Kadhalaam Kadavul Mun
From Uttama Villain · 2015
- Lyricist
- Kamal Haasan
- Singer
- Padmalatha
- Music director
- Ghibran
- Details
- Uttama Villain2015
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kadhalaam kadavul mun | Before the God called Love |
| Kankalaam kovilil | In the temple of the eyes |
| Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai | The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship |
| Female | |
| Kadhalaam kadavul mun | Before the God called Love |
| Kankalaam kovilil | In the temple of the eyes |
| Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai | The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship |
| Female | |
| Kadhalaam kadavul mun | Before the God called Love |
| Kankalaam kovilil | In the temple of the eyes |
| Female | |
| Kaamamam kadum punal | Lust is a fierce rushing stream |
| Kadanthidum padakithu | This boat crosses through it |
| Female | |
| Aasaiyaa paai maram | Desire is the sail |
| Amainthathor padagithu | This boat is fashioned with it |
| Female | |
| Karaiyai thedi alaiyum neram | While searching and wandering for the shore |
| Uyirum mezhugaao uruguthae | The soul melts like wax |
| Female | |
| Veenaiyaai meettum viralgal polae | Like fingers plucking the Veena |
| Sundi sundi enai meetti magizhnthidum | Flicking and plucking me to delight |
| Female | |
| Kadhalaam | Love... |
| Male :Oo | Male: Oo |
| Female :Kangalaam | Female: Eyes... |
| Male :Oo | Male: Oo |
| Female :Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai | Female: The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship |
| Female | |
| Pirinthavar koodinaal | When separated lovers unite |
| Pesavum vendumaa | Is there even a need to speak? |
| Female | |
| Mogaththai sollida | To express passion |
| Mozhiyum orr thadai aagumo | Will language become an obstacle? |
| Female | |
| Isaiyin kaalam kanikkum thaalam | Like the rhythm that calculates the timing of music |
| Pola ennudan kalakkavaa | Won't you merge with me like that? |
| Female | |
| Inbam alaiyin sigaram saerkka | To take bliss to the peak of the wave |
| Konji konji en seviyil pesidum | Cooing and whispering in my ear |
| Female | |
| Kadhalaam kadavul mun | Before the God called Love |
| Kankalaam kovilil | In the temple of the eyes |
| Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai | The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship |
| Female | |
| Aaraathanai aaraathanai | Worship, worship |
| Aaraathanai aaraathanai | Worship, worship |
காதலாம் கடவுள் முன்
கண்களாம் கோவிலில்
தேகத்தின் தாகமே ஆராதனை ஆராதனை
Before the God called Love
In the temple of the eyes
The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
காதலாம் கடவுள் முன்
கண்களாம் கோவிலில்
தேகத்தின் தாகமே ஆராதனை ஆராதனை
Before the God called Love
In the temple of the eyes
The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
காதலாம் கடவுள் முன்
கண்களாம் கோவிலில்
Before the God called Love
In the temple of the eyes
காமமாம் கடும் புனல்
கடந்திடும் படகிது
Lust is a fierce rushing stream
This boat crosses through it
ஆசையா பாய் மரம்
அமைந்ததோர் படகிது
Desire is the sail
This boat is fashioned with it
கரையை தேடி அலையும் நேரம்
உயிரும் மெழுகாய் உருகுதே
While searching and wandering for the shore
The soul melts like wax
வீனையாய் மீட்டும் விரல்கள் போலே
சுண்டி சுண்டி எனை மீட்டி மகிழ்ந்திடும்
Like fingers plucking the Veena
Flicking and plucking me to delight
காதலாம்
ஓ
கண்களாம்
ஓ
தேகத்தின் தாகமே ஆராதனை ஆராதனை
Love...
Male: Oo
Female: Eyes...
Male: Oo
Female: The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
பிரிந்தவர் கூடினால்
பேசவும் வேண்டுமா
When separated lovers unite
Is there even a need to speak?
மோகத்தை சொல்லிட
மொழியும் ஒர் தடை ஆகுமோ
To express passion
Will language become an obstacle?
இசையின் காலம் கணிக்கும் தாளம்
போல என்னுடன் கலக்கவா
Like the rhythm that calculates the timing of music
Won't you merge with me like that?
இன்பம் அலையின் சிகரம் சேர்க்க
கொஞ்சி கொஞ்சி என் செவியில் பேசிடும்
To take bliss to the peak of the wave
Cooing and whispering in my ear
காதலாம் கடவுள் முன்
கண்களாம் கோவிலில்
தேகத்தின் தாகமே ஆராதனை ஆராதனை
Before the God called Love
In the temple of the eyes
The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
ஆராதனை ஆராதனை
ஆராதனை ஆராதனை
Worship, worship
Worship, worship
Kadhalaam kadavul mun
Before the God called Love
Kankalaam kovilil
In the temple of the eyes
Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai
The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
Kadhalaam kadavul mun
Before the God called Love
Kankalaam kovilil
In the temple of the eyes
Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai
The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
Kadhalaam kadavul mun
Before the God called Love
Kankalaam kovilil
In the temple of the eyes
Kaamamam kadum punal
Lust is a fierce rushing stream
Kadanthidum padakithu
This boat crosses through it
Aasaiyaa paai maram
Desire is the sail
Amainthathor padagithu
This boat is fashioned with it
Karaiyai thedi alaiyum neram
While searching and wandering for the shore
Uyirum mezhugaao uruguthae
The soul melts like wax
Veenaiyaai meettum viralgal polae
Like fingers plucking the Veena
Sundi sundi enai meetti magizhnthidum
Flicking and plucking me to delight
Kadhalaam
Love...
Male :Oo
Male: Oo
Female :Kangalaam
Female: Eyes...
Male :Oo
Male: Oo
Female :Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai
Female: The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
Pirinthavar koodinaal
When separated lovers unite
Pesavum vendumaa
Is there even a need to speak?
Mogaththai sollida
To express passion
Mozhiyum orr thadai aagumo
Will language become an obstacle?
Isaiyin kaalam kanikkum thaalam
Like the rhythm that calculates the timing of music
Pola ennudan kalakkavaa
Won't you merge with me like that?
Inbam alaiyin sigaram saerkka
To take bliss to the peak of the wave
Konji konji en seviyil pesidum
Cooing and whispering in my ear
Kadhalaam kadavul mun
Before the God called Love
Kankalaam kovilil
In the temple of the eyes
Thegaththin thaagamae aaraathanai aaraathanai
The body's thirst itself is the worship, the worship
Aaraathanai aaraathanai
Worship, worship
Aaraathanai aaraathanai
Worship, worship
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kadhalaam Kadavul Mun is a sensuous and deeply poetic composition from the film Uttama Villain, penned by Kamal Haasan and set to music by Ghibran. The song metaphorically elevates physical intimacy and romantic desire into a sacred act of devotion. It equates love to God, the eyes to a temple, and physical passion to ritualistic worship (aaraathanai). Through vivid imagery of navigation and music, the lyrics depict desire as a sail navigating a tumultuous river of passion, and gentle touch as the strumming of a Veena. The song celebrates the silent communion between reunited lovers, suggesting that spoken words and language are redundant when two souls merge in harmony. The lyrical structure beautifully blends classical Tamil literary tropes with a retro 1970s musical elegance, capturing both spiritual depth and physical ecstasy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kadhalaam kadavul mun / Kankalaam kovilil”
Compares Love directly to a deity (Kadavul) and eyes to a sacred temple (Kovil).
Extended Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaamamam kadum punal / Kadanthidum padakithu / Aasaiyaa paai maram”
Metaphorically frames passion as a raging river (kadum punal), desire as a sail (paai maram), and the body/relationship as a vessel navigating it.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Veenaiyaai meettum viralgal polae”
Uses the explicit comparative word 'polae' (like) to compare a lover's delicate touch to fingers plucking a Veena.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Kaamamam kadum punal / Kadanthidum padakithu”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive words ('Kaamamam', 'kadum', 'Kadanthidum').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Kamal Haasan himself, the song pays homage to the lush, sensuous Tamil film songs of the 1970s and 80s composed by legend Ilaiyaraaja. In the film Uttama Villain, this track reflects the vintage period aesthetic of the protagonist Manoranjan's earlier cinematic work, seamlessly blending Carnatic musical sensibilities with modern orchestral instrumentation by Ghibran.
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