Kangal Irandil Onru Ponal
From Illara Jothi · 1954
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. J. Kantha
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Details
- Illara Jothi1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kangal irandil ondru ponaal | If one of the two eyes is lost, |
| Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai | One cannot behold true beauty, |
| Kaana mudiyathae | One cannot behold. |
| Kangal irandil ondru ponaal | If one of the two eyes is lost, |
| Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai | One cannot behold true beauty, |
| Kaana mudiyathae | One cannot behold. |
| Female | |
| Thookam yethini | Why talk of sleep, |
| Sundhara vizhiyae | O beautiful eyes! |
| Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae | Sorrows never go to sleep, |
| Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae | Sorrows never go to sleep. |
| Female | |
| Thookam yethini | Why talk of sleep, |
| Sundhara vizhiyae | O beautiful eyes! |
| Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae…ae…. | Sorrows never go to sleep... |
| Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae | Sorrows never go to sleep. |
| Female | |
| Iravu mangai | The maiden of night, |
| Isaikkum geetham | And the melody she plays, |
| Oruvarkaaga thaanae | Is it meant for just one person? |
| Nal vizhigal urakkam kaanaadhae | Good eyes do not find sleep, |
| Nal vizhigal urakkam kaanaadhae | Good eyes do not find sleep. |
| Female | |
| Aasaiyae sumaithaan endrumae | Desire is always a burden, |
| Aanaal ulaginai aasai neengumoo | But will desire ever leave this world? |
| Aanaal ulaginai aasai neengumoo | But will desire ever leave this world? |
| Female | |
| Megam mooduvadhaalae | Just because clouds cover it, |
| Vaanam maraindhu povadhum illaiyae | The sky does not cease to exist, |
| Vaazhvum idhuthaanoo | Is human life just like this too? |
| Female | |
| Kangal irandil ondru ponaal | If one of the two eyes is lost, |
| Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai | One cannot behold true beauty, |
| Kaana mudiyathae | One cannot behold. |
| Female | |
| Illara jothi anainthu ponaal | If the light of domestic life is extinguished, |
| Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae | One cannot find the path in the dark, |
| Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae | One cannot find the path in the dark. |
| Illara jothi anainthu ponaal | If the light of domestic life is extinguished, |
| Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae…ae….. | One cannot find the path in the dark... |
| Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae | One cannot find the path in the dark. |
| Female | |
| Kangal irandil ondru ponaal | If one of the two eyes is lost, |
| Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai | One cannot behold true beauty, |
| Kaana mudiyathae | One cannot behold. |
கண்கள் இரண்டில் ஒன்று போனால்
காண முடியாதே நல் அழகை
காண முடியாதே
கண்கள் இரண்டில் ஒன்று போனால்
காண முடியாதே நல் அழகை
காண முடியாதே
If one of the two eyes is lost,
One cannot behold true beauty,
One cannot behold.
If one of the two eyes is lost,
One cannot behold true beauty,
One cannot behold.
தூக்கம் ஏதினி
சுந்தர விழியே
துன்பங்கள் உறங்குவதில்லையே
துன்பங்கள் உறங்குவதில்லையே
Why talk of sleep,
O beautiful eyes!
Sorrows never go to sleep,
Sorrows never go to sleep.
தூக்கம் ஏதினி
சுந்தர விழியே
துன்பங்கள் உறங்குவதில்லையே...ஏ....
துன்பங்கள் உறங்குவதில்லையே
Why talk of sleep,
O beautiful eyes!
Sorrows never go to sleep...
Sorrows never go to sleep.
இரவு மங்கை
இசைக்கும் கீதம்
ஒருவர்க்காக தானே
நல்விழிகள் உறக்கம் காணாதே
நல்விழிகள் உறக்கம் காணாதே
The maiden of night,
And the melody she plays,
Is it meant for just one person?
Good eyes do not find sleep,
Good eyes do not find sleep.
ஆசையே சுமைதான் என்றுமே
ஆனால் உலகினை ஆசை நீங்குமோ
ஆனால் உலகினை ஆசை நீங்குமோ
Desire is always a burden,
But will desire ever leave this world?
But will desire ever leave this world?
மேகம் மூடுவதாலே வானம்
மறைந்து போவதும் இல்லையே
வாழ்வும் இதுதானா
Just because clouds cover it,
The sky does not cease to exist,
Is human life just like this too?
கண்கள் இரண்டில் ஒன்று போனால்
காண முடியாதே நல் அழகை
காண முடியாதே
If one of the two eyes is lost,
One cannot behold true beauty,
One cannot behold.
இல்லற ஜோதி அணைந்து போனால்
இருளில் வழியறியாதே
இருளில் வழியறியாதே
இல்லற ஜோதி அணைந்து போனால்
இருளில் வழியறியாதே ....ஏ.....
இருளில் வழியறியாதே
If the light of domestic life is extinguished,
One cannot find the path in the dark,
One cannot find the path in the dark.
If the light of domestic life is extinguished,
One cannot find the path in the dark...
One cannot find the path in the dark.
கண்கள் இரண்டில் ஒன்று போனால்
காண முடியாதே நல் அழகை
காண முடியாதே
If one of the two eyes is lost,
One cannot behold true beauty,
One cannot behold.
Kangal irandil ondru ponaal
If one of the two eyes is lost,
Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai
One cannot behold true beauty,
Kaana mudiyathae
One cannot behold.
Kangal irandil ondru ponaal
If one of the two eyes is lost,
Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai
One cannot behold true beauty,
Kaana mudiyathae
One cannot behold.
Thookam yethini
Why talk of sleep,
Sundhara vizhiyae
O beautiful eyes!
Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae
Sorrows never go to sleep,
Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae
Sorrows never go to sleep.
Thookam yethini
Why talk of sleep,
Sundhara vizhiyae
O beautiful eyes!
Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae…ae….
Sorrows never go to sleep...
Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae
Sorrows never go to sleep.
Iravu mangai
The maiden of night,
Isaikkum geetham
And the melody she plays,
Oruvarkaaga thaanae
Is it meant for just one person?
Nal vizhigal urakkam kaanaadhae
Good eyes do not find sleep,
Nal vizhigal urakkam kaanaadhae
Good eyes do not find sleep.
Aasaiyae sumaithaan endrumae
Desire is always a burden,
Aanaal ulaginai aasai neengumoo
But will desire ever leave this world?
Aanaal ulaginai aasai neengumoo
But will desire ever leave this world?
Megam mooduvadhaalae
Just because clouds cover it,
Vaanam maraindhu povadhum illaiyae
The sky does not cease to exist,
Vaazhvum idhuthaanoo
Is human life just like this too?
Kangal irandil ondru ponaal
If one of the two eyes is lost,
Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai
One cannot behold true beauty,
Kaana mudiyathae
One cannot behold.
Illara jothi anainthu ponaal
If the light of domestic life is extinguished,
Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae
One cannot find the path in the dark,
Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae
One cannot find the path in the dark.
Illara jothi anainthu ponaal
If the light of domestic life is extinguished,
Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae…ae…..
One cannot find the path in the dark...
Irulil vazhi ariyaadhae
One cannot find the path in the dark.
Kangal irandil ondru ponaal
If one of the two eyes is lost,
Kaana mudiyathae nal azhagai
One cannot behold true beauty,
Kaana mudiyathae
One cannot behold.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful song reflects on grief, the burden of human desires, and the vital role of marital and domestic happiness. It draws a poignant analogy comparing dual eyesight to complete harmony in life; losing one eye deprives a person of full perspective, just as losing domestic happiness ('Illara jothi') leaves a person wandering in emotional darkness. The lyrics highlight how sorrows remain awake through the night and question whether desires can ever truly be abandoned.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Illara jothi anainthu ponaal”
Domestic harmony is conceptualized as an illuminating light ('Illara jothi') while despair is portrayed as total darkness ('Irul').
Personification
“Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae”
Night is personified as a maiden ('Iravu mangai') singing a song, and abstract sorrows are personified as beings that do not sleep ('Thunbangal uranguvadhillaiyae').
Analogy / Parallelism
“Megam mooduvadhaalae Vaanam maraindhu povadhum illaiyae”
Compares clouds temporarily covering the sky to troubles obscuring life's value, reinforcing that troubles do not eliminate life's true nature.
Did you know?
Trivia
Illara Jothi (1954) featured Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini in pivotal roles. The lyrics penned by Kannadasan offer early examples of his renowned philosophical writing style in Tamil cinema, reflecting deep introspections on life and duty.
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