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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kathal Ennum Vetham

From Manikuyil · 1993

Lyricist
Ponnadiyan
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Manikuyil1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Haa….aaa….aaa…..aa….aaa…[Vocalizing] Haa....aaa....aaa…..aa….aaa…
Hoo…ooo ooo oo oo ooo[Vocalizing] Hoo…ooo ooo oo oo ooo
Ho oo hoo ooo ooo[Vocalizing] Ho oo hoo ooo ooo
Male
Kaadhal ennum vaedham inguThe holy scripture called love here
Kanneeril vaadudhammaaIs wilting in tears, oh dear
Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithuWaking up in the middle of a deep forest
Pon maanai thaedudhammaaIt searches for the golden deer, oh dear
En aaviyae vaegudhae punnaagiyae ponadhaeMy soul burns and has turned into a painful wound
Anbaalae thavikkudhadi en nenju thudikkudhadiMy heart throbs and suffers out of pure love
Male
Kaadhal ennum vaedham inguThe holy scripture called love here
Kanneeril vaadudhammaaIs wilting in tears, oh dear
Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithuWaking up in the middle of a deep forest
Pon maanai thaedudhammaaIt searches for the golden deer, oh dear
Male
Paatteduthu katru koduthuGiving a song and teaching it to me
Paada vaithadhum yaenadiyoWhy did you make me sing it?
Maedaiyilae paada vandhaalWhen I came on stage to sing
Moodi vaithadhum yaenadiyoWhy did you cover and silence it?
Naetraiya kanavellaam kaatrin kadhai thaanoAre all yesterday's dreams merely stories lost in the wind?
Arangaetram kaanaadha oru paattin porul thaanoAre they the meaning of a song that never saw its stage premiere?
Putham pudhu puthagam cellaruthu pogumaaWill a brand new book be destroyed by termites?
Singaara paingiliyaeOh beautiful parrot!
Male
Kaadhal ennum vaedham inguThe holy scripture called love here
Kanneeril vaadudhammaaIs wilting in tears, oh dear
Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithuWaking up in the middle of a deep forest
Pon maanai thaedudhammaaIt searches for the golden deer, oh dear
En aaviyae vaegudhae punnaagiyae ponadhaeMy soul burns and has turned into a painful wound
Anbaalae thavikkudhadi en nenju thudikkudhadiMy heart throbs and suffers out of pure love
Male
Kaadhal ennum vaedham inguThe holy scripture called love here
Kanneeril vaadudhammaaIs wilting in tears, oh dear
Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithuWaking up in the middle of a deep forest
Pon maanai thaedudhammaaIt searches for the golden deer, oh dear
Male
Haa….aa…..aa….aaa….aa….haa..aa…[Vocalizing] Haa….aa…..aa….aaa….aa….haa..aa…
Hoo ooo oo oo haa…aa….aa….aa…[Vocalizing] Hoo ooo oo oo haa…aa….aa….aa…
Male
Kalangam illaa manadhinilaeInto an unblemished, pure heart
Kaalai vaithadhu yaaradiyoWho was it that stepped in?
Kalangi nindra podhinilaeWhen I was standing in distress and confusion
Kallerindhadhum yaenadiyoWhy was a stone thrown at me?
Azhagaai agal vilakkai angu yaaro yaetri vaithaarSomeone beautifully lit an oil lamp there
Alai veesum sudar oliyai thirai pottae moodi vaithaarAnd then covered that glowing light with a curtain
Indha thirai vilagum inba kadhai thodarumThis curtain will lift, and a joyful story will continue
Singaara paingiliyaeOh beautiful parrot!
Male
Kaadhal ennum vaedham inguThe holy scripture called love here
Kanneeril vaadudhammaaIs wilting in tears, oh dear
Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithuWaking up in the middle of a deep forest
Pon maanai thaedudhammaaIt searches for the golden deer, oh dear
En aaviyae vaegudhae punnaagiyae ponadhaeMy soul burns and has turned into a painful wound
Anbaalae thavikkudhadi en nenju thudikkudhadiMy heart throbs and suffers out of pure love
Male
Kaadhal ennum vaedham inguThe holy scripture called love here
Kanneeril vaadudhammaaIs wilting in tears, oh dear
Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithuWaking up in the middle of a deep forest
Pon maanai thaedudhammaaIt searches for the golden deer, oh dear

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Manikuyil expresses deep sorrow and emotional agony over lost love and unfulfilled hopes. The speaker compares love to a sacred Veda that is drowning in tears and describes feeling lost in a dense forest searching for an elusive golden deer, symbolizing impossible desires. The lyrics raise heartbreaking questions about why love was nurtured only to be abruptly silenced and shielded like a lamp hidden behind a curtain.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaadhal ennum vaedham ingu

Compares love to a sacred scripture ('vaedham') that is now wilting in sorrow.

Allusion / Imagery

Nadu kaanagathil kan vizhithu / Pon maanai thaedudhammaa

Refers to searching for a golden deer in a forest, reminiscent of the Ramayana motif signifying elusive or tragic pursuit.

Emona / Rhyme (Etugai)

Paatteduthu katru koduthu / Maedaiyilae paada vandhaal

Second-letter rhyming between consecutive lines ('Paatteduthu' and 'Maedaiyilae').

Rhetorical Question

Putham pudhu puthagam cellaruthu pogumaa

Uses dramatic rhetorical questions to express disbelief at betrayal and emotional pain.

Did you know?

Trivia

Manikuyil (1993) features music composed by Deva with lyrics written by Ponnadiyan. The movie stars Murali and Gouthami in lead roles, and the song captures classic 90s Tamil film melodrama and emotional pathos.

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