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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enthan Kannana Kannatti

From Dowry Kalyanam · 1983

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Jayachandran, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Dowry Kalyanam1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Paakkalaamaa pesalaamaShall we look at each other? Shall we talk?
Konjalaamaa kenjalaamaaShall we cuddle? Shall we plead?
Male
Enthan kannaana kannaattiOh my precious mirror of my eyes,
Naalai en pendaatti en aasai nee keladiMy wife-to-be tomorrow, hear my desire, my girl!
Enthan kannaana kannaattiOh my precious mirror of my eyes,
Naalai en pendaatti en aasai nee keladiMy wife-to-be tomorrow, hear my desire, my girl!
Male
Paalaaga thaenaaga muththangal ooohoKisses sweet like milk and honey, oooho,
Kaadhodu kaadhaaga saththangalSoft whispers ear-to-ear,
Naan sorkkaththil neeraaduvaenI will bathe in heavenly bliss!
Female
Ennai kalyaanam nee seithuWhen you marry me,
Kondaadum nannaalilOn that joyful day of celebration,
Naanaga thaaraenaiyaaI will give myself up to you, my dear.
Ennai kalyaanam nee seithuWhen you marry me,
Kondaadum nannaalilOn that joyful day of celebration,
Naanaga thaaraenaiyaaI will give myself up to you, my dear.
Female
Innaalil theeraatha thaagangal ooohoiWon't these unquenched desires of today, ooohoi,
Annaalil thaanaaga theeraatho….oo….oo….Automatically find fulfillment on that day?
En muththangal thaalaattumaeMy kisses will sing you a lullaby.
Male
Kadhavodu kadhavaaga kadhai pesadiTalk secrets pressed behind closed doors, my girl,
Uravodu uravaada thadai yaenadiWhy put a barrier to indulging in love?
Idhazhodu idhazhaaga parimaaradiExchange affection lip-to-lip, my girl,
Imaiyodu imai moodum payamaendiWhy this fear that makes your eyes close?
Kaalamithu neramithu naanum neeyumThis is the time, this is the moment, for you and me,
Jodi sera vaa rani…Come join me as a pair, my queen...
Female
Piriyaatha uravodu manamedaiyilOn the wedding stage with an inseparable bond,
Thoda vendum nee ennai suba velaiyilYou must touch me at the auspicious time.
Muraiyaaga naan ammi midhikkaamalaeWithout properly stepping on the wedding stone,
Thadumaara sonnaalae sariyaagumoIs it right if you ask me to lose control?
Neramundu kaalamunduThere is time, there is an hour,
Velaiyundu naanum saera en rajavaeThere is an occasion for me to unite, my king!
Male
Enthan kannaana kannaattiOh my precious mirror of my eyes,
Naalai en pendaatti en aasai nee keladiMy wife-to-be tomorrow, hear my desire, my girl!
Male
Paalaaga thaenaaga muththangal ooohoKisses sweet like milk and honey, oooho,
Kaadhodu kaadhaaga saththangalSoft whispers ear-to-ear,
Naan sorkkaththil neeraaduvaenI will bathe in heavenly bliss!
Male
Enakkaaga nee endru mudivaanathuIt has been decided that you are meant for me,
Adhanaalae pala aasai uruvaanathuBecause of that, many desires were born.
Female :Puriyaatha pala paadamFemale: Many mysterious lessons,
Thaniyaaga tharuvaenae kanakkaagavaeI will teach you privately, accounted for!
Male :Naalai ennum veli pothumMale: Crossing tomorrow's fence is enough!
Female :Kaalai unthan thaali vendum en rajaveyFemale: Tomorrow morning I need your sacred thread, my king!
Male
Enthan kannaana kannaattiOh my precious mirror of my eyes,
Naalai en pendaatti en aasai nee keladiMy wife-to-be tomorrow, hear my desire, my girl!
Male
Paalaaga thaenaaga muththangal ooohoKisses sweet like milk and honey, oooho,
Kaadhodu kaadhaaga saththangalSoft whispers ear-to-ear,
Naan sorkkaththil neeraaduvaenI will bathe in heavenly bliss!
Female
Ennai kalyaanam nee seithuWhen you marry me,
Kondaadum nannaalilOn that joyful day of celebration,
Naanaga thaaraenaiyaa…..I will give myself up to you...
Female
Innaalil theeraatha thaagangal ooohoiWon't these unquenched desires of today, ooohoi,
Annaalil thaanaaga theeraatho….oo….oo….Automatically find fulfillment on that day?
En muththangal thaalaattumaeMy kisses will sing you a lullaby.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and romantic duet from the film 'Dowry Kalyanam' captures an exchange between two lovers eagerly anticipating their upcoming marriage. The male lover expresses his passionate yearning, urging his beloved to set aside her inhibitions and share intimate moments with him. He paints a poetic picture of their marital future filled with sweet kisses, whispered secrets, and heavenly happiness. In response, the bride-to-be lovingly tempers his impatience, reminding him of traditional wedding rituals like stepping on the 'ammi' (grinding stone) and tying the 'thaali' (sacred thread). She assures him that once they are legitimately wedded according to custom, all his unquenched romantic longings will be happily fulfilled. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly balances romantic desire with cultural respectability through witty banter.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Paalaaga thaenaaga muththangal oooho

The lover's kisses are explicitly compared to milk ('paalaaga') and honey ('thaenaaga') using the comparison suffix 'aaga', denoting sweetness and richness.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Paakkalaamaa pesalaama / Konjalaamaa kenjalaamaa

The rhythmic repetition of the suffix '-laamaa' at the end of adjacent words creates a musical end rhyme (Iyaipu).

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Innaalil theeraatha thaagangal ooohoi / Annaalil thaanaaga theeraatho

The second consonant sound 'n' ('nn') rhymes between 'Innaalil' and 'Annaalil', establishing Ethugai.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Enthan kannaana kannaatti

The beloved is metaphorically addressed as 'kannaatti' (mirror of my eye / apple of my eye), representing extreme value and affection.

Cultural Allusion

Muraiyaaga naan ammi midhikkaamalae

Refers to 'Ammi Midhithal', a traditional South Indian Hindu wedding ritual where the bride steps on a grinding stone, signifying stability and fidelity in marriage.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Dowry Kalyanam' (1983) is a famous Tamil social drama film directed by Visu, based on his hit stage play highlighting the social evils of the dowry system in traditional families. The soundtrack was composed by the legendary maestro M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), with lyrics penned by Vaali. This romantic duet famously showcases Vaali's knack for writing lighthearted yet culturally grounded romantic dialogue between betrothed couples.

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