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Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Panna

From Kovil · 2003

Lyricist
Snehan
Singers
Silambarasan, Tippu, Kovai Kamala, Vadivelu
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Kovil2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Hey oora vittu uravai vittuHey, leaving the village, leaving relatives behind,
Saadhi vittu saamy vittuLeaving caste behind, leaving god behind,
Ellai vittu kollai vittuLeaving boundaries behind, leaving fields behind,
Maanam vittu eeram vittuLeaving honor behind, leaving affection behind,
Manasa mattum paarkumada kaadhalLove looks only at the heart, my friend,
Nalla manasai mattum paarkumada kaadhalLove looks only at a good heart, my friend.
Male
Ennatha solla vara…What are you trying to say...
Female :Yeh appu eduthu viduFemale: Hey, step aside!
Female
Kaadhal panna thimuru irukkaDo you have the audacity to fall in love?
Kaiya pudikka thembu irukkaDo you have the courage to hold her hand?
Unakku yetha ponnu irundhaalIf there is a girl suited for you,
Avalukku unnai pudichu irundhaalAnd if she likes you too,
Kallathanama kaadhal pannuLove her in secret,
Oor ariya kalyaanam pannuAnd marry her with the whole town knowing!
Female
Hei kaadhal panna thimuru irukkaHey, do you have the audacity to fall in love?
Kaiya pudikka thembu irukkaDo you have the courage to hold her hand?
Unakku yetha ponnu irundhaalIf there is a girl suited for you,
Avalukku unnai pudichu irundhaalAnd if she likes you too,
Kallathanama kaadhal pannuLove her in secret,
Oor ariya kalyaanam pannuAnd marry her with the whole town knowing!
Female
Paeraa peraa sella paeraaGrandson, sweet grandson,
Jora jora love pannu paeraaLove grandly and with passion, my grandson!
Male
Ponnungala namburadhu thappuBelieving women is a mistake,
Kavundhuputta oorellaam kappuIf you fall, the entire town will stink with scandal,
Kaadhal oru vaaliba mappuLove is a youthful intoxication,
Irangiputtaa onnumillai chappuOnce it wears off, nothing is left but tastelessness,
Nenjukkulla venumada uppuYou need grit inside your heart,
Illainnaaka en kadhi dhaan appuOtherwise, my fate will be doomed!
Male
Aatha aatha sollu aathaGrandmother, tell me grandmother,
Kaadhal ellaam enna pannum aathaWhat will love do, grandmother?
Female
Ozhukkathilae ramana irungaBe like Rama in moral character,
Seethaingala thedi dhaan pudingaSearch and find your Sita!
Devadasa marangada modhallaFirst forget about being a tragic Devadas,
Manmadhana nenaingada adhilaeInstead, think of yourself as Manmatha, the god of love!
Kettiyaana kaadhalai odaikkaTo break a strong and true love,
Kombanaalum mudiyaadhu ingaeEven a mighty person cannot succeed here!
Female
Paeraa paeraaMale :Enna kilaviGrandson, grandson... Male: What, old woman?
Female :Sella paeraaMale :Sollu solluFemale: Sweet grandson... Male: Tell me, tell me!
Female :Joara joara love pannu paeraaFemale: Love passionately and grandly, my grandson!
Male
Enna pudicha ponna naan paarthenI saw a girl who liked me,
En manasai avakitta koduthen…ahhaaa……I gave my heart to her... ahhaaa...
Enna pudicha ponna naan paarthenI saw a girl who liked me,
En manasai avakitta koduthenI gave my heart to her,
Male
Ava appan kovakaaranHer father is a short-tempered man,
Ava annan kooda avasara kaaranHer brother is an impetuous man,
Eppadi naan sarikatta porenHow am I going to handle them?
Eppa naanum jodi sera porenWhen am I going to unite with her?
Male
Aatha aatha sollu aathaGrandmother, tell me grandmother,
En kaadhalukku vazhi enna aathaWhat is the way forward for my love, grandmother?
Female
Sandhaiyila appanoda paarthaalIf you see her with her father in the market,
Vettiyathaan irakki nee vidu daaHumbly lower your veshti down to your ankles!
Koyilula aathavoda paarthaIf you see her with her mother at the temple,
Pattunu dhaan kaalula vizhudaInstantly fall at her feet to seek blessings!
Bus-u-kulla paattiyoda paarthaalIf you see her with her grandmother inside a bus,
Idam koduthu ticket-aiyum edu daaOffer your seat and buy her a ticket too!
Female
Paera paera sella paeraGrandson, sweet grandson,
Ava annan kitta edu nalla peraaEarn a good name with her brother!
Female
Kaadhal panna thimuru irukkaDo you have the audacity to fall in love?
Kaiya pudikka thembu irukkaDo you have the courage to hold her hand?
Unakku yetha ponnu irundhaalIf there is a girl suited for you,
Avalukku unnai pudichu irundhaalAnd if she likes you too,
Kallathanama kaadhal pannuLove her in secret,
Oor ariya kalyaanam pannuAnd marry her with the whole town knowing!
Oor ariya kalyaanam pannu….aahhMarry her with the whole town knowing... aahh

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from 'Kovil' (2003) is a lively folk dialogue between a young man and his spirited grandmother. The track unpacks the courage and maturity needed to pursue romance in a traditional village setting. Rather than advocating for dramatic, tragic love, the grandmother advises her grandson to abandon self-pity and instead approach love with confidence, self-respect, and moral discipline like Lord Rama.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Esaibu / Rhyming Refrain (Iyaibu)

Hey oora vittu uravai vittu / Saadhi vittu saamy vittu

Repetition of the ending verb phrase 'vittu' creates a rhythmic cadence emphasizing total detachment from social norms.

Metaphor

Kaadhal oru vaaliba mappu / Irangiputtaa onnumillai chappu

Comparing love to youthful intoxication ('vaaliba mappu') that leaves behind empty insipidity if not handled with substance.

Cultural Allusion & Contrast

Ozhukkathilae ramana irunga ... Devadasa marangada modhalla / Manmadhana nenaingada adhilae

Contrasting the self-destructive lover archetype 'Devadas' with 'Manmatha' (the lord of love) and 'Rama' (the ideal man of discipline).

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paeraa peraa sella paeraa

Matching initial consonant sounds 'Pa' across words in the line for musical effect.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Harris Jayaraj with lyrics by Snehan for the Silambarasan (Simbu) starrer 'Kovil' (2003), this track mixes vibrant Tamil folk percussion with playful generational advice, presenting love as an act requiring genuine guts and social wisdom.

Keep listening

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