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Naan Kadavul album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Kaatril Alaiyum

From Naan Kadavul · 2009

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Naan Kadavul
Movie release year
2009
Lyrics added on
22 Jan 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru kaatril alaiyum siragu
Endha neram oivu thedum
Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu
Edhai thedi engu pogum
Engengum inbam irundhum
Un pangu ponadhingae
Idhu yen endru badhil yaar solluvaar
Oru kaatril alaiyum siragu
Endha neram oivu thedum
Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu
Edhai thedi engu pogum
Yaarkkum poloru
Annai thandhai
Unakkum irunthathu undu
Yaarkkum poloru
Dhegam thaagam
Unakkum valarndhadhu ingu
Yaarkkum polae vizhigal irundhum
Ulagamo irulil
Oliyai polae orr thunai
Vandhu sendra thunbam yaarkkum undoo
Oru kaatril alaiyum siragu
Endha neram oivu thedum
Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu
Edhai thedi engu pogum
Veedhi endroru veedum undu
Unakkadhu sondham endru
Vaanam endroru koorai undu
Vizhigalum ariyaadhu
Veliyillaa solaikkaaga
Vandhadhor kaaval
Kangal konda dheivamum
Kaavalaiyum kondu sendradhenoo
Oru kaatril alaiyum siragu
Endha neram oivu thedum
Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu
Edhai thedi engu pogum
Engengum inbam irundhum
Un pangu ponadhingae
Idhu yen endru badhil yaar solluvaar
Oru kaatril alaiyum siragu
Endha neram oivu thedum
Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu
Edhai thedi engu pogum
A feather drifting in the wind,
when will it find rest?
A dream seen without eyes,
what is it searching for, and where will it go?
Though there is happiness everywhere,
your share has been lost here.
Who will tell why this is so?
A feather drifting in the wind,
when will it find rest?
A dream seen without eyes,
what is it searching for, and where will it go?
Just like anyone else,
a mother and a father,
you once had too.
Just like anyone else,
a body and its yearnings,
grew in you here as well.
Though you have eyes like anyone else,
your world is wrapped in darkness.
Like a ray of light, a companion
came and left—has anyone suffered such sorrow?
A feather drifting in the wind,
when will it find rest?
A dream seen without eyes,
what is it searching for, and where will it go?
There is a home called the street,
which belongs to you.
There is a roof called the sky,
which your eyes cannot see.
For a helpless garden,
a protector came along.
Why did even the God with eyes
take that protector away?
A feather drifting in the wind,
when will it find rest?
A dream seen without eyes,
what is it searching for, and where will it go?
Though there is happiness everywhere,
your share has been lost here.
Who will tell why this is so?
A feather drifting in the wind,
when will it find rest?
A dream seen without eyes,
what is it searching for, and where will it go?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This deeply emotional track from Bala's film 'Naan Kadavul' reflects on the tragic, rootless existence of visually impaired and physically vulnerable individuals forced into begging. The song compares an aimless soul to a feather floating in the wind without a place to rest, questioning the cruelty of fate and asking why innocent human beings are deprived of basic happiness, home, and love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Oru kaatril alaiyum siragu”

Compares a helpless, wandering human soul directly to a feather blown aimlessly by the wind.

Metaphor

“Veedhi endroru veedum undu / Vaanam endroru koorai undu”

Uses the open street as a metaphor for a home and the sky as a metaphor for a roof, emphasizing homeless existence.

Monai (Alliteration)

“Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu”

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound ('Ka' / 'Kaa') creating a rhythmic poetic effect.

Paradox / Oxymoron

“Kannillaadhu kaanum kanavu”

Presents a poetic contradiction of 'seeing a dream without eyes'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and penned by legendary lyricist Vaali, 'Naan Kadavul' won the National Film Award for Best Direction (Bala). Ilaiyaraaja also won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for his evocative background score and tragic yet soulful compositions like this one.

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