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Isaimozhi
Deva album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Kaditham Eluthinen (Female)

From Deva · 1995

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Deva
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
15 Jun 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru kaditham ezhuthinen
En uyirai anuppinen
Andha ezhuthin vadivilae
Naan ennai anuppinen
Kaadhalaa…aaahhh…
Idhu thaan kaadhaaala…aaah..aaahh…
Kaadhalaa…aaahhh…
Idhu thaan kaadhaaala…aaah..aaahh…
Oru kaditham ezhuthinen
En uyirai anuppinen
Naan vaangum swaasangal ellaam
Nee thandha kaatru
Nee indri vaazhndhida ingu
Enakkaedhu moochu
Aagaayam neer nilam yaavum
Azhagae un kaatchi
Alai paayndhu naan ingu vaada
Avai thaanae saatchi
Nee illaadha naanae
Thuli neer illaadha meenae
Nee oadai pola kooda vendumae…
Kaadhalaa…aaahhh…
Idhu thaan kaadhaaala…aaah..aaahh…
Kaadhalaa…aaahhh…
Idhu thaan kaadhaaala…aaah..aaahh…
Oru kaditham ezhuthinen
En uyirai anuppinen
Andha ezhuthin vadivilae
Naan ennai anuppinen
Kaadhalaa…aaahhh…
Idhu thaan kaadhaaala…aaah..aaahh…
Kaadhalaa…aaahhh…
Idhu thaan kaadhaaala…aaah..aaahh…
Oru kaditham ezhuthinen
En uyirai anuppinen
I wrote a letter,
and I sent my very life.
In the form of those written words,
I sent myself.
My love... ah...
Is this what love is?... ah... ah...
My love... ah...
Is this what love is?... ah... ah...
I wrote a letter,
and I sent my very life.
Every breath that I take
is the air you gave me.
To live here without you,
how could I have any breath?
The sky, the water, and the earth—
my love, are all visions of you.
As I toss restlessly and pine away here,
they alone are my witness.
Without you, I am
like a fish without a drop of water.
You must come and join me like a flowing stream...
My love... ah...
Is this what love is?... ah... ah...
My love... ah...
Is this what love is?... ah... ah...
I wrote a letter,
and I sent my very life.
In the form of those written words,
I sent myself.
My love... ah...
Is this what love is?... ah... ah...
My love... ah...
Is this what love is?... ah... ah...
I wrote a letter,
and I sent my very life.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful track expresses the profound depth of love and separation through the medium of a written letter. The protagonist believes that writing a letter is not merely scribbling words on paper, but sending their very soul and identity to the beloved. Every aspect of existence—the air they breathe and the natural elements around them—is tied entirely to the lover's presence. The lyrics use poignant imagery to capture intense emotional reliance, comparing the speaker's state without their partner to a fish struggling without water. The song depicts love as an all-encompassing force where distance only magnifies the yearning for reunion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Andha ezhuthin vadivilae Naan ennai anuppinen

Equates the written words of the letter directly to the sender's own life and soul.

Simile (Uwamai Ani)

Thuli neer illaadha meenae

Compares the protagonist's helpless state without the beloved to a fish stranded without a single drop of water.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Oru kaditham ezhuthinen / En uyirai anuppinen

The verbs 'ezhuthinen' and 'anuppinen' share the same ending suffix (-inen), creating a pleasant rhythmic repetition.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Kaditham Ezhuthinen' is a classic romantic song from the 1995 Tamil film 'Deva', starring Vijay and Swathi. The film's music was composed by Deva, and this particular duet features vocals by actor Vijay himself alongside the renowned playback singer K. S. Chithra, showcasing Vijay's early playback singing career under Vaali's evocative penmanship.

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