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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ulagil Yentha Kathal

From Naadodigal · 2009

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Sundar C Babu
Details
Naadodigal2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ulagil endha kaadhalWhich love in this world
Udanae jeiththadhuHas won immediately?
Valigal thaangum kaadhalLove that endures pain
Migavum valiyadhuIs extremely strong.
Kaadhal thotradhaai kadhaigal yedhuAre there stories where love has failed?
Thotraal thotradhu kaadhal aagaadhuIf it failed, that which failed was never love.
Ellaamae sandharppamEverything is mere circumstance
Karppikkum thapparthamCreating misinterpretations.
Male
Ulagil endha kaadhalWhich love in this world
Udanae jeiththadhuHas won immediately?
Valigal thaangum kaadhalLove that endures pain
Migavum valiyadhuIs extremely strong.
Male
Ninaivugalaalae nichayathaarthamAn engagement through memories
Nadandhadhu avanoduHappened with him.
Avanai allaadhu aduthavan mazhaiOther than him, accepting another's rain
Yerppadhu perumpaaduIs a painful ordeal.
Male
Oruppuram thalaivanOn one side, the lover
Maruppuram thagappanOn the other side, the father
Irukkolli erumbaanaalShe became an ant caught in a fire at both ends.
Paasaththukkaaga kaadhalai tholaithuLosing love for the sake of affection
Aalaiyil karumbaanaalShe became sugarcane crushed in a mill.
Male
Yaar kaaranam yaar kaaranamWho is the cause? Who is the cause?
Yaar paavam yaaraicherumWhose sin will catch up with whom?
Yaarthaan sollaWho can truly tell?
Kanneer vaarthaal kanneer aanenIf tears were shed, I became tears myself.
Sutram seidha kutram thaanaeIsn't this the crime committed by relatives?
Male
Uyiril pookkum kaadhalLove that blossoms in the soul
Unarvin aazhnilaiIs the deep state of emotion.
Unarvai paarppadhedhuWhat cares about emotions?
Uravin soozhnilaiIt is the circumstance of relationships.
Male
Manam ennum kulathilIn the pond called the mind
Vizhiyennum kallaiWhen the stone called the eyes
Mudhan mudhal erindhaalaeWas thrown for the very first time,
Alai alaiyaaga aasaigal ezhumbaAs desires rose up like waves upon waves,
Aval vasam vizhundhaanaeHe fell under her spell.
Male
Nadhi vazhipponaalIf a river goes along its path,
KaraivarakkoodumIt might define its banks.
Vidhi vazhipponaanaeHe went along the path of fate.
Vidhai ondru poda verondru mulaithaSowing one seed and having another sprout,
Kadhai endru aanaanaeHe became a story like that.
Male
En solvadhu en solvadhuWhat can I say? What can I say?
Thaan konda natpukkaagaFor the friendship he held,
Thaanae theaindhaanHe wore himself down.
Karpai polae natpai paarthaanHe treated friendship like sacred chastity.
Kaadhal thorkum endraa paarthaanDid he ever think love would lose?
Male
Ulagil endha kaadhalWhich love in this world
Udanae jeiththadhuHas won immediately?
Valigal thaangum kaadhalLove that endures pain
Migavum valiyadhuIs extremely strong.
Kaadhal thotradhaai kadhaigal yedhuAre there stories where love has failed?
Thotraal thotradhu kaadhal aagaadhuIf it failed, that which failed was never love.
Ellaamae sandharppamEverything is mere circumstance
Karppikkum thapparthamCreating misinterpretations.
Male
Ulagil endha kaadhalWhich love in this world
Udanae jeiththadhuHas won immediately?
Valigal thaangum kaadhalLove that endures pain
Migavum valiyadhuIs extremely strong.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Naadodigal explores the profound and painful nature of true love and self-sacrificing friendship. It reflects on how love is rarely achieved instantly without suffering, asserting that true love is defined by its endurance through suffering and trial. The lyrics vividly describe a woman's tragic predicament, torn between her affection for her father and her love for her partner, comparing her torment to an ant caught between two fires or sugarcane crushed in a mill. At the same time, the song pays tribute to the protagonist's selfless friendship. He risks his own life and happiness to unite his friend with his lover, treating friendship with reverence equivalent to sacred virtue. Through lyricist Vaali's poignant words, the song questions fate, familial pressure, and the unseen consequences of human decisions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Irukkolli erumbaanaal

Compares the helpless heroine trapped between her father and lover to an ant caught in a stick burning on both ends.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Manam ennum kulathil / Vizhiyennum kallai

Metaphorically compares the mind to a pond ('manam ennum kulam') and the gaze of eyes to a thrown stone ('vizhiyennum kal').

Simile (Uvamai)

Karpai polae natpai paarthaan

Compares sacred reverence for friendship to chastity ('karpai polae natpai paarthaan').

Assonance/Rhyme (Edhukai)

Nadhi vazhipponaal / Vidhi vazhipponaane

Second letter rhyming in consecutive lines (Nadhi / Vidhi).

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 2009 blockbuster Tamil film 'Naadodigal' directed by Samuthirakani, this emotional track was composed by Sundar C. Babu with lyrics penned by legendary poet Vaali. The song underscores the climax of emotional sacrifices made by friends for love.

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