Kadhal Oru Kolam
From Vaa Vaa Vasanthame · 1992
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Singer
- Mano
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Vaa Vaa Vasanthame1992
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaadhal oru kolam | Love is a decorative pattern (kolam). |
| Naalum adhu maarum | It changes every single day. |
| Kanneer odum | Tears continue to flow. |
| Male | |
| Paadhai oru paadhai | A path is merely a path. |
| Yeno thadumaatram | Why is there this stumbling? |
| Nenjam thaedum | The heart keeps searching. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal oru kolam | Love is a decorative pattern (kolam). |
| Naalum adhu maarum | It changes every single day. |
| Kanneer odum | Tears continue to flow. |
| Paadhai oru paadhai | A path is merely a path. |
| Yaeno thadumaatram | Why is there this stumbling? |
| Nenjam thaedum | The heart keeps searching. |
| Thaanaaga serum aanaalum maarum | It unites on its own, yet it changes. |
| Endraalum kaadhal vaazhudhae | Even so, love lives on. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal oru kolam | Love is a decorative pattern (kolam). |
| Naalum adhu maarum | It changes every single day. |
| Kanneer odum | Tears continue to flow. |
| Male | |
| Paavai endraalae kelvi endraagum | When it comes to a woman, it becomes a question. |
| Paasam ellaam vaesham endru paarvai sonnadhu | A single glance revealed that all affection is mere pretense. |
| Kaadhal poi endru paadal pala undu | There are many songs claiming love is an illusion. |
| Mogam ennum theeyil ullam mullaai ponadhu | In the fire named passion, the heart turned into thorns. |
| Kaadhal konda ullam andru ondraai vaazhndhadhu | The hearts that loved once lived as one. |
| Kangal patta vegam indru mannil veezhndhadhu | Hit by the speed of evil eyes, today it fell to the earth. |
| Pogaadha paadhai moodaadha podhu | When an untraveled path remains unclosed, |
| Vazhi yaedhu vaasal yaedhu | Where is the way? Where is the entrance? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal oru kolam | Love is a decorative pattern (kolam). |
| Naalum adhu maarum | It changes every single day. |
| Kanneer odum | Tears continue to flow. |
| Paadhai oru paadhai | A path is merely a path. |
| Yaeno thadumaatram | Why is there this stumbling? |
| Nenjam thaedum | The heart keeps searching. |
| Male | |
| Kaalam ponaalum nyaanam vaaraadhu | Even as time passes, wisdom does not dawn. |
| Vaazhum penmai ennum poiyil kaalam thaeyudhu | Time wears away in the illusion called womanhood. |
| Ingae yaaraalum maatram naeraadhu | No one here can bring about a change. |
| Kaalam andha kaalam thottu kaadhal yeithadhu | From ancient times, love has deceived. |
| Paarvai valai paarthu ilam kaalai veezhndhadhu | Seeing the net of her gaze, the young bull fell. |
| Paadhai vazhi maari manam keezhae saaindhadhu | Straying off the path, the heart sank downwards. |
| Paadaadha raagam podaadha thaalam | An unsung melody, an unplayed rhythm, |
| Adhil naalum sogam sogam | In it, every day brings sorrow upon sorrow. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal oru kolam | Love is a decorative pattern (kolam). |
| Naalum adhu maarum | It changes every single day. |
| Kanneer odum | Tears continue to flow. |
| Paadhai oru paadhai | A path is merely a path. |
| Yaeno thadumaatram | Why is there this stumbling? |
| Nenjam thaedum | The heart keeps searching. |
| Thaanaaga serum aanaalum maarum | It unites on its own, yet it changes. |
| Endraalum kaadhal vaazhudhae | Even so, love lives on. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal oru kolam | Love is a decorative pattern (kolam). |
| Naalum adhu maarum | It changes every single day. |
| Kanneer odum | Tears continue to flow. |
| Paadhai oru paadhai | A path is merely a path. |
| Yaeno thadumaatram | Why is there this stumbling? |
| Nenjam thaedum | The heart keeps searching. |
காதல் ஒரு கோலம்
நாளும் அது மாறும்
கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
It changes every single day.
Tears continue to flow.
பாதை ஒரு பாதை
ஏனோ தடுமாற்றம்
நெஞ்சம் தேடும்
A path is merely a path.
Why is there this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
காதல் ஒரு கோலம்
நாளும் அது மாறும்
கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
பாதை ஒரு பாதை
ஏனோ தடுமாற்றம்
நெஞ்சம் தேடும்
தானாகச் சேரும் ஆனாலும் மாறும்
என்றாலும் காதல் வாழுதே
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
It changes every single day.
Tears continue to flow.
A path is merely a path.
Why is there this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
It unites on its own, yet it changes.
Even so, love lives on.
காதல் ஒரு கோலம்
நாளும் அது மாறும்
கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
It changes every single day.
Tears continue to flow.
பாவை என்றாலே கேள்வி என்றாகும்
பாசம் எல்லாம் வேஷம் என்று
பார்வை சொன்னது
காதல் பொய் என்று பாடல் பல உண்டு
மோகம் என்னும் தீயில் உள்ளம்
முள்ளாய்ப் போனது
காதல் கொண்ட உள்ளம்
அன்று ஒன்றாய் வாழ்ந்தது
கண்கள் பட்ட வேகம்
இன்று மண்ணில் வீழ்ந்தது
போகாத பாதை மூடாத போது
வழி ஏது வாசல் ஏது
When it comes to a woman, it becomes a question.
A single glance revealed that all affection is mere pretense.
There are many songs claiming love is an illusion.
In the fire named passion, the heart turned into thorns.
The hearts that loved once lived as one.
Hit by the speed of evil eyes, today it fell to the earth.
When an untraveled path remains unclosed,
Where is the way? Where is the entrance?
காதல் ஒரு கோலம்
நாளும் அது மாறும்
கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
பாதை ஒரு பாதை
ஏனோ தடுமாற்றம்
நெஞ்சம் தேடும்
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
It changes every single day.
Tears continue to flow.
A path is merely a path.
Why is there this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
காலம் போனாலும் ஞானம் வாராது
வாழும் பெண்மை என்னும் பொய்யில் காலம் தேயுது
இங்கே யாராலும் மாற்றம் நேராது
காலம் அந்தக் காலம் தொட்டு காதல் ஏய்த்தது
பார்வை வலை பார்த்து இளம் காளை வீழ்ந்தது
பாதை வழி மாறி மனம் கீழே சாய்ந்தது
பாடாத ராகம் போடாத தாளம்
அதில் நாளும் சோகம் சோகம்
Even as time passes, wisdom does not dawn.
Time wears away in the illusion called womanhood.
No one here can bring about a change.
From ancient times, love has deceived.
Seeing the net of her gaze, the young bull fell.
Straying off the path, the heart sank downwards.
An unsung melody, an unplayed rhythm,
In it, every day brings sorrow upon sorrow.
காதல் ஒரு கோலம்
நாளும் அது மாறும்
கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
பாதை ஒரு பாதை
ஏனோ தடுமாற்றம்
நெஞ்சம் தேடும்
தானாகச் சேரும் ஆனாலும் மாறும்
என்றாலும் காதல் வாழுதே
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
It changes every single day.
Tears continue to flow.
A path is merely a path.
Why is there this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
It unites on its own, yet it changes.
Even so, love lives on.
காதல் ஒரு கோலம்
நாளும் அது மாறும்
கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
பாதை ஒரு பாதை
ஏனோ தடுமாற்றம்
நெஞ்சம் தேடும்
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
It changes every single day.
Tears continue to flow.
A path is merely a path.
Why is there this stumbling?
The heart keeps searching.
Kaadhal oru kolam
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
Naalum adhu maarum
It changes every single day.
Kanneer odum
Tears continue to flow.
Paadhai oru paadhai
A path is merely a path.
Yeno thadumaatram
Why is there this stumbling?
Nenjam thaedum
The heart keeps searching.
Kaadhal oru kolam
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
Naalum adhu maarum
It changes every single day.
Kanneer odum
Tears continue to flow.
Paadhai oru paadhai
A path is merely a path.
Yaeno thadumaatram
Why is there this stumbling?
Nenjam thaedum
The heart keeps searching.
Thaanaaga serum aanaalum maarum
It unites on its own, yet it changes.
Endraalum kaadhal vaazhudhae
Even so, love lives on.
Kaadhal oru kolam
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
Naalum adhu maarum
It changes every single day.
Kanneer odum
Tears continue to flow.
Paavai endraalae kelvi endraagum
When it comes to a woman, it becomes a question.
Paasam ellaam vaesham endru paarvai sonnadhu
A single glance revealed that all affection is mere pretense.
Kaadhal poi endru paadal pala undu
There are many songs claiming love is an illusion.
Mogam ennum theeyil ullam mullaai ponadhu
In the fire named passion, the heart turned into thorns.
Kaadhal konda ullam andru ondraai vaazhndhadhu
The hearts that loved once lived as one.
Kangal patta vegam indru mannil veezhndhadhu
Hit by the speed of evil eyes, today it fell to the earth.
Pogaadha paadhai moodaadha podhu
When an untraveled path remains unclosed,
Vazhi yaedhu vaasal yaedhu
Where is the way? Where is the entrance?
Kaadhal oru kolam
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
Naalum adhu maarum
It changes every single day.
Kanneer odum
Tears continue to flow.
Paadhai oru paadhai
A path is merely a path.
Yaeno thadumaatram
Why is there this stumbling?
Nenjam thaedum
The heart keeps searching.
Kaalam ponaalum nyaanam vaaraadhu
Even as time passes, wisdom does not dawn.
Vaazhum penmai ennum poiyil kaalam thaeyudhu
Time wears away in the illusion called womanhood.
Ingae yaaraalum maatram naeraadhu
No one here can bring about a change.
Kaalam andha kaalam thottu kaadhal yeithadhu
From ancient times, love has deceived.
Paarvai valai paarthu ilam kaalai veezhndhadhu
Seeing the net of her gaze, the young bull fell.
Paadhai vazhi maari manam keezhae saaindhadhu
Straying off the path, the heart sank downwards.
Paadaadha raagam podaadha thaalam
An unsung melody, an unplayed rhythm,
Adhil naalum sogam sogam
In it, every day brings sorrow upon sorrow.
Kaadhal oru kolam
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
Naalum adhu maarum
It changes every single day.
Kanneer odum
Tears continue to flow.
Paadhai oru paadhai
A path is merely a path.
Yaeno thadumaatram
Why is there this stumbling?
Nenjam thaedum
The heart keeps searching.
Thaanaaga serum aanaalum maarum
It unites on its own, yet it changes.
Endraalum kaadhal vaazhudhae
Even so, love lives on.
Kaadhal oru kolam
Love is a decorative pattern (kolam).
Naalum adhu maarum
It changes every single day.
Kanneer odum
Tears continue to flow.
Paadhai oru paadhai
A path is merely a path.
Yaeno thadumaatram
Why is there this stumbling?
Nenjam thaedum
The heart keeps searching.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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