Agini Kunjondru
From Bharathi · 2000
- Lyricist
- Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Bharathi2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Male | |
| Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu | The forest burned down to ashes |
| Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu | The forest burned down to ashes |
| Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu | The forest burned down to ashes |
| Thalal veerathil | In the valor of fire |
| Kunjendrum moopendrum undo | Is there any distinction between young and old? |
| Male | |
| {Thaththarigida | {Thaththarigida |
| Thaththarigida thiththom | Thaththarigida thiththom |
| Thaga thaththaarigida | Thaga thaththaarigida |
| Thaththaarigida thiththom} (2) | Thaththaarigida thiththom} (2) |
| Male | |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Male | |
| Vetti adikuthu minnal | Lightning strikes with a slash |
| Kadal veerathirai kondu | With majestic, fierce ocean waves |
| Vinnai idikuthu | It strikes the sky |
| Kotti idikuthu megam | Clouds rumble and pound heavily |
| Koo koovendru | Howling 'koo koo' |
| Vinnai kudaiyithu kaatru | The wind pierces through the sky |
| Male | |
| Chattachada chattachada thatta | Chattachada chattachada thatta |
| Chattachada chattachada thatta | Chattachada chattachada thatta |
| Endru thaalang kotti | Beating the rhythm in this manner |
| Kanaikithu vaanam | The sky neighs loudly |
| Male | |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Agini kunjondru kanden | I saw a tiny spark of fire |
| Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen | I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there |
| Male | |
| Thaththarigida | Thaththarigida |
| Thaththarigida thiththom | Thaththarigida thiththom |
| Thaga thaththaarigida | Thaga thaththaarigida |
| Thaththaarigida thiththom | Thaththaarigida thiththom |
அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன் அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன் அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன்
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
வெந்து தணிந்தது
காடு வெந்து தணிந்தது
காடு வெந்து தணிந்தது
காடு தழல் வீரத்தில்
குஞ்சென்றும் மூப்பென்றும்
உண்டோ
The forest burned down to ashes
The forest burned down to ashes
The forest burned down to ashes
In the valor of fire
Is there any distinction between young and old?
{ தத்தரிகிட
தத்தரிகிட தித்தோம்
தக தத்தரிகிட தத்தரிகிட
தித்தோம் } (2)
{Thaththarigida
Thaththarigida thiththom
Thaga thaththaarigida
Thaththaarigida thiththom} (2)
அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன்
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
வெட்டி அடிக்குது
மின்னல் கடல் வீரத்திரை
கொண்டு விண்ணை இடிக்குது
கொட்டி இடிக்குது மேகம் கூ
கூவென்று விண்ணைக்
குடையுது காற்று
Lightning strikes with a slash
With majestic, fierce ocean waves
It strikes the sky
Clouds rumble and pound heavily
Howling 'koo koo'
The wind pierces through the sky
சட்டச்சட சட்டச்சட
தட்ட சட்டச்சட சட்டச்சட
தட்ட என்று தாளங் கொட்டி
கனைக்கிது வானம்
Chattachada chattachada thatta
Chattachada chattachada thatta
Beating the rhythm in this manner
The sky neighs loudly
அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன் அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன் அக்னி குஞ்சொன்று
கண்டேன் அதை அங்கொரு
காட்டில் ஓர் பொந்திடை
வைத்தேன்
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
I saw a tiny spark of fire
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
தத்தரிகிட
தத்தரிகிட தித்தோம்
தக தத்தரிகிட தத்தரிகிட
தித்தோம்
Thaththarigida
Thaththarigida thiththom
Thaga thaththaarigida
Thaththaarigida thiththom
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu
The forest burned down to ashes
Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu
The forest burned down to ashes
Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu
The forest burned down to ashes
Thalal veerathil
In the valor of fire
Kunjendrum moopendrum undo
Is there any distinction between young and old?
{Thaththarigida
{Thaththarigida
Thaththarigida thiththom
Thaththarigida thiththom
Thaga thaththaarigida
Thaga thaththaarigida
Thaththaarigida thiththom} (2)
Thaththaarigida thiththom} (2)
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Vetti adikuthu minnal
Lightning strikes with a slash
Kadal veerathirai kondu
With majestic, fierce ocean waves
Vinnai idikuthu
It strikes the sky
Kotti idikuthu megam
Clouds rumble and pound heavily
Koo koovendru
Howling 'koo koo'
Vinnai kudaiyithu kaatru
The wind pierces through the sky
Chattachada chattachada thatta
Chattachada chattachada thatta
Chattachada chattachada thatta
Chattachada chattachada thatta
Endru thaalang kotti
Beating the rhythm in this manner
Kanaikithu vaanam
The sky neighs loudly
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Agini kunjondru kanden
I saw a tiny spark of fire
Athai angoru kaatil orr ponthidai vaithen
I placed it in a tree hollow in a forest over there
Thaththarigida
Thaththarigida
Thaththarigida thiththom
Thaththarigida thiththom
Thaga thaththaarigida
Thaga thaththaarigida
Thaththaarigida thiththom
Thaththaarigida thiththom
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic poem by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar uses a small ember as a metaphor for the divine spark of knowledge, freedom, and revolution. Even a tiny spark (Agni Kunjondru), when placed in a forest (symbolizing ignorance, oppression, or colonialism), has the power to destroy the entire forest without discriminating between young or old trees. The poem captures the fierce fury of nature—lightning, thunderous clouds, howling winds—and compares it to the unstoppable force of freedom and spiritual awakening.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Urvagatu)
“Agini kunjondru kanden”
'Agni Kunjondru' (a tiny spark of fire) acts as a powerful metaphor for revolutionary thought, knowledge, or patriotism that can burn down the forest of ignorance and oppression.
Onomatopoeia (Oli-kurippu)
“Chattachada chattachada thatta”
'Chattachada chattachada' and 'Koo koovendru' imitate the natural sound of crashing thunder and whistling winds.
Rhyme / Alliteration (Edhugai / Monai)
“Vendhu thaninthathu kaadu”
Repetition of 'Vendhu' across lines and internal rhyme adds intense rhythmic energy matching the theme of destruction.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Agni Kunjondru' is one of Bharathiyaar's most famous patriotic and philosophical poems. In the 2000 biographical film 'Bharathi', directed by Gnana Rajasekaran, the soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and this poem was dramatically performed as part of the musical score.
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