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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Sadugudu

From Alaipayuthey · 2000

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Charan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Alaipayuthey
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
7 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Alaiyae sitralaiyae karai vanthu vanthu pogum alaiyae
Ennai thoduvaai methuvaai padarvaai endraal
Nuraiyaai karaiyum alaiyae
Tholaivil paarthaal aamaam engindraai
Arugil vandhaal illai endraai
{ Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh
Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2)
Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae
Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Neeratum nerathil en annaiyaginraai
Vaazhaatum nerathil en pillaiyaginraai
Naanaga thottaalo mullaagi poginraai
Neeyaga thottaalo poovaga aaginraai
En kanneer en thanneer ellamae neeanbae
En inbam en thunbam ellamae neeanbae
En vaazhvum en saavum un kannil asaivilae
{ Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh
Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2)
Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae
Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Un ullam naan kaana ennaayul pothaadhu
En anbai naan solla un kaalam pothaadhu
En kaadhal inaiyenna un nenju kaanaadhu
Aanaalum en mutham sollaamal pogaadhu
Kondaalum kondraalum en sondham needhaanae
Nindraalum sendraalum un sondham naandhaanae
Un vetkai pinnaalae en vaazhkai valaiyumae
{ Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh
Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2)
Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae
Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Love is a game of kabaddi (tag), my darling, touch me, touch me
O wave, little wave, wave that keeps washing ashore and retreating
If I ask you to touch me and softly spread over me
You dissolve away into foam, o wave
When seen from afar, you say yes
When I come close, you say no
Naghila, Naghila, Naghila, oh oh oh
Do not drift away, Naghila, oh oh
When we spend time together, you act like a woman and win me over, girl
In the bedroom, you become an innocent child and drive me crazy, my darling
Love is a game of kabaddi (tag), my darling, touch me, touch me
When you bathe me, you become my mother
When you act playful and mischievous, you become my child
If I try to touch you, you turn into a thorn
If you touch me on your own, you blossom into a flower
My tears, the water I drink—you are everything to me, my love
My joy, my sorrow—you are everything to me, my love
My life and my death rest in the movement of your eyes
Naghila, Naghila, Naghila, oh oh oh
Do not drift away, Naghila, oh oh
When we spend time together, you act like a woman and win me over, girl
In the bedroom, you become an innocent child and drive me crazy, my darling
Love is a game of kabaddi (tag), my darling, touch me, touch me
A single lifetime is not enough for me to understand your heart
Your whole lifetime will not be enough for me to tell you all my love
Your heart will never fathom the measure of my love
Even so, my kisses will never leave it unsaid
Whether you accept me or destroy me, you are mine alone
Whether I stay or leave, I belong only to you
My whole life bends to follow your desires
Naghila, Naghila, Naghila, oh oh oh
Do not drift away, Naghila, oh oh
When we spend time together, you act like a woman and win me over, girl
In the bedroom, you become an innocent child and drive me crazy, my darling
Love is a game of kabaddi (tag), my darling, touch me, touch me
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kaadhal Sadugudugudu is a playful and romantic song from the Tamil movie Alaipayuthey (2000). The song compares love to the traditional Indian sport of Sadugudugudu (Kabaddi), depicting romance as a game of tag where lovers continuously approach, retreat, tease, and surrender to one another. The lyrics describe the heroine's evasive yet captivating nature, comparing her to ocean waves that recede just as they touch the shore. Throughout the track, the male protagonist marvels at the multi-faceted roles his lover plays in his life—acting as a mother, child, flower, thorn, joy, and sorrow all at once. Lyricist Vairamuthu highlights how romantic intimacy transforms everyday moments into a deep, inescapable bond that defines the protagonist's entire existence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Alaiyae sitralaiyae karai vanthu vanthu pogum alaiyae”

Compares love to 'Sadugudugudu' (Kabaddi) and the lover to an ocean wave ('Alaiyae') that constantly advances and recedes.

Antithesis / Oxymoron (Muran)

“Naanaga thottaalo mullaagi poginraai / Neeyaga thottaalo poovaga aaginraai”

Contrasts opposing concepts like thorn ('mullaagi') and flower ('poovaga') to illustrate the dual reaction depending on who initiates physical touch.

Rhyme / Rhythm (Edhukai & Monai)

“En kanneer en thanneer ellamae neeanbae / En inbam en thunbam ellamae neeanbae”

Uses internal rhythmic pairing of rhyming words such as 'kanneer/thanneer' and 'inbam/thunbam' for musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's acclaimed film Alaipayuthey (2000), this track features vocals by Naveen and S. P. B. Charan. The term 'Sadugudugudu' is the traditional South Indian name for Kabaddi, symbolizing the back-and-forth chase inherent to courtship.

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