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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Thendral Kaatre Sad

From Kumbakarai Thangaiah · 1991

Lyricist: Gangai Amaran
Singer: S. Janaki
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Kumbakarai Thangaiah
Movie release year: 1991
Lyrics added on: 26 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…

Hooo ooo oo ooo

Hooo ooo oo ooo

Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…

Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae

Saedhi onnu kettiyaa

Kannippoovu kannil nooru

Kolam potta paathiya

Maaman mogatha paathu thaan

Vandhu sera solla maattiya

Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae

Saedhi onnu kettiyaa

Kannippoovu kannil nooru

Kolam potta paathiya

Sondham theduthu… indha poonguyil

Sogathoda vaazhuthu

Indha kaattula… thandha paattula

Yekkankondu vaaduthu

Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi…

Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi…

Dhegam vaadi ponadhae

Neril onna kaana nenjam

Nesathoda yenguthu

Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae

Saedhi onnu kettiyaa

Kannippoovu kannil nooru

Kolam potta paathiya

Indha boomiyum andha vaanamum

Irukkumkolam maaralaam

Indha aasaiyum senja poosaiyum

Endrum maara koodumo

Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavum

Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavum

Kaadhal geetham vaazhumae

Kanavu kooda kavidhaiyaagi

Unadhu pugazha paadumae

Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae

Saedhi onnu kettiyaa

Kannippoovu kannil nooru

Kolam potta paathiya

Maaman mogatha paathu thaan

Vandhu sera solla maattiya

Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae

Saedhi onnu kettiyaa

Kannippoovu kannil nooru

Kolam potta paathiya

Ah ah ah ah ah ah

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Oh oh oh oh oh oh

Ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah

O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,

Have you heard the news?

This young flower, in her eyes,

Drew a hundred patterns, did you see?

Look upon my beloved's face,

And won't you tell him to come join me?

O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,

Have you heard the news?

This young flower, in her eyes,

Drew a hundred patterns, did you see?

Searching for her loved one, this cuckoo bird

Lives on in sorrow.

In this forest, through the songs she sings,

She wilts with longing.

Searching and searching, singing and singing,

Searching and searching, singing and singing,

My whole body has withered away.

To see you in person, my heart

Yearns with deep love.

O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,

Have you heard the news?

This young flower, in her eyes,

Drew a hundred patterns, did you see?

This earth and that sky,

The forms they hold may change.

Could this desire and the prayers I made

Ever change at all?

As long as the wind lives on,

As long as the wind lives on,

This song of love will live on!

Even dreams will turn into poetry

And sing your praise!

O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,

Have you heard the news?

This young flower, in her eyes,

Drew a hundred patterns, did you see?

Look upon my beloved's face,

And won't you tell him to come join me?

O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,

Have you heard the news?

This young flower, in her eyes,

Drew a hundred patterns, did you see?

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Thendral Kaathae' expresses the deep yearning and emotional distress of a young woman longing for her beloved. She addresses the gentle southern breeze (Thendral), treating it as a messenger to convey her heart's plight to her beloved ('Maaman'). Comparing herself to a flower and a singing cuckoo in a lonely forest, she describes how her physical form fades while her emotional devotion remains unwavering. She muses that even if the physical universe—the earth and sky—undergoes changes over time, her love and spiritual devotion will remain constant. As long as the wind blows, her song of love will endure, turning every dream into a poetic ode praising her partner's glory.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe / Personification (Thendral Thoodhu)

“Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae saedhi onnu kettiyaa”

Addressing the gentle breeze ('Thendral Kaathae') as an active listener and messenger is a classic Sangam-inspired Tamil poetic trope known as Thoodhu.

Uvamaani / Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Kannippoovu kannil nooru kolam potta paathiya”

Comparing the heroine to a 'kannippoovu' (maiden flower) and a 'poonguyil' (flower-cuckoo) to highlight her innocence, grace, and distress.

Edukai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Indha boomiyum andha vaanamum / Irukkumkolam maaralaam”

The second letter consonant 'n' ('nn') rhymes across adjacent lines ('Kannippoovu' / 'Sondham' / 'Indha').

Asobadai / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

“Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi…”

Repetition of words like 'Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi' creates a rhythmic cadence emphasizing continuous longing.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thendral Kaathae' is composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1991 Tamil film 'Kumbakarai Thangaiah', directed by Gangai Amaran. Sung by legendary playback singer S. Janaki, the song highlights Gangai Amaran's signature lyrical blend of folk sentiments and classical Tamil literary tropes such as addressing the wind as a lover's messenger.

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