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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kangal Inainthathenna Female

From Snegithi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Suseela
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Snegithi1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kangal inainthathennaWhy did our eyes meet?
Kadhal piranthathennaWhy was love born?
Kangal inainthathennaWhy did our eyes meet?
Kadhal piranthathennaWhy was love born?
Kaalam pirinththathennaWhy did time separate us?
Kavithai siriththathennaWhy did poetry laugh at us?
Aval kovilai naan moodivittenI closed the doors to her temple,
Antha nenjam therivathennaYet why is that heart still visible?
Female
Kaagith poovilum vandu varumEven to a paper flower, a bee will come,
Kaanal neerukkum paraavai varumEven to a mirage, a bird will come.
Kaagith poovilum vandu varumEven to a paper flower, a bee will come,
Kaanal neerukkum paraavai varumEven to a mirage, a bird will come.
Female
Kaadhal ponaal maanida vaazhvilIf love leaves human life,
Nimmathi engu varumWhere will peace come from?
Aval kovilai naan moodivittenI closed the doors to her temple,
Antha nenjam therivathennaYet why is that heart still visible?
Female
Vaanam pozhinththu bhoomiyilaeThe sky poured rain onto the earth,
Adhil megam peruvathu yeadhumilaiYet the cloud gains nothing from it.
Vaanam pozhinththu bhoomiyilaeThe sky poured rain onto the earth,
Adhil maegam peruvathu yeadhumillaiYet the cloud gains nothing from it.
Female
Avaloru vaanam avaloru meagamShe is a sky, she is a cloud,
Irandum inaiyavillaiYet the two never truly unite.
Aval kovilai naan moodivittenI closed the doors to her temple,
Antha nenjam therivathennaYet why is that heart still visible?
Female
Kangal inainthathennaWhy did our eyes meet?
Kadhal piranthathennaWhy was love born?
Kaalam pirinththathennaWhy did time separate us?
Kavithai siriththathennaWhy did poetry laugh at us?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song composed for the 1970 film Snegithi delves into the pain of separation, lost love, and the cruel ironies of destiny. The speaker laments the initial meeting of eyes and the birth of a passion that was ultimately torn apart by time. Even as he tries to seal away his memories of his beloved by figuratively closing her temple doors, her heart remains ever-present in his thoughts. Kannadasan uses poignant metaphors of nature—bees drawn to artificial flowers, birds seeking water in mirages, and rain clouds giving everything without gaining happiness—to depict human vulnerability, tragic attachments, and the search for inner peace after heartbreaks.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kangal inainthathenna / Kadhal piranthathenna

The repetitive ending '-enna' in words like inainthathenna, piranthathenna, pirinththathenna, and siriththathenna creates a melodic rhythm expressing questioning anguish.

Metaphor (Uvamai / Urvagam)

Kaagith poovilum vandu varum / Kaanal neerukkum paraavai varum

Comparing false hope or unattainable love to paper flowers ('kaagith poov') and mirages ('kaanal neer').

Personification

Kavithai siriththathenna

Attributing the human emotional act of laughing to 'poetry' (Kavithai) as it mocks the tragedy of the lovers.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kangal inainthathenna / Kadhal piranthathenna

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound across line beginnings (Kangal, Kadhal, Kaalam, Kavithai).

Did you know?

Trivia

Penned by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan for the 1970 movie Snegithi, the song highlights his signature style of blending deep existential philosophical observations with tragic romantic themes using vivid imagery from nature.

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