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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kathalukku Naalu Pakkam

From Annai Sonna Sol · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Annai Sonna Sol
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
7 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaathalukku
Male :Naalu pakkam
Female :Kaalgalukku
Male :Naalu nadai
Female :Madharukku
Male :Naalu gunam
Female :Mai vizhikku
Male :Naalu mozhi
Kaathalukku naalu pakkam
Kaalgalukku naalu nadai
Madharukku naalu gunam
Mai vizhikku naalu mozhi
Kangalinaal eluthuvadhae mudhal pakkam
Kalanthu kollum idhayangalae irandam pakkam
Female :Ennuvadhai solluvadhae moondram pakkam
Eeruyirum inaivadhu thaan naalam pakkam
Kaathalukku naalu pakkam
Aasai midhakaiyilae anna nadai podum
Aruginil vaa vendraal chinna nadai podum
Male :Kattilukku sellgaiyiilae kanni nadai podum
Kaar irulil panjanaiyil enna nadai podum
Kaalgalukku naalu nadai
Kaadhalanin paarvaiyilae thalai kavilum oru gunam
Kaigalukkul irukkaiyilaekan maraikkum maru gunam
Female :Alli varum ninaivugalai adakki vaikkum oru gunam
Anaikkaiyilae athanaiyum maranthirukkum marugunam
Madharukku naalu gunam
Thanakkul thanimaiyilae sirikkum mozhi ondru
Thalaimagam kangalukkum anuppum mohi ondru
Male :Aasai malar poothathu pol veesum mozhi ondru
Aduthavarkku theriyaamal pesum mozhi ondru
Kaathalukku naalu pakkam
Kaalgalukku naalu nadai
Male :Madharukku naalu gunam
Mai vizhikku naalu mozhi
For love,
Male: There are four pages.
Female: For the feet,
Male: There are four ways of walking.
Female: For women,
Male: There are four qualities.
Female: For kohl-lined eyes,
Male: There are four languages.
Love has four pages,
Feet have four ways of walking,
Women have four qualities,
Kohl-lined eyes have four languages.
Writing with the eyes is the first page,
Hearts blending together is the second page.
Female: Speaking what is in the mind is the third page,
Two lives becoming one is the fourth page.
Love has four pages.
When desire floats in the heart, they walk with the grace of a swan,
When asked to come close, they take shy, tiny steps.
Male: Moving toward the bed, they take timid, gentle steps,
In the deep dark upon the soft bed, what kind of walk will they take?
Feet have four ways of walking.
Bowing the head under the lover's gaze is one quality,
Hiding the eyes while held in his arms is another quality.
Female: Holding back the flood of longing is one quality,
Forgetting the whole world in an embrace is another quality.
Women have four qualities.
Smiling to oneself in solitude is one language,
Sending a secret message to the lover's eyes is another language.
Male: Spreading fragrance like a blooming flower of desire is one language,
Speaking silently without anyone else knowing is another language.
Love has four pages,
Feet have four ways of walking,
Male: Women have four qualities,
Kohl-lined eyes have four languages.
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic duet from 'Annai Sonna Sol' (1968) presents an exquisite literary categorization structured around the number four ('naalu'). Through a playful dialogue, the couple details four aspects of romance and womanhood: the four chapters of love, the four gaits of a woman, the four inner qualities of a maiden, and the four unspoken languages expressed by dark eyes. Kannadasan's lyrical brilliance draws upon classical Tamil literary traditions (such as the four traditional virtues of women) and converts them into an engaging contemporary love song. Accompanied by K. V. Mahadevan's melodious composition, T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela brilliantly capture the poetic nuances of longing, coy affection, and romantic union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Enumeration / Numerical Motif (Sankhya)

“Kaathalukku naalu pakkam / Kaalgalukku naalu nadai”

The entire song is structured around the repetition of the number 'Naalu' (Four), systematically breaking down love, gaits, qualities, and expressions into four stages.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

“Kangalinaal eluthuvadhae mudhal pakkam”

Comparing the stages of romance to pages in a book ('pakkam').

Simile (Upamanam)

“Aasai midhakaiyilae anna nadai podum”

Comparing a woman's graceful walk of desire to the regal stride of a swan ('anna nadai').

Anaphora & Rhyme (Monai and Etukai)

“Kaathalukku naalu pakkam / Kaalgalukku naalu nadai”

Repetition of sound patterns and structures across parallel stanzas, creating musical harmony and poetic balance.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan cleverly adapts the traditional Sangam literature concept of feminine virtues (Acham, Madam, Naanam, Payirppu) into modern romantic expression, framing them as playful interactions between lovers.

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