Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Polladhu

From Thambi Thanga Kambi · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Thambi Thanga Kambi1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aa…aa..Ah... ah... ah...
Male
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathuWomanhood never speaks the truth.
Yaarin nenjam yaarukkendruWhose heart belongs to whom,
Yaarthaan sollakkoodum indruWho can possibly tell today?
Female
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathuWomanhood never speaks the truth.
Male
Vaanavil pola vaazhvaagum endruBelieving that life would become like a rainbow,
Nyaanam kondaenammaa….I gained wisdom, oh dear...
Neela kann kaattum jaalamgal indruThe magical illusions displayed by blue eyes today,
Neril kanadaenammaa….I witnessed them directly, oh dear...
Male
Paavaigal padhaigal paavaigal padhaigalThe paths of women, the paths of women,
Maarum endru paadiya paadalgal nooru unduThere are a hundred songs sung stating that they change.
Thendral theeyaanathae…..haahThe gentle breeze has turned into fire... ah
Thendral theeyaaga nenjam vegumAs the breeze turns to fire, the heart burns.
Female
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathuWomanhood never speaks the truth.
Female
Yaarin nenjam yaarukkendruWhose heart belongs to whom,
Yaarthaan sollakkoodum indruWho can possibly tell today?
Male
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Female :Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathuFemale: Womanhood never speaks the truth.
Female
Aattam naan aada koottangal koodumWhen I dance, crowds gather,
Nottam en meedhuthaanAll eyes are fixed upon me.
Kadhal noi thantha thunbangal podhumEnough of the troubles caused by the disease of love,
Aasai pon meedhuthaanMy desire is now set on gold.
Female
Yaezhaiyaai vaazhalaam yaezhaiyaai vaazhalaamOne can live as a poor person, one can live as a poor person,
Kadhal nenjam bhoomiyil anbu pol yaedhu selvamIn a loving heart on earth, what wealth is equal to love?
Anbai vilai pesuvenI will negotiate a price for love,
Anbai vilai pesa ennaal aagumI am capable of placing a price on love.
Male
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Female :Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathuFemale: Womanhood never speaks the truth.
Female :Yaarin nenjam yaarukkendruFemale: Whose heart belongs to whom,
Yaarthaan sollakkoodum indruWho can possibly tell today?
Female
Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathuLove is wicked; it feels no sorrow.
Male :Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathu….Male: Womanhood never speaks the truth...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses deep cynicism and emotional heartbreak regarding love and human nature. The protagonist laments the deceitful nature of love, feeling betrayed after believing that life would be bright and colorful like a rainbow. Instead, affection has burned out, turning what felt like a gentle breeze into a agonizing flame of betrayal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kadhal pollaathu kaval kollaathu / Penmai ennaalum unmai sollaathu

Repetition of the rhyming suffix '-aathu' across multiple lines ('pollaathu', 'kollaathu', 'sollaathu').

Metaphor & Contrast

Thendral theeyaanathae…..haah / Thendral theeyaaga nenjam vegum

Contrasting 'thendral' (a soft, cool breeze) turning into 'thee' (fire) to symbolize pleasant love morphing into burning grief.

Simile

Vaanavil pola vaazhvaagum endru

Comparing a hopeful life to a rainbow ('vaanavil pola') to show how fleeting and deceptive expectations were.

Metaphor

Kadhal noi thantha thunbangal podhum

Comparing love to an illness ('Kadhal noi') that inflicts suffering.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kadhal Pollaathu' is a song from the 1988 Tamil film 'Thambi Thanga Kambi', starring Vijayakanth and Ramya Krishnan. The film features music composed by Gangai Amaran with lyrics penned by the veteran lyricist Vaali.

Keep listening

More from Thambi Thanga Kambi