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Kaathala Kaathala album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Saravana Bhava

From Kaathala Kaathala · 1998

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Kamal Haasan, Karthik Raja, Sripriya, Sujatha
Music director
Karthik Raja
Movie name
Kaathala Kaathala
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
21 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Saravana bhava guha vadivazhagaa
Dhinam dhinam kanavinil varum murugaa..aaahaa
Inaindhadhu inandhadhu iru mugam than
Irandukum etharkoru arimugam thaan..haaa..aaa..
Vaa vaa shri valli kooda vaa
Male :So so aalolam paadavaa
Saravana bhava guha vadivazhagaa
Dhinam dhinam kanavinil varum murugaa..aaahaa
Inaindhadhu inandhadhu iru mugam than
Irandukum etharkoru arimugam thaan..haaa..aaa..
Nee than thenpodhigayi ezhum kaatru
Unn mani vizhi minnalkeetru
Enn manavayal vandha naatru
Ooraar kai thozhukindra sivalingam
Nee avan petra ilanchingam
Unn thala thala udal thangam
Naanathai vidai thandhu mella veliyetru
Female :Nadathu.. iravinil andha vilayatu
Pagalae iravena ninaithaal thavaraa
Female :Athuthan aagadhu…. hoooo…hooohooo…
Saravana bhava guha vadivazhagaa
Chorus :Saravana saravana saravana saravana
Dhinam dhinam kanavinil varum murugaa
Chorus :Saravana saravana saravana saravana
Kaalil porchalangayin oli ketkum
Senthamizisai athu vaarkum
Unn thiru nadam ennai eerkum
Velaa unn abinayam ennai vaatum
Narkalainayam athu kaatum
Enn narambinai athu meetum
Naalellam nadakatum inghu thaipoosam
Female :Nalamaai valaratum intha uyir nesam
Inimel thalaivanin nizhal than… thalaivi
Pirivae kidayadhu hoo… aaaaa…..
Saravana bhava guha vadivazhagaa
Dhinam dhinam kanavinil varum murugaa..
Inaindhadhu inandhadhu iru mugam than
Irandukum etharkoru arimugam thaan..haaa..aaa..
Vaa vaa shri valli kooda vaa
Male :So so aalolam paadavaa
Inaindhadhu inandhadhu iru mugam than
Irandukum etharkoru arimugam thaan..haaa..aaa..
Saravana bhava guha vadivazhagaa
Dhinam dhinam kanavinil varum murugaa..aaa…
Saravana Bhava, Guha, so handsome and beautiful in form,
O Muruga, who comes into my dreams every single day... aaha!
Two faces have finally met and joined,
Why do the two even need an introduction? Ha... aa...
Come, come, Sri Valli, come with me!
Male: Shall I sing the soothing Alolam song?
Saravana Bhava, Guha, so handsome and beautiful in form,
O Muruga, who comes into my dreams every single day... aaha!
Two faces have finally met and joined,
Why do the two even need an introduction? Ha... aa...
You are the gentle breeze rising from Mount Podhigai,
Your sparkling eyes are flashes of lightning,
A young seedling planted in the field of my heart!
The Shivalingam worshiped by everyone in town—
You are the young lion born to him!
Your radiant, supple body glows like gold!
Say goodbye to your shyness and gently cast it away,
Female: Play... that game when the night arrives!
Is it wrong if I treat the daytime as night?
Female: No, you can't do that... Oh... oho...
Saravana Bhava, Guha, so handsome and beautiful in form,
Chorus: Saravana, Saravana, Saravana, Saravana!
O Muruga, who comes into my dreams every single day!
Chorus: Saravana, Saravana, Saravana, Saravana!
The sound of golden bell-anklets rings on your feet,
Pouring out sweet Tamil music,
Your divine dance captivates me!
O Vela, your expressive gestures tease and torment me,
Displaying the elegance of fine art,
Strumming the strings of my every nerve!
Let Thaipusam be celebrated here every single day,
Female: May this deep love of our souls grow and flourish!
From now on, the lady is her lover's shadow,
There is no parting anymore, ho... aaaa...
Saravana Bhava, Guha, so handsome and beautiful in form,
O Muruga, who comes into my dreams every single day...
Two faces have finally met and joined,
Why do the two even need an introduction? Ha... aa...
Come, come, Sri Valli, come with me!
Male: Shall I sing the soothing Alolam song?
Two faces have finally met and joined,
Why do the two even need an introduction? Ha... aa...
Saravana Bhava, Guha, so handsome and beautiful in form,
O Muruga, who comes into my dreams every single day... aa...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the 1998 comedy film Kaathala Kaathala is a romantic duet woven cleverly into devotional praise for Lord Murugan and Valli. Poet Vaali uses spiritual and classical motifs—referencing the southern Podhigai breeze, temple imagery, and divine dance—to depict the playful courtship and affection between lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nee than thenpodhigayi ezhum kaatru

Compares the lover's breath or presence to the refreshing southern breeze rising from the Podhigai hills.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kaalil porchalangayin oli ketkum / Senthamizisai athu vaarkum

The second consonant 'l' (l/n) rhymes across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic harmony.

Mythological Allegory

Vaa vaa shri valli kooda vaa

Compares the human lovers to Lord Murugan and his consort Valli, giving the romantic track a classical devotional backdrop.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Karthik Raja for the 1998 hit Tamil comedy film Kaathala Kaathala starring Kamal Haasan, Prabhu Deva, Soundarya, and Rambha. Lyricist Vaali playfully juxtaposed devotional Tamil epithets for Lord Murugan with modern romantic banter.

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