- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. R. Ramasamy
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Movie name
- Sugam Enge
- Movie release year
- 1954
- Lyrics added on
- 3 Apr 2019
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
Sugam Enge is a melancholic and philosophical track from the 1954 movie Sugam Enge, featuring lyrics by Kannadasan. The song captures the existential despair of a protagonist lamenting the loss of love, joy, and peace in a world increasingly driven by greed and materialism. It critiques a society where virtue is discarded in pursuit of money, leaving the poor to endure relentless sorrow while worldly pleasures remain reserved solely for the wealthy. Reflecting on past romance and fond memories that have faded into distant history, the speaker questions whether true happiness can ever exist for someone living in poverty. Kannadasan eloquently weaves personal heartbreak with social critique, portraying sorrow as the unavoidable fate of the underprivileged.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Repetition
“Sugam engae sugam engae”
The refrain 'Sugam engae' is repeated continuously throughout the song to emphasize distress and despair.
Metaphor (Upamāna)
“Kumudha vizhiyum”
'Kumudha vizhiyum' compares eyes to the soft, beautiful night-lotus flower.
Antithesis / Contrast
“Gunathai udhari panathai naadum”
Contrasts discarding moral virtue ('Gunathai udhari') with chasing material wealth ('Panathai naadum').
Erhai (Second-letter rhyme)
“Inba vaazhvum indha naadum”
Rhyming of the second syllable in 'Inba' and 'Porul' or 'Ezhai' across adjacent lines to create rhythmic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
The 1954 film 'Sugam Enge' starred K. R. Ramasamy and Savitri. The soundtrack was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy early in their celebrated career, with lyrics penned by the master poet Kannadasan.
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