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Lyrics & meaning

Oru Then Kinnam

From Deiva Sangalpam · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Deiva Sangalpam1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thaen kinnam kettenI asked for a cup of honey,
Aval naan endru vandhaalShe came saying, 'It is me!'
Suvai paal vannam kettenI asked for the delicious color of milk,
Aval poonginnam thandhaalShe offered a cup of flowers.
Oru thaen kinnam kettenI asked for a cup of honey,
Female
Koduthaal koduthaalShe gave and she gave,
Kollamal koduthaalShe gave without withholding anything,
Sindhaamal avan eduthaanWithout spilling a drop, he drank it in.
Mudithaan endru ninaithaal mellaJust as she thought it was over, slowly,
Mupaalum padithu vittaanHe mastered all three books of love (Mu-paal).
Male
Oru thaen kinnam kettenI asked for a cup of honey,
Female :Aval naan endru vandhaalFemale: She came saying, 'It is me!'
Female
Enna thudippo ammadi podhum'What overwhelming desire! Oh my, that's enough,'
Naalai meendum endraan'We shall continue tomorrow,' he said.
Male :Idhuvum vendumMale: 'I want this as well,'
Inondrum vendam'I desire nothing else,'
Ippodhae thevai endraalWhen she insisted, 'I need it right now,'
Female
Kaadhal endraal kalyaanam alla'Love doesn't mean immediate marriage,'
Kaalam varattum endraan'Let the right time come,' he said.
Male :Kanavil vandhaal kalyaana kolamMale: 'When she appears in my dreams, she wears bridal attire,'
Kannodu kalandhendraalWhen she merged seamlessly into my eyes,
Female
Koduthaal manakkumIf offered willingly, it smells fragrant,
Parithaal thudikkumIf plucked forcefully, it twitches in pain,
Male :Anaithaal adangumMale: If embraced tightly, it surrenders,
Ninaithaal nadakkumIf willed in the heart, it comes true.
Male
Oru then kinnam kettenI asked for a cup of honey,
Female :Aval naan endru vandhaalFemale: She came saying, 'It is me!'
Male :Suvai paal vannam kettenMale: I asked for the delicious color of milk,
Female :Aval poonginnam thandhaalFemale: She offered a cup of flowers.
Male
Saelai maraikkum thenpaangu silaiyaeOh sweet, sculpted beauty hidden beneath a saree,
Male
Kaalai varaikkum kannara kanduAdmiring her to his heart's content till morning,
Kaiyil anaithirundhaanHe held her closely wrapped in his arms.
Female :Kannam konda kaayangal ellamFemale: Looking at all the love-bites on her cheeks,
Kannadi paarthirundhaalShe stood gazing at herself in the mirror.
Male
Manandhaal unaiyae manappen endraan'If I ever marry, I shall marry only you,' he said.
Female :Marandhaal ulagai marappen endraalFemale: 'If I ever forget, I shall forget this entire world,' she said.
Male
Oru then kinnam kettenI asked for a cup of honey,
Female :Aval naan endru vandhaalFemale: She came saying, 'It is me!'
Male :Suvai paal vannam kettenMale: I asked for the delicious color of milk,
Female :Aval poonginnam thandhaalFemale: She offered a cup of flowers.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Thaen Kinnam Ketten' from 'Deiva Sangalpam' (1972) is a playful and deeply intimate duet between lovers, sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The song uses rich poetic imagery—such as cups of honey, creamy milk, and fragrant flowers—to metaphorically describe physical passion, romantic teasing, and emotional intimacy. The couple playfully recounts their moments together, balancing physical desire with tender commitments of eternal love and marriage.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Thaen kinnam ketten / Suvai paal vannam ketten

The lyrics use 'cup of honey' (Thaen kinnam) and 'color of sweet milk' (Suvai paal vannam) as metaphors for sweet kisses, romantic pleasures, and fair beauty.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Koduthaal manakkum / Parithaal thudikkum / Anaithaal adangum / Ninaithaal nadakkum

The line endings 'manakkum', 'thudikkum', 'adangum', and 'nadakkum' create a rhythmic ending rhyme scheme typical of classical Tamil songwriting.

Literary Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Mupaalum padithu vittaan

Kannadasan cleverly references 'Mupaal' (the three sections of Thirukkural: Virtue, Wealth, and Love), implying the lover mastered all facets of romance and wisdom.

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Trivia

'Deiva Sangalpam' (1972) features music composed by V. Kumar, often hailed as 'Mellisai Maamani' for his melodious compositions in 1960s and 70s Tamil cinema. The lyricist Kaviarasu Kannadasan infuses sensual romantic poetry with classical literary depth, such as comparing love play to reading Thirukkural ('Mupaal').

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