Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kalangarai Vilakkam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatru Vaanga Ponen

From Kalangarai Vilakkam · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kalangarai Vilakkam
Movie release year
1965
Lyrics added on
20 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen } (2) naan
Adhai ketu
Vaangi ponaal andha
Kanni ennavaanaal
Naan kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen
Adhai ketu
Vaangi ponaal andha
Kanni ennavaanaal
Naan kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen
{ En ullam
Endra oonjal aval
Ulavugindra medai } (2)
En paarvai
Neendhum idamo
Aval paruvam endra odai
Aval ketu
Vaangi ponaal andha
Kanni ennavaanaal
Naan kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen
{ Nadai
Pazhagumbodhu
Thendral vidai
Sollikondu pogum } (2)
{ Andha azhagu
Ondru pothum nenjai
Alli kondu pogum } (2)
Aval ketu
Vaangi ponaal andha
Kanni ennavaanaal
Naan kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen
{ Nalla nilavu
Thoonkum neram
Aval ninaivu thoonkavillai } (2)
{ Konjam vilagi
Nindra podhum indha
Idhayam thaangavillai } (2)
Kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen
Adhai ketu
Vaangi ponaal andha
Kanni ennavaanaal
Naan kaatru vaanga
Ponen oru kavidhai
Vaangi vandhen
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
She asked for it
and took it away with her;
what has become of that girl?
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
She asked for it
and took it away with her;
what has become of that girl?
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
The swing of my heart
is the stage
where she strolls.
And the place where my gaze
loves to swim
is the stream of her youth.
She asked for it
and took it away with her;
what has become of that girl?
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
When she walks
with graceful steps,
the gentle breeze
bids goodbye and leaves.
That beauty alone
is enough
to sweep away the heart.
She asked for it
and took it away with her;
what has become of that girl?
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
Even when the bright moon
goes to sleep,
the thought of her never sleeps.
Even when she stood
just a little away,
this heart could not bear it.
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
She asked for it
and took it away with her;
what has become of that girl?
I went out to catch the breeze,
and I brought back
a poem with me.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic song describes a protagonist who steps out casually to take a walk and enjoy the evening breeze, only to encounter a captivating maiden who inspires a poem within his heart. She listens to his poetic expression and leaves with it, captivating his thoughts completely and leaving him yearning to know her fate and whereabouts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“En ullam endra oonjal aval ulavugindra medai / Aval paruvam endra odai”

Compares the protagonist's heart directly to a swing ('oonjal') and a stage where the maiden strolls, as well as comparing her youth to a flowing stream ('odai').

Personification

“Thendral vidai sollikondu pogum / Nalla nilavu thoonkum neram”

Attributes human actions to natural elements—the gentle breeze taking leave and bidding farewell when she walks, and the moon sleeping.

Assonance/Second Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“En ullam / Aval paruvam”

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines, creating rhythmic poetic flow (e.g., 'ullam' / 'paruvam' and 'nilavu' / 'idhayam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1965 hit Tamil thriller movie 'Kalangarai Vilakkam' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi, 'Kaatru Vaanga Ponen' was composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and sung by T. M. Soundararajan, with evocative lyrics penned by Kannadasan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Sendhamizh Thenmozhiyaal1958
Maalaiyitta MangaiAttractionRomantic
Poongaatru Puthithaanathu1982
Moondram PiraiRomanticBeauty
Paravaiye Engu Irukkiraai2007
Kattradhu ThamizhLongingNature
Senthazham Poovil1978
Mullum MalarumRomanticBeauty
Vaan Megam Poo Poovaai1986
Punnagai MannanRomanticLonging
Oru Maalai Neram2010
Naan Mahaan AllaAttractionLonging

From the same album

More songs from Kalangarai Vilakkam

View album
Ponnezhil Poothathu1965
Kalangarai VilakkamRomantic
Pallavan Pallavi1965
Kalangarai VilakkamCelebratory
Enna Uravo Enna Pirivo1965
Kalangarai VilakkamMelancholic
Ennai Maranthathen1965
Kalangarai VilakkamMelancholic
Sange Muzhangu1965
Kalangarai VilakkamCelebratory

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.