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Lyrics & meaning

Edhu Sugam Sugam

From Vandicholai Chinraasu · 1994

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Vani Jairam, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Vandicholai Chinraasu1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ethu sugam sugam athuWhich pleasure is true pleasure?
Vendum vendumWe want it, want it.
Athu dhinam dhinam varumIt comes daily, daily,
Meendum meendumAgain and again.
Koodum neram pala yugangalThe time spent together, many eras
Kanangal aagumTurn into mere moments.
Neengum neram sila kanangalThe time spent apart, a few moments
Yugangal aagumTurn into whole eras.
Vaa vaa meendum meendum thaalaattuCome, come, sing a lullaby again and again.
Female
Ethu sugam sugam athuWhich pleasure is true pleasure?
Vendum vendumWe want it, want it.
Athu dhinam dhinam varumIt comes daily, daily,
Meendum meendumAgain and again.
Koodum neram pala yugangalThe time spent together, many eras
Kanangal aagumTurn into mere moments.
Neengum neram sila kanangalThe time spent apart, a few moments
Yugangal aagumTurn into whole eras.
Vaa vaa meendum meendum thaalaattuCome, come, sing a lullaby again and again.
Male
Vaanam enthan tholoduWhy has the sky leaned against my shoulder
Saaindhadhenna unnoduAlong with you?
Panju varna nenjoduOn this heart soft as colorful cotton,
Padukkai onnu nee poduSpread out a bed.
Female
Saama vedham nee odhuRecite the Sama Veda,
Vaadai theeyai thoovum bodhuAs the chilly north wind sprinkles fire!
Vaa ini thaangaadhu thaangaadhuCome, I cannot bear it anymore!
Kannoram inneram sendhooram undaagaMay red vermilion bloom near the corner of the eyes at this hour.
Male
Sugam sugam athuThat pleasure, pleasure,
Vendum vendumWe want it, want it.
Athu dhinam dhinam varumIt comes daily, daily,
Meendum meendumAgain and again.
Koodum neram pala yugangalThe time spent together, many eras
Kanangal aagumTurn into mere moments.
Neengum neram sila kanangalThe time spent apart, a few moments
Yugangal aagumTurn into whole eras.
Vaa vaa meendum meendum thaalaattuCome, come, sing a lullaby again and again.
Female
Kallum theeyum onnaachuStone and fire became one,
Kaadhal nenjil undaachuLove was born in the heart.
Kannil indru mullaachuToday, thorns entered the eyes,
Adhilae thookkam poyaachuAnd sleep was lost in them.
Male
Paarijaadham un dhegamYour body is like a Parijatha flower,
Paarkka paarkka bodhai yerumLooking at it heightens the intoxication.
Nee kodu perinbamGive me ultimate bliss,
Kaiyodu kai sera meiyodu mei seraAs hand joins with hand, and body joins with body!
Female
Sugam sugam athuThat pleasure, pleasure,
Vendum vendumWe want it, want it.
Athu dhinam dhinam varumIt comes daily, daily,
Meendum meendumAgain and again.
Koodum neram pala yugangalThe time spent together, many eras
Kanangal aagumTurn into mere moments.
Neengum neram sila kanangalThe time spent apart, a few moments
Yugangal aagumTurn into whole eras.
Vaa vaa meendum meendum thaalaattuCome, come, sing a lullaby again and again.
Male
Ethu sugam sugam athuWhich pleasure is true pleasure?
Vendum vendumWe want it, want it.
Athu dhinam dhinam varumIt comes daily, daily,
Meendum meendumAgain and again.
Koodum neram pala yugangalThe time spent together, many eras
Kanangal aagumTurn into mere moments.
Neengum neram sila kanangalThe time spent apart, a few moments
Yugangal aagumTurn into whole eras.
Vaa vaa meendum meendum thaalaattuCome, come, sing a lullaby again and again.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Ethu Sugam Sugam Athu' is a romantic song from the Tamil film Vandicholai Chinraasu (1994), penned by Vairamuthu and composed by A. R. Rahman. The track explores themes of deep intimacy, passionate longing, and the perception of time in love. The lyrics beautifully contrast how whole eras feel like mere fleeting moments when lovers are together, whereas mere moments drag on like agonizing ages when they are apart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis (Maranu)

Koodum neram pala yugangal kanangal aagum / Neengum neram sila kanangal yugangal aagum

Juxtaposes the perception of time during union versus separation: many eras become seconds when together, but seconds become eras when apart.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Vendum vendum / Athu dhinam dhinam varum / Meendum meendum

Words are repeated successively for emphasis and rhythm, expressing intense desire.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Paarijaadham un dhegam

Compares the lover's body to a Parijatha flower, symbolizing sublime beauty and intoxicative grace.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vandicholai Chinraasu' (1994) starred Sathyaraj and Sukanya. The film's soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman during his early, highly acclaimed period in the mid-1990s.

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