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Kaavalan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yaarathu

From Kaavalan · 2011

Lyricist
Yugabharathi
Singers
Karthik, Suchitra
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Kaavalan
Movie release year
2011
Lyrics added on
4 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu yaar yaar athu
Sollaamal nenjathai thollai seivathu
Moodaamal kanrendai moodi chelvathu
Yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu
Nerungaamal nerungi vanthadhu
Vilagaamal vilagi nirpathu
Vinaiyaaga kelvi thanthadhu
Thelivaaga kulamba nenaipadhu
Yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu yaar yaar athu
{ Ennil oru sadu gudu sadu gudu
Kaalai maalai nadakiradhae
Kannil dhinam kathakali kathakali
Thoonkumbothu thodargiradhae } (2)
Iravilum aval pagalilum aval
Manadhinai thoduvadhu therigiradhae
Kanavilum aval ninaivilum aval
Nizhalena thodarvathu purigiradhae
Irunthaalum illaa avalai idhayam thedudhae
Yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu
……………………………………………..
Uchan thalai naduvinil aval
Oru vedhaalam pol erangugiraal
Ennul aval erangiya thimurinil
Imsai raajiyam thodangugiraal
Aval ival ena eval eval ena
Maraivinil irunthaval kuzhapugiraal
Avalathu mugam evalayum vida
Azhagilum azhagena unarthugiraal
Irunthaalum illaamal aval kalagam seigiraal
Yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu
Sollaamal nenjathai thollai seivathu
Moodaamal kanrendai moodi chelvathu
Yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu yaar athu
Nerungaamal nerungi vanthadhu
Vilagaamal vilagi nirpathu
Vinaiyaaga kelvi thanthadhu
Thelivaaga kulamba nenaipadhu
Who is that, who is that, who is that, who, who is that?
Who plagues my heart without saying a word?
Who closes both my eyes without even shutting them?
Who is that, who is that, who is that, who is that?
Coming so close without actually drawing near,
Standing apart without actually moving away,
Posing questions like a troublesome fate,
Wanting me to be clearly confused!
Who is that, who is that, who is that, who, who is that?
A game of kabaddi inside me
keeps playing morning and evening!
In my eyes every day, a dance of Kathakali
continues even while I sleep!
She is there in the night, she is there in the day,
I can feel her touching my heart!
She is there in my dreams, she is there in my thoughts,
I realize she follows me like a shadow!
Though she isn't around, my heart searches for her!
Who is that, who is that, who is that?
...
Right at the crown of my head,
she descends like a phantom!
In the audacity of entering within me,
she begins a realm of torment!
Wondering whether it is her, or this girl, or who it could be,
hiding out of sight, she confuses me!
Making me feel that her face, above anyone else's,
is the very pinnacle of beauty!
Even without being present, she creates a commotion!
Who is that, who is that, who is that, who is that, who is that?
Who plagues my heart without saying a word?
Who closes both my eyes without even shutting them?
Who is that, who is that, who is that, who is that?
Coming so close without actually drawing near,
Standing apart without actually moving away,
Posing questions like a troublesome fate,
Wanting me to be clearly confused!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Yaar Athu' portrays the sweet emotional confusion and restlessness experienced by the protagonist who receives mysterious phone calls from an unidentified woman. Without ever seeing her face, he finds himself captivated by her voice and presence, which constantly haunts his waking thoughts and dreams. The lyrics vividly describe how this anonymous persona dominates his mind, making his heart race and mind swirl with curiosity and love. Narratively set in the movie *Kaavalan*, the protagonist (Bhumi) is being pranked by the heroine (Amrita), who calls him under a fake identity ('Ammu'). As the calls progress, his perplexity turns into romantic fascination. The song captures this sweet torment through playful metaphors of traditional games and dances, reflecting the chaos and joy of falling in love with a ghost-like presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Paradox / Oxymoron (Muran)

“Nerungaamal nerungi vanthadhu / Vilagaamal vilagi nirpathu”

Contradictory phrases ('approaching without drawing near', 'distancing without leaving') are used to express the protagonist's confusion about her unseen presence.

Simile (Uwamai)

“Oru vedhaalam pol erangugiraal”

The mysterious girl's mental invasion is compared to a mythical phantom (Vedhaalam) descending upon someone's head.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Ennil oru sadu gudu sadu gudu... Kannil dhinam kathakali kathakali”

The inner emotional turbulence is metaphorically described as playing Kabaddi (Sadu Gudu) and performing a Kathakali dance inside his eyes and mind.

Alliteration & Rhyme (Monai / Ethugai)

“Vinaiyaaga kelvi thanthadhu / Thelivaaga kulamba nenaipadhu”

Harmonious rhythm created through rhyming endings ('thanthadhu', 'nenaipadhu') and matching poetic feet ('Vinaiyaaga', 'Thelivaaga').

Did you know?

Trivia

In *Kaavalan* (2011), composed by Vidyasagar and sung by Tippu and Suchitra, this song marks the narrative turning point where the hero falls in love with the mysterious caller 'Ammu', unaware that she is actually the heroine Amrita (played by Asin), whom he is hired to protect as a bodyguard.

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