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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kankalum Kaavadi

From Enga Veettu Pillai · 1965

Lyricist
Aalangudi Somu
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Chorus
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Enga Veettu Pillai1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattumLet the eyes become a rhythm of Kaavadi Chindu
Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattumLet them play with the hearts of young men
Chorus :Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattumChorus: Let the eyes become a rhythm of Kaavadi Chindu
Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattumLet them play with the hearts of young men
Female
Penmaiyum aanmaiyum ondraagattumLet womanhood and manhood unite
Perinba vaasalil nindraadattumLet them dance at the gateway of supreme bliss
Chorus
Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattumLet the eyes become a rhythm of Kaavadi Chindu
Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattumLet them play with the hearts of young men
Female
Ullangal naeraana vazhi kaanattumLet hearts find a righteous path
Urudhiyilae thunbam thoolaagattumLet sorrow be crushed to dust through determination
Chorus :Ullangal naeraana vazhi kaanattumChorus: Let hearts find a righteous path
Urudhiyilae thunbam thoolaagattumLet sorrow be crushed to dust through determination
Female
Nanmaiyae un vaazhvil thozhilaagattumLet doing good become the work of your life
Naadellaam unnai kandu pugazh paadattumLet the entire land sing your praises upon seeing you
Chorus :Naadellaam unnai kandu pugazh paadattumChorus: Let the entire land sing your praises upon seeing you
Female
Aaahhaaa..aahh…aahhaaa…Vocalizing (Aaahhaaa..aahh…aahhaaa…)
Aaahhaaa..aahh…aahhaaa…Vocalizing (Aaahhaaa..aahh…aahhaaa…)
Oohhh…oohh..aaahh…aahhh..Vocalizing (Oohhh…oohh..aaahh…aahhh..)
Chorus
Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattumLet the eyes become a rhythm of Kaavadi Chindu
Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattumLet them play with the hearts of young men
Female
Mannagamellam nadhi paayattumLet rivers flow across the entire earth
Maargazhi thudhi paadi kadhir saayattumLet the crops sway in the month of Margazhi singing praises
Chorus :Kadhir saayattum kadhir saayattumChorus: Let the crops sway, let the crops sway
Female :Enna seivom endra nilai maarattumFemale: Let the helpless state of 'what shall we do' change
Unnaalae makkal ennam niraivaerattumBecause of you, let the dreams of the people be fulfilled
Chorus :Unnaalae makkal ennam niraivaerattumChorus: Because of you, let the dreams of the people be fulfilled
Female
Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattumLet the eyes become a rhythm of Kaavadi Chindu
Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattumLet them play with the hearts of young men
Female
Thoongiya kaalangal mudivaagattumLet the days of slumber come to an end
Tholgalilae veeram nadai podattumLet courage stride upon your shoulders
Chorus :Nadai podattum veeram nadai podattumChorus: Let courage stride, let courage stride
Female :Kolgayilae anbu oli veesattumFemale: Let the light of love shine through principles
Kozhaiyum unnaalae puli aagattumBecause of you, let even a coward turn into a tiger
Chorus :Kozhaiyum unnaalae puli aagattumChorus: Because of you, let even a coward turn into a tiger
Chorus
Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattumLet the eyes become a rhythm of Kaavadi Chindu
Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattumLet them play with the hearts of young men
Penmaiyum aanmaiyum ondraagattumLet womanhood and manhood unite
Perinba vaasalil nindraadattumLet them dance at the gateway of supreme bliss

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kangalum Kaavadi Sindhaagattum is a festive, rhythmic song from the 1965 Tamil classic Enga Veettu Pillai. While formatted as a lively dance song blending romantic flirtation, it carries strong social and moral messages typical of MGR movies of that era. The song encourages righteousness, perseverance through hardships, awakening from laziness, and inspiring bravery in others.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaybu (End Rhyme)

Kangalum kaavadi sindhaagattum / Kaalayar nenjathai pandhaadattum

Almost every line ends with the suffix '-attum' (optative verb form 'let it happen'), creating a unified rhythmic cadence throughout the song.

Moonaal / Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

Penmaiyum aanmaiyum ondraagattum / Perinba vaasalil nindraadattum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in the same line.

Metaphor

Kozhaiyum unnaalae puli aagattum

Comparing a coward transforming into a courageous person to becoming a tiger ('puli').

Did you know?

Trivia

Enga Veettu Pillai (1965) starred M. G. Ramachandran in a legendary dual role. Although lyricist Aalangudi Somu penned this track, the iconic music of the movie was composed by the duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, and the song was performed primarily by L. R. Eswari and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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