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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Paadhi Kadhavu

From Thaandavam · 2012

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singers
Haricharan, Vandana Srinivasan
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Thaandavam2012

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee enbadhae naanthaanadiYou are none other than me, my dear girl
Naan enbadhae naamthaanadi ..ee hey'I' actually means 'us', my dear girl
Male
Oru paathi kathavu neeyadiYou are one half of the door, my dear girl
Maru paathi kathavu naanadiI am the other half of the door, my dear girl
Paarthukondae pirinthirundhomWe remained apart while gazing at each other
Serthu vaika kaathirundhomWe were waiting to be brought together
Female
Oru paathi kathavu neeyadaYou are one half of the door, my dear boy
Maru paathi kathavu naanadaI am the other half of the door, my dear girl
Thaazh thirandhae kaathirundhomWe waited with the latch unfastened
Kaatru veesa paarthirundhomWe waited looking out for the breeze to blow
Male
Nee enbadhae naanthaanadiYou are none other than me, my dear girl
Naan enbadhae naamthaanadi ..ee hey'I' actually means 'us', my dear girl
Male
Oru paathi kathavu neeyadiYou are one half of the door, my dear girl
Maru paathi kathavu naanadiI am the other half of the door, my dear girl
Male
……………………………
Male
Iravu varum thirutu bayamWhen night falls, fear of theft arrives
Kathavugalai serthu vidumWhich pushes both halves of the doors together
Female
Oh kathavugalai thirudividumOh, love steals the doors themselves away
Adhisayathai kaadhal seiyumLove works such incredible miracles
Male
Irandum kaikorthu sernthadhuThe two held hands and joined together
Idaiyil poipootu ponathuThe false lock between them vanished
Female
Vaasal thallaadudhae thindaadudhae kondaadudhaeThe entrance sways, struggles in bliss, and celebrates
Male
Oru paathi kathavu neeyadiYou are one half of the door, my dear girl
Maru paathi kathavu naanadiI am the other half of the door, my dear girl
Female
………………………..
Male
Oh idi idithum mazhai adithumOh, even when thunder struck and rain poured down
Asaiyaamal nindrirundhomWe stood firm without swaying
Female
Oh indreno nam moochumOh, why is it that today, our very breath
Menkaatril inainthuvittomHas merged into the gentle breeze?
Male
Idhayam ondraagi ponadhaeOur hearts have become one
Kathavae illaamal aanadhaeIt has become a home without any doors
Female
Inimel nam veetilaeFrom now on in our home
Poonkaatruthaan dhinam veesumae…Only a pleasant, gentle breeze will blow every day...
Male
Oru paathi kathavu neeyadiYou are one half of the door, my dear girl
Maru paathi kathavu naanadiI am the other half of the door, my dear girl
Paarthukondae pirinthirundhomWe remained apart while gazing at each other
Serthu vaika kaathirundhomWe were waiting to be brought together
Female
Oru paathi kathavu neeyadaYou are one half of the door, my dear boy
Maru paathi kathavu naanadaI am the other half of the door, my dear girl
Thaazh thirandhae kaathirundhomWe waited with the latch unfastened
Kaatru veesa paarthirundhomWe waited looking out for the breeze to blow
Male
Nee enbadhae naanthaanadiYou are none other than me, my dear girl
Naan enbadhae naamthaanadi ..ee'I' actually means 'us', my dear girl

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Oru Paathi Kadhavu' from the 2012 Tamil film Thaandavam is a deeply poetic romantic duet written by Na. Muthukumar. The song uses an extended household metaphor comparing two lovers to the two panel leaves of a traditional double door. Though physically separated yet facing one another, they patiently await the wind of fate to bring them together into a complete unit, transforming individual identities ('you' and 'I') into a unified 'us'. The emotional journey moves from patient waiting through life's storms—such as thunder, rain, and fear—to complete spiritual unity. Eventually, love removes the barrier altogether; the door itself dissolves, symbolizing the end of all distance and boundaries, leaving behind a welcoming home filled perpetually with a gentle, joyful breeze.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Extended Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Oru paathi kathavu neeyadi / Maru paathi kathavu naanadi

Compares the lovers to two halves of a single double door, illustrating that neither is complete without the other.

Iyaipu (Internal / End Rhyme)

Vaasal thallaadudhae thindaadudhae kondaadudhae

The rhythmic repetition of the suffix '-aadudhae' creates a musical cadence reflecting the playful celebration at the doorway.

Personification

Vaasal thallaadudhae thindaadudhae kondaadudhae

Gives human emotions like staggering, struggling in excitement, and celebrating to an inanimate doorway ('vaasal').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Paarthukondae pirinthirundhom / Serthu vaika kaathirundhom

The initial 'P' sounds in 'Paarthukondae' and 'pirinthirundhom' align musically.

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Trivia

Composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar and written by Na. Muthukumar, this song is sung by Haricharan and debutante singer Vandana Srinivasan. Vandana's rendition earned her wide acclaim in the Tamil music industry. The film *Thaandavam*, directed by A. L. Vijay, stars Vikram and Anushka Shetty in the lead roles.

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