Sugam Enge Sugam Enge
From Sugam Enge · 1954
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. R. Ramasamy
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Sugam Enge1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Sugam engae sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Ezhai aazhvil sugam engae | Where is happiness in a poor person's life? |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Male | |
| Gunathai udhari | Shedding good character, |
| Panathai naadum | Seeking money, |
| Koottam malindha kodiya ulagil | In this cruel world filled with such crowds, |
| Gunathai udhari panathai naadum | Shedding character and seeking money, |
| Koottam malindha kodiya ulagil | In this cruel world filled with such crowds, |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Male | |
| Amudha mozhiyum | Nectar-like sweet words, |
| Kumudha vizhiyum | Lotus-like eyes, |
| Aasai pongum parvaiyum | And a gaze overflowing with desire, |
| Amudha mozhiyum | Nectar-like sweet words, |
| Kumudha vizhiyum | Lotus-like eyes, |
| Aasai pongum parvaiyum | And a gaze overflowing with desire, |
| Azhagu silaiyae pazhaiya kadhaiyaai | Oh beautiful statue, when you became a story of the past |
| Aanapodhu ulagilae | In this world, |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Male | |
| Anbin uruvae aadipaadi | Oh embodiment of love, dancing and singing, |
| Vaazhndha vaazhvum ponadhae | The life we lived is gone, |
| Anbin uruvae aadipaadi | Oh embodiment of love, dancing and singing, |
| Vaazhndha vaazhvum ponadhae | The life we lived is gone, |
| Anbinaalae unnai pirindhu | Separated from you because of love itself, |
| Vaadum kaalam nernthathae | A time of languishing has arrived, |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Male | |
| Inba vaazhvum indha naadum | A joyful life and this world |
| Iruppavar thammakkae sondhamae | Belong only to those who have wealth, |
| Porul iruppavar thammakkae sondhamae | Belong only to those who possess material riches, |
| Ezhaiyaaga pirandha enakku | For me, born as a poor person, |
| Thunbam ondrae sondhamae | Sorrow alone is my inheritance, |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Ezhai aazhvil sugam engae | Where is happiness in a poor person's life? |
| Sugam enage sugam engae | Where is happiness, where is happiness? |
| Male | |
| Sugam engae….ae…. | Where is happiness... oh... |
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
ஏழை வாழ்வில் சுகம் எங்கே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Where is happiness in a poor person's life?
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
குணத்தை உதறி
பணத்தை நாடும்
கூட்டம் மலிந்த கொடிய உலகில்
குணத்தை உதறி
பணத்தை நாடும்
கூட்டம் மலிந்த கொடிய உலகில்
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
Shedding good character,
Seeking money,
In this cruel world filled with such crowds,
Shedding character and seeking money,
In this cruel world filled with such crowds,
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
அமுத மொழியும்
குமுத விழியும்
ஆசை பொங்கும் பார்வையும்
அமுத மொழியும்
குமுத விழியும்
ஆசை பொங்கும் பார்வையும்
அழகுச் சிலையே
பழைய கதையாய்
ஆனபோதும் உலகிலே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
Nectar-like sweet words,
Lotus-like eyes,
And a gaze overflowing with desire,
Nectar-like sweet words,
Lotus-like eyes,
And a gaze overflowing with desire,
Oh beautiful statue, when you became a story of the past
In this world,
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
அன்பின் உருவே ஆடிப்பாடி
வாழ்ந்த வாழ்வும் போனதே
அன்பின் உருவே ஆடிப்பாடி
வாழ்ந்த வாழ்வும் போனதே
அன்பினாலே உன்னைப் பிரிந்து
வாடும் காலம் நேர்ந்ததே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
Oh embodiment of love, dancing and singing,
The life we lived is gone,
Oh embodiment of love, dancing and singing,
The life we lived is gone,
Separated from you because of love itself,
A time of languishing has arrived,
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
இன்ப வாழ்வும் இந்த நாடும்
இருப்பவர் தமக்கே சொந்தமே
பொருள் இருப்பவர் தமக்கே சொந்தமே
ஏழையாகப் பிறந்த எனக்கு
துன்பம் ஒன்றே சொந்தமே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
ஏழை வாழ்வில் சுகம் எங்கே
சுகம் எங்கே சுகம் எங்கே
A joyful life and this world
Belong only to those who have wealth,
Belong only to those who possess material riches,
For me, born as a poor person,
Sorrow alone is my inheritance,
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Where is happiness in a poor person's life?
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
சுகம் எங்கே.....ஏ......
Where is happiness... oh...
Sugam engae sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Ezhai aazhvil sugam engae
Where is happiness in a poor person's life?
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Gunathai udhari
Shedding good character,
Panathai naadum
Seeking money,
Koottam malindha kodiya ulagil
In this cruel world filled with such crowds,
Gunathai udhari panathai naadum
Shedding character and seeking money,
Koottam malindha kodiya ulagil
In this cruel world filled with such crowds,
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Amudha mozhiyum
Nectar-like sweet words,
Kumudha vizhiyum
Lotus-like eyes,
Aasai pongum parvaiyum
And a gaze overflowing with desire,
Amudha mozhiyum
Nectar-like sweet words,
Kumudha vizhiyum
Lotus-like eyes,
Aasai pongum parvaiyum
And a gaze overflowing with desire,
Azhagu silaiyae pazhaiya kadhaiyaai
Oh beautiful statue, when you became a story of the past
Aanapodhu ulagilae
In this world,
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Anbin uruvae aadipaadi
Oh embodiment of love, dancing and singing,
Vaazhndha vaazhvum ponadhae
The life we lived is gone,
Anbin uruvae aadipaadi
Oh embodiment of love, dancing and singing,
Vaazhndha vaazhvum ponadhae
The life we lived is gone,
Anbinaalae unnai pirindhu
Separated from you because of love itself,
Vaadum kaalam nernthathae
A time of languishing has arrived,
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Inba vaazhvum indha naadum
A joyful life and this world
Iruppavar thammakkae sondhamae
Belong only to those who have wealth,
Porul iruppavar thammakkae sondhamae
Belong only to those who possess material riches,
Ezhaiyaaga pirandha enakku
For me, born as a poor person,
Thunbam ondrae sondhamae
Sorrow alone is my inheritance,
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Ezhai aazhvil sugam engae
Where is happiness in a poor person's life?
Sugam enage sugam engae
Where is happiness, where is happiness?
Sugam engae….ae….
Where is happiness... oh...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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