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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Karpanaiyo Kai Vanthatho

From Malathi · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Malathi
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
12 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karpanaiyo kai vandhadho
Sorgathil kaanaadha sugamo sugam
Sugamo sugam sugamo sugam
Karpanaiyo kai vandhadho
Sorgathil kaanaadha sugamo sugam
Sugamo sugam sugamo sugam
Andru kaadhal kan kondu
Nee paartha paarvai
Indru kaniyaanadho
Enna sugamo sugam
Andru kaadhal kan kondu
Nee paartha paarvai
Indru kaniyaanadho
Enna sugamo sugam
Undhan kaiyil vizhundhaeno
Kanni kaniyae
Illai kallil vizhundhaeno sella kiliyae
Yaarum solli theriyaadha
Inba kalaiyae
Adhai alli kolla vandhen thannanthaniyae
Paarthadhu
Podhumaa
Kettadhu
Vendumaa
Karpanaiyo kai vandhadho
Male :Sorgathil kaanaadha sugamo sugam
Both :Sugamo sugam sugamo sugam
Oru kodi thaamarai
Kodiyodu valaithu
Ennai sirai seidhadho
Enna sugamo sugam
Oru kodi thaamarai
Kodiyodu valaithu
Ennai sirai seidhadho
Enna sugamo sugam
Ennai katti vaitha vilango
Kangal irandum
Angu vetti vaitha karumbo
Kannam irandum
Unnai kandu kandu
Rasithae ennai koduthaen
Angu kaadhal enum amudhai
Alli kudithaen
Paarthadhu
Podhumaa
Kettadhu
Vendumaa
Is this imagination, or has a dream come into my hands?
A joy never found even in heaven!
Oh, what bliss! What sheer bliss!
Is this imagination, or has a dream come into my hands?
A joy never found even in heaven!
Oh, what bliss! What sheer bliss!
Back then, with eyes full of love,
the loving look you gave me,
has it ripened into sweet fruit today?
Oh, what bliss!
Back then, with eyes full of love,
the loving look you gave me,
has it ripened into sweet fruit today?
Oh, what bliss!
Did I fall into your hands,
my sweet tender fruit?
Or did I fall upon a stone, my sweet parrot?
That no one can teach,
this art of pure joy,
I have come all alone to gather it in my arms.
Is what you saw
enough?
Do you still desire
what you asked for?
Is this imagination, or has a dream come into my hands?
Male: A joy never found even in heaven!
Both: Oh, what bliss! What sheer bliss!
Have ten million lotuses,
winding around like a creeper,
taken me captive?
Oh, what bliss!
Have ten million lotuses,
winding around like a creeper,
taken me captive?
Oh, what bliss!
The chains that tied me down
are your two eyes!
The sweet freshly cut sugarcane
are your two cheeks!
Looking at you endlessly,
I admired you and gave myself away,
and of the sweet nectar called love,
I drank to my heart's content!
Is what you saw
enough?
Do you still desire
what you asked for?
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet celebrates the overwhelming bliss of love that feels too exquisite to be real. The lovers ponder whether their sweet imagination has taken physical shape, describing their intimacy as a heavenly pleasure superior to paradise itself. Through poetical imagery, they reflect on how a simple loving glance from the past has matured into sweet emotional fulfillment today. The song vividly captures the sensory delight of love, comparing the partner's eyes to soft shackles of devotion and cheeks to sweet sugarcane. They express complete self-surrender, drinking the divine nectar of love together in total bliss.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“Ennai katti vaitha vilango / Kangal irandum”

Eyes are directly metaphorized as binding shackles ('vilango') and soft cheeks as harvested sweet sugarcane ('karumbo').

Uyarvu Navirchi Ani (Hyperbole)

“Oru kodi thaamarai / Kodiyodu valaithu / Ennai sirai seidhadho”

Exaggerating romance by comparing the embrace to ten million lotus vines surrounding and imprisoning the lover.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

“Sugamo sugam sugamo sugam”

Repeating 'Sugamo sugam' reinforces the ecstatic intensity of romantic joy.

Vinaa Ani (Rhetorical Question)

“Karpanaiyo kai vandhadho”

Using questions like 'Did imagination come into my hands?' to show awe and wonder at their newfound happiness.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from 'Malathi' (1970) features lyrics by the legendary Kaviarasu Kannadasan. Set to music by M. S. Viswanathan, this romantic song highlights Kannadasan's signature style of using nature imagery—like lotuses, parrots, and sugarcane—to convey deep sensory and emotional intimacy.

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