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Kalathur Kannamma album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Arugil Vanthaal

From Kalathur Kannamma · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
A. M. Rajah
Music director
Sudharsanam
Movie name
Kalathur Kannamma
Movie release year
1960
Lyrics added on
20 Jul 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal
Anbu thanthaalae
Amaithi illa vaazhvu thanthae
Engu sendraalo
Pirivaalae modhum thuyar
Podhum podhumae
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal
Anbu thanthaalae
Amaithi illa vaazhvu thanthae
Engu sendraalo
Pirivaalae modhum thuyar
Podhum podhumae
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal
Anbu thanthaalae
{Malarae malarae nee yaaro
Vanjanai seithavar thaan yaaro} (2)
Unai soodi mudithathum pen thaano
Pin thooki erinthathum aval thaanoo
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal
Anbu thanthaalae
{Idhayam enbadhu oru veedu
Andrum indrum aval veedu} (2)
Adhu maaligai aanadhum avalaalae
Verum mann medaanathum avalaalae
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal
Anbu thanthaalae
Amaithi illa vaazhvu thanthae
Engu sendraalo
Pirivaalae modhum thuyar
Podhum podhumae
Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal
Anbu thanthaalae
She came near, her heart melting with love,
And gave me her love.
Leaving me with a life devoid of peace,
Where did she go?
This grief of separation striking me
Is enough, oh it is more than enough!
She came near, her heart melting with love,
And gave me her love.
Leaving me with a life devoid of peace,
Where did she go?
This grief of separation striking me
Is enough, oh it is more than enough!
She came near, her heart melting with love,
And gave me her love.
Oh flower, little flower, who are you?
Who was it that betrayed you?
Was it a woman who wore you in her hair,
And was it she who threw you away?
She came near, her heart melting with love,
And gave me her love.
The heart is a home,
Then and now, it is her home.
It became a palace because of her,
And turned into a mound of earth because of her.
She came near, her heart melting with love,
And gave me her love.
Leaving me with a life devoid of peace,
Where did she go?
This grief of separation striking me
Is enough, oh it is more than enough!
She came near, her heart melting with love,
And gave me her love.
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Male
Male
Male
Male
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Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song from 'Kalathur Kannamma' expresses the deep sorrow and heartbreak of a lover separated from his beloved. He reminisces about how she once drew near with immense love, melting his heart, but subsequently left him with a life devoid of peace. He questions where she has gone and laments that the anguish of separation has become unbearable. Through classic Tamil poetic imagery, he compares his condition to a flower that a woman adores and wears, only to discard later. He reflects on his heart being a home reserved entirely for her—a heart that she elevated into a grand palace with her love, but ultimately reduced to a mound of dirt through her absence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Arugil vanthaal urugi nindraal

Matching of the second consonant in consecutive words or lines to create rhythm ('Arugil' / 'Urugi').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Idhayam enbadhu oru veedu

Comparing the heart to a home ('veedu'), a mansion ('maaligai'), and a mound of dirt ('mann medu').

Adukku Thodar (Anaphora / Repetition for emphasis)

Podhum podhumae

Repetition of words like 'Malarae' and 'Podhum' to emphasize emotional anguish.

Contrast (Erhukottai / Sol-Muran)

Adhu maaligai aanadhum avalaalae / Verum mann medaanathum avalaalae

Juxtaposition of positive and negative states ('maaligai' / 'mann medu' - palace vs. mound of dirt).

Did you know?

Trivia

Kalathur Kannamma (1960) marked the iconic film debut of Kamal Haasan as a child artist, earning him the Rashtrapati Award (President's Gold Medal). The song features music composed by R. Sudarsanam, with soulful vocals by A.M. Rajah and deeply evocative lyrics by Kannadasan.

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