- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
- Music directors
- M. S. Vishwanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Kaathiruntha Kangal
- Movie release year
- 1962
- Lyrics added on
- 30 Mar 2017
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Kaatru Vanthaal Thalai Saayum from the 1962 movie Kaathiruntha Kangal is a playful musical duet between two lovers who express their blossoming romance through poetic riddles based on nature. By setting up parallels between natural phenomena—such as reeds bending in the wind, river floods overflowing, and clouds covering the sky—and human emotions like shyness, overflowing passion, and infatuation, the song vividly conveys the psychological effect of falling in love. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance shines in the question-and-answer format, where each line prompts a metaphoric response. Set to a melodious tune by the Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy duo, the song celebrates the joy, anticipation, and deep affection preceding marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uvamai (Simile / Analogy)
“Kaatru vanthaal thalai saayum Naanal / Kaadhal vanthal thalai saayum Naanam”
Compares physical phenomena in nature to emotional states in humans, such as the reed bending to the wind being compared to love causing shyness.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Gopurathu kalasamena Anthi veyil nerathilae Minnum”
Directly compares the glowing face of the maiden in evening light to the golden spire (kalasam) of a temple tower using 'ena'.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aatrinilae karai puralum / Aasaiyilae karaipuralum”
The second consonant 't/d' or 's' aligns across lines to create rhythmic flow ('Aatrinilae' / 'Aasaiyilae').
Anaphora / Repetition
“Male :Naanum… Female :Naanum… Male :Naanum….”
Repetition of 'Naanum...' across characters to build emotional unison and playful climax.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kaathiruntha Kangal (1962) starred Gemini Ganesan, Savitri, and Nagesh. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy with lyrics by Kannadasan, sung by P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela.
Keep listening
Songs with a similar feeling
From the same album
More songs from Kaathiruntha Kangal
View albumSpot an issue?
Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.