comes together on its own, yet it changes,
Even so, love lives on.
Love is like a kolam (decorative floor pattern),
It changes every day,
And tears flow.
There is a path,
Yet why this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kaadhal Oru Kolam' reflects on the impermanence, illusion, and heartbreak inherent in romantic relationships. By comparing love to a 'kolam'—a traditional Tamil floor pattern that is transient and wiped away daily—the lyrics emphasize how fragile romantic promises often turn out to be. Despite the suffering, tears, and deception that love brings, the song muses on the paradox that humanity perpetually seeks love, and love stubbornly survives within the human heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kaadhal oru kolam”

Compares love to a 'kolam' (floor pattern) to highlight its fragile, changing, and temporary nature.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Mogam ennum theeyil ullam mullaai ponadhu”

Compares desire/passion to a burning fire that transforms a soft heart into prickly thorns.

Assonance / Rhyme (Ethirai)

“Paadaadha raagam podaadha thaalam”

The second letter rhyme ('da') creates a rhythmic harmony across lines ('Paadaadha' / 'Podaadha').

Imagery

“Paarvai valai paarthu ilam kaalai veezhndhadhu”

Uses the metaphor of a net formed by a glance trapping a young bull to depict the captivating and dangerous power of attraction.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track showcases Ilaiyaraaja's poetic flair in Tamil songwriting. Beyond his legendary music composition, Ilaiyaraaja often penned lyrics imbued with deep philosophical introspections about life, fate, and human emotions.

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