Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Netru Vandha Kaatru

From Kanmani · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kanmani1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Netru vandha kaatruDid the breeze that blew yesterday
En paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhaaBring and deliver my song to you?
Male
Netru vandha kaatruDid the breeze that blew yesterday
En paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhaaBring and deliver my song to you?
Sollu sollu en kanmaniTell me, tell me, my precious darling!
Female
Netru vandha kaatruThe breeze that blew yesterday
Un paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhuBrought and delivered your song to me.
Chinna chinna en kannanaeMy dear little Kannan,
Male
Neeyum kettaal kirakkamIf you listen, a sweet giddiness
En paattaal pirakkumWill be born through my song.
Unakkor sugam vandhadhaa vandhadhaa hoDid a tender joy come to you, did it come?
Female
Maalai andhi maalaiIn the dusk of the evening,
Un vaanam vandhadhindha vennilaaHas this white moon arrived in your sky?
Endru endru nam thaenilaaWhen, oh when, is our honeymoon?
Male
Maalai andhi maalaiIn the dusk of the evening,
En vaanam vandhadhindha vennilaaHas this white moon arrived in my sky?
Endru endru nam thaenilaaWhen, oh when, is our honeymoon?
Female
Kollai aasai pirakkaAs an abundance of desire arises,
Un vaasal thirakkaTo open the door to your heart,
Azhaithaal varum pennilaa pennilaa hoWill the lady-moon come if called?
Male
Jaadai enna jaadaiWhat subtle gestures these are!
Un paarvai sonnadhenna mandhiramWhat magic spell did your gaze whisper?
Paarvai enna un vaarthaiyaaIs it your gaze, or is it your words?
Female
Jaadai enna jaadaiWhat subtle gestures these are!
Un paarvai sonnadhenna mandhiramWhat magic spell did your gaze whisper?
Paarvai enna un vaarthaiyaaIs it your gaze, or is it your words?
Male
Endhan maunam vilakkumDispelling my silence,
Pen paavai mayakkamThis young maiden's intoxication,
Vizhikkul ezhum naadagam aayiram hoA thousand dramas unfold inside the eyes!
Male
Netru vandha kaatruDid the breeze that blew yesterday
En paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhaaBring and deliver my song to you?
Sollu sollu en kanmaniTell me, tell me, my precious darling!
Male
Netru vandha kaatruDid the breeze that blew yesterday
En paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhaaBring and deliver my song to you?
Sollu sollu en kanmaniTell me, tell me, my precious darling!
Neeyum kettaal kirakkamIf you listen, a sweet giddiness
En paattaal pirakkumWill be born through my song.
Unakkor sugam vandhadhaa vandhadhaa hoDid a tender joy come to you, did it come?
Female
Netru vandha kaatruThe breeze that blew yesterday
Un paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhuBrought and delivered your song to me.
Chinna chinna en kannanaeMy dear little Kannan,
Naanum kettaal kirakkamWhen I listen, a sweet giddiness
Un paattaal pirakkumIs born through your song.
Enakkor sugam vandhadhu vandhadhu hoA tender joy came to me, it came!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Netru Vandha Kaatru' is a romantic duet from the film 'Kanmani' (1994), featuring lyrics written by the celebrated lyricist Vaali. The song is framed as a playful, intimate conversation between two lovers who convey their feelings through the wind. They describe how hearing each other's music and voices brings about a dizzying, pleasurable intoxication and draws them closer together. As the song unfolds, it uses rich evening imagery—twilight, the moon, and dreamy gazes—to build an atmosphere of romantic longing and anticipation for their future together. The lyrics beautifully contrast silent glances with spoken words, highlighting the unspoken understanding and deep emotional bond between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Netru vandha kaatru / En paattai kondu vandhu thandhadhaa

The breeze is personified as a messenger that carries songs between lovers.

Iyaipu (Rhyming)

Neeyum kettaal kirakkam / En paattaal pirakkum

End-rhyming with matching rhythmic cadence using 'kirakkam' and 'pirakkum'.

Metaphor

Azhaithaal varum pennilaa pennilaa ho

The term 'pennilaa' combines 'pen' (woman) and 'nilaa' (moon), metaphorically comparing the beloved to a radiant lady-moon.

Anaphora / Repetition

Sollu sollu en kanmani / Chinna chinna en kannanae

The repetition of 'sollu sollu' and 'chinna chinna' adds musicality and emphasizes affection.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Netru Vandha Kaatru' features lyrics by Vaali for the 1994 Tamil film 'Kanmani', directed by R. K. Selvamani and starring Prashanth and Mohini. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with playback vocals performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and K. S. Chithra.

Keep listening

More from Kanmani