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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Piriyamal

From Panchathanthiram · 2002

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Kamal Haasan
Music director
Deva
Details
Panchathanthiram2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaadhal piriyaamalWithout love separating
Kavidhai thondraadhuPoetry does not emerge
Kaviyin thiru yettilaeIn the sacred pages of a poet
Pookkal azhiyaamalWithout flowers perishing
Kanigal thondraadhuFruits do not appear
Kodiyin varalaattrilaeIn the history of a vine
Ennai kaviyaai seivaayaaWill you make me into a poem?
Illai kaniyaai seivaayaaOr will you make me into a fruit?
Pazhi podum paavaaiyaeO doll who casts blame!
Male
Kaadhal piriyaamalWithout love separating
Kavidhai thondraadhuPoetry does not emerge
Kaviyin thiru yettilaeIn the sacred pages of a poet
Pookkal azhiyaamalWithout flowers perishing
Kanigal thondraadhuFruits do not appear
Kodiyin varalaattrilaeIn the history of a vine
Ennai kaviyaai seivaayaaWill you make me into a poem?
Illai kaniyaai seivaayaaOr will you make me into a fruit?
Pazhi podum paavaaiyaeO doll who casts blame!
Male
Naayagi ennai neengiyadhaalaeSince my heroine left me
Veedu verichchodi pochuThe house has become deserted
Naarpuram kanneer soozhndhadhanaalaeBecause tears surrounded all four sides
Kattil theevaaga aachuThe bed turned into an island
Male
Manamaagum munbuBefore getting married
Kannan naanaeI was Krishna
Manamaana pinbuAfter getting married
Raaman dhaanaeI became Rama
Adi seethai nee sonnaalHey Sita, if you say so
Indha raaman thee kulippenThis Rama will step into fire
Illai kaatril uyir alappenOr dissolve his life into the air
Chorus
Hoo oo oo hoo oooHoo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo oo oo hoo oooHoo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo oo oo hoo oooHoo oo oo hoo ooo
Hoo oohoo hoo oohooo hoo oohoooHoo oohoo hoo oohooo hoo oohooo
Male
Kaanbavai ellaamIf everything you see
Pizhai endrukondaalIs taken as a mistake
Vaazha mudiyaadhu pennaeOne cannot live, my girl
Kayirugal ellaamIf all ropes
Paambena kandaalAre seen as snakes
Kangal urangaadhu kannaeEyes cannot sleep, my dear
Male
En porvaiyodu undhan veppamYour warmth remains with my blanket
En kangalodu kanneer theppamA raft of tears remains with my eyes
Valaiyodu kanneer nirukkumaaCan water stay inside a net?
Uyir neengi udal nirkkumaaCan a body stand when life leaves it?
Undhan oodal theerumaa…aa…aa…aaWill your lovers' sulk come to an end?
Male
Kaadhal piriyaamalWithout love separating
Kavidhai thondraadhuPoetry does not emerge
Kaviyin thiru yettilaeIn the sacred pages of a poet
Pookkal azhiyaamalWithout flowers perishing
Kanigal thondraadhuFruits do not appear
Kodiyin varalaattrilaeIn the history of a vine
Ennai kaviyaai seivaayaaWill you make me into a poem?
Illai kaniyaai seivaayaaOr will you make me into a fruit?
Pazhi podum paavaaiyaeO doll who casts blame!
Chorus
Mm…mmm…mmm…(2)Mm…mmm…mmm…(2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Panchathanthiram (2002) expresses the poignant grief and longing of a husband suffering from separation after his wife leaves due to a misunderstanding. He compares his pain to the process of creation in nature and literature: just as a flower must perish for a fruit to grow, and heartbreak inspires great poetry, he questions whether their separation will transform him into art or fruit.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kattil theevaaga aachu (

Mythological Allusion & Character Contrast

Manamaagum munbu Kannan naanae / Manamaana pinbu Raaman dhaanae

Compares pre-marriage behavior to the playful Lord Krishna and post-marriage devotion to Lord Rama, emphasizing absolute fidelity.

Analogy

Kayirugal ellaam Paambena kandaal

Uses the illusion of mistaking ropes for snakes to illustrate unfounded suspicion and paranoid mistrust ruining peace of mind.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva with lyrics by Vairamuthu, this song 'Kaadhal Piriyaamal' is sung by Kamal Haasan and Sujatha Mohan. In the film Panchathanthiram, it serves as an emotional yet subtly humorous plea from Ram (Kamal Haasan) trying to win back his wife Mythili (Simran).

Keep listening

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