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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kangalilae

From Pencil · 2015

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singers
Shreya Ghoshal, Javed Ali
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Pencil2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Ni sa re da ni da(Musical notes)
Ni sa re da ni da(Musical notes)
Ni sa re re da ni(Musical notes)
Re re ni sa da ni pa} (2)(Musical notes)
Male
Kangalilae kangalilaeIn the eyes, in the eyes
Oru kadugalavu therigirathaeSomething as tiny as a mustard seed is visible
Yen melae yen melaeUpon me, upon me
Un kurukuruppu neligirathaeYour mischievous gaze wriggles
Female
Enakae than theriyaamalWithout me even realizing it
Enai siruga siruga izhanthenI slowly lost myself bit by bit
Male
{De da ni da ni da(Musical notes)
De da ni da ni da(Musical notes)
Re re da ni da(Musical notes)
De da ni da ni da} (2)(Musical notes)
Female
Kallai kolathinil erindhaiYou threw a stone into the pond
En nenjil valaiyangal seithaiAnd created ripples in my heart
Male
Oh thalli nadanthida virumbiOh, wishing to walk away from me
Nee mella aruginil vanthaaiYou softly came closer instead
Female
Mudhan mudhalaaiFor the very first time
Mugavariyaai…As an identity...
Unai ninaithenI thought of you
Nalla mudiveduthenI made a good decision
Male
Meladai thodumoWill the upper garment touch?
Moochennai thodumoWill your breath touch me?
Kai viral thodumoWill the fingers touch?
Kaal nagam padumoWill the toenails graze?
Male
Pattadai illamalWithout silk clothes
Poo pottum illamalWithout flowers or a bindi
Nee vanthu nindralumEven if you come and stand simply
Un polae varumoCan anyone equal you?
Male
Oh..kangalilae kangalilaeOh, in the eyes, in the eyes
Oru kadugalavu therigirathaeSomething as tiny as a mustard seed is visible
Yen melae yen melaeUpon me, upon me
Un kurukuruppu neligirathaeYour mischievous gaze wriggles
Male
Vanna udaigalil vanthaalIf you come in colorful attire
En ennam sidharuthu pennaeMy thoughts get scattered, oh girl
Female
Ennai maraithitta podhumEven if I try to hide myself
Adhai kaatti kodupathu kannaeMy eyes betray and reveal it, my dear
Male
Oru puram neeOn one side, you
Maru puram naanOn the other side, me
Idaiyinil yaa..rrr..Who is in between?
Female :Vetkam thadupathai paarFemale: Look, shyness is stopping us
Male
Engae naan sendralumWherever I go
Yen paatil nindralumWherever I stop in my path
Pinnalae nee vanthaaiYou came behind me
Pesamal yean sendraiWhy did you leave without speaking?
Male
Kar kaalam pol indruLike the monsoon season today
Sangeetha sol ondruA single musical word
Nee veesi sendralumEven if you cast it and leave
Podhatho enakkuWouldn't that be enough for me?
Male
Ho..kangalilae kangalilaeOh, in the eyes, in the eyes
Oru kadugalavu therigirathaeSomething as tiny as a mustard seed is visible
Yen melae yen melaeUpon me, upon me
Un kurukuruppu neligirathaeYour mischievous gaze wriggles
Female
Ho.. enakae thaan theriyaamalOh, without me even realizing it
Enai siruga siruga izhanthenI slowly lost myself bit by bit
Male
{De da ni da ni da(Musical notes)
De da ni da ni da(Musical notes)
Re re da ni da(Musical notes)
De da ni da ni da} (2)(Musical notes)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kangalilae Kangalilae from the movie Pencil is a sweet, romantic duet that captures the innocence and deep emotional excitement of young love. The song portrays how subtle glances and silent moments can disrupt a person's inner peace and ignite feelings of deep affection. The protagonist describes how even a tiny glance—as small as a mustard seed—creates massive emotional ripples within the heart, akin to throwing a stone into a still pond. The lyricist Thamarai elegantly articulates the playful dynamics of romance, where modesty and shyness stand between the lovers, yet their unspoken bond remains undeniably strong.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kallai kolathinil erindhai / En nenjil valaiyangal seithai

Compares disturbing someone's heart to throwing a stone into a pond and creating expanding ripples.

Hyperbole (Uvarchi)

Oru kadugalavu therigirathae

Uses the tiny size of a mustard seed as a poetic scale to measure the spark of love seen in the eyes.

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)

Kangalilae kangalilae

Repetition of words like 'Kangalilae' and 'Yen melae' to emphasize focus and rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, who also made his lead acting debut in the film Pencil (2015) alongside Sri Divya. The song features vocals by Javed Ali and Shreya Ghoshal, with lyrics written by acclaimed poet Thamarai.

Keep listening

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