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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Gnaayiru Enbadhu

From Kakkum Karangal · 1965

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kakkum Karangal1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Gnaayiru enbadhu kannagaWith the Sun as his eye,
Thingal enbathu pennaagaWith the Moon as the woman,
Sevaai kovai pazhamaagaWith Mars like a ripe ivy gourd fruit,
Serndhae nadanthathu azhagaagaThey walked together beautifully.
Male
Gnaayiru enbadhu kannagaWith the Sun as his eye,
Thingal enbathu pennaagaWith the Moon as the woman,
Sevaai kovai pazhamaagaWith Mars like a ripe ivy gourd fruit,
Serndhae nadanthathu azhagaagaThey walked together beautifully.
Female
Netraiya poludhu kannoduYesterday was spent exchanging glances,
Indraiya poludhu kaiyoduToday is spent holding hands,
Naalaiya poluthum unnoduTomorrow too will be spent with you,
Nizhalaai nadappen pinnoduI will walk behind you like a shadow.
Female
Netraiya poludhu kannoduYesterday was spent exchanging glances,
Indraiya poludhu kaiyoduToday is spent holding hands,
Naalaiya poluthum unnoduTomorrow too will be spent with you,
Nizhalaai nadappen pinnoduI will walk behind you like a shadow.
Male
Oorukku thunaiyaai naan irukkaWhile I stood as a pillar of support for the whole town,
Enakkoru thunaiyai edhirpaarthenI yearned for a companion for myself.
Oorukku thunaiyaai naan irukkaWhile I stood as a pillar of support for the whole town,
Enakkoru thunaiyai edhirpaarthenI yearned for a companion for myself.
Female
Ullathin kovilil vilakaetraTo light a lamp in the temple of my heart,
Maivizhi kinnathil nei vaarthenI poured ghee from the cup of my kohl-lined eyes.
Ullathin kovilil vilakaetraTo light a lamp in the temple of my heart,
Maivizhi kinnathil nei vaarthenI poured ghee from the cup of my kohl-lined eyes.
Male
Gnaayiru enbadhu kannagaWith the Sun as his eye,
Thingal enbathu pennaagaWith the Moon as the woman,
Female :Naalaiya poluthum unnoduFemale: Tomorrow too will be spent with you,
Nizhalaai nadappen pinnoduI will walk behind you like a shadow.
Male
Munnoru piravi eduthirundhenI took a birth in a past life,
Unnidam manadhai koduthirundhenAnd had given my heart to you back then.
Munnoru piravi eduthirundhenI took a birth in a past life,
Unnidam manadhai koduthirundhenAnd had given my heart to you back then.
Female :Pinnoru piravi eduthu vandhenFemale: I have taken another birth now,
Pesiya padiyae kodukka vandhenI came to surrender my heart as promised.
Pinnoru piravi eduthu vandhenFemale: I have taken another birth now,
Pesiya padiyae kodukka vandhenI came to surrender my heart as promised.
Male
Gnaayiru enbadhu kannagaWith the Sun as his eye,
Thingal enbathu pennaagaWith the Moon as the woman,
Female :Naalaiya poluthum unnoduFemale: Tomorrow too will be spent with you,
Nizhalaai nadappen pinnoduI will walk behind you like a shadow.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Gnaayiru Enbadhu Kannaga' is a sweet romantic duet from the 1965 film Kakkum Karangal, expressing timeless love and soulmate connection. Lyricist Vaali brilliantly weaves planetary names (Sun, Moon, Mars) into poetic metaphors to describe the lovers' harmony and physical grace. The song progresses from the hero sharing how he supported everyone around him while quietly yearning for love, to the heroine responding that she has returned across lifetimes to fulfill her promise of devotion. Musically crafted by K. V. Mahadevan and rendered soulfully by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, the song captures the emotional arc of love evolving from eye contact yesterday, to hand-in-hand togetherness today, and an unwavering commitment to follow each other like a shadow into tomorrow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai / Metaphor

Gnaayiru enbadhu kannaga / Thingal enbathu pennaaga

Metaphorically equates celestial bodies to human features and identity—the eye is compared to the Sun (Gnaayiru) and the woman to the Moon (Thingal).

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

kannodu / kaiyodu / unnodu / pinnodu

All four consecutive lines end with the rhyming suffix '-odu', creating a rhythmic cadence.

Muran (Temporal Contrast)

Netraiya poludhu / Indraiya poludhu / Naalaiya poluthum

Contrasts yesterday, today, and tomorrow to emphasize the continuous, uninterrupted passage of love across time.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Kakkum Karangal' (1965), produced by AVM Productions and directed by A. C. Tirulokchandar, famously marked the silver screen debut of legendary Tamil actor Sivakumar, who played the younger brother of SS Rajendran. Lyricist Vaali's clever imagery using the names of astronomical bodies (Gnaayiru = Sun, Thingal = Moon, Sevvai = Mars) made this duet one of K. V. Mahadevan's most celebrated melodic compositions of the 1960s.

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