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Magarantham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kadalil Alaikal Pongum

From Magarantham · 1981

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Magarantham
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
11 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Mmmm…..mm….
Kadalil alaigal pongum
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumo
Verum karaiyai theendumo
Kadalil alaigal pongum
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumo
Verum karaiyai theendumo
En udalil unarvu pongum
Unthan uruvai thaandumo
Veru uravai theendumo
Chinna chinna kaaranaththaal
Kannamathil neerthuligal
Chinna chinna kaaranaththaal
Kannamathil neerthuligal
Ennai mattum purinthu kondaal
Aththanaiyum thaen thuligal
Ennai mattum purinthu kondaal
Aththanaiyum thaen thuligal
Thaen thuliyai serththu vaikkum
Thaamaraiyil idhayamammaa
Thaen thuliyai serththu vaikkum
Thaamaraiyil idhayamammaa
Thaamaraiyai malara vaikkum
Aadhavanin udhayammamaa
Kadalil alaigal pongum
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumo
Verum karaiyai theendumo
Kangal sonna kavithai ellaam
Kallezhuththu pondrathammaa
Kangal sonna kavithai ellaam
Kallezhuththu pondrathammaa
Kallezhuththu endrirunthaal
Kaalam enna seiyyummamaa
Kallezhuththu endrirunthaal
Kaalam enna seiyyummamaa
Neeradiththu neer vizhagi
Paarththathillai bhoomiyilae
Neeradiththu neer vizhagi
Paarththathillai bhoomiyilae
Nee pirinthu naan irunthaal
Vaazhkkaiyillai ponmagalae
Kadalil alaigal pongum
Aanaal karaiyai thaandumo
Verum karaiyai theendumo
En udalil unarvu pongum
Unthan uruvai thaandumo
Veru uravai theendumo
Mmm... mm...
Waves swell in the ocean,
but would they ever cross the shore?
Or do they only touch the shore?
Waves swell in the ocean,
but would they ever cross the shore?
Or do they only touch the shore?
Feelings surge in my body,
but would they ever go beyond you?
Would they ever touch anyone else?
For small, silly reasons,
teardrops fall upon your cheeks.
For small, silly reasons,
teardrops fall upon your cheeks.
If only you understood me,
all of them would become drops of honey.
If only you understood me,
all of them would become drops of honey.
Your heart is a lotus
that gathers drops of honey, my dear.
Your heart is a lotus
that gathers drops of honey, my dear.
And making that lotus blossom
is the rising of the sun...
Waves swell in the ocean,
but would they ever cross the shore?
Or do they only touch the shore?
All the poems our eyes have spoken
are like words carved in stone, my dear.
All the poems our eyes have spoken
are like words carved in stone, my dear.
When something is carved in stone,
what can time ever do to it?
When something is carved in stone,
what can time ever do to it?
Water has never parted when struck by water,
nowhere on this earth have we seen that.
Water has never parted when struck by water,
nowhere on this earth have we seen that.
If I am separated from you,
there is no life for me, my precious love...
Waves swell in the ocean,
but would they ever cross the shore?
Or do they only touch the shore?
Feelings surge in my body,
but would they ever go beyond you?
Would they ever touch anyone else?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic track uses evocative metaphors from nature to convey deep devotion and fidelity. The lover compares his emotions to ocean waves that respect the boundary of the shore, assuring his beloved that his passion will never cross moral boundaries or seek another partner beyond her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamaani / Metaphor & Simile (உவமை)

“Kangal sonna kavithai ellaam / Kallezhuththu pondrathammaa”

Compares love etched in the eyes to permanent stone inscriptions ('Kallezhuththu pondrathammaa'), emphasizing everlasting commitment.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme / எதுகை)

“Kadalil alaigal pongum / En udalil unarvu pongum”

Rhyming of the second letter 'da' in 'Kadalil' and 'Udalil'.

Proverbial Metaphor (பழமொழி/இயற்கை உவமை)

“Neeradiththu neer vizhagi / Paarththathillai bhoomiyilae”

Uses the Tamil proverb/observation 'Neeradiththu neer vizhagi paarththathillai' (water struck by water does not part) to symbolize unbreakable unity.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh with lyrics by veteran poet A. Maruthakasi, this song features SPB's soulful vocals. The phrase 'Neeradiththu neer vizhagadhu' is a famous classical Tamil idiom signifying that true affection cannot be severed by temporary disagreements.

Keep listening

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