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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaadhal Rojave

From Roja · 1992

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Sujatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Roja
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
15 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa aa aa a a aah … aa aa aa a a aah
Aa aa a aa aaa… a a aa a aa aaa…
{ Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engae
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannae } (2)
Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhan
Kanmoodi paarthaal nenjukkul needhan
Ennaanadho edhaanadho sol sol
Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engae
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannae
Lala lala lala laa lala laa laa…
Lala lala lala laa lala laa laa…
Lalala laalla laa laa lala lalala laallaa…
Lalala laalla laa lala lalala laallaa…
Thendral ennai theendinaal selai theendum nyaabagam
China pookkal paarkaiyil dhegam paartha nyaabagam
Velli odai pesinaal sonna vaarthai nyaabagam
Megam rendum sergaiyil mogam konda nyaabagam
Vaayillaamal ponaal vaarthai illai pennae
Neeyillaamal ponaal vaazhkkai illai kannae
Mullodudhan muthangalaa sol sol…
Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engae
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannae
Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhan
Kanmoodi paarthaal nenjukkul needhan
Ennaanadho edhaanadho sol sol…
Aa aa aa a a aah… aa aa aa a a aah
Aa aa a aa aaa… a a aa a aa aaa…
Veesugindra thendralae velai illai nindru po
Pesugindra vennilaa penmai illai oindhu po
Poo valartha thottamae koondhal illai theirndhu po
Boomi paarkum vaanamae pulliyaaga theindhu po
Paavai illai paavai thevai enna thevai
Jeevan pona pinnae sevai enna sevai
Mullodudhan muthangalaa sol sol…
Kaadhal rojavae engae nee engae
Kanneer vazhiyudhadi kannae
Kannukkul needhan kanneeril needhan
Kanmoodi paarthaal nenjukkul needhan
Ennaanadho edhaanadho sol sol..
Aa aa aa a a aah… Aa aa aa a a aah
Aa aa a aa aaa… a a aa a aa aaa…
Aa aa aa a a aah … Aa aa aa a a aah
Aa aa a aa aah… a a aa a aa aah…
{ O rose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Tears are streaming down, my darling. } (2)
You are in my eyes, you are in my tears.
When I close my eyes, you are inside my heart.
What happened, what went wrong? Tell me, tell me.
O rose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Tears are streaming down, my darling.
La la la la la la la la la…
La la la la la la la la la…
Lalala laalla la la lala lalala laalla…
Lalala laalla la lala lalala laalla…
When the gentle breeze touches me, I remember the brush of your saree.
When I look at little flowers, I remember the sight of your body.
When the silver stream murmurs, I remember the words you spoke.
When two clouds merge together, I remember the passion we shared.
Without a mouth, words cannot exist, my girl.
Without you, life cannot exist, my darling.
Are kisses meant to come only with thorns? Tell me, tell me…
O rose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Tears are streaming down, my darling.
You are in my eyes, you are in my tears.
When I close my eyes, you are inside my heart.
What happened, what went wrong? Tell me, tell me…
Aa aa aa a a aah… Aa aa aa a a aah
Aa aa a aa aah… a a aa a aa aah…
O blowing breeze, you have no purpose here, stop blowing.
O shining silver moon, my woman is not here, fade and rest.
O garden that grew flowers, there is no hair to wear them, wither away.
O sky looking down on earth, shrink into a dot and disappear.
My beloved is gone, what need is there for anything else?
Once life has departed, what is the use of tending to the body?
Are kisses meant to come only with thorns? Tell me, tell me…
O rose of my love, where are you, where are you?
Tears are streaming down, my darling.
You are in my eyes, you are in my tears.
When I close my eyes, you are inside my heart.
What happened, what went wrong? Tell me, tell me..
Aa aa aa a a aah… Aa aa aa a a aah
Aa aa a aa aah… a a aa a aa aah…
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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