Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaalangale Kann Paarungal

From Thennangkeetru · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Movie name
Thennangkeetru
Movie release year
1975
Lyrics added on
1 Jun 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalangalae kann paarungal
Kavalai kanneer oru puram
Kadhal sugangal maru puram
Veliyittu nirppathenna kaalangalae
Idhu aayiram malargalin thottam
Idhil aasaiyil aadidum kottam
Idhu aayiram malargalin thottam
Idhil aasaiyil aadidum kottam
Ingu naalukku naal oru aattam
Idhu nadakkum varai mana vaattam
Kaalangalae kann paarungal
Aadaatha thogai isai paadatha kuyil
Poovaatha pushpam mazhai pozhiyaatha megam
Veenaiyundu thanthiyillai
Koyilundu vaasalillai
Yaaritta saabam yaarukku laabam
Tamarai poovil vandaadum kolam
Malarnthathaanal vantha kadhal
Maathargal vaazhkkai malaruvathendraal
Kaalaththil thirakkanum vaasal
Thaedi kuriththu oru paruvam varuvatharkku
Iraivan arul vendum
Thalaivan thunai vendum
Thennangkeettril oru thendral thazhuvi vara
Kaalam vara vendum
Karunai thara vendum….
Kaalangalae kann paarungal
Ilamai enbathu oru thanaiyaatha veri
Adhu arivin kaaichal
Ananthathin marana padukkai
Ilamaiyilae oru sanniyaasi kolam varuvathu
Iraivanin leelai
Ezhilmigu penmai malaraathirunthaal
Eppadi varum manamaalai
Thaayin manathil oru sanjalam vanthathu
Aaruthal adaiyaathu anantham kidaiyaathu
Magalin vaazhvil oru mangalam illai
Thaaimai adaiyaathu thanimai tholaiyaathu
Kaalangalae kann paarungal
Idhu aayiram malargalin thottam
Idhil aasaiyil aadidum kottam
Ingu naalukku naal oru aattam
Idhu nadakkum varai mana vaattam
Kaalangalae…..
Oh passage of time, open your eyes and see,
Worries and tears on one side,
The joys of love on the other side,
Why do you stand dividing them with a fence, oh time?
This is a garden of a thousand flowers,
Where desire dances and plays,
This is a garden of a thousand flowers,
Where desire dances and plays,
Here, every day brings a new drama,
And as long as this goes on, the heart will ache...
Oh passage of time, open your eyes and see,
A peacock that cannot dance, a cuckoo that sings no song,
A flower that never blooms, a cloud that brings no rain,
There is a veena with no strings,
There is a temple with no entrance,
Whose curse is this, and who gains from it?
The sight of a bee dancing on a lotus,
Is love born because the flower bloomed,
If a woman's life is to blossom,
The door must open at the right time,
For youth to arrive in its own season,
One needs the grace of God,
And the support of a partner,
For a gentle breeze to caress the coconut frond,
The right time must arrive,
And kindness must be shown...
Oh passage of time, open your eyes and see,
Youth is an unquenchable fire,
It is a fever of the mind,
The deathbed of joy,
Living like an ascetic in one's youth,
Is the play of God,
If beautiful womanhood does not bloom,
How will the wedding garland ever come?
A mother's heart is filled with distress,
Finding no comfort and having no joy,
There is no auspicious joy in her daughter's life,
She attains no motherhood, and her loneliness will not fade,
Oh passage of time, open your eyes and see,
This is a garden of a thousand flowers,
Where desire dances and plays,
Here, every day brings a new drama,
And as long as this goes on, the heart will ache...
Oh passage of time...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kaalangalae kann paarungal' from Thennangkeetru (1975) is a poignant lament addressed to Time, composed by G. K. Venkatesh and written by the legendary Kannadasan. The narrator pleads with personified Time to observe the sharp contrast between human suffering and romantic bliss, portraying life as a garden where joy and sorrow play out every day. Through rich allegorical imagery, the song reflects on how unfulfilled youth and delayed life milestones—such as marriage and motherhood—cause deep emotional distress to a young woman and her mother. Kannadasan uses metaphors like a stringless veena, a doorless temple, and rainless clouds to symbolize incomplete lives and suppressed desires. He highlights that youth, if forced into ascetic restraint or denied natural fulfillment, becomes a burden rather than a period of joy. The song emphasizes the necessity of divine grace, proper timing, and companionate love for a woman's life to flower into complete happiness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

“Kaalangalae kann paarungal”

Addressing 'Kaalangalae' (Time) as a living entity capable of seeing ('kann paarungal') and standing as a witness.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Veenaiyundu thanthiyillai / Koyilundu vaasalillai”

Describing life without fulfillment using empty, functionless objects like a stringless veena and a doorless temple.

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyming)

“Aadaatha thogai isai paadatha kuyil / Poovaatha pushpam mazhai pozhiyaatha megam”

The second letters 'ya' in 'Aadaatha' and 'Poovaatha' create a poetic rhythmic symmetry.

Oxymoron / Paradox

“Ilamaiyilae oru sanniyaasi kolam varuvathu”

Contrasting youth ('Ilamai') with the dress/life of a renunciate ('sanniyaasi kolam'), highlighting unnatural emotional restraint.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is set in a melodic, reflective style characteristic of composer G. K. Venkatesh, who was known for blending classical Carnatic nuances with accessible cinematic orchestration. This track highlights T. M. Soundararajan's versatility in rendering soulful, philosophical ballads outside his signature heroic anthems.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aandavanin Thottathile Azhagu1973
ArangetramYouthFate
Azhagiya Poomagal1987
Oor KuruviDesireLonging
Vaanile Endha Naalum1982
AnuMarriageGardens
Ennai Thodarendhu1993
Maamiyar VeeduLongingFate
Anne Anne1987
Poovizhi VasalileContemplativeFate
Naalai Namathe Female1975
Naalai NamadheHopefulFlowers

From the same album

More songs from Thennangkeetru

View album
Manjalum Vaazhga1975
ThennangkeetruTender
Maanikka Maamani1975
ThennangkeetruRomantic
Aandavan Potta1975
ThennangkeetruMelancholic

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.