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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
Details
Kaliyuga Kannan1974

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkooduLove is a golden book, and the eyes are a container of kohl.
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaaCome at this moment to sing the melody called bliss.
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkooduLove is a golden book, and the eyes are a container of kohl.
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaaCome at this moment to sing the melody called bliss.
Female
Naan tamil enum pennaagaAs I stand as a woman named Tamil,
Thalaivaa un kannaagaMy lord, as I remain the light of your eyes,
Tamil enum pennaagaAs a woman named Tamil,
Thalaivaa un kannaagaMy lord, as I remain the light of your eyes,
Irukindra neram…..inbam aayiram’In the time we spend together, there are a thousand pleasures.
Female
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkooduLove is a golden book, and the eyes are a container of kohl.
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaaCome at this moment to sing the melody called bliss.
Male
Andru kovalan aadiya nagaramIn the ancient city where Kovalan once walked,
Avan naayagi azhagin sigaramHis heroine was the ultimate pinnacle of beauty.
Andru kovalan aadiya nagaramIn the ancient city where Kovalan once walked,
Avan naayagi azhagin sigaramHis heroine was the ultimate pinnacle of beauty.
Female
Avan deviyum naanum ondruHis goddess and I are one and the same,
Intha deiveegam verengum unduIs such divinity found anywhere else?
Avan deviyum naanum ondruHis goddess and I are one and the same,
Intha deiveegam verengum unduIs such divinity found anywhere else?
Male
Sirpam sollum saatchi idhuThis is the evidence testified by sculptures.
Female :Ilango kaanaath kaatchi idhuThis is a sight that even poet Ilango did not behold.
Female
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkooduLove is a golden book, and the eyes are a container of kohl.
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaaCome at this moment to sing the melody called bliss.
Male
Nalla bharathithaasanin kavithaiThe fine poetry written by Bharathidasan,
Sollum pilganan yaamini sarithaiNarrates the epic romance of Bilhana and Yamini.
Nalla bharathithaasanin kavithaiThe fine poetry written by Bharathidasan,
Sollum pilganan yaamini sarithaiNarrates the epic romance of Bilhana and Yamini.
Female
Ingu nee ena naan ena vanthuComing together here as 'you' and 'me',
Sollum aayiram thaen tamizh sindhuIt recites a thousand sweet honeyed Tamil compositions.
Ingu nee ena naan ena vanthuComing together here as 'you' and 'me',
Sollum aayiram thaen tamizh sindhuIt recites a thousand sweet honeyed Tamil compositions.
Male
Santham konjum paadal idhuThis is a song gently lulled by rhythmic melody.
Female :Manmathan rathidevi kovil idhuThis is the divine temple of Manmatha and Rathi.
Female
Kadhal ponnedu kangal maikkooduLove is a golden book, and the eyes are a container of kohl.
Inbam ennum panpaada inneram nee vaaCome at this moment to sing the melody called bliss.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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).

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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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