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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Kathum Kadal

From Kattumarakaran · 1995

Lyricist: Vaali
Singers: Mano, S. Janaki
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Kattumarakaran
Movie release year: 1995
Lyrics added on: 2 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Kathum kadal ullae

Oru mutheduthu vandhen

Muthum oru sithiramaai

Mun irukka kanden

Achacho athi poo pennaanadho

Ammammoi alli poo kannaanadho

Micha poo ovvondrum ennaanadho

Mothathil kanni poo endraanadho

Kathum kadal ullae

Oru mutheduthu vandhen

Muthum oru sithiramaai

Mun irukka kanden

Aan magan yaaro

Andhi ilam maalai

Aal kadal neer mel

Aadi varum vaelai

Meen valai veesa

Mella adhan meedhu

Naan vizhundheno ennai ariyaadhu

Engaeyo paadhai maari

Ingae un vaasal thaedi

Vandhenae vaadum kodhai naan

Ennendru naanum solla

En ullam thullum mella

Ingae naan vaazhum naatkalil thaan

Nenjellaam yedho alai paayum naalo

Ammaadi inbam enna kanden ingae naan

Kathum kadal ullae

Oru mutheduthu vandhen

Muthum oru sithiramaai

Mun irukka kanden

Achacho athi poo pennaanadho

Ammammoi alli poo kannaanadho

Kathum kadal ullae

Oru mutheduthu vandhen

Muthum oru sithiramaai

Mun irukka kanden

Ahahaaha ahahaaha

Female :Ahahaaha ahahaaha

Meen vizha naanum

Kanni valai veesa

Maan vizha paarthen

Kan irandum koosa

Poo nagai maadhu

Pongum kadal melae

Maenagai polae mella ezhundhaalae

Ellaam en yogam enbaen

Ponnaana neram enbaen

Sirppathai veettil serthaen naan

Yaarukku sondham endru

Yaar solla koodum indru

Endraalum kaaval kaappavan naan

Kanneer illaamal karai serppen naanum

Ennodu thangum podhu thunbam yedhammaa

Kathum kadal ullae

Oru mutheduthu vandhen

Muthum oru sithiramaai

Mun irukka kanden

Achacho athi poo pennaanadho

Ammammoi alli poo kannaanadho

Micha poo ovvondrum ennaanadho

Mothathil kanni poo endraanadho

From inside the roaring sea,

I brought back a pearl.

And that pearl, like a work of art,

I saw sitting right before my eyes!

Oh my, has the rare fig flower turned into a woman?

Goodness me, has the water lily turned into her eyes?

What happened to all the other flowers?

Did they all combine to become this blossoming girl?

From inside the roaring sea,

I brought back a pearl.

And that pearl, like a work of art,

I saw sitting right before my eyes!

A young man,

in the gentle dusk of evening,

upon the deep ocean waters,

as he came swaying on the waves,

cast his fishing net,

and softly into it,

did I fall without even realizing it?

Losing my path somewhere,

searching for your doorstep here,

I arrived, a wilting young woman.

How can I even explain it?

My heart softly leaps with joy,

during these days I spend living here.

Is today a day when something stirs like waves in my heart?

Oh my, what happiness I have found here!

From inside the roaring sea,

I brought back a pearl.

And that pearl, like a work of art,

I saw sitting right before my eyes!

Oh my, has the rare fig flower turned into a woman?

Goodness me, has the water lily turned into her eyes?

From inside the roaring sea,

I brought back a pearl.

And that pearl, like a work of art,

I saw sitting right before my eyes!

Ahahaha ahahaha

Female: Ahahaha ahahaha

To catch some fish,

as I cast my fresh net,

I saw a gentle deer fall into it,

dazzling both my eyes.

A woman with a smile like a flower,

upon the surging sea,

rose up gently like Menaka (the heavenly dancer)!

I would say this is all my good luck,

I would say this is a golden hour,

for I have brought a living sculpture into my home!

Who she truly belongs to,

who can say today?

Yet, I am the one who will guard and protect her.

Without a single tear, I will guide her safely to shore.

While you stay with me, what sorrow could you ever have?

From inside the roaring sea,

I brought back a pearl.

And that pearl, like a work of art,

I saw sitting right before my eyes!

Oh my, has the rare fig flower turned into a woman?

Goodness me, has the water lily turned into her eyes?

What happened to all the other flowers?

Did they all combine to become this blossoming girl?

Male

Male

Male

Female

Female

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Kattumarakaran' captures a romantic duet set against the backdrop of the sea. The male protagonist, a fisherman, poetically describes discovering a woman as if diving into the deep ocean and retrieving a precious pearl that came to life. He expresses his awe at her divine beauty, comparing her to mythical apsaras like Menaka and comparing her eyes and form to exquisite flowers. The female protagonist responds by sharing how she accidentally strayed onto his path during a quiet evening at sea, falling into his life like a fish caught in a net, and feeling immense relief and joy in his presence. Together, they celebrate this unexpected encounter, with the fisherman vowing to protect her and bring her to safety without tears.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile

“Muthum oru sithiramaai”

The lyrics metaphorically compare the heroine to a pearl retrieved from the sea ('mutheduthu vandhen') and an exquisite portrait ('sithiramaai'), as well as comparing her arrival to Menaka rising from the ocean ('Maenagai polae mella ezhundhaalae').

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Meen vizha naanum / Maan vizha paarthen”

Initial consonant matching in Tamil poetry, seen in 'Meen vizha' and 'Maan vizha'.

Edhukai (Rhyme)

“Kathum kadal ullae / Muthum oru sithiramaai”

Second letter matching across lines, such as 'Kathum' and 'Muthum', or 'Aan' and 'Aal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kattumarakaran' (1995) is a Tamil action drama film starring Prabhu and Gautami. The music was composed by Deva, and the song features lyricist Vaali's classic sea-based romantic metaphors blending coastal life with classical Tamil poetic imagery.

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