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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaadhal Ponnedu

From Kaliyuga Kannan · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Kaliyuga Kannan
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
12 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaa
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaa
Naan tamil enum pennaaga
Thalaivaa un kannaaga
Tamil enum pennaaga
Thalaivaa un kannaaga
Irukindra neram…..inbam aayiram’
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaa
Andru kovalan aadiya nagaram
Avan naayagi azhagin sigaram
Andru kovalan aadiya nagaram
Avan naayagi azhagin sigaram
Avan deviyum naanum ondru
Intha deiveegam verengum undu
Avan deviyum naanum ondru
Intha deiveegam verengum undu
Sirpam sollum saatchi idhu
Female :Ilango kaanaath kaatchi idhu
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaa
Nalla bharathithaasanin kavithai
Sollum pilganan yaamini sarithai
Nalla bharathithaasanin kavithai
Sollum pilganan yaamini sarithai
Ingu nee ena naan ena vanthu
Sollum aayiram thaen tamizh sindhu
Ingu nee ena naan ena vanthu
Sollum aayiram thaen tamizh sindhu
Santham konjum paadal idhu
Female :Manmathan rathidevi kovil idhu
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaa
Love is a golden book, and eyes are the inkwell,
Come right now to sing a song of joy!
Love is a golden book, and eyes are the inkwell,
Come right now to sing a song of joy!
As I stand as a woman of sweet Tamil,
And as your very own eyes, my beloved,
As a woman of sweet Tamil,
And as your very own eyes, my beloved,
In this moment we share, there are a thousand joys!
Love is a golden book, and eyes are the inkwell,
Come right now to sing a song of joy!
In that ancient city where Kovalan lived,
His beloved was the very peak of beauty.
In that ancient city where Kovalan lived,
His beloved was the very peak of beauty.
His beloved and I are one and the same,
Can such divine love be found anywhere else?
His beloved and I are one and the same,
Can such divine love be found anywhere else?
The sculptures stand as living witness,
This is a sight even the poet Ilango never saw!
Love is a golden book, and eyes are the inkwell,
Come right now to sing a song of joy!
The fine poem of Bharathidasan
Tells the romance of Bilhana and Yamini.
The fine poem of Bharathidasan
Tells the romance of Bilhana and Yamini.
As you and I come together here,
It sings a thousand sweet Tamil songs.
As you and I come together here,
It sings a thousand sweet Tamil songs.
This is a song dancing with sweet rhythm,
This is the temple of Manmatha and Rathi!
Love is a golden book, and eyes are the inkwell,
Come right now to sing a song of joy!
Male
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Male
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Male
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Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet from the film 'Kaliyuga Kannan' (1974) celebrates love through rich literary and historical metaphors. The lovers express their affection by comparing their connection to classical Tamil literature, comparing the heroine to Kannagi/Madhavi from Silappatikaram and their romance to Bilhana's tale rendered by Bharathidasan. The lyrics blend sensuality with scholarly devotion to the Tamil language.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagaim (Metaphor)

“Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu”

Comparing love directly to a golden book ('Kadhal ponnedu') and eyes to a kohl box ('kangal maikkoodu').

Monaai (Alliteration)

“Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkoodu”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K' in Kadhal and kangal).

Ezhuthu Allusion (Literary Allusion)

“Sollum pilganan yaamini sarithai”

Allusions to Kovalan, Ilango Adigal (author of Silappatikaram), and Bharathidasan's Puratchikavi (Bilhana-Yamini story).

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali subtly woven references to Bharathidasan's famous epic 'Puratchikavi' (which narrates the Sanskrit poet Bilhana's romance with Princess Yamini) into a modern Tamil film song, demonstrating his deep immersion in modern classical Tamil poetry.

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