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Isaimozhi
Paaladai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

En Kannukku

From Paaladai · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Paaladai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
22 Jul 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hmm mm mm
Engae ..aaha..engae
En kannukku virunthengae
Male :Ingae …. ingae
Ilam pennukku virunthingae
Sangu muzhngum silai engae
Senthamarai poovidhazh nagai engae
Sangu muzhngum silai engae
Senthamarai poovidhazh nagai engae
Female :Mangala kaivalai oosaiyilae
Unnai manjathukku azhaikkum thunai ingae
Mangala kaivalai oosaiyilae
Unnai manjathukku azhaikkum thunai ingae
Engae ..aaha..engae
En kannukku virunthengae
Male :Ingae vaa vaa ingae
Ilam pennukku virunthingae
Maanikka niram pol maarbengae
Ennai maarbodanaikkum karam engae
Maanikka niram pol maarbengae
Ennai maarbodanaikkum karam engae
Male :Kaanikkaiyaagiya penmaiyin maeniyai
Kandukalikkum vizhi engae
Kaanikkaiyaagiya penmaiyin maeniyai
Kandukalikkum vizhi engae
Engae ..aaha..engae
En kannukku virunthengae
Male :Ingae vaa vaa ingae
Ilam pennukku virunthingae
Maadapuravin inamengae
Thiru manjal kungumam kalai engae
Maadapuravin inamengae
Thiru manjal kungumam kalai engae
Female :Soodum mallaigai vaadum varai nee
Aadida kalikkum mayil ingae
Soodum mallaigai vaadum varai nee
Aadida kalikkum mayil ingae
Engae ..aaha..engae
En kannukku virunthengae
Male :Ingae vaa vaa ingae
Ilam pennukku virunthingae
Mm mm mm
Where... ah... where?
Where is the feast for my eyes?
Male: Here... right here...
Here is the feast for the young woman!
Where is the sculpted beauty whose voice rings like a conch?
Where is the smile like red lotus petals?
Where is the sculpted beauty whose voice rings like a conch?
Where is the smile like red lotus petals?
Female: With the jingling sound of auspicious bangles,
here is your partner, calling you to bed!
With the jingling sound of auspicious bangles,
here is your partner, calling you to bed!
Where... ah... where?
Where is the feast for my eyes?
Male: Come here, come here!
Here is the feast for the young woman!
Where is the chest that shines like a ruby?
Where are the arms to hold me close to his chest?
Where is the chest that shines like a ruby?
Where are the arms to hold me close to his chest?
Male: To behold the beauty of womanhood offered as a gift,
where are the eyes to delight in it?
To behold the beauty of womanhood offered as a gift,
where are the eyes to delight in it?
Where... ah... where?
Where is the feast for my eyes?
Male: Come here, come here!
Here is the feast for the young woman!
Where is that gentle dove of a woman?
Where is the beauty glowing with sacred turmeric and kumkum?
Where is that gentle dove of a woman?
Where is the beauty glowing with sacred turmeric and kumkum?
Female: Until the jasmine in my hair fades as you play,
here is the peacock overjoyed to dance with you!
Until the jasmine in my hair fades as you play,
here is the peacock overjoyed to dance with you!
Where... ah... where?
Where is the feast for my eyes?
Male: Come here, come here!
Here is the feast for the young woman!
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet from the film Paaladai (1967) depicts a playful, poetic exchange between two lovers anticipating intimacy. The lovers seek each other out using rich imagery, expressing their mutual longing through poetic questions ('Where is...?') and welcoming answers ('Here is...'). The song celebrates beauty, marital bliss, and affection through traditional symbols of Tamil culture such as lotus petals, bangles, turmeric, vermilion, and jasmine.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani (Simile / Metaphor)

“Sangu muzhngum silai engae / Senthamarai poovidhazh nagai engae”

Comparing the female neck to a conch ('Sangu muzhngum silai') and her lips to lotus petals ('Senthamarai poovidhazh').

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Maadapuravin inamengae”

Comparing the woman to a gentle dove ('Maadapuravin inam') and a dancing peacock ('kalikkum mayil').

Anaphora / Conversational Refrain

“Engae ..aaha..engae / Ingae .... ingae”

The repetitive call-and-response structure between 'Engae' (Where?) and 'Ingae' (Here!) creates rhythm and dramatic intimacy.

Did you know?

Trivia

Paaladai (1967) stars Sivaji Ganesan, Padmini, and K. R. Vijaya. The song composed by K. V. Mahadevan is renowned for its romantic call-and-response melody featuring the iconic vocal pairing of T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela, with classic poetic Tamil lyrics by Kannadasan.

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