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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaadhal Rojave

From Roja · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Roja1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa aa aa a a aah … aa aa aa a a aahVocalizing melody
Aa aa a aa aaa… a a aa a aa aaa…Vocalizing melody
Male
{ Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engaeRose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannae } (2)Tears are overflowing, my dear.
Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhanYou are inside my eyes, you are inside my tears.
Kanmoodi paarthaal nenjukkul needhanWhen I close my eyes, you are inside my heart.
Ennaanadho edhaanadho sol solWhat happened, what occurred? Tell me, tell me.
Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engaeRose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannaeTears are overflowing, my dear.
Female
Lala lala lala laa lala laa laa…Lala lala lala laa lala laa laa…
Lala lala lala laa lala laa laa…Lala lala lala laa lala laa laa…
Lalala laalla laa laa lala lalala laallaa…Lalala laalla laa laa lala lalala laallaa…
Lalala laalla laa lala lalala laallaa…Lalala laalla laa lala lalala laallaa…
Male
Thendral ennai theendinaal selai theendum nyaabagamWhen the breeze touches me, it reminds me of your saree touching me.
China pookkal paarkaiyil dhegam paartha nyaabagamWhen I look at tiny flowers, it reminds me of looking at your body.
Velli odai pesinaal sonna vaarthai nyaabagamWhen the silver stream gurgles, it reminds me of the words you spoke.
Megam rendum sergaiyil mogam konda nyaabagamWhen two clouds join together, it reminds me of our passionate love.
Vaayillaamal ponaal vaarthai illai pennaeWithout a mouth, there are no words, my girl.
Neeyillaamal ponaal vaazhkkai illai kannaeWithout you, there is no life, my dear.
Mullodudhan muthangalaa sol sol…Are kisses meant to be given to thorns? Tell me, tell me...
Male
Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engaeRose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannaeTears are overflowing, my dear.
Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhanYou are inside my eyes, you are inside my tears.
Kanmoodi paarthaal nenjukkul needhanWhen I close my eyes, you are inside my heart.
Ennaanadho edhaanadho sol sol…What happened, what occurred? Tell me, tell me...
Female
Aa aa aa a a aah… aa aa aa a a aahVocalizing melody
Aa aa a aa aaa… a a aa a aa aaa…Vocalizing melody
Male
Veesugindra thendralae velai illai nindru poO blowing breeze, you have no task here, stop and cease.
Pesugindra vennilaa penmai illai oindhu poO talking moon, there is no womanhood here, fade away and rest.
Poo valartha thottamae koondhal illai theirndhu poO flower-rearing garden, there are no tresses of hair to adorn, wither away.
Boomi paarkum vaanamae pulliyaaga theindhu poO sky looking down at the earth, shrink into a tiny dot and dissolve.
Paavai illai paavai thevai enna thevaiWhen my woman is not here, what need do I have for any woman?
Jeevan pona pinnae sevai enna sevaiOnce life has departed, what purpose does any service serve?
Mullodudhan muthangalaa sol sol…Are kisses meant to be given to thorns? Tell me, tell me...
Male
Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engaeRose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannaeTears are overflowing, my dear.
Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhanYou are inside my eyes, you are inside my tears.
Kanmoodi paarthaal nenjukkul needhanWhen I close my eyes, you are inside my heart.
Ennaanadho edhaanadho sol sol..What happened, what occurred? Tell me, tell me..
Female
Aa aa aa a a aah… Aa aa aa a a aahVocalizing melody
Aa aa a aa aaa… a a aa a aa aaa…Vocalizing melody

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaadhal Rojavae is a deeply emotional ballad capturing the profound anguish of a man separated from his beloved. He addresses her affectionately as his rose of love and reflects on how every sight and sensation in nature—the cool breeze, blooming flowers, flowing stream, and joining clouds—painfully brings back memories of her intimacy and presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engae

Compares the beloved directly to a rose blooming with love.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhan

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' (Kannukkul / Kanneeril / Kanmoodi).

Personification

Pesugindra vennilaa penmai illai oindhu po

Attributes human qualities like talking to the moon and working to the breeze.

Hyperbole / Rhetorical Question

Jeevan pona pinnae sevai enna sevai

Expresses existential despair by questioning the value of life services after the soul is gone.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kaadhal Rojavae is one of the debut compositions of A. R. Rahman from the landmark film Roja (1992), directed by Mani Ratnam. Sung powerfully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with backing vocals by Sujatha Mohan and lyrics by Vairamuthu, the soundtrack earned Rahman the National Film Award for Best Music Direction, launching his revolutionary career.

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