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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Periyadha

From Satham Podathey · 2007

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Sudha Raghunathan
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Satham Podathey2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Female
Kaadhal periyadhaa oh ohIs love greater? Oh oh
Kaamam periyadhaa oh ohIs lust greater? Oh oh
Kaadhal periyadhaa oh ohIs love greater? Oh oh
Kaamam periyadhaa oh ohIs lust greater? Oh oh
Female
Dhaega saalaiyilOn the road of the body
Nadandhu pogaiyil kaamam periyadhuWhile walking on it, lust feels greater
Hey heyHey hey
Dhaegam enbadhai kadandhu pogaiyilWhen transcending the concept of physical body
Kaadhal periyadhu hey heyLove feels greater, hey hey
Female
Ada kaamam illa kaadhalHey, love without lust
Adhu kadhavae illaa veeduThat is like a house without a door
Ada kaadhal illaa kaamamHey, lust without love
Adhu veedae illai kaaduThat is not even a house, it is a wild jungle
Female
Ae… kaamam enbadhuHey... when lust
Udalil vandhadhumArrives in the physical body
Mirugam etti paarkumThe inner beast peeks out
Ae…kaadhal enbadhuHey... when love
Uyiril kalandhadhumBlends into the soul
Unnai punidham aakkumIt turns you sacred
Udal kaamam irandhu pogumThe body and lust will perish
Uyir kaadhal endrum vaazhumThe soul and love will live forever
Chorus
……………………………………….................................
Female
Kaattil naamumWhen we used to live
Vaazhndha podhilaeIn the wild forest
Koochcham nammai theendavillaiyaeShyness never touched us
Meendum sendru kaattilLet us go back to the forest
Vaazhndhu paarpomAnd try living there again
Female
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Hare krishna krishna krishnaHare krishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Hare krishna krishna krishnaHare krishna krishna krishna
Female
Kanavu kandu vaazhndhaalIf one lives only dreaming
Andha vaazhkai vaazhkai illaiThat life is not a real life
Male :Krishna krishna krishnaMale : Krishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Female
Kadaiyai thirakkum podhuWhen the shop opens
Nee kaasai alli veesuThrow and scatter your money
Aasai irukkum podhaeWhile desire still exists
Nee alli kondu oduGrab it and run away
Chorus
Nee alli kondu odu..(4)Grab it and run away..(4)
Female
Andam muzhudhumThe entire universe
AasaidhaanadaIs driven by desire
Pindam muzhudhum bodhai dhaanadaThe entire physical body is filled with intoxication
Unnai ennai vetrikolla vaadaCome to conquer you and me
Female
Kandam unakku pennil dhaanadaDanger for you lies in a woman
Kandam enakku aanil dhaanadaDanger for me lies in a man
Thappi poga thappu seiyya vaadaaCome to commit a mistake in order to escape
Female
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Hare krishna krishna krishnaHare krishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Hare krishna krishna krishnaHare krishna krishna krishna
Female
Kanavu kanda podhuWhen we were dreaming
Nam kangal thirakkavillaiOur eyes were not open
Kannai thirandha podhuWhen we opened our eyes
Andha kanavu angu illaiThat dream was no longer there
Male
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Krishna krishna krishnaKrishna krishna krishna
Female
Kadaiyai thirakkum podhuWhen the shop opens
Nee kaasai alli veesuThrow and scatter your money
Aasai irukkum podhaeWhile desire still exists
Nee alli kondu oduGrab it and run away
Chorus
Nee alli kondu odu..(4)Grab it and run away..(4)
Female
Kaadhal periyadhaa oh ohIs love greater? Oh oh
Kaamam periyadhaa oh ohIs lust greater? Oh oh
Kaadhal periyadhaa oh ohIs love greater? Oh oh
Kaamam periyadhaa oh ohIs lust greater? Oh oh
Female
Dhaega saalaiyilOn the road of the body
Nadandhu pogaiyil kaamam periyadhuWhile walking on it, lust feels greater
Hey heyHey hey
Dhaegam enbadhai kadandhu pogaiyilWhen transcending the concept of physical body
Kaadhal periyadhu hey heyLove feels greater, hey hey
Female
Ae… kaamam enbadhuHey... when lust
Udalil vandhadhumArrives in the physical body
Mirugam etti paarkumThe inner beast peeks out
Ae…kaadhal enbadhuHey... when love
Uyiril kalandhadhumBlends into the soul
Unnai punidham aakkumIt turns you sacred
Udal kaamam irandhu pogumThe body and lust will perish
Uyir kaadhal endrum vaazhumThe soul and love will live forever

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song explores the deep philosophical dichotomy between spiritual love (Kaadhal) and physical desire or lust (Kaamam). Lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar contrasts the transient, primal nature of physical attraction with the enduring, sacred nature of soulful love. While lust is framed as an animalistic physical impulse that perishes with the body, true love is portrayed as a sacred force that binds souls and lasts eternally. The lyrics also touch upon worldly temptations, material pursuits, and the illusory nature of dreams versus reality, presenting a thought-provoking debate on human morality and human nature.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Ada kaamam illa kaadhal / Adhu kadhavae illaa veedu

Comparing love without physical attraction to a house without a door, and lust without love to a wild jungle without shelter.

Antithesis / Contrast

Udal kaamam irandhu pogum / Uyir kaadhal endrum vaazhum

Direct juxtaposition of physical lust perishing with the body versus spiritual love living forever.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Andam muzhudhum / Pindam muzhudhum

Tamil poetic rhyme device where the second letter of consecutive words matches (An-dam / Pin-dam).

Personification

Mirugam etti paarkum

Attributing human/animal peeking behavior to primal instinct within the body.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the context lists the composer as unknown, the soundtrack for 'Satham Podathey' (2007) was actually composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja. The film was directed by Vasanth, and this song received critical acclaim for Na. Muthu Kumar's daring and philosophical lyricism comparing 'Kaadhal' and 'Kaamam'.

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