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Lyrics & meaning

Kadhalai Kollum

From Munthirikaadu · 2023

Lyricist
Ilayakamban
Singer
Jayamoorthy
Music director
A. K. Priyan
Details
Munthirikaadu2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kadhalai kollum saathiyaeO caste that kills love,
Unakkoru saavu varadhaWill death not come upon you?
Kadhalai kollum saathiyaeO caste that kills love,
Unakkoru saavu varadhaWill death not come upon you?
Male
Kadhalai kollum saathiyaeO caste that kills love,
Unakkoru saavu varadhaWill death not come upon you?
Indha kaadhalar gal sindhumFor the tear drops shed by these lovers,
Kanner thulikkum theervu varadhaWill a resolution not arrive?
Male
Thalai virithaadum aanava saathiArrogant caste that dances wildly with pride,
Madinthu vidathaWill it not perish?
Kaadhal thalai murai moottumIn the fire ignited by generations of love,
Theeyil manamum karugi vidathaWill its heart not get scorched?
Male
Kanda thundamaai vettinaalumEven if you hack love into pieces,
Uyir kaadhal vellumLiving love will triumph.
Ne karuvaruthaalum kaadhal vendraEven if you eradicate it, history will tell
Kaadhal vendra saritharam solumHow love won, how love won.
Male
Kadhalai kollum saathiyaeO caste that kills love,
Unakkoru saavu varadhaWill death not come upon you?
Indha kaadhalar gal sindhumFor the tear drops shed by these lovers,
Kanner thulikkum theervu varadhaWill a resolution not arrive?
Male
Aathigathin adimai vilangaiThe shackles of oppressive dominance,
Kaadhal adithu norukkumLove will smash into pieces.
Saathi adakku muraiyin iduppai murikkaTo break the spine of caste oppression,
Kaadhal puratchi veedikkumA revolution of love will explode.
Male
Gothiram soothiram saathiram parthuLooking at lineage, rules, and scriptures,
Kaadhal vanhu vidumaDoes love ever arrive?
Nee aathiram kondu azhikka nenachaIf you think to destroy it in rage,
Adangi odungi vidumaWill it bow down and shrink away?
Male
Samathuvathai manidhanukkulEquality within human beings,
Kaadhal thaan vidhaikumadaOnly love plants its seeds, O friend!
Adhu saathi pookkum aayuthangalaiThe weapons borne by caste fanaticism,
Mannai thondi pudhaikumadaIt will dig the earth and bury them!
Mannai thondi pudhaikumadaIt will dig the earth and bury them!
Male
Kadhalai kollum saathiyaeO caste that kills love,
Unakkoru saavu varadhaWill death not come upon you?
Indha kaadhalar gal sindhumFor the tear drops shed by these lovers,
Kanner thulikkum theervu varadhaWill a resolution not arrive?
Male
Kaadhal munbu saathiye undhanIn front of love, O caste,
Sattam enna seiyumWhat power does your law hold?
Un kaattumirandi saathi thimiruYour barbaric caste pride,
Kaadhal munbu madiyumWill perish before love.
Male
Ella uyirkkum kaadhal unduLove exists for all living beings,
Iyarkkai vagutha niyadhiIt is a law ordained by nature.
Adhai idaiyil nindru thadakkaTo stand in between and stop it,
Evanukkum illai ingu thaguthiNo one here has the right.
Male
Saathi madham parkaadhaLove that disregards caste and religion,
Kaadhal oru punidhamadaIs something truly sacred, O friend!
Saathi tharuthalaigal thirunthi vittaalIf casteist fools reform themselves,
Thalai nimirum manidhamadaHumanity will hold its head high!
Thalai nimirum manidhamadaHumanity will hold its head high!
Male
Kadhalai kollum saathiyaeO caste that kills love,
Unakkoru saavu varadhaWill death not come upon you?
Indha kaadhalar gal sindhumFor the tear drops shed by these lovers,
Kanner thulikkum theervu varadhaWill a resolution not arrive?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kadhalai Kollum Saathiyae from the movie Munthirikaadu (2023) is a fiery protest anthem written by Ilayakamban, set to music by A. K. Priyan, and sung with intense emotion by folk artist Jayamoorthy. The song delivers an uncompromising critique of caste fanatism, honor killings, and social prejudice that destroy young lovers across caste barriers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)

Kadhalai kollum saathiyae / Unakkoru saavu varadha

The refrain repeatedly asks 'Unakkoru saavu varadha' (Will death not come upon you?), using a rhetorical question to express deep outrage and assert the eventual demise of casteism.

Assonance and internal rhyme (Monaai / Iyaibu)

Gothiram soothiram saathiram parthu

The words 'Gothiram', 'soothiram', and 'saathiram' use internal rhyming and rhythmic repetition to highlight the arbitrary constraints imposed by traditional dogmas.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Adhu saathi pookkum aayuthangalai / Mannai thondi pudhaikumada

Love is metaphorically presented as a revolutionary force that digs up the earth and buries the weapons forged by caste fanaticism.

Did you know?

Trivia

Munthirikaadu (2023), directed by Kalasooriyan, focuses intensely on caste-based oppression and violence in Tamil Nadu. The singer Jayamoorthy is renowned for his work in authentic Tamil folk and social reform songs, giving this track raw social urgency.

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