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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Then Kinnam

From Deiva Sangalpam · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Deiva Sangalpam
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
3 Jun 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thaen kinnam ketten
Aval naan endru vandhaal
Suvai paal vannam ketten
Aval poonginnam thandhaal
Oru thaen kinnam ketten
Koduthaal koduthaal
Kollamal koduthaal
Sindhaamal avan eduthaan
Mudithaan endru ninaithaal mella
Mupaalum padithu vittaan
Oru thaen kinnam ketten
Female :Aval naan endru vandhaal
Enna thudippo ammadi podhum
Naalai meendum endraan
Male :Idhuvum vendum
Inondrum vendam
Ippodhae thevai endraal
Kaadhal endraal kalyaanam alla
Kaalam varattum endraan
Male :Kanavil vandhaal kalyaana kolam
Kannodu kalandhendraal
Koduthaal manakkum
Parithaal thudikkum
Male :Anaithaal adangum
Ninaithaal nadakkum
Oru then kinnam ketten
Female :Aval naan endru vandhaal
Male :Suvai paal vannam ketten
Female :Aval poonginnam thandhaal
Saelai maraikkum thenpaangu silaiyae
Kaalai varaikkum kannara kandu
Kaiyil anaithirundhaan
Female :Kannam konda kaayangal ellam
Kannadi paarthirundhaal
Manandhaal unaiyae manappen endraan
Female :Marandhaal ulagai marappen endraal
Oru then kinnam ketten
Female :Aval naan endru vandhaal
Male :Suvai paal vannam ketten
Female :Aval poonginnam thandhaal
I asked for a cup of honey,
she came forward saying, "Here I am!"
I asked for the sweet glow of milk,
she offered her cup of flowers.
I asked for a cup of honey.
She gave and she gave,
she gave without tormenting him,
and he took it without spilling a drop.
She thought he was done, but gently,
he mastered all three books of love and life.
I asked for a cup of honey,
she came forward saying, "Here I am!"
"What passion! Oh dear, that is enough,
let us continue tomorrow," he said.
"I want this too,
and nothing else will do,
I need it right now," she said.
"Being in love is not marriage yet,
let the right time come," he said.
"She came into my dream dressed like a bride,
and said she had merged with my eyes."
When freely given, it is sweet and fragrant;
when plucked away, it trembles with longing.
When embraced, it settles down;
when we dream of it, it will surely happen.
I asked for a cup of honey,
she came forward saying, "Here I am!"
I asked for the sweet glow of milk,
she offered her cup of flowers.
Like a graceful southern sculpture draped in a sari,
gazing at her to his heart's content until morning,
he held her close in his arms.
Looking at all the sweet marks on her cheeks,
she kept gazing into the mirror.
"If I ever marry, I will marry only you," he said.
"If I ever forget you, I will forget the whole world," she said.
I asked for a cup of honey,
she came forward saying, "Here I am!"
I asked for the sweet glow of milk,
she offered her cup of flowers.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'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.

Did you know?

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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