Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannukkulle Unnai Paaru

From Maragatham · 1959

Lyricist
Ra. Balu
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Radha Jayalakshmi
Music director
S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
Details
Maragatham1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Enthan Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Athu kaviyam aayiram koorum enthanIt speaks a thousand epic poems, my...
Enthan Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Athu kaviyam aayiram koorumIt speaks a thousand epic poems
Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Female
Ennaththilae ezhil vannaththilaeIn my thoughts, in beautiful colors
Aaa….aa…..aa….aa…..aa…Aaa....aa.....aa....aa.....aa...
Ennaththilae ezhil vannaththilaeIn my thoughts, in beautiful colors
Minnith thirigindra vennalavilIn the gleaming white moonlight
Unnai dhinnam dhinam kaangindrenI see you every single day
Ae…..ae….ae…..ae….Ae.....ae....ae.....ae....
Unnai dhinnam dhinam kaangindrenI see you every single day
Antha unarchiyil ulaginai maranthaenIn that emotion, I forgot the world
Male
Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Athu kaviyam aayiram koorum enthanIt speaks a thousand epic poems, my...
Male
Inbathin ellaiyil koodu katti….ee….Building a nest at the boundary of bliss...
Inbathin ellaiyil koodu katti….ee….Building a nest at the boundary of bliss...
Athil innaisai paadum paravaigal naamWe are the birds singing sweet music in it
Female
Anbinil pongum kadalpoleLike an ocean overflowing with love
Anbinil pongum kadalpoleLike an ocean overflowing with love
Aasai alaigalai veesidum kalaiyamuthaeOh nectar of art, casting waves of desire
Female
Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Male :Enthan Kannukkullae unnaipaaruMale: Look at yourself inside my eyes
Male
Odum aruviyaai naanirukkaWhile I exist as a running waterfall
Aa…..aa…..aa…..aa….Aa.....aa.....aa....aa....
Odum aruviyaai naanirukkaWhile I exist as a running waterfall
Athil oodidum meenpol thulli vanthaaiYou came leaping like a fish darting inside it
Athil oodidum meenpol thulli vanthaaiYou came leaping like a fish darting inside it
Female
Paadum kuyilena naanirukka aa….aaa….While I exist as a singing cuckoo, aa...aaa...
Paadum kuyilena naanirukkaWhile I exist as a singing cuckoo
Angu aadum mayil ena neeyum vanthaaiYou came like a dancing peacock over there
Female
Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Male :Enthan Kannukkullae unnaipaaruMale: Look at yourself inside my eyes
Both :Athu kaviyam aayiram koorumBoth: It speaks a thousand epic poems
Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes
Enthan Kannukkullae unnaipaaruLook at yourself inside my eyes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet from Maragatham (1959) celebrates the profound emotional union between two lovers. By looking into each other's eyes, the couple beholds reflections that tell a thousand poetic stories. They describe their romance through rich natural imagery, picturing love as an overflowing sea and themselves as sweet birds residing in a nest of joy. The song evokes harmony by juxtaposing complementary elements of nature—a flowing waterfall and a playful fish, a singing cuckoo and a dancing peacock—symbolizing how two distinct souls intertwine to form a complete, ecstatic world where reality fades into pure affection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Anbinil pongum kadalpole

Compares love overflowing in their hearts to a surging ocean ('kadalpole').

Uruvagam / Simile Imagery (Nature Imagery)

Odum aruviyaai naanirukka / Athil oodidum meenpol thulli vanthaai

Uses nature dynamics (waterfall & fish, cuckoo & peacock) to depict complementary love.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Paadum kuyilena naanirukka / Angu aadum mayil ena neeyum vanthaai

Rhyming/alliterative pairing of initial sounds 'Paadum' and 'Aadum' across adjacent couplet lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maragatham (1959) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Padmini in the lead roles. The film's music was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, with lyrics penned by lyricists including Ra. Balu.

Keep listening

More from Maragatham