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Varnam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Vandhaal

From Varnam · 2011

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Karthik, Swetha Mohan
Music director
Isaac Thomas Kottukapally
Movie name
Varnam
Movie release year
2011
Lyrics added on
16 Feb 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaadhal vandhaal un
Kannin maniyil
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
Kadavul vandhadhum en
Manadhin ullae
Peigal koodi aadidudhae
Kaadhal enbadhu ragasiyam
Nee veliyae sollaadhae
Male :Neruppai pottalam kattida
Ada endrum mudiyaadhe
Kaadhal vandhaal un
Kannin maniyil
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
Malai meedhu varum megam
Pallathakkilum pozhindhidumae
Adhu polae indha kaadhal
Endha nenjilum nuzhaindhidumae
Kaadhal kathi irandum
Unakku kaayam tharum
Female :Andha kaayam kooda
Kaala pokkil inithuvidum
Neer nizhal pol namm kaadhal
Kal vizhundhal kalaiyum
Female :Kal vizhundhaal kulam melae
Valaiyalgal theriyum
Male :Mmmmm indha kaadhal kaayamaa
Kaadhal vandhaal un
Kannin maniyil
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
Kadavul vandhadhum en
Manadhin ullae
Peigal koodi aadidudhae
Varalattril van muraiyaal
Thee vaithathu kaadhal thaan
Female :Aanaalum vzhidhorum
Poo veithathu kaadhal thaan
Moodi vaitha kaadhal
Endrum vaadidumae
Female :Malar moodi veithum
Vaasam ezhil veesidumae
Porundhaadha indha kaadhal
Ini engae poyi mudiyum
Female :Puyal vellam vandhaalum
Maru naalil vidiyum
Male :Mmmmm indha kaadhal maayamaa
Kaadhal vandhaal un
Kannin maniyil
Kadavul uruvam therindhidudhe
Kadavul vandhadhum en
Manadhin ullae
Peigal koodi aadidudhae
Kaadhal enbadhu ragasiyam
Nee veliyae sollaadhae
Male :Neruppai pottalam kattida
Ada endrum mudiyaadhe
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
When love arrives, in your
pupil of the eye,
the image of God appears!
And once God arrives, inside
my heart,
ghosts gather and dance!
Love is a secret,
do not say it out loud.
Male: Trying to wrap fire in a bundle,
oh, can never be done!
When love arrives, in your
pupil of the eye,
the image of God appears!
A cloud that passes over the mountain
pours rain upon the valley too.
Just like that, this love
will enter into any heart!
Both love and a knife
will leave you with a wound.
Female: Even that wound
will turn sweet as time goes by.
Our love is like a reflection in water;
if a stone falls, it shatters.
Female: If a stone falls, upon the pond
ripples like bangles appear.
Male: Mmm... is this love a wound?
When love arrives, in your
pupil of the eye,
the image of God appears!
And once God arrives, inside
my heart,
ghosts gather and dance!
Throughout history, through violence,
it was love that lit the fire.
Female: Even so, all along the path,
it was love that laid down flowers.
A love that is kept hidden
will always wither away.
Female: Even if you cover a flower,
its lovely fragrance will still drift out.
This mismatched love,
where will it end now?
Female: Even if storms and floods come,
the next day will still bring a dawn.
Male: Mmm... is this love magic?
When love arrives, in your
pupil of the eye,
the image of God appears!
And once God arrives, inside
my heart,
ghosts gather and dance!
Love is a secret,
do not say it out loud.
Male: Trying to wrap fire in a bundle,
oh, can never be done!
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Nanananana nanana
Nana nanana
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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