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Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Oru

From Aasai Aasaiyai · 2003

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Sujatha
Music director
Mani Sharma
Movie name
Aasai Aasaiyai
Movie release year
2003
Lyrics added on
23 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Nakthinathin naa
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Nakthinathin naa
Kaadhal.. oru pallikoodam
Kangal.. adhil paadamaagum
Kattraal… adhu vedhamaagum
Neeyum kaadhal sei…
Kaadhal… nam sondha swaasam
Kaadhal…nam aanma thaagam
Kaadhal…. nam raththa ottam
Neeyum kaadhal sei….
Ulagathin jeeva sakthi
Pasi kaadhal rendum thaan….
Pasi kooda theerndhu pogum
Theeraadhu kaadhal thaan….
Nee kaadhal seiga
Un jenmam velga…
Nee kaadhal seiga….
Un jenmam velga ..aaga
Nam kaadhal vazhga….
Kaadhal.. oru pallikoodam
Kangal.. adhil paadamaagum
Kattraal… adhu vedhamaagum
Neeyum kaadhal sei….
Uyir thandha.. udal thandha
Un petrorai kaadhal sei…
Mozhi thandha… vazhi thandha
Un guruvai nee kaadhal sei….
Oru neram pasi thandha
Un suttram nee kaadhal sei….
Uyir thandhu uyir kaakkum
Un natpai nee kaadhal sei….
Megam ennum oru thaalil
Kadhai kirukkum siru minnal
Adhai kaadhal sei….
Boomi ennum pon thattil
Velli kaasaai vizhum mazhaiyai
Nee kaadhal sei….
Udhirndhu udhirndhu pinnum
Valarndhu valarndhu vandhu
Mulaikkum kozhundhinai kaadhal sei…
Kuraindhu kuraindhu dhinam
Karaindhu karaindhu pinnum
Valarum pirayai nee kaadhal sei…
Kaadhal.. oru pallikoodam
Kangal.. adhil paadamaagum
Kattraal… adhu vedhamaagum
Neeyum kaadhal sei….
Kaadhal… nam sondha swaasam
Kaadhal…nam aanma thaagam
Kaadhal…. nam raththa ottam
Neeyum kaadhal sei….
Parundhodu siru kozhi
Parandhadikkuthae andha
Kobathai kaadhal seiga….
Nizhal neetta marakoottam
Veyil thaanguthae andha
Thiyagathai kaadhal seiga….
Arivoottidum un varumaiyai
Nee kaadhal sei….
Adhai neekkidum un thiramaiyai
Nee kaadhal sei….
{Naadu kaadu engum
Narambai pola varum
Nadhigalai kaadhal seiga…
Annai eendravudam
Nammai yendhi konda
Mannai kaadhal seiga…. } (2)
Dhesathukku por chinnam
Dhesiya kodiyai kaadhal sei….
Dhesiya kodikku vali sindhum
Sippaai padaiyai kaadhal sei…
{Kaadhal.. oru pallikoodam
Kangal.. adhil paadamaagum
Kattraal… adhu vedhamaagum
Neeyum kaadhal sei….
Kaadhal… nam sondha swaasam
Kaadhal…nam aanma thaagam
Kaadhal…. nam raththa ottam
Neeyum kaadhal sei….} (2)
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Nakh thinathin naa
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Thinna thinnak thinathin
Nakh thinathin naa
Love is a school,
Eyes are the lessons in it.
If you learn them, they become sacred truth.
You, too, must fall in love...
Love is our very breath,
Love is our soul's deep thirst,
Love is the blood running in our veins.
You, too, must fall in love...
The driving life-force of this world
Is hunger and love alone...
Even hunger can be satisfied,
But love never ends...
Go on and love,
May your life triumph...
Go on and love,
May your life triumph... so
Long live our love...
Love is a school,
Eyes are the lessons in it.
If you learn them, they become sacred truth.
You, too, must fall in love...
For giving you life, for giving this body,
Love your parents...
For giving you language, for giving the way,
Love your teacher...
Even the kin who once left you hungry,
Love your relatives...
Giving their life to protect a life,
Love your friendship...
On the paper of the clouds,
The little lightning that scribbles love,
Love that...
On the golden plate of the earth,
The rain falling like silver coins,
Love that...
Falling away again and again,
Yet growing back over and over,
Love the tender sprout that shoots up...
Waning day after day,
Fading away and yet
Growing again, love the crescent moon...
Love is a school,
Eyes are the lessons in it.
If you learn them, they become sacred truth.
You, too, must fall in love...
Love is our very breath,
Love is our soul's deep thirst,
Love is the blood running in our veins.
You, too, must fall in love...
Fighting off a hawk, a little hen
Flies up and strikes—
Love that fierce anger...
To spread shade, a stand of trees
Bears the burning heat—
Love that sacrifice...
The poverty that teaches you wisdom,
Love that...
The skill that wipes that poverty away,
Love that...
Across lands and forests,
Flowing just like veins,
Love the rivers...
The moment your mother gave birth,
The soil that held you in its lap,
Love that earth...
The symbol of the nation in battle,
Love the national flag...
Enduring pain for that national flag,
Love the army of soldiers...
Love is a school,
Eyes are the lessons in it.
If you learn them, they become sacred truth.
You, too, must fall in love...
Love is our very breath,
Love is our soul's deep thirst,
Love is the blood running in our veins.
You, too, must fall in love...
Chorus
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This anthem-like song expands the definition of 'love' far beyond romantic affection. Written by Vairamuthu, the lyricist frames love as a fundamental school of life and an inherent human drive akin to breathing and blood circulation. Rather than restricting love to romantic partners, the song urges people to love parents, teachers, friends, nature, hardship, and the motherland. Through vivid imagery—such as lightning scribbling on cloud-paper, rain acting as silver coins on earth's golden plate, a mother hen defending her chicks, and soldiers bleeding for the flag—the lyrics elevate love to an all-encompassing philosophy of empathy, resilience, patriotism, and gratitude.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

Kaadhal.. oru pallikoodam

Compares love to a school ('Kaadhal.. oru pallikoodam'), breath ('sondha swaasam'), and blood circulation ('raththa ottam').

Metaphor & Imagery

Megam ennum oru thaalil

Depicts clouds as paper ('Megam ennum oru thaalil') and lightning as a pen scribbling a story ('Kadhai kirukkum siru minnal').

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Neeyum kaadhal sei…

Repeated call to action 'Neeyum kaadhal sei' / 'kaadhal seiga' creates an instructive, inspiring rhythm.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Arivoottidum un varumaiyai / Adhai neekkidum un thiramaiyai

Rhyming of second consonant 'r' in 'Arivoottidum' and 'Adhai neekkidum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kaadhal Oru Pallikoodam' is from the 2003 Tamil film 'Aasai Aasaiyai', which marked the debut of actor Jiiva (son of veteran producer R. B. Choudary). The soundtrack was composed by Mani Sharma, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The song stands out for transforming a typical youth film soundtrack into a philosophical discourse on universal love.

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