Kangal Engey
From Karnan · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Karnan1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kangal engae… | Where are my eyes? |
| Nenjamum engae… | Where is my heart? |
| Kanda podhae… sendrana angae… | The moment they saw him, they went over there... |
| Female | |
| Kangal engae… | Where are my eyes? |
| Nenjamum engae… | Where is my heart? |
| Kanda podhae… sendrana angae… | The moment they saw him, they went over there... |
| Female | |
| Kaalgal ingae | My feet are here, |
| Maeniyum ingae | My body is here, |
| Kaalgal ingae | My feet are here, |
| Maeniyum ingae | My body is here, |
| Kaavalindri vandhana ingae | They came here unguarded. |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Kangal engae… | Where are my eyes? |
| Nenjamum engae… | Where is my heart? |
| Kanda podhae… sendrana angae… | The moment they saw him, they went over there... |
| Chorus :Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aa… aa…aa… aa…} (Overlap) | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aa… aa…aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Mani konda karam ondru | A hand holding a precious gem |
| Anal kondu vedikum | Will burst with fire, |
| Anal kondu vedikum | Will burst with fire, |
| Chorus :Aa… aa… aa…aa… | Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Mani konda karam ondru | A hand holding a precious gem |
| Anal kondu vedikum | Will burst with fire, |
| Anal kondu vedikum | Will burst with fire, |
| Malar pondra idhazh indru | Lips soft like flowers today |
| Pani kandu thudikum | Tremble upon feeling the dew, |
| Female | |
| Malar pondra idhazh indru | Lips soft like flowers today |
| Pani kandu thudikum | Tremble upon feeling the dew, |
| Thunai kolla avanindri | Without him as a companion, |
| Thaniyaaga nadikkum | Acts alone, |
| Thuyilaadha penmaikku | For sleepless womanhood, |
| Yenidha mayakkam | Why this deep intoxication? |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Kangal engae… | Where are my eyes? |
| Nenjamum engae… | Where is my heart? |
| Kanda podhae… sendrana angae… | The moment they saw him, they went over there... |
| Kangal enage …ae….. | Where are my eyes... |
| Chorus | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aa… aa…aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Aa… aa…aa… aa…aa… aa…aa… aa… | Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Inamenna kulamena | Without knowing his clan or caste, |
| Gunamenna ariyan | Without knowing his character, |
| Gunamenna ariyen | I do not know his character, |
| Chorus :Aa… aa…aa… aa… | Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Female | |
| Eedondrum kelaaamal | Without asking for anything in return, |
| Enai angu koduthaen | I surrendered myself to him there, |
| Kudai konda madha yaanai | Like a majestic elephant under a royal parasol, |
| Uyir kondu nadandhaan | He walked away carrying my life, |
| Kurai konda udalodu | With a body full of longing, |
| Naan ingu melindhaen | I have withered away here. |
| Aa… aa…aa… aa…aaa….aa…aa….aa…. | Aa... aa... aa... aa... |
| Chorus | |
| Kangal engae… | Where are my eyes? |
| Nenjamum engae… | Where is my heart? |
| Female :Kanda podhae… | Female: The moment they saw him... |
| Sendrana angae… | They went over there... |
| Chorus :Kangal enage …ae..ae…ae..ae…. | Chorus: Where are my eyes... |
கண்கள் எங்கே...
நெஞ்சமும் எங்கே...
கண்ட போதே...சென்றன அங்கே...
Where are my eyes?
Where is my heart?
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
கண்கள் எங்கே...
நெஞ்சமும் எங்கே...
கண்ட போதே...சென்றன அங்கே...
Where are my eyes?
Where is my heart?
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
கால்கள் இங்கே
மேனியும் இங்கே
கால்கள் இங்கே
மேனியும் இங்கே
காவலின்றி வந்தன இங்கே
ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...
My feet are here,
My body is here,
My feet are here,
My body is here,
They came here unguarded.
Aa... aa... aa...
கண்கள் எங்கே...
நெஞ்சமும் எங்கே...
கண்ட போதே...சென்றன அங்கே...
குழு :
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...
Where are my eyes?
Where is my heart?
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
மணி கொண்ட கரமொன்று
அனல் கொண்டு வெடிக்கும்
அனல் கொண்டு வெடிக்கும்
குழு :
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
A hand holding a precious gem
Will burst with fire,
Will burst with fire,
Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
மணி கொண்ட கரமொன்று
அனல் கொண்டு வெடிக்கும்
அனல் கொண்டு வெடிக்கும்
மலர் போன்ற இதழ் இன்று
பனி கண்டு துடிக்கும்
A hand holding a precious gem
Will burst with fire,
Will burst with fire,
Lips soft like flowers today
Tremble upon feeling the dew,
மலர் போன்ற இதழ் இன்று
பனி கண்டு துடிக்கும்
துணை கொள்ள அவனின்றி
தனியாக நடிக்கும்
துயிலாத பெண்மைக்கு
ஏன் இந்த மயக்கம்
ஆ...ஆ....ஆ...ஆ....
Lips soft like flowers today
Tremble upon feeling the dew,
Without him as a companion,
Acts alone,
For sleepless womanhood,
Why this deep intoxication?
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
கண்கள் எங்கே...
நெஞ்சமும் எங்கே...
கண்ட போதே...சென்றன அங்கே...
கண்கள் எங்கே...
Where are my eyes?
Where is my heart?
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
Where are my eyes...
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
இனமென்ன குலமென்ன
குணமென்ன அறியேன்
குணமென்ன அறியேன்
குழு :
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Without knowing his clan or caste,
Without knowing his character,
I do not know his character,
Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
ஈடொன்றும் கேளாமல்
எனை அங்கு கொடுத்தேன்
குடை கொண்ட மதயானை
உயிர் கொண்டு நடந்தான்
குறை கொண்ட உடலோடு
நான் இங்கு மெலிந்தேன்
ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ....ஆ...
Without asking for anything in return,
I surrendered myself to him there,
Like a majestic elephant under a royal parasol,
He walked away carrying my life,
With a body full of longing,
I have withered away here.
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
கண்கள் எங்கே...
நெஞ்சமும் எங்கே...
கண்ட போதே...
சென்றன அங்கே...
குழு :
கண்கள் எங்கே......ஏ....ஏ....ஏ....ஏ....
Where are my eyes?
Where is my heart?
Female: The moment they saw him...
They went over there...
Chorus: Where are my eyes...
Kangal engae…
Where are my eyes?
Nenjamum engae…
Where is my heart?
Kanda podhae… sendrana angae…
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
Kangal engae…
Where are my eyes?
Nenjamum engae…
Where is my heart?
Kanda podhae… sendrana angae…
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
Kaalgal ingae
My feet are here,
Maeniyum ingae
My body is here,
Kaalgal ingae
My feet are here,
Maeniyum ingae
My body is here,
Kaavalindri vandhana ingae
They came here unguarded.
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa...
Kangal engae…
Where are my eyes?
Nenjamum engae…
Where is my heart?
Kanda podhae… sendrana angae…
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
Chorus :Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa… aa…aa… aa…} (Overlap)
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Mani konda karam ondru
A hand holding a precious gem
Anal kondu vedikum
Will burst with fire,
Anal kondu vedikum
Will burst with fire,
Chorus :Aa… aa… aa…aa…
Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Mani konda karam ondru
A hand holding a precious gem
Anal kondu vedikum
Will burst with fire,
Anal kondu vedikum
Will burst with fire,
Malar pondra idhazh indru
Lips soft like flowers today
Pani kandu thudikum
Tremble upon feeling the dew,
Malar pondra idhazh indru
Lips soft like flowers today
Pani kandu thudikum
Tremble upon feeling the dew,
Thunai kolla avanindri
Without him as a companion,
Thaniyaaga nadikkum
Acts alone,
Thuyilaadha penmaikku
For sleepless womanhood,
Yenidha mayakkam
Why this deep intoxication?
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Kangal engae…
Where are my eyes?
Nenjamum engae…
Where is my heart?
Kanda podhae… sendrana angae…
The moment they saw him, they went over there...
Kangal enage …ae…..
Where are my eyes...
Aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Aa… aa…aa… aa…aa… aa…aa… aa…
Aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa... aa...
Inamenna kulamena
Without knowing his clan or caste,
Gunamenna ariyan
Without knowing his character,
Gunamenna ariyen
I do not know his character,
Chorus :Aa… aa…aa… aa…
Chorus: Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Eedondrum kelaaamal
Without asking for anything in return,
Enai angu koduthaen
I surrendered myself to him there,
Kudai konda madha yaanai
Like a majestic elephant under a royal parasol,
Uyir kondu nadandhaan
He walked away carrying my life,
Kurai konda udalodu
With a body full of longing,
Naan ingu melindhaen
I have withered away here.
Aa… aa…aa… aa…aaa….aa…aa….aa….
Aa... aa... aa... aa...
Kangal engae…
Where are my eyes?
Nenjamum engae…
Where is my heart?
Female :Kanda podhae…
Female: The moment they saw him...
Sendrana angae…
They went over there...
Chorus :Kangal enage …ae..ae…ae..ae….
Chorus: Where are my eyes...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kangal Engae expresses the profound longing and romantic surrender of Subhangi (played by Devika) upon falling in love with Karna (Sivaji Ganesan). She poetically describes how her eyes and heart deserted her physical form the exact moment she laid eyes on him, leaving behind only her helpless body. She reflects on her unconditional love—having surrendered her soul without even knowing his lineage, caste, or background, completely captivated by his majestic, elephant-like royal aura.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora (Monai)
“Kangal engae… / Kaalgal ingae”
Repetition of initial sound 'Ka' across lines for rhythmic emphasis.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Malar pondra idhazh indru pani kandu thudikum”
Compares soft lips to tender flowers trembling in the cold dew.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kudai konda madha yaanai uyir kondu nadandhaan”
Metaphorically compares the hero's grand, stately walk to a royal elephant under a ceremonial umbrella.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Inamenna kulamena / Gunamenna ariyen”
Rhyming of the second letter 'na' across consecutive lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
Set in the ragam Suddha Dhanyasi, this masterpiece was composed by Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and sung by P. Susheela. The song draws heavily on Sangam poetry conventions (Akam genre), where the heroine laments the loss of her heart and physical vitality to a heroic stranger.
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