Kadhal Sadugudu
From Alaipayuthey · 2000
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Charan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Alaipayuthey2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4) | Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me |
| Alaiyae sitralaiyae karai vanthu vanthu pogum alaiyae | O wave, little wave, wave that keeps coming and going to the shore |
| Ennai thoduvaai methuvaai padarvaai endraal | If I ask you to touch me softly and spread over me |
| Nuraiyaai karaiyum alaiyae | You are a wave that melts into foam |
| Male | |
| Tholaivil paarthaal aamaam engindraai | When seen from a distance, you say yes |
| Arugil vandhaal illai endraai | When coming close, you say no |
| Male | |
| { Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh | Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh |
| Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2) | Nagila that won't move away oh oh |
| Male | |
| Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae | In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl |
| Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae | In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling |
| Male | |
| { Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4) | Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me |
| Male | |
| Neeratum nerathil en annaiyaginraai | When bathing me, you become my mother |
| Vaazhaatum nerathil en pillaiyaginraai | When comforting me, you become my child |
| Naanaga thottaalo mullaagi poginraai | If I touch you on my own, you turn into a thorn |
| Neeyaga thottaalo poovaga aaginraai | If you touch me on your own, you become a flower |
| Male | |
| En kanneer en thanneer ellamae neeanbae | My tears, my water, everything is you my love |
| En inbam en thunbam ellamae neeanbae | My happiness, my sorrow, everything is you my love |
| En vaazhvum en saavum un kannil asaivilae | My life and my death depend on the movement of your eyes |
| Male | |
| { Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh | Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh |
| Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2) | Nagila that won't move away oh oh |
| Male | |
| Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae | In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl |
| Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae | In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling |
| Male | |
| { Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4) | Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me |
| Male | |
| Un ullam naan kaana ennaayul pothaadhu | A lifetime is not enough for me to understand your heart |
| En anbai naan solla un kaalam pothaadhu | Your time on earth is not enough for me to state my love |
| En kaadhal inaiyenna un nenju kaanaadhu | Your heart cannot fathom the equal of my love |
| Aanaalum en mutham sollaamal pogaadhu | Even so, my kiss will not leave without expressing it |
| Male | |
| Kondaalum kondraalum en sondham needhaanae | Whether you cherish me or destroy me, you are my sole relative |
| Nindraalum sendraalum un sondham naandhaanae | Whether I stay or leave, I am your relative |
| Un vetkai pinnaalae en vaazhkai valaiyumae | My life curves following your passion |
| Male | |
| { Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh | Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh |
| Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2) | Nagila that won't move away oh oh |
| Male | |
| Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae | In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl |
| Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae | In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling |
| Male | |
| { Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4) | Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me |
{ காதல் சடுகுடுகுடு
கண்ணே தொடு தொடு } (4)
அலையே சிற்றலையே
கரை வந்து வந்து போகும்
அலையே என்னைத் தொடுவாய்
மெதுவாய்ப் படா்வாய் என்றால்
நுரையாய்க் கரையும் அலையே
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
O wave, little wave, wave that keeps coming and going to the shore
If I ask you to touch me softly and spread over me
You are a wave that melts into foam
தொலைவில் பாா்த்தால்
ஆமாம் என்கின்றாய் அருகில்
வந்தால் இல்லை என்றாய்
When seen from a distance, you say yes
When coming close, you say no
{ நகில நகில நகிலா
ஓ ஓ ஓ விலகிடாது நகிலா ஓ ஓ } (2)
Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh
Nagila that won't move away oh oh
பழகும்பொழுது
குமாியாகி என்னை
வெல்வாய் பெண்ணே
படுக்கை அறையில்
குழந்தையாகி என்னைக்
கொல்வாய் கண்ணே
In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl
In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling
{ காதல் சடுகுடுகுடு
கண்ணே தொடு தொடு } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
நீராட்டும் நேரத்தில்
என் அன்னையாகின்றாய்
வாலாட்டும் நேரத்தில் என்
பிள்ளையாகின்றாய் நானாக
தொட்டாலோ முள்ளாகிப்
போகின்றாய் நீயாக தொட்டாலோ
பூவாக ஆகின்றாய்
When bathing me, you become my mother
When comforting me, you become my child
If I touch you on my own, you turn into a thorn
If you touch me on your own, you become a flower
என் கண்ணீா் என்
தண்ணீா் எல்லாமே நீயன்பே
என் இன்பம் என் துன்பம்
எல்லாமே நீயன்பே என்
வாழ்வும் என் சாவும் உன்
கண்ணில் அசைவிலே
My tears, my water, everything is you my love
My happiness, my sorrow, everything is you my love
My life and my death depend on the movement of your eyes
{ நகில நகில நகிலா
ஓ ஓ ஓ விலகிடாது நகிலா ஓ ஓ } (2)
Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh
Nagila that won't move away oh oh
பழகும்பொழுது
குமாியாகி என்னை
வெல்வாய் பெண்ணே
படுக்கை அறையில்
குழந்தையாகி என்னைக்
கொல்வாய் கண்ணே
In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl
In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling
{ காதல் சடுகுடுகுடு
கண்ணே தொடு தொடு } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
உன் உள்ளம் நான்
காண என்னாயுள் போதாது
என் அன்பை நான் சொல்ல
உன் காலம் போதாது என்
காதல் இணையென்ன உன்
நெஞ்சு காணாது ஆனாலும்
என் முத்தம் சொல்லாமல் போகாது
A lifetime is not enough for me to understand your heart
Your time on earth is not enough for me to state my love
Your heart cannot fathom the equal of my love
Even so, my kiss will not leave without expressing it
கொண்டாலும் கொன்றாலும்
என் சொந்தம் நீதானே நின்றாலும்
சென்றாலும் உன் சொந்தம் நான்தானே
உன் வேட்கை பின்னாலே என் வாழ்க்கை
வளையுமே
Whether you cherish me or destroy me, you are my sole relative
Whether I stay or leave, I am your relative
My life curves following your passion
{ நகில நகில நகிலா
ஓ ஓ ஓ விலகிடாது நகிலா ஓ ஓ } (2)
Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh
Nagila that won't move away oh oh
பழகும்பொழுது
குமாியாகி என்னை
வெல்வாய் பெண்ணே
படுக்கை அறையில்
குழந்தையாகி என்னைக்
கொல்வாய் கண்ணே
In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl
In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling
{ காதல் சடுகுடுகுடு
கண்ணே தொடு தொடு } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
Alaiyae sitralaiyae karai vanthu vanthu pogum alaiyae
O wave, little wave, wave that keeps coming and going to the shore
Ennai thoduvaai methuvaai padarvaai endraal
If I ask you to touch me softly and spread over me
Nuraiyaai karaiyum alaiyae
You are a wave that melts into foam
Tholaivil paarthaal aamaam engindraai
When seen from a distance, you say yes
Arugil vandhaal illai endraai
When coming close, you say no
{ Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh
Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh
Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2)
Nagila that won't move away oh oh
Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae
In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl
Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae
In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
Neeratum nerathil en annaiyaginraai
When bathing me, you become my mother
Vaazhaatum nerathil en pillaiyaginraai
When comforting me, you become my child
Naanaga thottaalo mullaagi poginraai
If I touch you on my own, you turn into a thorn
Neeyaga thottaalo poovaga aaginraai
If you touch me on your own, you become a flower
En kanneer en thanneer ellamae neeanbae
My tears, my water, everything is you my love
En inbam en thunbam ellamae neeanbae
My happiness, my sorrow, everything is you my love
En vaazhvum en saavum un kannil asaivilae
My life and my death depend on the movement of your eyes
{ Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh
Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh
Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2)
Nagila that won't move away oh oh
Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae
In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl
Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae
In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
Un ullam naan kaana ennaayul pothaadhu
A lifetime is not enough for me to understand your heart
En anbai naan solla un kaalam pothaadhu
Your time on earth is not enough for me to state my love
En kaadhal inaiyenna un nenju kaanaadhu
Your heart cannot fathom the equal of my love
Aanaalum en mutham sollaamal pogaadhu
Even so, my kiss will not leave without expressing it
Kondaalum kondraalum en sondham needhaanae
Whether you cherish me or destroy me, you are my sole relative
Nindraalum sendraalum un sondham naandhaanae
Whether I stay or leave, I am your relative
Un vetkai pinnaalae en vaazhkai valaiyumae
My life curves following your passion
{ Nagila nagila nagilaa oh oh oh
Nagila nagila nagila oh oh oh
Vilagidaathu nagilaa oh oh } (2)
Nagila that won't move away oh oh
Pazhagumpozhudhu kumariyaagi ennai velvaai pennae
In companionship, you become a maiden and conquer me, girl
Padukai araiyil kuzhandhaiyaagi ennai kolvaai kannae
In the bedroom, you become a child and captivate me, darling
{ Kaadhal sadugudugudu kannae thodu thodu } (4)
Love plays kabaddi, my darling touch me touch me
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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