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Lyrics & meaning

Oru Kadhal Enbathu

From Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi · 1987

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Oru kaadhal enbathuThat which is called love,
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart;
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart,
Kannil vanthathadi} (2)And has now appeared in your eyes, my dear girl.
Male
Penn poovae vaai pesuOh flower-like woman, speak up!
Poongaatraai nee veesuBlow gently like a soft breeze!
Kaadhal geetham nee paaduSing a song of love!
Male
Oru kaadhal enbathuThat which is called love,
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart;
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart,
Kannil vanthathadiAnd has now appeared in your eyes, my dear girl.
Female
Kannipoovum unnaiEven the virgin flower wants to
Pinni kolla vendumEntwine tightly with you,
Mutham podum pothuWhile kissing,
Enni kolla vendumIt wants to count every kiss.
Male
Muthangal sangeethamWon't these kisses sing
Paadaathoo…ohh..A sweet musical melody?
Un koondhal paayondruWon't your long hair lay out
Podaathoo..oh…A bed for us?
Female
Kannaa kannaa un paaduOh my beloved, sing your song,
Ennai thanthen veroduI have surrendered myself to you along with my roots.
Male
Un dhegam… en meedhuYour body... resting upon mine!
Male
Oru kaadhal enbathuThat which is called love,
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart;
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart,
Kannil vanthathadiAnd has now appeared in your eyes, my dear girl.
Male
Unnai pondra pennaiA woman like you,
Kannaal paarthathillaiI have never seen with my own eyes.
Unnai andri yaarumExcept for you, no one else
Pennaai thondra villaiEven appears as a woman to me.
Female
Poovondru thallaadumA flower sways playfully
Thaenoduu….Filled with sweet honey...
Manjathil eppodhuWhen will there be a grand conference
Maanaaduu….Upon our nuptial bed?
Male
Poovin ullae therottamA grand chariot procession inside the flower,
Naalai thaanae vellottamTomorrow itself will be its trial run!
Female
Ennodu…. pann paadu…Sing a musical tune with me...
Female
Oru kaadhal enbathuThat which is called love,
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart;
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart,
Kannil vanthathadiAnd has now appeared in your eyes, my dear girl.
Female
Penn poovae vaai pesuOh flower-like woman, speak up!
Poongaatraai nee veesuBlow gently like a soft breeze!
Kaadhal geetham nee paaduSing a song of love!
Male
Oru kaadhal enbathuThat which is called love,
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart;
Un nenjil ullathuIs inside your heart,
Kannil vanthathadiAnd has now appeared in your eyes, my dear girl.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Kaadhal Enbathu' is a romantic song expressing tender passion and intimacy between lovers. The song opens with the realization that love, which was hidden in the heroine's heart, has finally revealed itself through her expressive eyes. The hero poetically coaxes her to express her emotions, addressing her as a delicate flower and urging her to sing a song of love like a gentle breeze. The couple exchanged thoughts filled with sensual desire and profound romantic imagery. Metaphors like a bed woven out of long tresses, counting kisses as musical notes, and a chariot procession taking place inside a blossom highlight their yearning for emotional and physical union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Metaphor/Simile)

Penn poovae vaai pesu / Poongaatraai nee veesu

Compares the beloved woman to a gentle flower ('Penn poovae') and requests her to flow like a soft breeze ('Poongaatraai').

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Penn poovae vaai pesu / Poongaatraai nee veesu / Kaadhal geetham nee paadu

The words 'pesu', 'veesu', and 'paadu' end with similar rhyming verbal endings (-su / -du).

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kannipoovum unnai / Pinni kolla vendum

The repetition of consonant sounds creating a rhythmic flow in the verse lines.

Metaphor

Un koondhal paayondru podaathoo

Poetically treats the heroine's long, dark hair as a mat/bed ('paay') spread out for love.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Oru Kaadhal Enbathu' belongs to the 1987 Tamil movie 'Chinna Thambi Periya Thambi', directed by Ramarajan and starring Sathyaraj, Prabhu, and Nadhiya. The music for the film was composed by Gangai Amaran, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The duet was brilliantly performed by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki.

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