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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thirakkadha

From En Swasa Kaatre · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
En Swasa Kaatre1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Mmm…thirakkaadha kaattukkullaeMmm... Inside an unopened forest
Pirakkaadha pillaigal polae aanomWe became like unborn children
Parandhodum maanai polaLike a swift running deer
Tholaindhodi ponadhu engal naanamOur shyness ran away and was lost
Female
Pattaamboochi pattaamboochiButterfly, butterfly
Vattam podum pattaamboochiThe circling butterfly
Odi vandhu muththam vaangichelluRun over and get a kiss and go
Odiyodi aalam vizhudhilRunning and running on the banyan aerial roots
Oonjalaadum otrai kiliyaeOh lone parrot swinging on them
Kaattu vaazhkkai naattil undaa solluTell me, is forest life possible in the town?
Male
Andha vaanam pakkamThat sky is so near
Indha boomi sorggamThis earth is heaven
Kaattil ulavum oru kaatraagiromWe become a breeze wandering in the forest
Nenjil yekkam vandhaalIf longing arises in the heart
Kannil thookkam vandhaalIf sleep enters the eyes
Poovil urangum siru paniyaagiromWe become little dew drops sleeping on flowers
Male
Thirakkaadha kaattukkullaeInside an unopened forest
Pirakkaadha pillaigal polae aanomWe became like unborn children
Female :Aaaa…aaaa…aaaAaaa…aaaa…aaa
Male :Parandhodum maanai polaLike a swift running deer
Tholaindhodi ponadhu engal naanamOur shyness ran away and was lost
Female :Aaaa…aaaa…aaaAaaa…aaaa…aaa
Female
Kaatrodu moongil kaaduThe bamboo forest with the wind
Enna pesudhoWhat is it talking about?
Mannodu vizhigira aruviThe waterfall cascading onto the soil
Enna solludhooWhat is it saying?
Adhu thannai cholludhooIs it talking about itself?
Illai unnai cholludhooOr is it talking about you?
Female
Ada pulveliyilAh, on the meadow
Oru vaanavil vizhundhadhuA rainbow fell down
Adho adho adho angaeLook there, there, there
Aiyaiyo vaanavil illaiOh my, it is not a rainbow
Vanna chiragugalooAre those colorful wings?
Avai vanna chiragugalooAre those colorful wings?
Vaanavil parakkindradhooIs the rainbow flying?
Male
Azhagu angae ingaeBeauty is smiling
SirikkindradhuHere and there
Pudhiya kangalNew eyes are
Nenjil thirakkindradhuOpening in the heart
Male
Megampol kaattai nesiLove the forest like a cloud
Meendum naam aadhivaasiLet us become tribals again
Un kangal moodumThat close your eyes
Kaadhal kaadhal kaadhal kaadhalLove, love, love, love
Kaadhal yosiThink of love
Male
Thirakkaadha kaattukkullaeInside an unopened forest
Pirakkaadha pillaigal polae aanomWe became like unborn children
Female :Aaaa…aaaa…aaaAaaa…aaaa…aaa
Male :Parandhodum maanai polaLike a swift running deer
Tholaindhodi ponadhu engal naanamOur shyness ran away and was lost
Female :Aaaa…aaaa…aaaAaaa…aaaa…aaa
Female
Pattaamboochi pattaamboochiButterfly, butterfly
Vattam podum pattaamboochiThe circling butterfly
Odi vandhu muththam vaangichelluRun over and get a kiss and go
Odiyodi aalam vizhudhilRunning and running on the banyan roots
Oonjalaadum otrai kiliyaeOh lone parrot swinging on them
Kaattu vaazhkkai naattil undaa solluTell me, is forest life possible in the town?
Male
Andha vaanam pakkamThat sky is so near
Indha boomi sorggamThis earth is heaven
Kaattil ulavum oru kaatraagiromWe become a breeze wandering in the forest
Nenjil yekkam vandhaalIf longing arises in the heart
Kannil thookkam vandhaalIf sleep enters the eyes
Male & Female :Poovil urangumSleeping on flowers
Siru paniyaagiromWe become little dew drops
Chorus
………………………………...
Female
Kai thottu thatti thattiTap gently with hands
Poovai ezhuppuWake up the flower
Kaatrodu ragasiya mozhigalSecret words with the breeze
SolliyanuppuSend them as a message
Ada enna ninaippuAh, what thoughts are these
Adhai cholliyanuppuSend them along
Female
En kaaladiyilBeneath my feet
Sila veedugal nagarudhuA few houses are moving
Idho idho idho idho ingaeHere, here, here, right here
Aahaahaa veedugal illaiAhaha, those are not houses
Naththai koodugalooAre they snail shells?
Avai naththai koodugalooAre those snail shells?
Veedugal idam maarumooDo houses change locations?
Male
Pudhiya vaazhkkai nammaiA new life is
AzhaikkindradhuCalling us
Manidha vaazhkkai angaeHuman life over there
VerukkindradhuIs hated
Male
Naattukku poottu poduLock up the city
Kaattukkul odiyaaduRun and play inside the forest
Pennae en maarbin meedhuOh girl, on my chest
Kolam poduDraw a pattern
Female
Pattaamboochi pattaamboochiButterfly, butterfly
Vattam podum pattaamboochiThe circling butterfly
Odi vandhu muththam vaangichelluRun over and get a kiss and go
Odiyodi aalam vizhudhilRunning and running on the banyan roots
Oonjalaadum otrai kiliyaeOh lone parrot swinging on them
Kaattu vaazhkkai naattil undaa solluTell me, is forest life possible in the town?
Male
Thirakkaadha kaattukkullaeInside an unopened forest
Pirakkaadha pillaigal polaeLike unborn children
Parandhodum maanai polaLike a swift running deer
Tholaindhodi ponadhu engalOur shyness ran away and was lost

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses the liberating feeling of escaping civilizational norms and reconnecting with nature in an untouched forest. The lovers feel like unborn, innocent children or wild deer, casting away all social shyness and restraint. They marvel at butterflies, bamboo groves whispering secrets, waterfalls, and snail shells, comparing themselves to dew drops sleeping on petals and wind wandering free. Vairamuthu's poetic imagery celebrates a return to a primal, aboriginal state ('Aadhivaasi') where love and nature blend seamlessly away from the modern urban world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Pirakkaadha pillaigal polae aanom

Compares the lovers' innocence in nature to unborn children ('pirakkaadha pillaigal polae') and swift deer ('parandhodum maanai pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Indha boomi sorggam

Metaphorically calls the earth heaven ('boomi sorggam') and compares sleeping to dew drops resting on flowers ('poovil urangum siru paniyaagirom').

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Thirakkaadha kaattukkullae / Pirakkaadha pillaigal polae

The second consonant 'ra' in Thirakkaadha and Pirakkaadha matches, forming traditional Tamil poetic rhyme.

Personification

Kaatrodu moongil kaadu enna pesudho

Attributes human speech and emotion to nature, such as asking what the bamboo forest talks about or what the waterfall says.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 1999 romantic film 'En Swasa Kaatre', this track was performed by P. Unnikrishnan and K.S. Chithra with lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song's lush arrangement combines acoustic instruments and nature sounds to match the wilderness motif in the visuals.

Keep listening

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