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Lyrics & meaning

Pennukku Sugam

From Veettukku Vandha Marumagal · 1973

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Veettukku Vandha Marumagal1973

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pennukku sugamenbathumIs not a woman's pleasure,
Kannukku oli enbathumThe light in her eyes,
Nenjukku ninaivenbathumAnd the thought in her heart,
Nee vazhangiya arulallavoThe grace bestowed by you?
Male
Mullaikku manamenbathumIs not the fragrance of jasmine,
Muththukku niramenbathumThe luster of a pearl,
Thangaththin ezhil enbathm neeyandroAnd the beauty of gold, none other than you?
Female
Kalyaana ninaivinilae ninaivinilaeIn the sweet memories of marriage, in memories,
Male :Ullaasa kanavinilae kanavinilaeMale: In delightful dreams, in dreams,
Female
En ullam nadhiyaanathuMy heart became a flowing river,
Male :En ullam kadalaanathuMale: My heart became a vast ocean.
Female
Pennukku sugamenbathumIs not a woman's pleasure,
Kannukku oli enbathumThe light in her eyes,
Nenjukku ninaivenbathumAnd the thought in her heart,
Nee vazhangiya arulallavoThe grace bestowed by you?
Male
Mullaikku manamenbathumIs not the fragrance of jasmine,
Muththukku niramenbathumThe luster of a pearl,
Thangaththin ezhil enbathm neeyandroAnd the beauty of gold, none other than you?
Male
Kunguma poovai alliyeduththuScooping up the saffron flower,
Kovai idhaloramBy the side of red lips,
Female :Kovil maniyin osai thanthathuFemale: The majesty of the king,
Mannan kambeeramSounded like the chime of a temple bell.
Male
Kunguma poovai alliyeduththuScooping up the saffron flower,
Kovai idhaloramBy the side of red lips,
Female :Kovil maniyin osai thanthathuFemale: The majesty of the king,
Mannan kambeeramSounded like the chime of a temple bell.
Male
Kanni unakku maan pattam yaar thanthathuMaiden, who bestowed upon you the title of a deer?
Kanni unakku maan pattam yaar thanthathuMaiden, who bestowed upon you the title of a deer?
Female :Sanga tamizhil naan kanda thaai thanthathuFemale: My mother, whom I discovered in Sangam Tamil, gave it to me.
Male :Annam konda idaiyilae iddaiyilaeMale: Around the waist graceful like a swan,
Female :Kannam thantha isaiyilae isaiyilaeFemale: In the music created by the cheeks,
Male
Ennullam kaddaiyaanthuMy heart became bound in restraint,
Female :Ennullam porulaanathuFemale: My heart found its true purpose.
Female
Pennukku sugamenbathumIs not a woman's pleasure,
Kannukku oli enbathumThe light in her eyes,
Nenjukku ninaivenbathumAnd the thought in her heart,
Nee vazhangiya arulallavoThe grace bestowed by you?
Male
Mullaikku manamenbathumIs not the fragrance of jasmine,
Muththukku niramenbathumThe luster of a pearl,
Thangaththin ezhil enbathm neeyandroAnd the beauty of gold, none other than you?
Female
Mangaiyarukku sannathi enbathuFor women, their ultimate sanctuary
Kanavan madithaanaeIs the husband's lap, isn't it?
Male :Maalaiyyittavan poojai seivathuMale: What the husband worships
Mangai mugamthaanaeIs the woman's face, isn't it?
Female
Kaala devan podattum poomanjamaeLet the God of Time lay down a bed of flowers,
Male :Kadhal devan paadattum aananthamaeMale: Let the God of Love sing in bliss.
Female :Kaalam konjam siriyathu siriyathuFemale: Time is a bit small,
Male :Aasai konjam periyathu periyathuMale: Desire is a bit large,
Female
Undendru mudivaanathuIt has been decided that love endures,
Male :Endrendrum uravaanathuMale: It has become an eternal bond.
Female
Pennukku sugamenbathumIs not a woman's pleasure,
Kannukku oli enbathumThe light in her eyes,
Nenjukku ninaivenbathumAnd the thought in her heart,
Nee vazhangiya arulallavoThe grace bestowed by you?
Male
Mullaikku manamenbathumIs not the fragrance of jasmine,
Muththukku niramenbathumThe luster of a pearl,
Thangaththin ezhil enbathm neeyandroAnd the beauty of gold, none other than you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet celebrates the profound love, devotion, and mutual admiration between two soulmates. The heroine attributes all her beauty, joy, and purpose to her husband, comparing his essence to fundamental elements of beauty like the scent of jasmine, the gleam of pearls, and the radiance of gold. The hero reciprocates by describing her grace and declaring that worshipping her face is his sacred duty. Throughout the song, the lovers exchange poetic compliments, elevating their relationship beyond physical affection into a divine union. Through imagery referencing Sangam Tamil literature and classical metaphors, the lyrics emphasize that while time may be fleeting, their love and spiritual connection remain eternal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pennukku sugamenbathum / Kannukku oli enbathum / Nenjukku ninaivenbathum

The second consonant 'nn' matches across consecutive lines, creating harmony in sound.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kovil maniyin osai thanthathu / Mannan kambeeram

Compares the husband's majestic presence to the resonant sound of a temple bell, and the female's grace to Sangam Tamil poetry.

Anaphora / Repetition (Eyalbu / Sorkal)

Pennukku sugamenbathum / Kannukku oli enbathum / Nenjukku ninaivenbathum

Repetition of the suffix 'enbathum' at the end of poetic phrases reinforces rhythm and rhetorical structure.

Hyperbole & Imagery

En ullam nadhiyaanathu / En ullam kadalaanathu

Extravagant comparison of emotional transformation to natural bodies of water (river expanding into an ocean).

Did you know?

Trivia

This romantic track from 'Veettukku Vandha Marumagal' (1973) features lyrics by the legendary poet Kannadasan and music composed by the composer duo Shankar-Ganesh. Kannadasan cleverly incorporates a direct reference to 'Sanga Tamizil' in the verse, paying homage to classical Tamil literature while describing the heroine's grace.

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