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Lyrics & meaning

Vaadai Kaatramma

From Ratha Thilagam · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Ratha Thilagam
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
2 Apr 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaaliba manasa
Naalukku naalaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaaliba manasa
Naalukku naalaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Odai neeril naattiyamaadi
Odugindraai
Pen ullam kandu mella sendru
Pesugindraai
Odai neeril naattiyamaadi
Odugindraai
Pen ullam kandu mella sendru
Pesugindraai
Aadai thottu aadavar pola
Aadugindraai
Angam muzhudhum pongi thazhuvi
Paadugindraai
Aadai thottu aadavar pola
Aadugindraai
En angam muzhudhum pongi thazhuvi
Paadugindraai
Aaahhnn..ohhoooo…
Aaaahhh…aaahhh…aaaahhh …
Aaaahhh…aaa..
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaaliba manasa
Naalukku naalaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Raajaa raani ragasiyamellaam
Sollugindraai
En rojaa idhazhai lesa thadavi
Kollugindraai
Raajaa raani ragasiyamellaam
Sollugindraai
En rojaa idhazhai lesa thadavi
Kollugindraai
Therkku thendral unnidam sonna
Sangadhi ennaammaa
En chinna udambai iruvarum thottaal
En gadhi ennaammaa
Therkku thendral unnidam sonna
Sangadhi ennaammaa
En chinna udambai iruvarum thottaal
En gadhi ennaammaa
Aaahhnn..ohhoooo…
Aaaahhh…aaahhh…aaaahhh …
Aaaahhh…aaa..
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaaliba manasa
Naalukku naalaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaadai kaaththammaa
Vaaliba manasa
Naalukku naalaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Vaattuvadhennammaa
Oh cold north wind,
Oh cold north wind,
A youthful heart,
Day after day,
Why do you torment it so?
Why do you torment it so?
Oh cold north wind,
Oh cold north wind,
A youthful heart,
Day after day,
Why do you torment it so?
Why do you torment it so?
Dancing on the stream's water,
You rush along,
Sensing a woman's heart, you go softly
And whisper to it.
Dancing on the stream's water,
You rush along,
Sensing a woman's heart, you go softly
And whisper to it.
Touching my clothes like a lover,
You tease and sway,
Passionately embracing my whole body,
You sing.
Touching my clothes like a lover,
You tease and sway,
Passionately embracing my whole body,
You sing.
Aahn... oh-ho...
Aah... aah... aah...
Aah... aa...
Oh cold north wind,
Oh cold north wind,
A youthful heart,
Day after day,
Why do you torment it so?
Why do you torment it so?
All the secrets of kings and queens,
You whisper to me,
Gently caressing my rose-petal lips,
You kill me with longing.
All the secrets of kings and queens,
You whisper to me,
Gently caressing my rose-petal lips,
You kill me with longing.
What is the secret that the southern breeze
Told you?
If both of you touch my delicate body,
What will become of me?
What is the secret that the southern breeze
Told you?
If both of you touch my delicate body,
What will become of me?
Aahn... oh-ho...
Aah... aah... aah...
Aah... aa...
Oh cold north wind,
Oh cold north wind,
A youthful heart,
Day after day,
Why do you torment it so?
Why do you torment it so?
Oh cold north wind,
Oh cold north wind,
A youthful heart,
Day after day,
Why do you torment it so?
Why do you torment it so?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In 'Vaadai Kaaththammaa' from the film Ratha Thilagam (1963), the heroine addresses the cool northern wind (Vaadai Kaatru) as a intimate companion and gentle tormentor. She playfully questions why the breeze tantalizes a young woman's heart day in and day out, comparing its touch to that of an affectionate lover who dances upon stream waters and brushes past her garments. The lyrics evoke the tender longing of youth, romantic anticipation, and sensory beauty through vivid nature imagery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagam / Manidhamakkudhal)

Vaadai kaaththammaa

The northern wind is personified as a woman/friend ('Kaaththammaa') and a lover who talks, dances on stream water, and touches garments.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

En rojaa idhazhai lesa thadavi

'Rojaa idhazh' metaphors the heroine's lips to soft rose petals.

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Edhugai)

Aadai thottu aadavar pola

Rhythmic repetition of 'Aadai thottu aadavar pola / Aadugindraai' creates acoustic harmony standard in Tamil lyrical poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Ratha Thilagam' (1963) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri, set against the backdrop of the 1962 Sino-Indian War. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by Kannadasan, portraying deeply evocative romantic themes alongside patriotic narratives.

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