Muthukkalo Kangal
From Nenjirukkum Varai (1967 Film) · 1967
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Nenjirukkum Varai (1967 Film)1967
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Muthukkalo kangal | Are those eyes made of pearls? |
| Thitthippadho kannam | Is this cheek sweet to taste? |
| Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai | At the moment we met, I didn't think at all |
| Thandhu vitten ennai | I surrendered myself to you. |
| Male | |
| Muthukkalo kangal | Are those eyes made of pearls? |
| Thitthippadho kannam | Is this cheek sweet to taste? |
| Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai | At the moment we met, I didn't think at all |
| Thandhu vitten ennai | I surrendered myself to you. |
| Female | |
| Paditha paadam enna | What is the lesson you have learned? |
| Un kangal paarkkum paarvai enna | What is the meaning in the gaze of your eyes? |
| Paalil ooriya jaadhi poovai | A jasmine flower soaked in sweet milk |
| Sooda thudippadhenna | Why is there a longing to wear it? |
| Female | |
| Muthukkalae pengal | Women are indeed precious pearls! |
| Thitthippadhae kannam | Their cheeks are truly sweet! |
| Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai | At the moment we met, I didn't think at all |
| Thandhu vitten ennai | I surrendered myself to you. |
| Male | |
| Kanni pennai mella mella | Gently, gently to the young maiden |
| Thendral thaalaatta | As the breeze sings a lullaby |
| Female | |
| Kadalil alaigal odi vandhu | The ocean waves rush forward |
| Kaalai neeraatta | To wash and bathe her feet |
| Male | |
| Ezhundha inbam enna | What is this bliss that has arisen? |
| En ennam yengum yaekkam enna | What is this longing filled in my thoughts? |
| Female | |
| Virundhu ketpadhenna | Why ask for a royal feast? |
| Adhaiyum viraindhu ketpadhaenna | And why ask for it with such urgency? |
| Male | |
| Muthukkalo kangal | Are those eyes made of pearls? |
| Thitthippadho kannam | Is this cheek sweet to taste? |
| Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai | At the moment we met, I didn't think at all |
| Thandhu vitten ennai | I surrendered myself to you. |
| Female | |
| Aasai konjam naanam konjam | A bit of desire, a bit of shyness |
| Pinni paarppadhenna | Why look while intertwining both? |
| Male | |
| Arugil nadandhu madiyil vizhundhu | Walking close and falling into my lap |
| Aada ketpadhenna | Why ask to sway and play? |
| Female | |
| Malarndha kaadhal enna | What is this love that has blossomed? |
| Un kaigal maalai aavadhenna | Why do your arms become a loving garland? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhai thorana melathodu | With banana leaf decorations and wedding drums |
| Poojai seivadhenna | Why perform this sacred worship? |
| Female | |
| Muthukkalae pengal | Women are indeed precious pearls! |
| Thithippadhae kannam | Their cheeks are truly sweet! |
| Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai | At the moment we met, I didn't think at all |
| Thandhu vitten ennai | I surrendered myself to you. |
| Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa… | Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa… |
| Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa… | Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa… |
முத்துக்களோ கண்கள்
தித்திப்பதோ கன்னம்
சந்தித்த வேளையில் சிந்திக்கவே இல்லை
தந்துவிட்டேன் என்னை
Are those eyes made of pearls?
Is this cheek sweet to taste?
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
I surrendered myself to you.
முத்துக்களோ கண்கள்
தித்திப்பதோ கன்னம்
சந்தித்த வேளையில் சிந்திக்கவே இல்லை
தந்துவிட்டேன் என்னை
Are those eyes made of pearls?
Is this cheek sweet to taste?
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
I surrendered myself to you.
படித்த பாடம் என்ன
உன் கண்கள் பார்க்கும் பார்வை என்ன
பாலில் ஊறிய ஜாதிப் பூவை
சூடத் துடிப்பதென்ன
What is the lesson you have learned?
What is the meaning in the gaze of your eyes?
A jasmine flower soaked in sweet milk
Why is there a longing to wear it?
முத்துக்களே பெண்கள்
தித்திப்பதே கன்னம்
சந்தித்த வேளையில் சிந்திக்கவே இல்லை
தந்து விட்டேன் என்னை
Women are indeed precious pearls!
Their cheeks are truly sweet!
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
I surrendered myself to you.
கன்னிப் பெண்ணை மெல்ல மெல்ல
தென்றல் தாலாட்ட
Gently, gently to the young maiden
As the breeze sings a lullaby
கடலின் அலைகள் ஓடி வந்து
காலை நீராட்ட
The ocean waves rush forward
To wash and bathe her feet
எழுந்த இன்பம் என்ன
என் எண்ணம் ஏங்கும் ஏக்கமென்ன
What is this bliss that has arisen?
What is this longing filled in my thoughts?
விருந்து கேட்பதென்ன
அதையும் விரைந்து கேட்பதென்ன
Why ask for a royal feast?
And why ask for it with such urgency?
முத்துக்களோ கண்கள்
தித்திப்பதோ கன்னம்
சந்தித்த வேளையில் சிந்திக்கவே இல்லை
தந்துவிட்டேன் என்னை
Are those eyes made of pearls?
Is this cheek sweet to taste?
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
I surrendered myself to you.
ஆசை கொஞ்சம் நாணம் கொஞ்சம்
பின்னிப் பார்ப்பதென்ன?
A bit of desire, a bit of shyness
Why look while intertwining both?
அருகில் நடந்து மடியில் விழுந்து
ஆடக் கேட்பதென்ன
Walking close and falling into my lap
Why ask to sway and play?
மலர்ந்த காதல் என்ன
உன் கைகள் மாலையாவதென்ன
What is this love that has blossomed?
Why do your arms become a loving garland?
வாழை தோரண மேளத்தோடு
பூஜை செய்வதென்ன
With banana leaf decorations and wedding drums
Why perform this sacred worship?
முத்துக்களோ கண்கள்
தித்திப்பதோ கன்னம்
சந்தித்த வேளையில் சிந்திக்கவே இல்லை
தந்துவிட்டேன் என்னை
ஆ.....ஹா......ஓ......ஓ.......ஆஅ......ஆ....ஹ.....ஹா.....
ஆ.....ஹா......ஓ......ஓ.......ஆஅ......ஆ....ஹ.....ஹா.....
Women are indeed precious pearls!
Their cheeks are truly sweet!
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
I surrendered myself to you.
Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa…
Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa…
Muthukkalo kangal
Are those eyes made of pearls?
Thitthippadho kannam
Is this cheek sweet to taste?
Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
Thandhu vitten ennai
I surrendered myself to you.
Muthukkalo kangal
Are those eyes made of pearls?
Thitthippadho kannam
Is this cheek sweet to taste?
Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
Thandhu vitten ennai
I surrendered myself to you.
Paditha paadam enna
What is the lesson you have learned?
Un kangal paarkkum paarvai enna
What is the meaning in the gaze of your eyes?
Paalil ooriya jaadhi poovai
A jasmine flower soaked in sweet milk
Sooda thudippadhenna
Why is there a longing to wear it?
Muthukkalae pengal
Women are indeed precious pearls!
Thitthippadhae kannam
Their cheeks are truly sweet!
Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
Thandhu vitten ennai
I surrendered myself to you.
Kanni pennai mella mella
Gently, gently to the young maiden
Thendral thaalaatta
As the breeze sings a lullaby
Kadalil alaigal odi vandhu
The ocean waves rush forward
Kaalai neeraatta
To wash and bathe her feet
Ezhundha inbam enna
What is this bliss that has arisen?
En ennam yengum yaekkam enna
What is this longing filled in my thoughts?
Virundhu ketpadhenna
Why ask for a royal feast?
Adhaiyum viraindhu ketpadhaenna
And why ask for it with such urgency?
Muthukkalo kangal
Are those eyes made of pearls?
Thitthippadho kannam
Is this cheek sweet to taste?
Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
Thandhu vitten ennai
I surrendered myself to you.
Aasai konjam naanam konjam
A bit of desire, a bit of shyness
Pinni paarppadhenna
Why look while intertwining both?
Arugil nadandhu madiyil vizhundhu
Walking close and falling into my lap
Aada ketpadhenna
Why ask to sway and play?
Malarndha kaadhal enna
What is this love that has blossomed?
Un kaigal maalai aavadhenna
Why do your arms become a loving garland?
Vaazhai thorana melathodu
With banana leaf decorations and wedding drums
Poojai seivadhenna
Why perform this sacred worship?
Muthukkalae pengal
Women are indeed precious pearls!
Thithippadhae kannam
Their cheeks are truly sweet!
Sandhitha velaiyl sindhikkavae illai
At the moment we met, I didn't think at all
Thandhu vitten ennai
I surrendered myself to you.
Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa…
Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa…
Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa…
Aa… haa… oo… oo… aaa… aa… ha… haa…
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Muthukkalo Kangal is a timeless romantic duet from the 1967 Tamil movie Nenjirukkum Varai. The song expresses a playful and affectionate dialogue between two lovers admiring each other's beauty and charm. The male lover marvels at her eye contact and tender features, comparing her eyes to pearls and her presence to sweet delights, while the female lover responds with equal warmth, exploring her emerging feelings of love, bashfulness, and longing for marriage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Muthukkalo kangal”
Compares eyes directly to pearls ('Muthukkalo kangal'), elevating the maiden's beauty through precious imagery.
Uvamai (Simile / Imagery)
“Paalil ooriya jaadhi poovai”
Describes the beloved as a jasmine flower soaked in milk ('Paalil ooriya jaadhi poovai'), evoking purity, softness, and sweetness.
Adukkuthodaru (Repetition)
“Kanni pennai mella mella”
The word 'mella' is repeated ('mella mella') to emphasize the slow, gentle movement of the breeze.
Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Muthukkalo kangal / Thitthippadho kannam”
The second consonant 'th' rhymes between 'Muthukkalo' and 'Thitthippadho' creating a pleasing melodic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this iconic duet was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. Directed by C. V. Sridhar, the song features Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya, and remains one of the most celebrated romantic melodies in Tamil cinema history.
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