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Lyrics & meaning

Merkae Merkae Merkae Thaan

From Kanda Naal Mudhal · 2005

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singers
Shankar Mahadevan, Sadhana Sargam
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Kanda Naal Mudhal2005

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Lailai lailai lailailee laahilaahi lailaileeeLailai lailai lailailee laahilaahi lailaileee
Merkae merkae merkae thaan sooriyangal udhithidumaeThe suns shall rise in the west, west, west!
Female
Sudum veyil kodaikaalamThe burning heat of summer,
Kadum pani vaadai kaalamThe bitter cold of winter,
Irandukkum naduvae yedhum kaalam ulladhaIs there any season in between the two?
Female
Ilaiyudhir kaalam theernthuAs the autumn season ends,
Ezhunthidum mannin vaasamThe sweet aroma of the earth rises,
Mudhal mazhaikkaalam endre nenjam solluthaeMy heart declares that it is the season of the first rain!
Male
Oh minnalum minnalum netru varai pirinthathu yenoOh, why were lightnings separated until yesterday?
Pinnalaai pinnalaai indrudan pinainthida thaanoWas it only to intertwine like a braid today?
Lailai lailai lailailee laahilaahi lailaileeeLailai lailai lailailee laahilaahi lailaileee
Merkae merkae merkae thaan sooriyangal udhithidumaeThe suns shall rise in the west, west, west!
Male
Oh..kobam kollum neramOh, when anger takes over,
Vaanam ellaam megamThe sky gets filled with clouds,
Kaanaamalae pogum ore nilaAnd the solitary moon fades out of sight.
Oh..kobam theerum neramOh, when anger subsides,
Megam illaa vaanamThe sky becomes cloudless,
Pournamiyaai thondrum adhae nilaaAnd that same moon shines as a full moon!
Female
Ini edhirigal endre evarum illaiFrom now on, there are no enemies at all,
Pookkalai virumbaa vergal illaiThere are no roots that do not love flowers,
Nadhiyai veezhthum naanal illaiyaaeNor reeds that can bring down a river.
Idhu neerin thozhil kaippodumThis becomes the story of a tiny flame
Oru chinnath theeyin kadhai aagumResting peacefully on the shoulders of water;
Thiraigal inimel thevai illaiyaeCurtains of pretense are no longer needed!
Male
Merkae merkae merkae thaan sooriyangal udhithidumaeThe suns shall rise in the west, west, west!
Lailai lailai lailailee laahilaahi lailaileeeLailai lailai lailailee laahilaahi lailaileee
Male
Vaasal kadhavai yaaro thattum osai kettaalWhenever I hear the sound of someone knocking on the door,
Neethaan endru paarthen adi sagiI look up hoping it is you, my friend!
Pengal koottam vandhaal engae neeyum endraeWhenever a group of women walks by,
Ippothellaam thedum endhan vizhiMy eyes search continuously asking where you are.
Female
Ini kavidhaiyil kaigal nanainthidumoWill hands now get drenched in poetry?
Kaatrae siragaai virinthidumoWill the wind unfurl itself like wings?
Nilavin mudhugai theendum vegamoIs this the speed that touches the back of the moon?
Ada thevaigal ilai endraalumAh, even if there are no real needs,
Vaai udhavigal kettu mandraadumMy lips plead, begging for tiny favors;
Maatten ena nee sonnaal thaangumoIf you say 'no', could my heart ever bear it?
Male
Merkae merkae merkae thaan sooriyangal udhithidumaeThe suns shall rise in the west, west, west!
Lailai lailai lailailee sooriyangal udhithidumaeLailai lailai lailailee... the suns shall rise!
Minnalum minnalum netru varai pirinthathu yenoOh, why were lightnings separated until yesterday?
Pinnalaai pinnalaai indrudan pinainthida thaanoWas it only to intertwine like a braid today?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Merkae Merkae' from Kanda Naal Mudhal captures the miraculous transformation of mutual hatred and rivalry turning into profound love between two individuals. The lyricist metaphorically expresses this impossible change by stating that the sun will now rise in the west—a cosmic impossibility symbolizing an unimaginable change of heart. The song compares the fading of hostility to clouds clearing away to reveal a radiant full moon. Through imagery of first rain, intertwining lightning bolts, and fire resting gently on water, the song describes how two once-conflicting souls find unity and intimacy. It details the subtle shifts in behavior—searching for each other in crowds, lingering hopes at the sound of a door knock, and the vulnerability of asking for simple favors—illustrating the tender beginnings of romance out of past enmity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Merkae merkae merkae thaan sooriyangal udhithidumae / Nilavin mudhugai theendum vegamo Medical/Cosmic exaggeration to denote impossible change and extreme speed of feelings.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Minnalum minnalum netru varai pirinthathu yeno / Pinnalaai pinnalaai indrudan pinainthida thaano

Oxymoron / Paradox

Idhu neerin thozhil kaippodum / Oru chinnath theeyin kadhai aagum

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Sudum veyil kodaikaalam / Kadum pani vaadai kaalam

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Ilaiyudhir kaalam theernthu / Ezhunthidum mannin vaasam

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Trivia

'Merkae Merkae' was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the film Kanda Naal Mudhal (2005), directed by V. Priya. Sung by Shankar Mahadevan and Sadhana Sargam with lyrics by Thamarai, the song became a major chartbuster, celebrated for its innovative orchestration blending breezy acoustic guitar riffs with classic Indian melody.

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