Enthan Kaikuttaiyai
From Isai Paadum Thendral · 1976
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Isai Paadum Thendral1976
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Endhan kaikkuttaiyai | My handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by my beloved girlfriend. |
| Male | |
| Endhan kaikkuttaiyai | My handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Endhan kaikkuttaiyai | My handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by my beloved girlfriend. |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by my beloved girlfriend. |
| Male | |
| Endhan kaikkuttaiyai | My handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa | Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aaa…aa… aa… aa… | Ah... aaa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Chinna chinna noolgalil | With fine, delicate threads, |
| Pokkal varaindhen aaha | I embroidered flowers, aha! |
| Ennai vaithu naan adhil | Placing my soul within it, |
| Pinni irundhen | I had woven it. |
| Male | |
| Kaikkuttaiyil chinnam ondru | On the handkerchief, a small mark, |
| Kandu pidithaen | I discovered! |
| Pinni vaitha poovukku | To the flower I embroidered, |
| Mutham koduthaen | I gave a kiss. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal idhayam | A loving heart, |
| Thandhu mudithaen | I surrendered completely. |
| Kannin imaiyaal thandhi adithaen | I sent a telegram with my eyelashes. |
| Male | |
| Pinni mudittha | Woven tightly, |
| Noolgalukkul naan | Within those threads, |
| Sikki thavithaen | I was trapped and struggled. |
| Sikki thavithaen | I was trapped and struggled. |
| Sikkal eduthaen | I untangled the knot. |
| Male | |
| Endhan kaikkuttaiyai | My handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by my beloved girlfriend. |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by my beloved girlfriend. |
| Male | |
| Endhan kaikkuttaiyai | My handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa | Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? |
| Male | |
| Kaikkuttaiyil vaervaiyai Thudaithadhillai | I never wiped sweat with that handkerchief, |
| Adharkku valithidum endru naan Madithadhillai | Fearing it would hurt, I never even folded it. |
| Female | |
| Undhan kaiyil thandhadhu | What was placed in your hands, |
| Thuniyum illai | Is not just a piece of cloth, |
| En idhayathai thaan thandhaen | I gave you my very heart, |
| Vazhiyum illai | There is no other choice. |
| Male | |
| Unnai ninaithaal | When I think of you, |
| Urakkam illai | Sleep disappears. |
| Inba kiliyae irakkam illai | O sweet parrot, you show no mercy! |
| Female | |
| Vaai thirandhu | Opening my mouth, |
| En penmai solvadhu | For my womanhood to express itself, |
| Vazhakkam illai | Is not the custom, |
| Pazhakkam illai vilakkam illai | Nor a habit, nor is there an explanation. |
| Female | |
| Andha kaikkuttaiyai | That handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Indha kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by this beloved woman. |
| Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai | As a token of loving affection, |
| Indha kaadhali thandhadhu | Given by this beloved woman. |
| Female | |
| Andha kaikkuttaiyai | That handkerchief, |
| Yaar eduthadhu | Who took it? |
| Naan thaan naan thaan | It was me, it was me! |
| Naan thaan naan thaan | It was me, it was me! |
எந்தன் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
எந்தன் காதலி தந்தது
My handkerchief,
Who took it?
As a token of loving affection,
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
எந்தன் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
எந்தன் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
எந்தன் காதலி தந்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
எந்தன் காதலி தந்தது
My handkerchief,
Who took it?
My handkerchief,
Who took it?
As a token of loving affection,
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
As a token of loving affection,
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
எந்தன் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
நீயா நீயா நீயா நீயா
My handkerchief,
Who took it?
Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you?
ஆ...ஆஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ...
சின்னச் சின்ன நூல்களில்
பூக்கள் வரைந்தேன் ஆஹா
என்னை வைத்து நான் அதில்
பின்னி இருந்தேன்
Ah... aaa... aa... aa... aa...
With fine, delicate threads,
I embroidered flowers, aha!
Placing my soul within it,
I had woven it.
கைக்குட்டையில் சின்னம் ஒன்று
கண்டு பிடித்தேன்
பின்னி வைத்த பூவுக்கு
முத்தம் கொடுத்தேன்
On the handkerchief, a small mark,
I discovered!
To the flower I embroidered,
I gave a kiss.
காதல் இதயம்
தந்து முடித்தேன்
கண்ணின் இமையால் தந்தி அடித்தேன்
A loving heart,
I surrendered completely.
I sent a telegram with my eyelashes.
பின்னி முடித்த
நூல்களுக்குள் நான்
சிக்கித் தவித்தேன்
சிக்கித் தவித்தேன்
சிக்கல் எடுத்தேன்
Woven tightly,
Within those threads,
I was trapped and struggled.
I was trapped and struggled.
I untangled the knot.
எந்தன் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
எந்தன் காதலி தந்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
எந்தன் காதலி தந்தது
My handkerchief,
Who took it?
As a token of loving affection,
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
As a token of loving affection,
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
எந்தன் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
நீயா நீயா நீயா நீயா
My handkerchief,
Who took it?
Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you?
கைக்குட்டையில் வேர்வையை
துடைத்ததில்லை
அதற்கு வலித்திடும் என்று நான்
மடித்ததில்லை
I never wiped sweat with that handkerchief,
Fearing it would hurt, I never even folded it.
உந்தன் கையில் தந்தது
துணியும் இல்லை
என் இதயத்தைத்தான் தந்தேன்
வழியும் இல்லை
What was placed in your hands,
Is not just a piece of cloth,
I gave you my very heart,
There is no other choice.
உன்னை நினைத்தால்
உறக்கம் இல்லை
இன்பக் கிளியே இரக்கம் இல்லை
When I think of you,
Sleep disappears.
O sweet parrot, you show no mercy!
வாய் திறந்து
என் பெண்மை சொல்வது
வழக்கம் இல்லை
பழக்கம் இல்லை விளக்கம் இல்லை
Opening my mouth,
For my womanhood to express itself,
Is not the custom,
Nor a habit, nor is there an explanation.
அந்தக் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
இந்தக் காதலி தந்தது
அன்புக் காதலின் சின்னமாய்
இந்தக் காதலி தந்தது
That handkerchief,
Who took it?
As a token of loving affection,
Given by this beloved woman.
As a token of loving affection,
Given by this beloved woman.
அந்தக் கைக்குட்டையை
யார் எடுத்தது
நான்தான் நான்தான்
நான்தான் நான்தான்
That handkerchief,
Who took it?
It was me, it was me!
It was me, it was me!
Endhan kaikkuttaiyai
My handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
Endhan kaikkuttaiyai
My handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Endhan kaikkuttaiyai
My handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
Endhan kaikkuttaiyai
My handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa
Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you?
Aa… aaa…aa… aa… aa…
Ah... aaa... aa... aa... aa...
Chinna chinna noolgalil
With fine, delicate threads,
Pokkal varaindhen aaha
I embroidered flowers, aha!
Ennai vaithu naan adhil
Placing my soul within it,
Pinni irundhen
I had woven it.
Kaikkuttaiyil chinnam ondru
On the handkerchief, a small mark,
Kandu pidithaen
I discovered!
Pinni vaitha poovukku
To the flower I embroidered,
Mutham koduthaen
I gave a kiss.
Kaadhal idhayam
A loving heart,
Thandhu mudithaen
I surrendered completely.
Kannin imaiyaal thandhi adithaen
I sent a telegram with my eyelashes.
Pinni mudittha
Woven tightly,
Noolgalukkul naan
Within those threads,
Sikki thavithaen
I was trapped and struggled.
Sikki thavithaen
I was trapped and struggled.
Sikkal eduthaen
I untangled the knot.
Endhan kaikkuttaiyai
My handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Endhan kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by my beloved girlfriend.
Endhan kaikkuttaiyai
My handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa neeyaa
Is it you? Is it you? Is it you? Is it you?
Kaikkuttaiyil vaervaiyai Thudaithadhillai
I never wiped sweat with that handkerchief,
Adharkku valithidum endru naan Madithadhillai
Fearing it would hurt, I never even folded it.
Undhan kaiyil thandhadhu
What was placed in your hands,
Thuniyum illai
Is not just a piece of cloth,
En idhayathai thaan thandhaen
I gave you my very heart,
Vazhiyum illai
There is no other choice.
Unnai ninaithaal
When I think of you,
Urakkam illai
Sleep disappears.
Inba kiliyae irakkam illai
O sweet parrot, you show no mercy!
Vaai thirandhu
Opening my mouth,
En penmai solvadhu
For my womanhood to express itself,
Vazhakkam illai
Is not the custom,
Pazhakkam illai vilakkam illai
Nor a habit, nor is there an explanation.
Andha kaikkuttaiyai
That handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Indha kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by this beloved woman.
Anbu kaadhalin chinnamaai
As a token of loving affection,
Indha kaadhali thandhadhu
Given by this beloved woman.
Andha kaikkuttaiyai
That handkerchief,
Yaar eduthadhu
Who took it?
Naan thaan naan thaan
It was me, it was me!
Naan thaan naan thaan
It was me, it was me!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Endhan Kaikkuttaiyai' is a playful and romantic duet centered on a handkerchief given as a sacred love token. The protagonist playfully accuses his beloved of taking back the handkerchief she gifted him, while she reminisces about the love, devotion, and intricate embroidery she poured into creating it as a vessel for her heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (Rhyming Refrain)
“Vazhakkam illai / Pazhakkam illai / vilakkam illai”
Repetition of the suffix 'illai' across consecutive words creates a rhythmic and melodic ending harmony.
Metaphor
“En idhayathai thaan thandhaen”
The heroine compares the embroidered handkerchief to her own heart, implying that gifting the cloth was symbolically surrendering her heart.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Vazhakkam / Pazhakkam”
The second consonant sound 'zha' matches between consecutive words, adding internal poetic resonance.
Personification / Hyperbole
“Kannin imaiyaal thandhi adithaen”
The act of fluttering eyelashes is poetically likened to sending a telegraph message.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Vaali, this song cleverly uses an everyday object—a handkerchief—as a central romantic metaphor. Although listed in some archives under 1976, 'Isai Paadum Thendral' was released in 1986 with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja.
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