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Pennai Nambungal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kathalikka Enakku Kattru

From Pennai Nambungal · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Pennai Nambungal
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
23 Feb 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………….
Kadhalikka enakku katru thantha unakku
Kaanikkai enna tharavo…oo….
Kalyaanam mudiththu katcheri vaikka
Naal paarththu naan varavo…oo….
Kadhalikka enakku katru thantha unakku
Kaanikkai enna tharavo…oo….
Kalyaanam mudiththu katcheri vaikka
Naal paarththu naan varavo…oo….
Pengalai paarththathum
Kangalai mooduvaen
Aahaa pengalai paarththathum
Kangalai mooduvaen
Unnai naan paarththathum
Indru yaen maarinaen
Indru yaen maarinaen
Paadaatha thaeneekkal paayaatha thaenaaru
Odaatha poonthendral
Undo nee sollammaa
Kannae un kannpattu
En ullam punpattu
Mogangal undaanaatho
Sendaadum vandaanatho
Kadhalikka enakku katru thantha unakku
Kaanikkai enna tharavo…oo….
Kalyaanam mudiththu katcheri vaikka
Naal paarththu naan varavo…oo….
Antha naal menagai
Vanthathae mayakkaththaan
Antha naal menagai
Vanthathae mayakkaththaan
Intha naal kaarigai
Vanthathum adhukkuththaan
Alli naan anaikkaththaan
Aanantha paadangal aarambam aagaathu
Aasaigal theeraathu aan paavam pollaathu
Naan thedum neraththil nee oda koodaathu
Kittaththil thottaada vaa
Vetkaththai vittodi vaa
Kadhalikka enakku katru thantha unakku
Kaanikkai enna tharavo…oo….
Kalyaanam mudiththu katcheri vaikka
Naal paarththu naan varavo…oo….
Naal paarththu naan varavo…oo….
...
To you, who taught me how to love,
What gift can I offer in return?
To marry you and begin our joyful celebration,
Shall I pick an auspicious day and come to you?
To you, who taught me how to love,
What gift can I offer in return?
To marry you and begin our joyful celebration,
Shall I pick an auspicious day and come to you?
Whenever I saw other women,
I used to close my eyes.
Aha, whenever I saw other women,
I used to close my eyes.
Yet the moment I looked at you,
Why did I change today?
Why did I change today?
A bee that doesn't hum, a river of honey that doesn't flow,
A gentle breeze that doesn't blow—
Do such things exist? Tell me, my dear.
My darling, caught by your gaze,
My heart was pierced,
Is that how this longing was born?
Did I become a bee hovering over flowers?
To you, who taught me how to love,
What gift can I offer in return?
To marry you and begin our joyful celebration,
Shall I pick an auspicious day and come to you?
In ancient times, Menaka
Came only to tempt and captivate,
In ancient times, Menaka
Came only to tempt and captivate,
And today, this beautiful girl
Has come for that very same reason,
So that I can gather you into my arms!
Without that, our lessons of joy cannot begin,
Desires won't be stilled, and making a longing man suffer is wrong.
When I reach for you, you must not run away.
Come close so we can touch and play,
Cast aside your shyness and come running!
To you, who taught me how to love,
What gift can I offer in return?
To marry you and begin our joyful celebration,
Shall I pick an auspicious day and come to you?
Shall I pick an auspicious day and come to you?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this playful and romantic song, the male protagonist expresses his deep passion and gratitude to his lover, who taught him the joy of love. He admits that he used to ignore women completely by closing his eyes, but meeting her transformed him instantly. He uses metaphors of nature—bees, honey rivers, and gentle breezes—to show that his attraction to her is natural and inevitable.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kadhalikka / Kaanikkai / Kalyaanam”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ka' across lines to create rhythmic flow.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kannae un kannpattu / En ullam punpattu”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'nn' across adjacent lines.

Metaphor & Rhetorical Question

“Paadaatha thaeneekkal paayaatha thaenaaru / Odaatha poonthendral / Undo nee sollammaa”

Comparing the natural state of love to bees, rivers, and breezes, asking if they can ever exist without their natural tendencies.

Allusion

“Antha naal menagai vanthathae mayakkaththaan”

Mythological reference to Menaka, the celestial nymph known for her irresistible charm, comparing the heroine to her.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar for the 1973 movie 'Pennai Nambungal', this track features legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam delivering a energetic and playful performance. Lyricist Vaali crafted the lyrics with clever Tamil poetic embellishments like Edhugai and Monai.

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