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Perum Pugazhum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Avale En Kadhali

From Perum Pugazhum · 1976

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Perum Pugazhum
Movie release year
1976
Lyrics added on
15 Jan 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Avalae en kaadhali
Avalae en kaadhali
Kodi neerukullae malar melae
Penn kulippadhu thamarai polae
Kodi neerukullae malar melae
Penn kulippadhu thamarai polae
Naan neeraai pirandhirundhaalum
Inneram ennenavo
Avanae en kaadhalan
Avanae en kaadhalan
Nadai medayilae vizhi ingae
Avan naadagam paarpadhu engae
Nadai medayilae vizhi ingae
Avan naadagam paarpadhu engae
Avan neeraai pirandhirundhaalum
Inneram ennennavo
{Thaalaattum pillai ondru
Saelaattam pennai kandu
Vaalattum ennam enna
Ilaiyo…malaro..kaniyo….} (2)
{Paal vaasam sindhum
Chinna paapaavin ullam indru
Poovasam kondadhenna
Adhuvoo…idhuvoo… edhuvoo..} (2)
Avalae en kaadhali
Female : Nadai medayilae vizhi ingae
Avan naadagam paarpadhu engae
Avan neeraai pirandhirundhaalum
Inneram ennennavo
Thottaalum ottikkollum
Pattaana velli kannam
Ettaamal seivadhenna
Inamoo..kulamoo…bhayamoo…
Paeraasai vellam vandhu
Poraadum podhum penngal
Thaai veedu thandha selvam
Achcham… naanam.. vetkam…
Avanae en kaadhalan
Kodi neerukullae malar melae
Penn kulippadhu thamarai polae
Naan neeraai pirandhirundhaalum
Inneram ennenavo
She is my love
She is my love
Amidst endless waters, atop the blossoms,
A woman bathes like a lotus flower!
Amidst endless waters, atop the blossoms,
A woman bathes like a lotus flower!
If only I had been born as that water,
Who knows what would have happened by now!
He is my love
He is my love
On the ramp, my eyes are right here,
Where is he watching his little drama?
On the ramp, my eyes are right here,
Where is he watching his little drama?
Even if he had been born as that water,
Who knows what would have happened by now!
A child who should be rocked to sleep,
seeing a woman moving like a fish,
why does he playfully tease with longing?
Is it for a leaf... a flower... or a fruit?
Spilling the sweet scent of milk,
why has this little child's heart today
taken on the fragrance of flowers?
Is it that... is it this... or what could it be?
She is my love
Female: On the ramp, my eyes are right here,
Where is he watching his little drama?
Even if he had been born as that water,
Who knows what would have happened by now!
Soft enough to stick if touched,
these silver, silken cheeks—
what keeps them out of reach?
Is it status... family... or fear?
Even when a flood of intense desire
rages within a woman,
the treasures given by her mother's home
are fear... shyness... and modesty...
He is my love
Amidst endless waters, atop the blossoms,
A woman bathes like a lotus flower!
If only I had been born as that water,
Who knows what would have happened by now!
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic duet explores playful romantic banter and sweet yearning between two lovers who observe each other with deep affection and admiration. The lyrics compare the maiden's beauty and innocence to blooming flowers, water lilies, and milk-scented warmth, while highlighting the natural shyness and hesitation that accompanies love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

“Penn kulippadhu thamarai polae”

Comparing a bathing woman to a lotus blooming in water ('Penn kulippadhu thamarai polae').

Edugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Nadai medayilae vizhi ingae / Avan naadagam paarpadhu engae”

The second letter 'da' rhymes between 'Nadai' and 'naadagam'.

Alliteration (Monaai)

“Achcham… naanam.. vetkam…”

Repetition of starting sounds in 'Achcham… naanam.. vetkam…' expressing traditional virtues.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by the legendary poet Kannadasan, this song showcases his signature style of blending nature imagery with human emotions, emphasizing traditional cultural modesty (Achcham, Naanam, Madam, Payirppu) in romantic expression.

Keep listening

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