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Isaimozhi
Thaalam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Yogi

From Thaalam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
T. L. Maharajan, Swarnalatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Thaalam
Movie release year
1999
Lyrics added on
6 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaadhal ennum thaen kudithaal
Paithiyam pidikkum
Kaadhal thaen ennai kudithaal
Enna dhaan nadakkum
Bodhai thandhu theliya seidhu
Nyaanam tharuvadhu kaadhal dhaan
{Hey kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy }(2)
Naan kaadhal madhuvai
Kudithuvitten
Kinnam udaiyum
Naanae udaindhuvitaen
Oru nodiyil
Nyaanam adaindhuvitten
Hey kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy
Naan kaadhal madhuvai
Kudithuvitten
Kinnam udaiyum
Naanae udaindhuvitaen
Oru nodiyil
Nyaanam adaindhuvitten
Andha nyaanathil
Yugangalai kadanthuvitten
Oru kaadhal vandhaal
Bogi bogi
Kaadhal ponaal yogi yogi
Kaadhal yogi
{Hey kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy } (2)
{Hey kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy} (2)
{Nee kaadhal madhuvai
Kudithuvittaai
Andha madhuvukku manasai
Vilai koduthaai} (2)
Oru nodiyil
Nyaanam adaindhuvitten
Andha nyaanathil
Yugangalai kadanthuvitten
Oru kaadhal vandhaal
Bogi bogi
Kaadhal ponaal yogi yogi
Kaadhal yogi
Ye kaadhal yogi…….
Ye kaadhal yogi
Hoy hoy hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy
Hey kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy
{Ho oru siru kili paarthen
Vaanathilae
Manam sikki kondadhae siraginilae} (2)
Naan vaanathil yeriya nerathilae
Kili vannam maraindhadhu megathilae
Naan vaanam endra ondril indru
Kaattil vaazhum kaadhal yogi aanenae
Ye kaadhal yogi…….
Ye kaadhal yogi yogi yogi
Ye kaadhal yogi…….
Ye kaadhal yogi yogi yogi yogi
Ohhhh kaadhalil sondhangal valarthen
Bandham aruthen
Ho ho naan ennaiyum manadhaiyum
Tholaithen
{Manam tholaindhum
Kaadhalai tholaikkavillai
Ada unnai pondra yogi yaarum
Pirakkavillai } (2)
Hoo manam tholaindhum
Ninaivugal marakkavillai
Avai tholaindhaal en uyir enakku illai
Naan kaadhal mattum patri kondu
Kaanum ulagam vitta yogi aanenae
Hey kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy
Thana dhina nana
Dhira thana dhira thana
Dhira thana dhira thana
Naan kaadhal yogi yogi
Naan kaadhal yogi yogi
Kaadhal yogi kaadhal yogi
Yogi yogi kaadhal yogi
Female :Kaadhal yogi kaadhal yogi
Kaadhal yogi kaadhal yogi
Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
Male :Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
Female :Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
If you drink the honey of love,
you will go mad.
But if the honey of love drinks me,
what will happen?
Intoxicating and then sobering you up,
it is love that brings true wisdom.
{Hey, hermit of love,
hermit of love, hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy} (2)
I have drunk
the wine of love.
Before the cup could break,
I broke apart myself!
In a single moment,
I gained wisdom.
Hey, hermit of love,
hermit of love, hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy!
I have drunk
the wine of love.
Before the cup could break,
I broke apart myself!
In a single moment,
I gained wisdom.
In that wisdom,
I crossed entire ages!
When love arrives,
you indulge in pleasure;
when love departs, you become a hermit!
Hermit of love!
{Hey, hermit of love,
hermit of love, hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy} (2)
{Hey, hermit of love,
hermit of love, hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy} (2)
{You drank
the wine of love,
and for that wine,
you paid with your heart!} (2)
In a single moment,
I gained wisdom.
In that wisdom,
I crossed entire ages!
When love arrives,
you indulge in pleasure;
when love departs, you become a hermit!
Hermit of love!
Hey, hermit of love...
Hey, hermit of love!
Hoy hoy hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy!
Hey, hermit of love,
hermit of love, hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy!
{Oh, I saw a little parrot
up in the sky,
and my heart got caught in its wings!} (2)
By the time I reached the sky,
the parrot's colors vanished in the clouds.
Today, in that very sky,
I became a hermit of love living in the wilderness.
Hey, hermit of love...
Hey, hermit of love, yogi, yogi!
Hey, hermit of love...
Hey, hermit of love, yogi, yogi, yogi!
Oh, in love I nurtured bonds of affection,
yet cut away all worldly ties.
Ho ho, I lost myself
and my heart!
{Even though your mind was lost,
you never lost your love.
Ah, a hermit like you
was never born!} (2)
Though my mind was lost,
my memories did not fade.
If they are lost, my life is gone.
Holding on only to love,
I became a hermit who left the worldly life behind.
Hey, hermit of love,
hermit of love, hoy hoy,
hoy hoy hoy hoy!
Thana dhina nana,
thira thana thira thana,
thira thana thira thana.
I am a hermit of love, a yogi,
I am a hermit of love, a yogi!
Hermit of love, hermit of love,
yogi, yogi, hermit of love!
Female: Hermit of love, hermit of love!
Hermit of love, hermit of love!
Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy!
Male: Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy!
Female: Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song explores the spiritual and philosophical transformation brought about by love. It metaphorically depicts love as a potent nectar that intoxicates yet ultimately bestows deep wisdom (nyaanam) and enlightenment. The protagonist transitions from a pleasure-seeker (bogi) to a spiritual renunciate (yogic kaadhal yogi) after experiencing the intoxicating ecstasy and eventual heartache of love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Edhir-sol)

Oru kaadhal vandhaal Bogi bogi / Kaadhal ponaal yogi yogi

Contrasting the worldly pleasure-seeker (Bogi) with the spiritual renunciate (Yogi) to show how love completely alters one's state of mind.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaadhal ennum thaen kudithaal

Love is compared to honey/wine (thaen / madhu) that intoxicates the soul.

Paradox (Muranaaniudane)

Bodhai thandhu theliya seidhu / Nyaanam tharuvadhu kaadhal dhaan

Intoxication usually causes confusion, but here love's intoxication leads to clarity and spiritual enlightenment (nyaanam).

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhukai)

Kinnam udaiyum / Naanae udaindhuvitaen

The second letter harmony in adjacent lines ('Kaadhal' and 'Paithiyam' / 'Kinnam' and 'Naanae').

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is the Tamil version composed by A.R. Rahman for the 1999 movie 'Thaalam' (dubbed from Subhash Ghai's Bollywood blockbuster 'Taal'). The original Hindi composition was titled 'Kya Dekh Rahe Ho' / 'Ishq Bina Yogi'.

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