Thendral Kaatre Sad
From Kumbakarai Thangaiah · 1991
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kumbakarai Thangaiah1991
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa… | Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa… |
| Hooo ooo oo ooo | Hooo ooo oo ooo |
| Hooo ooo oo ooo | Hooo ooo oo ooo |
| Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa… | Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa… |
| Female | |
| Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae | O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze, |
| Saedhi onnu kettiyaa | Have you heard a piece of news? |
| Kannippoovu kannil nooru | Did you see this maiden flower |
| Kolam potta paathiya | Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes? |
| Maaman mogatha paathu thaan | Looking upon my beloved's face, |
| Vandhu sera solla maattiya | Won't you tell him to come and unite with me? |
| Female | |
| Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae | O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze, |
| Saedhi onnu kettiyaa | Have you heard a piece of news? |
| Kannippoovu kannil nooru | Did you see this maiden flower |
| Kolam potta paathiya | Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes? |
| Female | |
| Sondham theduthu… indha poonguyil | Searching for her loved one, this flower-like cuckoo |
| Sogathoda vaazhuthu | Is living in sorrow. |
| Indha kaattula… thandha paattula | In this forest, through the songs she pours out, |
| Yekkankondu vaaduthu | She is wilting away with deep longing. |
| Female | |
| Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi… | Searching and searching, singing and singing... |
| Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi… | Searching and searching, singing and singing... |
| Dhegam vaadi ponadhae | Her body has withered away. |
| Neril onna kaana nenjam | To see you in person, her heart |
| Nesathoda yenguthu | Yearns with boundless affection. |
| Female | |
| Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae | O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze, |
| Saedhi onnu kettiyaa | Have you heard a piece of news? |
| Kannippoovu kannil nooru | Did you see this maiden flower |
| Kolam potta paathiya | Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes? |
| Female | |
| Indha boomiyum andha vaanamum | This earth and that sky, |
| Irukkumkolam maaralaam | the state of their existence may change. |
| Indha aasaiyum senja poosaiyum | But could this desire and the worship offered |
| Endrum maara koodumo | Ever change at any time? |
| Female | |
| Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavum | For as long as the wind exists, |
| Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavum | For as long as the wind exists, |
| Kaadhal geetham vaazhumae | This anthem of love shall live on. |
| Kanavu kooda kavidhaiyaagi | Even dreams shall turn into poetry |
| Unadhu pugazha paadumae | To sing praise of your glory. |
| Female | |
| Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae | O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze, |
| Saedhi onnu kettiyaa | Have you heard a piece of news? |
| Kannippoovu kannil nooru | Did you see this maiden flower |
| Kolam potta paathiya | Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes? |
| Maaman mogatha paathu thaan | Looking upon my beloved's face, |
| Vandhu sera solla maattiya | Won't you tell him to come and unite with me? |
| Female | |
| Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae | O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze, |
| Saedhi onnu kettiyaa | Have you heard a piece of news? |
| Kannippoovu kannil nooru | Did you see this maiden flower |
| Kolam potta paathiya | Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes? |
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ
ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ ஓ
ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ ஆ
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Hooo ooo oo ooo
Hooo ooo oo ooo
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
தென்றல் காத்தே தென்றல் காத்தே
சேதி ஒண்ணு கேட்டியா
கன்னிப்பூவு கண்ணில் நூறு
கோலம் போட்டா பாத்தியா
மாமன் மொகத்த பாத்து தான்
வந்து சேர சொல்ல மாட்டியா
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Have you heard a piece of news?
Did you see this maiden flower
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Looking upon my beloved's face,
Won't you tell him to come and unite with me?
தென்றல் காத்தே தென்றல் காத்தே
சேதி ஒண்ணு கேட்டியா
கன்னிப்பூவு கண்ணில் நூறு
கோலம் போட்டா பாத்தியா
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Have you heard a piece of news?
Did you see this maiden flower
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
சொந்தம் தேடுது இந்த பூங்குயில்
சோகத்தோடு வாழுது
இந்த காட்டுல தந்த பாட்டுல
ஏக்கங்கொண்டு வாடுது
Searching for her loved one, this flower-like cuckoo
Is living in sorrow.
In this forest, through the songs she pours out,
She is wilting away with deep longing.
தேடி தேடி பாடி பாடி
தேடி தேடி பாடி பாடி
தேகம் வாடி போனதே
நேரில் உன்ன காண நெஞ்சம்
நேசத்தோட ஏங்குது
Searching and searching, singing and singing...
Searching and searching, singing and singing...
Her body has withered away.
To see you in person, her heart
Yearns with boundless affection.
தென்றல் காத்தே தென்றல் காத்தே
சேதி ஒண்ணு கேட்டியா
கன்னிப்பூவு கண்ணில் நூறு
கோலம் போட்டா பாத்தியா
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Have you heard a piece of news?
Did you see this maiden flower
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
இந்த பூமியும் அந்த வானமும்
இருக்கும்கோலம் மாறலாம்
இந்த ஆசையும் செஞ்ச பூசையும்
என்றும் மாற கூடுமோ
This earth and that sky,
the state of their existence may change.
But could this desire and the worship offered
Ever change at any time?
காத்து வாழும் காலம் யாவும்
காத்து வாழும் காலம் யாவும்
காதல் கீதம் வாழுமே
கனவு கூட கவிதையாகி
உனது புகழ பாடுமே
For as long as the wind exists,
For as long as the wind exists,
This anthem of love shall live on.
Even dreams shall turn into poetry
To sing praise of your glory.
தென்றல் காத்தே தென்றல் காத்தே
சேதி ஒண்ணு கேட்டியா
கன்னிப்பூவு கண்ணில் நூறு
கோலம் போட்டா பாத்தியா
மாமன் மொகத்த பாத்து தான்
வந்து சேர சொல்ல மாட்டியா
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Have you heard a piece of news?
Did you see this maiden flower
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Looking upon my beloved's face,
Won't you tell him to come and unite with me?
தென்றல் காத்தே தென்றல் காத்தே
சேதி ஒண்ணு கேட்டியா
கன்னிப்பூவு கண்ணில் நூறு
கோலம் போட்டா பாத்தியா
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Have you heard a piece of news?
Did you see this maiden flower
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Hooo ooo oo ooo
Hooo ooo oo ooo
Hooo ooo oo ooo
Hooo ooo oo ooo
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaa
Have you heard a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooru
Did you see this maiden flower
Kolam potta paathiya
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Maaman mogatha paathu thaan
Looking upon my beloved's face,
Vandhu sera solla maattiya
Won't you tell him to come and unite with me?
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaa
Have you heard a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooru
Did you see this maiden flower
Kolam potta paathiya
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Sondham theduthu… indha poonguyil
Searching for her loved one, this flower-like cuckoo
Sogathoda vaazhuthu
Is living in sorrow.
Indha kaattula… thandha paattula
In this forest, through the songs she pours out,
Yekkankondu vaaduthu
She is wilting away with deep longing.
Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi…
Searching and searching, singing and singing...
Thaedi thaedi paadi paadi…
Searching and searching, singing and singing...
Dhegam vaadi ponadhae
Her body has withered away.
Neril onna kaana nenjam
To see you in person, her heart
Nesathoda yenguthu
Yearns with boundless affection.
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaa
Have you heard a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooru
Did you see this maiden flower
Kolam potta paathiya
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Indha boomiyum andha vaanamum
This earth and that sky,
Irukkumkolam maaralaam
the state of their existence may change.
Indha aasaiyum senja poosaiyum
But could this desire and the worship offered
Endrum maara koodumo
Ever change at any time?
Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavum
For as long as the wind exists,
Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavum
For as long as the wind exists,
Kaadhal geetham vaazhumae
This anthem of love shall live on.
Kanavu kooda kavidhaiyaagi
Even dreams shall turn into poetry
Unadhu pugazha paadumae
To sing praise of your glory.
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaa
Have you heard a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooru
Did you see this maiden flower
Kolam potta paathiya
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Maaman mogatha paathu thaan
Looking upon my beloved's face,
Vandhu sera solla maattiya
Won't you tell him to come and unite with me?
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae
O gentle breeze, O gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaa
Have you heard a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooru
Did you see this maiden flower
Kolam potta paathiya
Drawing a hundred kolam patterns in her eyes?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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