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Lyrics & meaning

Kadhal Yogi

From Thaalam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
T. L. Maharajan, Swarnalatha
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thaalam1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaadhal ennum thaen kudithaalIf you drink the honey called love
Paithiyam pidikkumYou will go mad
Kaadhal thaen ennai kudithaalIf love's honey drinks me
Enna dhaan nadakkumWhat on earth will happen?
Bodhai thandhu theliya seidhuGiving intoxication and then clearing it
Nyaanam tharuvadhu kaadhal dhaanIt is love that bestows wisdom
Chorus
{Hey kaadhal yogi{Hey love ascetic
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoyLove ascetic hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy }(2)Hoy hoy hoy hoy }(2)
Male
Naan kaadhal madhuvaiI drank love's nectar
KudithuvittenI drank it all
Kinnam udaiyumInstead of the cup breaking
Naanae udaindhuvitaenI myself broke down
Oru nodiyilIn a single moment
Nyaanam adaindhuvittenI attained enlightenment
Chorus
Hey kaadhal yogiHey love ascetic
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoyLove ascetic hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoyHoy hoy hoy hoy
Male
Naan kaadhal madhuvaiI drank love's nectar
KudithuvittenI drank it all
Kinnam udaiyumInstead of the cup breaking
Naanae udaindhuvitaenI myself broke down
Oru nodiyilIn a single moment
Nyaanam adaindhuvittenI attained enlightenment
Andha nyaanathilIn that enlightenment
Yugangalai kadanthuvittenI crossed through ages
Male
Oru kaadhal vandhaalIf love arrives, one becomes a pleasure-seeker
Bogi bogiIf love leaves, one becomes an ascetic
Kaadhal ponaal yogi yogiLove ascetic
Kaadhal yogi{Hey love ascetic
Chorus
{Hey kaadhal yogiLove ascetic hoy hoy
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoyHoy hoy hoy hoy } (2)
Hoy hoy hoy hoy } (2){Hey love ascetic
Female
{Hey kaadhal yogiLove ascetic hoy hoy
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoyHoy hoy hoy hoy} (2)
Hoy hoy hoy hoy} (2){You drank love's nectar
Female
{Nee kaadhal madhuvaiYou drank it all
KudithuvittaaiFor that nectar, your heart
Andha madhuvukku manasaiYou gave as the price} (2)
Vilai koduthaai} (2)In a single moment
Male
Oru nodiyilI attained enlightenment
Nyaanam adaindhuvittenIn that enlightenment
Andha nyaanathilI crossed through ages
Yugangalai kadanthuvittenIf love arrives, one becomes a pleasure-seeker
Male
Oru kaadhal vandhaalIf love leaves, one becomes an ascetic
Bogi bogiLove ascetic
Kaadhal ponaal yogi yogiOh love ascetic...
Kaadhal yogiOh love ascetic
Female
Ye kaadhal yogi…….Hoy hoy hoy hoy
Ye kaadhal yogiHoy hoy hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoyHey love ascetic
Hoy hoy hoy hoyLove ascetic hoy hoy
Chorus
Hey kaadhal yogiHoy hoy hoy hoy
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoy{Oh I saw a little parrot
Hoy hoy hoy hoyIn the sky
Male
{Ho oru siru kili paarthenMy heart got trapped in its wings} (2)
VaanathilaeWhen I ascended into the sky
Manam sikki kondadhae siraginilae} (2)The parrot's color disappeared into the clouds
Naan vaanathil yeriya nerathilaeToday, in the single realm called the sky
Kili vannam maraindhadhu megathilaeI became a love ascetic living in the forest
Naan vaanam endra ondril indruOh love ascetic...
Kaattil vaazhum kaadhal yogi aanenaeOh love ascetic ascetic ascetic
Female
Ye kaadhal yogi…….Oh love ascetic...
Ye kaadhal yogi yogi yogiOh love ascetic ascetic ascetic ascetic
Female
Ye kaadhal yogi…….Oh in love I nurtured relationships
Ye kaadhal yogi yogi yogi yogiI severed all attachments
Male
Ohhhh kaadhalil sondhangal valarthenOh ho I lost myself and my heart
Bandham aruthenI lost them
Ho ho naan ennaiyum manadhaiyum{Even though my heart is lost
TholaithenI haven't lost my love
Female
{Manam tholaindhumAh, no ascetic like you
Kaadhalai tholaikkavillaiHas ever been born} (2)
Ada unnai pondra yogi yaarumOh even though my heart is lost
Pirakkavillai } (2)I haven't forgotten the memories
Male
Hoo manam tholaindhumIf those are lost, my life won't remain mine
Ninaivugal marakkavillaiClinging only to love
Avai tholaindhaal en uyir enakku illaiI became an ascetic who left the worldly realm behind
Naan kaadhal mattum patri konduHey love ascetic
Kaanum ulagam vitta yogi aanenaeLove ascetic hoy hoy
Chorus
Hey kaadhal yogiHoy hoy hoy hoy
Kaadhal yogi hoy hoyRhythmic vocalization (Thana dhina nana)
Hoy hoy hoy hoyRhythmic vocalization (Dhira thana dhira thana)
Male
Thana dhina nanaRhythmic vocalization (Dhira thana dhira thana)
Dhira thana dhira thanaI am a love ascetic
Dhira thana dhira thanaI am a love ascetic
Male
Naan kaadhal yogi yogiLove ascetic love ascetic
Naan kaadhal yogi yogiAscetic ascetic love ascetic
Kaadhal yogi kaadhal yogiFemale: Love ascetic love ascetic
Yogi yogi kaadhal yogiLove ascetic love ascetic
Female :Kaadhal yogi kaadhal yogiHoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
Kaadhal yogi kaadhal yogiMale: Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoyFemale: Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
Male :Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy
Female :Hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy hoy

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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