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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
Details
Malathi1970

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Karpanaiyo kai vandhadhoDid imagination come within my grasp?
Sorgathil kaanaadha sugamo sugamIs it a joy unfound even in heaven?
Sugamo sugam sugamo sugamSuch bliss, such bliss!
Female
Karpanaiyo kai vandhadhoDid imagination come within my grasp?
Sorgathil kaanaadha sugamo sugamIs it a joy unfound even in heaven?
Sugamo sugam sugamo sugamSuch bliss, such bliss!
Female
Andru kaadhal kan konduThat day, with eyes full of love,
Nee paartha paarvaiThe look you cast upon me,
Indru kaniyaanadhoHas it ripened into fruit today?
Enna sugamo sugamOh, what immense pleasure!
Female
Andru kaadhal kan konduThat day, with eyes full of love,
Nee paartha paarvaiThe look you cast upon me,
Indru kaniyaanadhoHas it ripened into fruit today?
Enna sugamo sugamOh, what immense pleasure!
Male
Undhan kaiyil vizhundhaenoDid I fall into your hands,
Kanni kaniyaeOh youthful fruit?
Illai kallil vizhundhaeno sella kiliyaeOr did I fall on stone, my sweet parrot?
Female
Yaarum solli theriyaadhaAn art of joy that no one can teach,
Inba kalaiyaeOh art of pleasure!
Adhai alli kolla vandhen thannanthaniyaeI came all alone to gather it up.
Male
PaarthadhuWhat was seen,
Female
PodhumaaIs it enough?
Male
KettadhuWhat was heard,
Female
VendumaaIs it desired?
Female
Karpanaiyo kai vandhadhoDid imagination come within my grasp?
Male :Sorgathil kaanaadha sugamo sugamMale: Is it a joy unfound even in heaven?
Both :Sugamo sugam sugamo sugamBoth: Such bliss, such bliss!
Male
Oru kodi thaamaraiTen million lotus blossoms,
Kodiyodu valaithuBending together with vines,
Ennai sirai seidhadhoDid they imprison me?
Enna sugamo sugamOh, what immense pleasure!
Male
Oru kodi thaamaraiTen million lotus blossoms,
Kodiyodu valaithuBending together with vines,
Ennai sirai seidhadhoDid they imprison me?
Enna sugamo sugamOh, what immense pleasure!
Female
Ennai katti vaitha vilangoAre the shackles that bound me
Kangal irandumYour two eyes?
Angu vetti vaitha karumboIs it cut sugarcane placed there,
Kannam irandumYour two cheeks?
Male
Unnai kandu kanduGazing at you endlessly,
Rasithae ennai koduthaenAdmiring you, I gave myself away.
Angu kaadhal enum amudhaiThere, the nectar called love,
Alli kudithaenI scooped up and drank.
Female
PaarthadhuWhat was seen,
Male
PodhumaaIs it enough?
Female
KettadhuWhat was heard,
Male
VendumaaIs it desired?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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