Kadhal Neethana
From Time · 1999
- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singers
- P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Time1999
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| …………………………….. | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | Did I get eyes only to see you? |
| Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena | Your face became known to me, my own face was forgotten. |
| Therinthadhae un mugam maranthadhae en mugam | Sandalwood paste trickled down, vermilion got soaked. |
| Vazhinthadhae santhanam nanainthadhae kungumam | My sky and my earth are with you... mm. |
| Vaanamum en boomium unnidam …mm | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | Did I get eyes only to see you? |
| Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena | There is only one heart, split between there and here. |
| Nenjam ithu ondruthaan angum ingum ullathu | I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul. |
| Unakathai tharugiren uyir ena sumanthiru | My sky and my earth are with you... mm. |
| Vaanamum en boomium unnidam …mm | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | How does it feel when you hear my voice? |
| Male | |
| Enthan kural ketaal enna thondruthu | What do you feel? |
| Unakenna thondruthu | Oh, it prompts me to meet you in person. |
| Female | |
| Oh neril paarka solli ennai thoonduthu | It touches my heart. |
| Athu ennai theenduthu | In your words, I hear the unheard song of a cuckoo. |
| Male | |
| Kekaatha kuyilin osai ketkudhae un vaarthaiyil | Even the lies we speak turn into poetry in our love. |
| Female | |
| Naam pesum poiyum kavithai aagudhae nam kaadhalil | I count the dates on the calendar every day. |
| Male | |
| Calendaril thethigalai ennugindren naalum | The sound of the nadaswaram is heard from afar... mm. |
| Female | |
| Thoorathilae kekindradhae naathaswaram ..mm | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | Did I get eyes only to see you? |
| Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena | There is only one heart, split between there and here. |
| Female | |
| Nenjam ithu ondruthaan angum ingum ullathu | I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul. |
| Unakathai tharugiren uyir ena sumanthiru | My sky and my earth are with you... mm. |
| Male | |
| Vaanamum en boomium unnidam …mm | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | Did I get eyes only to see you? |
| Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena | What dream did you dream? |
| Male | |
| Enna kanavu kandaai | You came and gave me a kiss. |
| Female | |
| Nee vanthaai mutham thanthaai | What did you give in return? |
| Male | |
| Pathilukenna thanthaai | Go, go, go! I won't tell you, go! |
| Female | |
| Po po po solla maten po | Shall I do in reality the playful mischief you did in my dream? |
| Male | |
| Kanavil nee seitha kurumbai nerilae naan seiyavaa | The kisses from the dream haven't dried yet, shall I reveal that? |
| Female | |
| Kanavin muthangal kaayavillayae athai sollava | Time slips away without seeing or hearing each other. |
| Male | |
| Paarkaamalae kekamaalae pogindradhae kaalam | Your memories gather together in heaven... mm. |
| Female | |
| Sorgathilae serkindradhae un gnyabagam … mm | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | Did I get eyes only to see you? |
| Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena | There is only one heart, split between there and here. |
| Female | |
| Nenjam ithu ondruthaan angum ingum ullathu | I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul. |
| Unakathai tharugiren uyir ena sumanthiru | My sky and my earth are with you... mm. |
| Male | |
| Vaanamum en boomiyum unnidam … mm | Are you really love? Are you really love? |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana | Did I get eyes only to see you? |
| Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena | |
.....................................
Are you really love? Are you really love?
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா உன்னைக்
காணத்தான் கண்கள்
கொண்டேனா தொிந்ததே
உன் முகம் மறந்ததே என்
முகம் வழிந்ததே சந்தனம்
நனைந்ததே குங்குமம்
வானமும் என் பூமியும்
உன்னிடம்
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Your face became known to me, my own face was forgotten.
Sandalwood paste trickled down, vermilion got soaked.
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
Are you really love? Are you really love?
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா உன்னைக்
காணத்தான் கண்கள்
கொண்டேனா நெஞ்சம் இது
ஒன்று தான் அங்கும் இங்கும்
உள்ளது உனக்கதை தருகிறேன்
உயிரென சுமந்திரு வானமும்
என் பூமியும் உன்னிடம்
Did I get eyes only to see you?
There is only one heart, split between there and here.
I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul.
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
Are you really love? Are you really love?
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா
How does it feel when you hear my voice?
............................................
What do you feel?
Oh, it prompts me to meet you in person.
எந்தன் குரல்
கேட்டால் என்ன தோன்றுது
உனக்கென்ன தோன்றுது
It touches my heart.
In your words, I hear the unheard song of a cuckoo.
ஓ… நோில் பாா்க்கச்
சொல்லி என்னை தூண்டுது
அது என்னை தீண்டுது
Even the lies we speak turn into poetry in our love.
கேட்காத குயிலின்
ஓசை கேட்குதே உன்
வாா்த்தையில்
I count the dates on the calendar every day.
நாம் பேசும்
பொய்யும் கவிதை
ஆகுதே நம் காதலில்
The sound of the nadaswaram is heard from afar... mm.
கேலண்டாில் தேதிகளை
எண்ணுகின்றேன் நாளும்
Are you really love? Are you really love?
தூரத்திலே
கேட்கின்றதே நாதஸ்வரம்
Did I get eyes only to see you?
There is only one heart, split between there and here.
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா உன்னைக்
காணத்தான் கண்கள்
கொண்டேனா
I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul.
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
நெஞ்சம் இது
ஒன்று தான் அங்கும் இங்கும்
உள்ளது உனக்கதை தருகிறேன்
உயிரென சுமந்திரு
Are you really love? Are you really love?
வானமும் என்
பூமியும் உன்னிடம்
Did I get eyes only to see you?
What dream did you dream?
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா உன்னைக்
காணத்தான் கண்கள்
கொண்டேனா
You came and gave me a kiss.
என்ன கனவு
கண்டாய்
What did you give in return?
நீ வந்தாய்
முத்தம் தந்தாய்
Go, go, go! I won't tell you, go!
பதிலுக்கென்ன
தந்தாய்
Shall I do in reality the playful mischief you did in my dream?
போ போ போ
சொல்ல மாட்டேன் போ
The kisses from the dream haven't dried yet, shall I reveal that?
கனவில் நீ செய்த
குறும்பை நோிலே நான்
செய்யவா
Time slips away without seeing or hearing each other.
கனவின் முத்தங்கள்
காயவில்லையே அதை சொல்லவா
Your memories gather together in heaven... mm.
பாா்க்காமலே
கேட்காமலே போகின்றதே
காலம்
Are you really love? Are you really love?
சொா்க்கத்திலே
சோ்கின்றதே உன் ஞாபகம்
Did I get eyes only to see you?
There is only one heart, split between there and here.
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா உன்னைக்
காணத்தான் கண்கள்
கொண்டேனா
I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul.
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
நெஞ்சம் இது
ஒன்று தான் அங்கும் இங்கும்
உள்ளது உனக்கதை தருகிறேன்
உயிரென சுமந்திரு
Are you really love? Are you really love?
வானமும் என்
பூமியும் உன்னிடம்
Did I get eyes only to see you?
காதல் நீ தானா
காதல் நீ தானா உன்னைக்
காணத்தான் கண்கள்
கொண்டேனா
……………………………..
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena
Your face became known to me, my own face was forgotten.
Therinthadhae un mugam maranthadhae en mugam
Sandalwood paste trickled down, vermilion got soaked.
Vazhinthadhae santhanam nanainthadhae kungumam
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
Vaanamum en boomium unnidam …mm
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena
There is only one heart, split between there and here.
Nenjam ithu ondruthaan angum ingum ullathu
I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul.
Unakathai tharugiren uyir ena sumanthiru
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
Vaanamum en boomium unnidam …mm
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
How does it feel when you hear my voice?
Enthan kural ketaal enna thondruthu
What do you feel?
Unakenna thondruthu
Oh, it prompts me to meet you in person.
Oh neril paarka solli ennai thoonduthu
It touches my heart.
Athu ennai theenduthu
In your words, I hear the unheard song of a cuckoo.
Kekaatha kuyilin osai ketkudhae un vaarthaiyil
Even the lies we speak turn into poetry in our love.
Naam pesum poiyum kavithai aagudhae nam kaadhalil
I count the dates on the calendar every day.
Calendaril thethigalai ennugindren naalum
The sound of the nadaswaram is heard from afar... mm.
Thoorathilae kekindradhae naathaswaram ..mm
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena
There is only one heart, split between there and here.
Nenjam ithu ondruthaan angum ingum ullathu
I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul.
Unakathai tharugiren uyir ena sumanthiru
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
Vaanamum en boomium unnidam …mm
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena
What dream did you dream?
Enna kanavu kandaai
You came and gave me a kiss.
Nee vanthaai mutham thanthaai
What did you give in return?
Pathilukenna thanthaai
Go, go, go! I won't tell you, go!
Po po po solla maten po
Shall I do in reality the playful mischief you did in my dream?
Kanavil nee seitha kurumbai nerilae naan seiyavaa
The kisses from the dream haven't dried yet, shall I reveal that?
Kanavin muthangal kaayavillayae athai sollava
Time slips away without seeing or hearing each other.
Paarkaamalae kekamaalae pogindradhae kaalam
Your memories gather together in heaven... mm.
Sorgathilae serkindradhae un gnyabagam … mm
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena
There is only one heart, split between there and here.
Nenjam ithu ondruthaan angum ingum ullathu
I offer it to you, carry it like your very soul.
Unakathai tharugiren uyir ena sumanthiru
My sky and my earth are with you... mm.
Vaanamum en boomiyum unnidam … mm
Are you really love? Are you really love?
Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana
Did I get eyes only to see you?
Unnai kaanathaan kangal kondena
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaadhal Neethaana is a soulful romantic duet expressing deep yearning, intimacy, and playful affection between two lovers who are physically apart. They marvel at how love transforms their everyday reality—where even playful lies turn into poetry and distant sounds evoke marital bliss. The song encapsulates the intensity of love that makes one forget oneself, cherish dreams of intimacy, and eagerly count down the days until a reunion.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition (Irattai Kilavi / Anaphora)
“Kaadhal neethaana kaadhal neethaana”
The phrase 'Kaadhal neethaana' is repeated at the beginning for emotional emphasis, expressing wonder and affectionate inquiry.
Antithesis / Contrast (Ethir-chol)
“Therinthadhae un mugam maranthadhae en mugam”
Contrasts knowing the lover's face with forgetting one's own self-identity in love.
Internal Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Nee vanthaai mutham thanthaai”
The words 'vanthaai' and 'thanthaai' rhyme internally at the end of adjacent phrases, adding rhythmic cadence.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Naam pesum poiyum kavithai aagudhae nam kaadhalil”
Compares mundane or affectionate lies spoken between lovers to beautiful poetry ('kavithai').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kaadhal Neethaana' is a hit romantic melody composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1999 Tamil film 'Time', starring Prabhu Deva and Simran. The song features vocals by Unni Menon and Sujatha Mohan with lyrics written by Palani Bharathi.
Keep listening