Kadhal Vandhaal
From Varnam · 2011
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singers
- Karthik, Swetha Mohan
- Music director
- Isaac Thomas Kottukapally
- Details
- Varnam2011
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaadhal vandhaal un | When love arrives, in your |
| Kannin maniyil | Pupil of the eye |
| Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe | The divine form of God becomes visible. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vandhadhum en | The moment God arrives, inside |
| Manadhin ullae | My mind and heart |
| Peigal koodi aadidudhae | Demons assemble and dance! |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal enbadhu ragasiyam | Love is a secret |
| Nee veliyae sollaadhae | Do not reveal it outside. |
| Male :Neruppai pottalam kattida | Male: To wrap fire inside a paper packet |
| Ada endrum mudiyaadhe | Hey, it is never possible! |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal vandhaal un | When love arrives, in your |
| Kannin maniyil | Pupil of the eye |
| Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe | The divine form of God becomes visible. |
| Female | |
| Malai meedhu varum megam | The cloud that floats over the mountain |
| Pallathakkilum pozhindhidumae | Will pour rain down in the valley too. |
| Adhu polae indha kaadhal | Just like that, this love |
| Endha nenjilum nuzhaindhidumae | Will enter into any heart. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal kathi irandum | Love is a double-edged sword |
| Unakku kaayam tharum | It will inflict a wound upon you. |
| Female :Andha kaayam kooda | Female: Even that wound |
| Kaala pokkil inithuvidum | Will turn sweet with the passage of time. |
| Male | |
| Neer nizhal pol namm kaadhal | Our love is like a reflection on water |
| Kal vizhundhal kalaiyum | If a stone falls, it shatters. |
| Female :Kal vizhundhaal kulam melae | Female: If a stone falls, upon the pond |
| Valaiyalgal theriyum | Ripples resembling bangles appear. |
| Male :Mmmmm indha kaadhal kaayamaa | Male: Mmmmm, is this love a wound? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal vandhaal un | When love arrives, in your |
| Kannin maniyil | Pupil of the eye |
| Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe | The divine form of God becomes visible. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vandhadhum en | The moment God arrives, inside |
| Manadhin ullae | My mind and heart |
| Peigal koodi aadidudhae | Demons assemble and dance! |
| Male | |
| Varalattril van muraiyaal | Throughout history, through violent means |
| Thee vaithathu kaadhal thaan | It was love that set things ablaze. |
| Female :Aanaalum vzhidhorum | Female: Yet along every pathway |
| Poo veithathu kaadhal thaan | It was love that laid down flowers. |
| Male | |
| Moodi vaitha kaadhal | A love that is kept concealed and covered |
| Endrum vaadidumae | Will always wither away. |
| Female :Malar moodi veithum | Female: Even if a flower is wrapped up |
| Vaasam ezhil veesidumae | Its beautiful fragrance will still spread around. |
| Male | |
| Porundhaadha indha kaadhal | Where will this mismatched love |
| Ini engae poyi mudiyum | Go and end up now? |
| Female :Puyal vellam vandhaalum | Female: Even if storms and floods come |
| Maru naalil vidiyum | A new day will dawn the next morning. |
| Male :Mmmmm indha kaadhal maayamaa | Male: Mmmmm, is this love an illusion? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal vandhaal un | When love arrives, in your |
| Kannin maniyil | Pupil of the eye |
| Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe | The divine form of God becomes visible. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul vandhadhum en | The moment God arrives, inside |
| Manadhin ullae | My mind and heart |
| Peigal koodi aadidudhae | Demons assemble and dance! |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal enbadhu ragasiyam | Love is a secret |
| Nee veliyae sollaadhae | Do not reveal it outside. |
| Male :Neruppai pottalam kattida | Male: To wrap fire inside a paper packet |
| Ada endrum mudiyaadhe | Hey, it is never possible! |
| Female | |
| Nanananana nanana | Nanananana nanana |
| Nana nanana | Nana nanana |
| Nanananana nanana | Nanananana nanana |
| Nana nanana | Nana nanana |
காதல் வந்தால் உன்
கண்ணின் மணியில்
கடவுள் உருவம் தெரிந்திடுதே
When love arrives, in your
Pupil of the eye
The divine form of God becomes visible.
கடவுள் வந்தும் என்
மனதின் உள்ளே
பேய்கள் கூடி ஆடிடுதே
The moment God arrives, inside
My mind and heart
Demons assemble and dance!
காதல் என்பது ரகசியம்
நீ வெளியே சொல்லாதே
நெருப்பை பொட்டலம் கட்டிட
அட என்றும் முடியாதே
Love is a secret
Do not reveal it outside.
Male: To wrap fire inside a paper packet
Hey, it is never possible!
காதல் வந்தால் உன்
கண்ணின் மணியில்
கடவுள் உருவம் தெரிந்திடுதே
When love arrives, in your
Pupil of the eye
The divine form of God becomes visible.
மலை மீது வரும் மேகம்
பள்ளத்தாக்கிலும் பொழிந்திடுமே
அது போலே இந்தக் காதல்
எந்த நெஞ்சிலும் நுழைந்திடுமே
The cloud that floats over the mountain
Will pour rain down in the valley too.
Just like that, this love
Will enter into any heart.
காதல் கத்தி இரண்டும்
உனக்கு காயம் தரும்
அந்த காயம் கூட
காலப்போக்கில் இனித்துவிடும்
Love is a double-edged sword
It will inflict a wound upon you.
Female: Even that wound
Will turn sweet with the passage of time.
நீர் நிழல் போல் நம் காதல்
கல் விழுந்தால் கலையும்
கல் விழுந்தால் குளம் மேலே
வளையல்கள் தெரியும்
ம்ம்ம்ம் இந்த காதல் காயமா
Our love is like a reflection on water
If a stone falls, it shatters.
Female: If a stone falls, upon the pond
Ripples resembling bangles appear.
Male: Mmmmm, is this love a wound?
காதல் வந்தால் உன்
கண்ணின் மணியில்
கடவுள் உருவம் தெரிந்திடுதே
When love arrives, in your
Pupil of the eye
The divine form of God becomes visible.
கடவுள் வந்தும் என்
மனதின் உள்ளே
பேய்கள் கூடி ஆடிடுதே
The moment God arrives, inside
My mind and heart
Demons assemble and dance!
வரலாற்றில் வன்முறையால்
தீ வைத்தது காதல் தான்
ஆனாலும் வழிதோறும்
பூ வைத்தது காதல் தான்
Throughout history, through violent means
It was love that set things ablaze.
Female: Yet along every pathway
It was love that laid down flowers.
மூடி வைத்த காதல்
என்றும் வாடிடுமே
மலர் மூடி வைத்தும்
வாசம் எழில் வீசிடுமே
A love that is kept concealed and covered
Will always wither away.
Female: Even if a flower is wrapped up
Its beautiful fragrance will still spread around.
பொருந்தாத இந்த காதல்
இனி எங்கே போய் முடியும்
புயல் வெள்ளம் வந்தாலும்
மறு நாளில் விடியும்
ம்ம்ம்ம் இந்த காதல் மாயமா
Where will this mismatched love
Go and end up now?
Female: Even if storms and floods come
A new day will dawn the next morning.
Male: Mmmmm, is this love an illusion?
காதல் வந்தால் உன்
கண்ணின் மணியில்
கடவுள் உருவம் தெரிந்திடுதே
When love arrives, in your
Pupil of the eye
The divine form of God becomes visible.
கடவுள் வந்தும் என்
மனதின் உள்ளே
பேய்கள் கூடி ஆடிடுதே
The moment God arrives, inside
My mind and heart
Demons assemble and dance!
காதல் என்பது ரகசியம்
நீ வெளியே சொல்லாதே
நெருப்பை பொட்டலம் கட்டிட
அட என்றும் முடியாதே
Love is a secret
Do not reveal it outside.
Male: To wrap fire inside a paper packet
Hey, it is never possible!
நானானானன னானனா
னானாநானனா
நானானானன னானனா
னானாநானனா
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Kaadhal vandhaal un
When love arrives, in your
Kannin maniyil
Pupil of the eye
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
The divine form of God becomes visible.
Kadavul vandhadhum en
The moment God arrives, inside
Manadhin ullae
My mind and heart
Peigal koodi aadidudhae
Demons assemble and dance!
Kaadhal enbadhu ragasiyam
Love is a secret
Nee veliyae sollaadhae
Do not reveal it outside.
Male :Neruppai pottalam kattida
Male: To wrap fire inside a paper packet
Ada endrum mudiyaadhe
Hey, it is never possible!
Kaadhal vandhaal un
When love arrives, in your
Kannin maniyil
Pupil of the eye
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
The divine form of God becomes visible.
Malai meedhu varum megam
The cloud that floats over the mountain
Pallathakkilum pozhindhidumae
Will pour rain down in the valley too.
Adhu polae indha kaadhal
Just like that, this love
Endha nenjilum nuzhaindhidumae
Will enter into any heart.
Kaadhal kathi irandum
Love is a double-edged sword
Unakku kaayam tharum
It will inflict a wound upon you.
Female :Andha kaayam kooda
Female: Even that wound
Kaala pokkil inithuvidum
Will turn sweet with the passage of time.
Neer nizhal pol namm kaadhal
Our love is like a reflection on water
Kal vizhundhal kalaiyum
If a stone falls, it shatters.
Female :Kal vizhundhaal kulam melae
Female: If a stone falls, upon the pond
Valaiyalgal theriyum
Ripples resembling bangles appear.
Male :Mmmmm indha kaadhal kaayamaa
Male: Mmmmm, is this love a wound?
Kaadhal vandhaal un
When love arrives, in your
Kannin maniyil
Pupil of the eye
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
The divine form of God becomes visible.
Kadavul vandhadhum en
The moment God arrives, inside
Manadhin ullae
My mind and heart
Peigal koodi aadidudhae
Demons assemble and dance!
Varalattril van muraiyaal
Throughout history, through violent means
Thee vaithathu kaadhal thaan
It was love that set things ablaze.
Female :Aanaalum vzhidhorum
Female: Yet along every pathway
Poo veithathu kaadhal thaan
It was love that laid down flowers.
Moodi vaitha kaadhal
A love that is kept concealed and covered
Endrum vaadidumae
Will always wither away.
Female :Malar moodi veithum
Female: Even if a flower is wrapped up
Vaasam ezhil veesidumae
Its beautiful fragrance will still spread around.
Porundhaadha indha kaadhal
Where will this mismatched love
Ini engae poyi mudiyum
Go and end up now?
Female :Puyal vellam vandhaalum
Female: Even if storms and floods come
Maru naalil vidiyum
A new day will dawn the next morning.
Male :Mmmmm indha kaadhal maayamaa
Male: Mmmmm, is this love an illusion?
Kaadhal vandhaal un
When love arrives, in your
Kannin maniyil
Pupil of the eye
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
The divine form of God becomes visible.
Kadavul vandhadhum en
The moment God arrives, inside
Manadhin ullae
My mind and heart
Peigal koodi aadidudhae
Demons assemble and dance!
Kaadhal enbadhu ragasiyam
Love is a secret
Nee veliyae sollaadhae
Do not reveal it outside.
Male :Neruppai pottalam kattida
Male: To wrap fire inside a paper packet
Ada endrum mudiyaadhe
Hey, it is never possible!
Nanananana nanana
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Nana nanana
Nanananana nanana
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Nana nanana
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This philosophical duct from the movie 'Varnam' explores the paradoxical and dual nature of love through an engaging dialogue between two perspectives. One view considers love to be fraught with danger, secrets, chaos, and conflict, comparing it to hiding fire or causing wounds. The counterview emphasizes love's resilience, beauty, and redemptive nature—arguing that love transforms wounds into sweetness, survives storms, and spreads its essence like perfume regardless of attempts to hide it.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor & Contrast (Paradox)
“Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe / Peigal koodi aadidudhae”
Contrasts the sacred manifestation of God in the eyes with the chaotic dancing of demons inside the mind, highlighting the inner turbulence of love.
Simile / Analogy
“Malai meedhu varum megam / Pallathakkilum pozhindhidumae”
Compares love to clouds that shower both on high mountains and deep valleys, illustrating love's universal reach without discrimination.
Imagery & Visual Metaphor
“Kal vizhundhaal kulam melae / Valaiyalgal theriyum”
Uses the visual imagery of circular ripples on a pond caused by a falling stone, poetically calling them 'valaiyalgal' (bangles).
Emona / Rhyme Scheme (Anaphora)
“Kaadhal kathi irandum / Unakku kaayam tharum”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('Kaadhal kathi' / 'Kaadhal vandhaal') typical of traditional Tamil prosody (Emona/Mona).
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is composed by Isaac Thomas Kottukapally, an acclaimed composer best known for his background scores in art-house and parallel cinema across Malayalam and Tamil films. The lyrics were penned by national award-winning lyricist Na. Muthukumar, showcasing his signature philosophical dialogue style.
Keep listening
More from Varnam
Varnam
Varnam
Varnam
Varnam