Kadhalenum Thervezhudhi
From Kadhalar Dhinam · 1999
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Swarnalatha
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kadhalar Dhinam1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Male | |
| I love u roja | I love you, Roja. |
| Female :I love u raja | Female: I love you, Raja. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Male | |
| Un ennam ennum yettil | In the leaf of your thoughts, |
| En ennai paarththa podhu | when I saw my reflection, |
| Naanae ennai namba villai | I could not believe myself, |
| Endhan kannai nambavillai | I could not believe my own eyes. |
| Female | |
| Unmai unmai unmai unmai | True, true, true, true, |
| Anbae unmel unmai | My love for you is true, |
| Un vasam endhan penmai | My womanhood is entirely in your possession. |
| {Doli doli doli doli | {Doli doli doli doli |
| Doli doli doli doli } (2) | Doli doli doli doli } (2) |
| Male | |
| Aaaaaaa… | Aaaaaaa… |
| {Indha valaikkaiyil | {On this hand adorned with bangles, |
| Valaiyalgal naanallavaa | am I not the bangles? |
| Indru valaikkaiyai | Today is the day to embrace |
| Valaikkindra naalallavaa} (2) | and bend this bangled hand, is it not?} (2) |
| Female | |
| Sugam valaikkaiyai | Sweetness was born when bending |
| Valaikkayil undaanadhu | this bangled arm, |
| Menmelum kaivalai valai | Won't the hand bangles long |
| Endru yengaadho | to bend more and more? |
| Male | |
| Idhu kannangalaa | Are these cheeks, |
| Illai thennangallaa | or sweet palm liquor? |
| Female :Indha kannamellaam | Female: All over these cheeks, |
| Undhan chinnangalaa | are these your tender marks? |
| Male | |
| Ingu naan irundhen | I was here as a |
| Verum mei ezhuththaaga | mere consonant letter, |
| Nee vandhu serndhaai | You arrived and joined me |
| Uyir ezhuththaaga | as the vowel letter. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Female | |
| {Doli doli doli doli | {Doli doli doli doli |
| Doli doli doli doli } (2) | Doli doli doli doli } (2) |
| Chorus | |
| Aaaa…a.aaa….aaa…. | Aaaa…a.aaa….aaa…. |
| Aaaa….aaaaa…..aaa…aaa… | Aaaa….aaaaa…..aaa…aaa… |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa… | Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa… |
| Female | |
| Aaaaaaa…aaaa….. | Aaaaaaa…aaaa….. |
| Undhan madiyinil kidappathu | Lying in your lap |
| Sugam sugam | is pure bliss, pure bliss. |
| Indha sugaththinil sivandhathu | Blushing in this delight |
| Mugam mugam | is my face, my face. |
| Male | |
| Manam idharkena kidandhadhu | My heart performed penance |
| Thavam thavam | just for this moment. |
| Aanandhamae ini ivan | What joy! Now even if this man's |
| Uyir ponaalum | life departs, |
| Female | |
| Endrum oivadhillai | it will never cease, |
| Indha kaadhal mazhai | this rain of love. |
| Kadal neelam ulla | As long as the ocean remains blue, |
| Andha kaalam varai | until that far off time, |
| Female | |
| Idhu piravigal dhorum | across every birth, |
| Vidaadha bandham | this is an unbreakable bond, |
| Pirivenum theeyil | in the fire called separation, |
| Vizhaadha sondham | a relationship that never falls. |
| Mmm…oaoaoa…aaaaaa… | Mmm…oaoaoa…aaaaaa… |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Female | |
| {Doli doli doli doli | {Doli doli doli doli |
| Doli doli doli doli } (2) | Doli doli doli doli } (2) |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi | I am the student who wrote the exam called love, |
| Kaaththirundha maanavan naan | and waited for the outcome. |
| Female :Aaaa…aaa….aaaa….aaaaa…. | Female: Aaaa…aaa….aaaa….aaaaa…. |
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
ஐ லவ் யூ ரோஜா
ஐ லவ் யூ ராஜா
I love you, Roja.
Female: I love you, Raja.
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
உன் எண்ணம்
என்னும் ஏட்டில் என்
என்னை பார்த்த போது
நானே என்னை நம்ப
வில்லை எந்தன்
கண்ணை நம்பவில்லை
In the leaf of your thoughts,
when I saw my reflection,
I could not believe myself,
I could not believe my own eyes.
உண்மை உண்மை
உண்மை உண்மை அன்பே
உன்மேல் உண்மை உன்
வசம் எந்தன் பெண்மை
{ டோலி டோலி டோலி
டோலி டோலி டோலி
டோலி டோலி } (2)
True, true, true, true,
My love for you is true,
My womanhood is entirely in your possession.
{Doli doli doli doli
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
ஆஆஆ
{ இந்த வலக்கையில்
வளையல்கள் நானல்லவா
இன்று வலக்கையை
வளைக்கின்ற நாளல்லவா } (2)
Aaaaaaa…
{On this hand adorned with bangles,
am I not the bangles?
Today is the day to embrace
and bend this bangled hand, is it not?} (2)
சுகம் வலைக்கையை
வளைக்கையில் உண்டானது
மென்மேலும் கைவளை
வளை என்று ஏங்காதோ
Sweetness was born when bending
this bangled arm,
Won't the hand bangles long
to bend more and more?
இது கன்னங்களா
இல்லை தென்னங்களா
இந்தக் கன்னமெல்லாம்
உந்தன் சின்னங்களா
Are these cheeks,
or sweet palm liquor?
Female: All over these cheeks,
are these your tender marks?
இங்கு நானிருந்தேன்
வெறும் மெய்யெழுத்தாக
நீ வந்து சேர்ந்தாய்
உயிரெழுத்தாக
I was here as a
mere consonant letter,
You arrived and joined me
as the vowel letter.
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
{ டோலி டோலி டோலி
டோலி டோலி டோலி
டோலி டோலி } (2)
{Doli doli doli doli
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ
Aaaa…a.aaa….aaa….
Aaaa….aaaaa…..aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
ஆஆஆ ஆஆ
உந்தன் மடியினில் கிடப்பது
சுகம் சுகம் இந்த சுகத்தினில்
சிவந்தது முகம் முகம்
Aaaaaaa…aaaa…..
Lying in your lap
is pure bliss, pure bliss.
Blushing in this delight
is my face, my face.
மனம் இதற்கென
கிடந்தது தவம் தவம்
ஆனந்தமே இனி இவன்
உயிர் போனாலும்
My heart performed penance
just for this moment.
What joy! Now even if this man's
life departs,
என்றும் ஓய்வதில்லை
இந்தக் காதல் மழை கடல் நீலம்
உள்ள அந்தக் காலம் வரை
it will never cease,
this rain of love.
As long as the ocean remains blue,
until that far off time,
இது பிறவிகள்தோறும்
விடாத பந்தம் பிரிவெனும் தீயில்
விழாத சொந்தம் ம்ம்ம்......ஆஆஆ
across every birth,
this is an unbreakable bond,
in the fire called separation,
a relationship that never falls.
Mmm…oaoaoa…aaaaaa…
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
{ டோலி டோலி டோலி
டோலி டோலி டோலி
டோலி டோலி } (2)
{Doli doli doli doli
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
காதலெனும் தேர்வெழுதி
காத்திருந்த மாணவன் நான்
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
ஆஆஆ ஆஆஆ
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
and waited for the outcome.
Female: Aaaa…aaa….aaaa….aaaaa….
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
I love u roja
I love you, Roja.
Female :I love u raja
Female: I love you, Raja.
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
Un ennam ennum yettil
In the leaf of your thoughts,
En ennai paarththa podhu
when I saw my reflection,
Naanae ennai namba villai
I could not believe myself,
Endhan kannai nambavillai
I could not believe my own eyes.
Unmai unmai unmai unmai
True, true, true, true,
Anbae unmel unmai
My love for you is true,
Un vasam endhan penmai
My womanhood is entirely in your possession.
{Doli doli doli doli
{Doli doli doli doli
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
Aaaaaaa…
Aaaaaaa…
{Indha valaikkaiyil
{On this hand adorned with bangles,
Valaiyalgal naanallavaa
am I not the bangles?
Indru valaikkaiyai
Today is the day to embrace
Valaikkindra naalallavaa} (2)
and bend this bangled hand, is it not?} (2)
Sugam valaikkaiyai
Sweetness was born when bending
Valaikkayil undaanadhu
this bangled arm,
Menmelum kaivalai valai
Won't the hand bangles long
Endru yengaadho
to bend more and more?
Idhu kannangalaa
Are these cheeks,
Illai thennangallaa
or sweet palm liquor?
Female :Indha kannamellaam
Female: All over these cheeks,
Undhan chinnangalaa
are these your tender marks?
Ingu naan irundhen
I was here as a
Verum mei ezhuththaaga
mere consonant letter,
Nee vandhu serndhaai
You arrived and joined me
Uyir ezhuththaaga
as the vowel letter.
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
{Doli doli doli doli
{Doli doli doli doli
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
Aaaa…a.aaa….aaa….
Aaaa…a.aaa….aaa….
Aaaa….aaaaa…..aaa…aaa…
Aaaa….aaaaa…..aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaaaaaa…aaaa…..
Aaaaaaa…aaaa…..
Undhan madiyinil kidappathu
Lying in your lap
Sugam sugam
is pure bliss, pure bliss.
Indha sugaththinil sivandhathu
Blushing in this delight
Mugam mugam
is my face, my face.
Manam idharkena kidandhadhu
My heart performed penance
Thavam thavam
just for this moment.
Aanandhamae ini ivan
What joy! Now even if this man's
Uyir ponaalum
life departs,
Endrum oivadhillai
it will never cease,
Indha kaadhal mazhai
this rain of love.
Kadal neelam ulla
As long as the ocean remains blue,
Andha kaalam varai
until that far off time,
Idhu piravigal dhorum
across every birth,
Vidaadha bandham
this is an unbreakable bond,
Pirivenum theeyil
in the fire called separation,
Vizhaadha sondham
a relationship that never falls.
Mmm…oaoaoa…aaaaaa…
Mmm…oaoaoa…aaaaaa…
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
{Doli doli doli doli
{Doli doli doli doli
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
Doli doli doli doli } (2)
Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi
I am the student who wrote the exam called love,
Kaaththirundha maanavan naan
and waited for the outcome.
Female :Aaaa…aaa….aaaa….aaaaa….
Female: Aaaa…aaa….aaaa….aaaaa….
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kaadhal Ennum Thervezhuthi' is a celebrated romantic duet from the 1999 movie Kadhalar Dhinam, composed by A. R. Rahman and written by lyricist Vaali. The song uses academic and linguistic metaphors to portray romantic devotion—comparing love to an examination awaiting results and the coming together of lovers to Tamil consonants ('mei ezhuthu') and vowels ('uyir ezhuthu') uniting to form life and meaning ('uyir-mei'). The couple celebrates their intimacy, lifelong dedication, and eternal bond that transcends worldly separation and spans multiple lifetimes.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kaadhal ennum thervezhuthi Kaaththirundha maanavan naan”
Love is metaphorically framed as taking an examination ('thervezhuthi'), while the protagonist is the waiting student ('maanavan').
Linguistic Metaphor
“Ingu naan irundhen Verum mei ezhuththaaga Nee vandhu serndhaai Uyir ezhuththaaga”
Vaali brilliantly compares the lovers to Tamil grammar concepts: one as a consonant ('mei ezhuthu') and the other as a vowel ('uyir ezhuthu'), symbolizing that union gives life and complete meaning.
Polysemy / Wordplay (Yamakam)
“Indhu valaikkaiyil Valaiyalgal naanallavaa Indru valaikkaiyai Valaikkindra naalallavaa”
Clever wordplay using 'valaikkai' (bangle-adorned hand) and 'valaikkindra' (bending/embracing) showcasing Tamil homonymic grace.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Pirivenum theeyil Vizhaadha sondham”
Separation is framed metaphorically as a destructive fire ('pirivenum theeyil').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman for the blockbuster 'Kadhalar Dhinam' (1999), the song features vocal performances by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Swarnalatha. Lyricist Vaali's integration of Tamil grammar concepts ('mei ezhuthu' and 'uyir ezhuthu') to denote spiritual and physical romance remains one of the most famous literary devices in modern Tamil film music.
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