Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Kannukku

From Paaladai · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Paaladai1967

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Hmm mm mmHmm mm mm
Female
Engae ..aaha..engaeWhere... ah... where?
En kannukku virunthengaeWhere is the feast for my eyes?
Male :Ingae …. ingaeMale: Here... here...
Ilam pennukku virunthingaeHere is the feast for the young woman.
Male
Sangu muzhngum silai engaeWhere is the sculpted beauty with a conch-like neck?
Senthamarai poovidhazh nagai engaeWhere is the smile like red lotus petals?
Sangu muzhngum silai engaeWhere is the sculpted beauty with a conch-like neck?
Senthamarai poovidhazh nagai engaeWhere is the smile like red lotus petals?
Female :Mangala kaivalai oosaiyilaeFemale: In the sound of auspicious bangles,
Unnai manjathukku azhaikkum thunai ingaeHere is the companion calling you to the nuptial bed.
Mangala kaivalai oosaiyilaeIn the sound of auspicious bangles,
Unnai manjathukku azhaikkum thunai ingaeHere is the companion calling you to the nuptial bed.
Female
Engae ..aaha..engaeWhere... ah... where?
En kannukku virunthengaeWhere is the feast for my eyes?
Male :Ingae vaa vaa ingaeMale: Here, come, come here.
Ilam pennukku virunthingaeHere is the feast for the young woman.
Female
Maanikka niram pol maarbengaeWhere is the chest radiant like ruby red?
Ennai maarbodanaikkum karam engaeWhere are the arms that embrace me to the chest?
Maanikka niram pol maarbengaeWhere is the chest radiant like ruby red?
Ennai maarbodanaikkum karam engaeWhere are the arms that embrace me to the chest?
Male :Kaanikkaiyaagiya penmaiyin maeniyaiMale: For the body of womanhood offered as a gift,
Kandukalikkum vizhi engaeWhere are the eyes that rejoice upon seeing it?
Kaanikkaiyaagiya penmaiyin maeniyaiFor the body of womanhood offered as a gift,
Kandukalikkum vizhi engaeWhere are the eyes that rejoice upon seeing it?
Female
Engae ..aaha..engaeWhere... ah... where?
En kannukku virunthengaeWhere is the feast for my eyes?
Male :Ingae vaa vaa ingaeMale: Here, come, come here.
Ilam pennukku virunthingaeHere is the feast for the young woman.
Male
Maadapuravin inamengaeWhere is the one resembling a gentle dove?
Thiru manjal kungumam kalai engaeWhere is the artistic grace adorned with sacred turmeric and vermilion?
Maadapuravin inamengaeWhere is the one resembling a gentle dove?
Thiru manjal kungumam kalai engaeWhere is the artistic grace adorned with sacred turmeric and vermilion?
Female :Soodum mallaigai vaadum varai neeFemale: Until the worn jasmine flowers wither away,
Aadida kalikkum mayil ingaeHere is the peacock that delights in dancing with you.
Soodum mallaigai vaadum varai neeUntil the worn jasmine flowers wither away,
Aadida kalikkum mayil ingaeHere is the peacock that delights in dancing with you.
Female
Engae ..aaha..engaeWhere... ah... where?
En kannukku virunthengaeWhere is the feast for my eyes?
Male :Ingae vaa vaa ingaeMale: Here, come, come here.
Ilam pennukku virunthingaeHere is the feast for the young woman.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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.

Keep listening

More from Paaladai