Kadhali Kadhali
From Avvai Shanmughi · 1996
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Kaadhali kaadhali | Oh beloved, oh beloved |
| Kaadhalil thavikkiren | I am suffering in love |
| Aadhalaal vaa vaa | Therefore, come, come |
| Anbae azhaikkiren} (2) | My love, I call out to you |
| Male | |
| Naal dhorum veesum | Blowing every day |
| Poongaatrai kelu en vedhanai sollum | Ask the gentle breeze, it will tell of my pain |
| Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh | Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Neengaamal endhan nenjodu nindru | Standing in my heart without leaving |
| Un gnyaabagam kollum | Your memory slays me |
| Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh | Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Male | |
| Thannandhaniyaaga | All alone by myself |
| Chinnanjiru kili | Like a tiny little bird |
| Thaththi thavikkaiyil | When it flutters and struggles |
| Kannil mazhai thuli | A teardrop like a raindrop falls in the eye |
| Indha eeram endru marumoo…aaaa… | When will this moisture ever dry up... ah |
| Chorus | |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Male | |
| Kaadhali kaadhali | Oh beloved, oh beloved |
| Kaadhalil thavikkiren | I am suffering in love |
| Male | |
| Oyaadha thaabam undaana neram | At a time when unceasing passion ignites |
| Noyaanadhae nenjam | My heart has fallen ill |
| Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh | Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oor thoonginaalum naan thoonga maten | Even if the whole town sleeps, I cannot sleep |
| Theeyaanadhae manjam | My bed has turned into fire |
| Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh | Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Male | |
| Nadandhavai ellaam | All that has happened |
| Kanavugal endru | Considering them as mere dreams |
| Manivizhi maanae | Oh deer-like maiden with jewel-like eyes |
| Marandhidu indru | Forget them today |
| Jenma bandham vittu pogumaa…aaaa | Will the bond across births ever break... ah |
| Chorus | |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Oohooo..ohhhh | Oohooo..ohhhh |
| Male | |
| {Kaadhali kaadhali | Oh beloved, oh beloved |
| Kaadhalil thavikkiren | I am suffering in love |
| Aadhalaal vaa vaa | Therefore, come, come |
| Anbae azhaikkiren} (2) | My love, I call out to you |
{ காதலி காதலி
காதலில் தவிக்கிறேன்
ஆதலால் வா வா அன்பே
அழைக்கிறேன் } (2)
Oh beloved, oh beloved
I am suffering in love
Therefore, come, come
My love, I call out to you
நாள்தோறும்
வீசும் பூங்காற்றை
கேளு என் வேதனை
சொல்லும்
குழு :
ஓஹோ ஓ
Blowing every day
Ask the gentle breeze, it will tell of my pain
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
Standing in my heart without leaving
Your memory slays me
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
நீங்காமல் எந்தன்
நெஞ்சோடு நின்று உன்
ஞாபகம் கொல்லும்
குழு :
ஓஹோ ஓ
All alone by myself
Like a tiny little bird
When it flutters and struggles
A teardrop like a raindrop falls in the eye
When will this moisture ever dry up... ah
தன்னந்தனியாக
சின்னஞ்சிறு கிளி தத்தி
தவிக்கையில் கண்ணில்
மழைத்துளி இந்த ஈரம்
என்று மாறுமோ ஆஆ
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
ஓஹோ ஓ
ஓஹோ ஓ ஓஹோ
ஓ ஓஹோ ஓ
Oh beloved, oh beloved
I am suffering in love
காதலி காதலி
காதலில் தவிக்கிறேன்
At a time when unceasing passion ignites
My heart has fallen ill
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
Even if the whole town sleeps, I cannot sleep
My bed has turned into fire
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
ஓயாத தாபம்
உண்டான நேரம்
நோயானதே நெஞ்சம்
குழு :
ஓஹோ ஓ
All that has happened
Considering them as mere dreams
Oh deer-like maiden with jewel-like eyes
Forget them today
Will the bond across births ever break... ah
ஊர் தூங்கினாலும்
நான் தூங்க மாட்டேன்
தீயானதே மஞ்சம்
குழு :
ஓஹோ ஓ
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
நடந்தவை
எல்லாம் கனவுகள்
என்று மணிவிழி
மானே மறந்திடு
இன்று ஜென்ம பந்தம்
விட்டு போகுமா ஆஆ
Oh beloved, oh beloved
I am suffering in love
Therefore, come, come
My love, I call out to you
ஓஹோ ஓ
ஓஹோ ஓ ஓஹோ
ஓ ஓஹோ ஓ
{ காதலி காதலி
காதலில் தவிக்கிறேன்
ஆதலால் வா வா அன்பே
அழைக்கிறேன் } (2)
{Kaadhali kaadhali
Oh beloved, oh beloved
Kaadhalil thavikkiren
I am suffering in love
Aadhalaal vaa vaa
Therefore, come, come
Anbae azhaikkiren} (2)
My love, I call out to you
Naal dhorum veesum
Blowing every day
Poongaatrai kelu en vedhanai sollum
Ask the gentle breeze, it will tell of my pain
Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
Neengaamal endhan nenjodu nindru
Standing in my heart without leaving
Un gnyaabagam kollum
Your memory slays me
Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
Thannandhaniyaaga
All alone by myself
Chinnanjiru kili
Like a tiny little bird
Thaththi thavikkaiyil
When it flutters and struggles
Kannil mazhai thuli
A teardrop like a raindrop falls in the eye
Indha eeram endru marumoo…aaaa…
When will this moisture ever dry up... ah
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Kaadhali kaadhali
Oh beloved, oh beloved
Kaadhalil thavikkiren
I am suffering in love
Oyaadha thaabam undaana neram
At a time when unceasing passion ignites
Noyaanadhae nenjam
My heart has fallen ill
Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
Oor thoonginaalum naan thoonga maten
Even if the whole town sleeps, I cannot sleep
Theeyaanadhae manjam
My bed has turned into fire
Chorus :Oohooo..ohhhh
Chorus: Oohooo..ohhhh
Nadandhavai ellaam
All that has happened
Kanavugal endru
Considering them as mere dreams
Manivizhi maanae
Oh deer-like maiden with jewel-like eyes
Marandhidu indru
Forget them today
Jenma bandham vittu pogumaa…aaaa
Will the bond across births ever break... ah
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
Oohooo..ohhhh
{Kaadhali kaadhali
Oh beloved, oh beloved
Kaadhalil thavikkiren
I am suffering in love
Aadhalaal vaa vaa
Therefore, come, come
Anbae azhaikkiren} (2)
My love, I call out to you
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kaadhali Kaadhali' is a poignant and soulful track from the 1996 movie Avvai Shanmughi, composed by Deva and written by Vaali. The song captures the immense heartache, loneliness, and emotional turmoil of a husband separated from his beloved wife. He expresses how memories relentlessly torment him, making his bed feel like fire during sleepless nights, while yearning for reconciliation and questioning whether the deep bond they share can ever truly be broken.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kaadhali kaadhali / Kaadhalil thavikkiren”
Repetition of the initial 'K' sound in 'Kaadhali' and 'Kaadhalil' creates a rhythmic euphonic start.
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Kannil mazhai thuli”
Comparing tears flowing from the eyes directly to drops of rain ('Kannil mazhai thuli').
Hyperbole / Metaphor
“Theeyaanadhae manjam”
Describing the bed turning into fire ('Theeyaanadhae manjam') to convey the intense warmth of desire and the anguish of sleepless separation.
Ethirai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Thannandhaniyaaga / Chinnanjiru kili”
Matching the second letter sound ('nn') across lines: 'Thannandhaniyaaga' and 'Chinnanjiru'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although Avvai Shanmughi is predominantly a high-energy comedy film inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire, 'Kaadhali Kaadhali' serves as its emotional anchor. Sung brilliantly by Hariharan, Deva's melody and Vaali's evocative lyrics bring deep gravitas to Kamal Haasan's character's marital plight.
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