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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thendral Kaatre Thendral Kaatre

From Kumbakarai Thangaiah · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kumbakarai Thangaiah1991

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Hooo ooo oo oooOoh... ooh... ooh...
Hooo ooo oo oooOoh... ooh... ooh...
Aaa…aaa….aaa…aaa…Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Female
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathaeGentle breeze, oh gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaaDid you hear a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooruDid you see the virgin flower
Kolam potta paathiyaDrawing a hundred patterns in her eyes?
Maaman mogatha paathu thaanLooking at my beloved uncle's longing,
Vandhu sera solla maattiyaWon't you ask him to come and join me?
Male
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathaeGentle breeze, oh gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaaDid you hear a piece of news?
Kannippoovu kannil nooruDid you see the virgin flower
Kolam potta paathiyaDrawing a hundred patterns in her eyes?
Male
Muthu meni thaan pattu raani thaaanA body like a pearl, a queen of silk,
Muzhudhum vaazhum yogam thaanBlessed with a fulfilled fortune.
Thottu paarkkavum katti serkkavumTo touch and see, to hold tight and embrace,
Thodarum enadhu vegam thaanMy eager speed continues.
Female
Neeyum naanum…. paalum thaenumYou and I... like milk and honey,
Neeyum naanum paalum thaenumYou and I, like milk and honey,
Pola onnaa koodanumMust join together as one.
Male
Vaanam pola boomi polaLike the sky and the earth,
Serndhu onnaa vaazhanumWe must live together as one.
Female
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathaeGentle breeze, oh gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaaDid you hear a piece of news?
Male :Kannippoovu kannil nooruMale: Did you see the virgin flower
Kolam potta paathiyaDrawing a hundred patterns in her eyes?
Female
Indha boomiyum antha vaanamumThis earth and that sky,
Irukkumkolam maaralaamTheir existing forms may alter.
Indha aasaiyum senja poosaiyumCan this desire and sacred ritual
Endrum maara koodumoEver change?
Male
Kaathu vaazhum…. kaalam yaavumAs long as the wind lives... throughout time,
Kaathu vaazhum kaalam yaavumAs long as the wind lives, throughout time,
Kaadhal geetham vaazhumaeThis anthem of love will live on.
Female
Kanavu kooda kavidhaiyaagiEven a dream will become poetry,
Unadhu pugazha paadumaeTo sing your glory.
Male
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathaeGentle breeze, oh gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaaDid you hear a piece of news?
Female :Kannippoovu kannil nooruFemale: Did you see the virgin flower
Kolam potta paathiyaDrawing a hundred patterns in her eyes?
Male
Maaman mogatha paathu thaanLooking at my beloved uncle's longing,
Female :Mana maala onnu podavaFemale: Shall I place a wedding garland on him?
Male
Thendral kaathae thendral kaathaeGentle breeze, oh gentle breeze,
Saedhi onnu kettiyaaDid you hear a piece of news?
Female
Kannippoovu kannil nooruDid you see the virgin flower
Kolam potta paathiyaDrawing a hundred patterns in her eyes?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Thendral Kaathae' is a romantic duet from the film 'Kumbakarai Thangaiah' where lovers express their devotion to each other, using the gentle breeze as a messenger of their feelings. The female protagonist talks about her burgeoning love and her yearning to unite with her beloved, comparing their bond to inseparable pairs like milk and honey, or the eternal presence of the sky and the earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Thendral kaathae thendral kaathae Saedhi onnu kettiyaa

Addressing the gentle breeze ('Thendral kaathae') as a messenger capable of hearing news and conveying messages.

Simile (Upamai)

Neeyum naanum paalum thaenum Pola onnaa koodanum

Comparing the togetherness of lovers to 'milk and honey' ('paalum thaenum pola') and 'sky and earth' ('vaanam pola boomi pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kannippoovu kannil nooru Kolam potta paathiya

Describing the young woman as a 'virgin flower' ('kannippoovu') and her gaze creating artistic patterns ('kolam').

Monai (Alliteration)

Indha aasaiyum senja poosaiyum Endrum maara koodumo

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Kannippoovu' and 'Kolam' or 'Indha' and 'Endrum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kumbakarai Thangaiah' (1991) stars Prabhu and Kanaka in lead roles, directed by P. Vasu. The film features iconic music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by Gangai Amaran, showcasing their signature rural melodious style.

Keep listening

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