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Kannathil Muthamittal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Vidai Kodu Engal Naadae

From Kannathil Muthamittal · 2002

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
M. S. Vishwanathan, Balram, Febi Mani
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Kannathil Muthamittal
Movie release year
2002
Lyrics added on
31 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Vidai kodu engal naadae
Kadal vaasal thellikkum veedae
Panai mara kaadae
Paravaigal koodae
Marumurai orumurai paarpomaa
Udhatil punnagai pudhaithom
Uyirai udambukul pudhaithom
Verum koodugal mattum
Oorvalam poogindrom ohooo….
Vidai kodu engal naadae
Kadal vaasal thellikkum veedae
Panai mara kaadae
Paravaigal koodae
Marumurai orumurai paarpomaa
Udhatil punnagai pudhaithom
Uyirai udambukul pudhaithom
Verum koodugal mattum
Oorvalam poogindrom ohooo….
Kandhal aanalum thaai madipol
Oru sugam varumaa.. varuma…
Kandhal aanalum thaai madipol
Oru sugam varumaa.. varuma…
Sorgam sendralum sondha oor pol
Sudhandiram varumaa… varuma…
Kan thirandha desam angae
Kan moodum desam yengae
Kan thirandha desam angae
Kan moodum desam yengae
Pirivom nadhigalae
Pizhithaal varugirom
Meendum thaaygam
Azhaithaal varugirom
Kanneer thiraiyil pirandha mannai
Kadaisiyaga paarkindrom
Vidai kodu engal naadae
Kadal vaasal thellikkum veedae
Panai mara kaadae
Paravaigal koodae
Marumurai orumurai paarpomaa
Udhatil punnagai pudhaithom
Uyirai udambukul pudhaithom
Verum koodugal mattum
Oorvalam poogindrom ohooo….
Engal sangeetham pillaiyin
Azhugaiyilae tholaithom
Engal ilamthingal vedi kundu
Pugaiyilae pudhaithom
Munniravil malaril kidanthom
Pinniravil mullil kizhinthom
Kadal neer paravaigaal
Irundhal sandhipom
Vanamae malaigalae
Vaazhndhal sandhipom
Thalaiyil koncham nenjil adhigam
Sumaigal sumandhu pogindrom
Vidai kodu engal naadae
Kadal vaasal thellikkum veedae
Panai mara kaadae
Paravaigal koodae
Marumurai orumurai paarpomaa
Udhatil punnagai pudhaithom
Uyirai udambukul pudhaithom
Verum koodugal mattum
Oorvalam poogindrom ohooo….
Bid us farewell, our homeland,
O home where the sea washes the doorstep,
O forest of palm trees,
O nest of birds,
will we ever see you just once again?
We buried the smiles on our lips,
we buried our souls inside our bodies,
and as mere empty shells,
we march along in a procession, oho...
Bid us farewell, our homeland,
O home where the sea washes the doorstep,
O forest of palm trees,
O nest of birds,
will we ever see you just once again?
We buried the smiles on our lips,
we buried our souls inside our bodies,
and as mere empty shells,
we march along in a procession, oho...
Even if torn to rags, like a mother's lap,
can such comfort ever be found? Ever be found?
Even if torn to rags, like a mother's lap,
can such comfort ever be found? Ever be found?
Even if we reach heaven, like our hometown,
can such freedom ever be found? Ever be found?
The land where our eyes first opened is there,
where is the land where our eyes will close?
The land where our eyes first opened is there,
where is the land where our eyes will close?
We part now, O rivers,
if we survive, we will return.
If our motherland
calls us again, we will return.
Through a veil of tears, the land of our birth,
we are looking upon for the last time.
Bid us farewell, our homeland,
O home where the sea washes the doorstep,
O forest of palm trees,
O nest of birds,
will we ever see you just once again?
We buried the smiles on our lips,
we buried our souls inside our bodies,
and as mere empty shells,
we march along in a procession, oho...
Our music, in the crying
of our child, we have lost.
Our young crescent moon, in the smoke
of bombs, we have buried.
In the early night, we lay on flowers;
in the late night, we were torn by thorns.
O birds of the sea,
if we are still around, we will meet.
O forests, O mountains,
if we survive, we will meet.
A little on our heads, much more in our hearts,
carrying heavy burdens, we walk away.
Bid us farewell, our homeland,
O home where the sea washes the doorstep,
O forest of palm trees,
O nest of birds,
will we ever see you just once again?
We buried the smiles on our lips,
we buried our souls inside our bodies,
and as mere empty shells,
we march along in a procession, oho...
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Female
Male
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Vidai Kodu Engal Naadae is an emotional anthem of displacement, sorrow, and longing, capturing the agony of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees forced to flee their homeland amidst civil war. The song expresses the deep pain of leaving behind one's roots, childhood memories, and natural surroundings, moving towards an uncertain future with heavy hearts and empty souls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Verum koodugal mattum”

Refers to the displaced people as 'empty shells' (Verum koodugal), indicating that their spirits are dead or left behind while only their physical bodies move forward.

Simile

“Kandhal aanalum thaai madipol”

Compares the beloved homeland, even in its tattered state, to the loving comfort of a mother's lap (thaai madi).

Antithesis / Contrast

“Munniravil malaril kidanthom / Pinniravil mullil kizhinthom”

Contrasts the peaceful state of lying on flowers during early night with being torn apart by thorns in the late night, symbolizing sudden tragedy.

Parallelism and Monai (Initial Rhyme)

“Kan thirandha desam angae / Kan moodum desam yengae”

Contrasts the land of birth ('where eyes opened') with the unknown land of death ('where eyes close'), utilizing repeating structures.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's acclaimed 2002 drama 'Kannathil Muthamittal', this song features veteran music director M. S. Viswanathan as a key vocalist alongside Balram, Febi Mani, and A. R. Reihana. Lyricist Vairamuthu won the National Film Award for Best Lyrics for his work in this film.

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