- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Nalanthana
- Movie release year
- 1982
- Lyrics added on
- 13 Jun 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic track expresses a young woman's delicate longing and unspoken love for her beloved. She describes her silent glances as letters written from her eyes, lamenting that he remains oblivious to her silent messages. Her restless youth keeps her awake, while the inherent shyness (naanam) of womanhood prevents her from voicing her desires directly. She feels that love was ignited in her heart like a spark from flint, creating a sweet torment that only his caring gaze can heal. As days pass in anticipation, she hesitates whenever she gathers the courage to speak. The song beautifully captures the emotional turbulence of secret romantic yearning and traditional feminine bashfulness.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Endhan kannaal kadidham potten”
Expressing subtle glances and eye contact as sending a 'written letter' is an evocative visual metaphor for unspoken romantic communication.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Adhai kaanavillai badhil podavillai”
The words 'kaanavillai' and 'podavillai' end with the exact same rhyming sound, creating a pleasing rhythmic repetition.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kallum theeyum kondu / Kaadhal endru nenjil indru”
The initial consonant sounds ('Kallum' and 'Kaadhal') match across consecutive lines to establish rhythmic structure.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Endhan kannaal kadidham potten' is a memorable track from the 1982 Tamil movie 'Nalanthana', composed by the popular music director duo Shankar–Ganesh. Set to lyrics penned by Pulamaipithan, the song relies heavily on P. Susheela's expressive vocals, seamlessly conveying both subtle hesitation and passionate yearning.
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