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Kaadhal Kiligal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Karumbilum Iniyathu

From Kaadhal Kiligal · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaadhal Kiligal
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
20 Sept 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu
Uyar kavithaiyil pudhiyathu pudhiyathu
Arumbilum manamithu manamithu
Dhinam aayiram sugamithu sugamithu
Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu
Uyar kavithaiyil pudhiyathu pudhiyathu
Kaarththigai yaettriya dheepangal
En kadhal punnagai kolangal
Margazhi munpani kaalangal
Thirumanam enum veenaiyin raagangal
Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu
Uyar kavithaiyil pudhiyathu pudhiyathu
Kannam thamaraiyaa
Enthan kaalgal thamaraiyaa…..aaaaa….
Ennam poo mazhaiyaa
Ungal idhayam pon mazhaiyaa…..laalaalaa
Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu
Uyar kavithaiyil pudhiyathu pudhiyathu
Angayarkanni vadivilae
Naan aadida vanthaen madiyilae
Mangala kunguma thalaivanae
En manathukku endrum iraivanae
Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu
Uyar kavithaiyil pudhiyathu pudhiyathu
Arumbilum manamithu manamithu
Dhinam aayiram sugamithu sugamithu
: Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu
Uyar kavithaiyil pudhiyathu pudhiyathu
Sweeter than sugarcane, it is so sweet,
newer than anything in fine poetry,
more fragrant than a fresh flower bud,
bringing a thousand pleasures every single day...
Sweeter than sugarcane, it is so sweet,
newer than anything in fine poetry,
The lamps lit in the month of Karthigai
are like the smiling patterns of my love.
The early winter chill of Margazhi
is the melody from the veena of marriage.
Sweeter than sugarcane, it is so sweet,
newer than anything in fine poetry,
Is my cheek a lotus flower,
or are my feet lotus flowers...?
Are my thoughts a shower of flowers,
and is your heart a shower of gold...?
Sweeter than sugarcane, it is so sweet,
newer than anything in fine poetry,
In the form of Angayarkanni (Goddess Meenakshi),
I have come to dance upon your lap.
O lord of my auspicious kumkum (sacred red powder),
you are forever the god of my heart.
Sweeter than sugarcane, it is so sweet,
newer than anything in fine poetry,
more fragrant than a fresh flower bud,
bringing a thousand pleasures every single day...
Sweeter than sugarcane, it is so sweet,
newer than anything in fine poetry,
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a joyful celebration of love, marriage, and romantic bliss. The protagonist expresses the overwhelming joy of love by comparing it to the natural sweetness of sugarcane, the freshness of fine poetry, the fragrance of fresh buds, and the soothing warmth of Karthigai lamps and Margazhi breezes. She sees marriage as a harmonious melody played on a veena and compares her devotion to her husband to a divine connection.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile and Metaphor (Upamai and Uruvagaimai)

Thirumanam enum veenaiyin raagangal

Love and romantic experiences are directly compared to sugarcane sweetness, poetry, floral rain, and divine musical raagas.

Repetition / Sol-pin-varu-nilai-ani

Karumbilum iniyathu iniyathu

Doubling of words like 'iniyathu iniyathu', 'pudhiyathu pudhiyathu', and 'manamithu manamithu' adds a rhythmic cadence and emphasizes deep emotional satisfaction.

Cultural Imagery

Kaarththigai yaettriya dheepangal

The lyrics use traditional Tamil calendar months (Kaarthigai, Margazhi) and deity references ('Angayarkanni') to ground romantic imagery in classical Tamil heritage.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the legendary music director K. V. Mahadevan and sung by P. Susheela, this track features classic Kannadasan lyrics that integrate classical Tamil cultural elements like the auspicious lamps of Kaarthigai and winter chill of Margazhi into a romantic context.

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