- Lyricist
- Pazhani Bharathi
- Singers
- P. Unnikrishnan, Sujatha Mohan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Time
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 15 Feb 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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.
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