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Lyrics & meaning

Enge Unnai Kandal

From Chithira Sevvanam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Chithira Sevvanam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
27 May 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Engae unnai kandaal kooda
Nenjil kondaattam
Yaekkam theera saerththu kolvaen
Paadum vandaattam
Aa….aa….thangam pola
Angam ammaa thaazham poovaattam
Thaalaathammaa naan muzhuthum
Female :Ammaa pothum mella mella
Naanam vetkkam
Engae unnai kandaal kooda
Nenjil kondaattam
Male :Yaekkam theera saerththu kolvaen
Paadum vandaattam
Kandathu thaanae velli poovai
Konjam porungalaen
Kadalin neerai vellam
Kondu povathillaiyae
Kandathu thaanae velli poovai
Konjam porungalaen
Kadalin neerai vellam
Kondu povathillaiyae
Thanneer pattu kulirntha maeni
Kothikka vaippathaen
Indru naalai endrum
Ungal urimaiyallavaa…
Engae unnai kandaal kooda
Nenjil kondaattam
Male :Aahaa….haa….
Yaekkam theera saerththu kolvaen
Paadum vandaattam
Nettri kungumam
Nettri kungumam
Kettu poguthu sattrae nillungal
Pattu koondhal thottu thazhuvi
Sangathi sollungal
Ettu piravigal ettu pothilum
Neeyae manaiyaatti
Ilamai arputham inbam arputham
Vaadi rajaththi
Female :Amma pothum mella mella
Naanam vetkkam
Engae unnai kandaal kooda
Nenjil kondaattam
Male :Aa…aa….yaekkam theera saerththu kolvaen
Paadum vandaattam
Aa….aa….thangam pola
Angam ammaa thaazham poovaattam
Thaalaathammaa naan muzhuthum
Female :Ammaa pothum mella mella
Naanam vetkkam
Wherever I see you,
My heart is filled with celebration!
I will hold you close to quench my longing,
Like a buzzing bee!
Ah... ah... radiant like gold,
Your body is like a fragrant screw-pine flower!
Let me soothe and embrace you completely...
Female: Oh my, that's enough, go gently,
I am overcome with shyness!
Wherever I see you,
My heart is filled with celebration!
Male: I will hold you close to quench my longing,
Like a buzzing bee!
You have only just found this silver flower,
Please wait a little while!
A flood of rushing water
Cannot sweep away the sea!
You have only just found this silver flower,
Please wait a little while!
A flood of rushing water
Cannot sweep away the sea!
Why make my body burn with heat,
When it has just cooled with fresh water?
Today, tomorrow, and forever,
Don't I belong only to you?
Wherever I see you,
My heart is filled with celebration!
Male: Aha... ha...
I will hold you close to quench my longing,
Like a buzzing bee!
The kumkum (red mark) on my forehead,
The kumkum on my forehead,
Is getting smudged, please wait a moment!
Gently caress my silky hair,
And tell me what is on your mind!
Even across eight lifetimes,
You alone will be my wife!
Youth is wonderful, pleasure is wonderful,
Come to me, my queen!
Female: Oh my, that's enough, go gently,
I am overcome with shyness!
Wherever I see you,
My heart is filled with celebration!
Male: Ah... ah... I will hold you close to quench my longing,
Like a buzzing bee!
Ah... ah... radiant like gold,
Your body is like a fragrant screw-pine flower!
Let me soothe and embrace you completely...
Female: Oh my, that's enough, go gently,
I am overcome with shyness!
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Engae Unnai Kandaal Kooda from Chithira Sevvanam (1979) is an intimate romantic duet that portrays playful affection and passionate desire between lovers. The male partner expresses immense joy every time he catches sight of his beloved, comparing his eagerness to a beetle hovering over sweet flowers and praising her golden beauty. The female partner playfully urges restraint, feeling overwhelmed with bashfulness while assuring him of her everlasting love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai Ani)

thangam pola Angam ammaa thaazham poovaattam

The lyricist uses 'pola' (like) and 'aattam' (resembling) to compare the beloved's body to pure gold and a delicate screwpine flower.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Paadum vandaattam

The embrace of longing is compared to a singing bee/beetle seeking nectar ('vandaattam' = like a bee).

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Ilamai arputham inbam arputham

Repetition of the initial vowel sound 'I' in 'Ilamai' and 'Inbam' creates a melodic cadence.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi Ani)

Ettu piravigal ettu pothilum Neeyae manaiyaatti

An exaggeration of devotion expressing that the partner will remain his wife across eight lifetimes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with evocative lyrics by Kannadasan, this playful romance track features the golden duo S. P. Balasubramanyam and S. Janaki. The song captures the quintessential late 1970s Tamil film music aesthetic with expressive vocal improvisations.

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