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Kungumam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thongadha Kannendru

From Kungumam · 1963

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kungumam
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
29 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
Thudikindra sugam endru ondru
Thaangaadha manam endru ondru
Thandhaayae nee ennai kandu
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
Thudikindra sugam endru ondru
Thaangaadha manam endru ondru
Thandhaayae nee ennai kandu
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
{ Mutraadha
Iravondril naan vaada
Mudiyadha kadhai ondru nee pesa } (2)
{ Utraarum
Kaanaamal uyirondru
Serndhaada undaagum
Suvai endru ondru } (2)
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
{ Yaar
Ennasonnaalum
Selladhu anai potu
Thaduthaalum nilladhu } (2)
{ Theeradha
Vilaiyaatu thirai potu
Vilayaadi naam kaanum
Ulagendru ondru } (2)
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
{ Vegu dhooram
Nee sendru nindraalum
Un vizhi matum
Thaniyaaga vandhaalum } (2)
{ Varugindra
Vizhiyondru tharugindra
Parisendru perugindra
Sugamendru ondru } (2)
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
Thudikindra sugam endru ondru
Thaangaadha manam endru ondru
Thandhaayae nee ennai kandu
Thoongadha
Kan endru ondru
Sleepless
eyes,
a throbbing thrill of joy,
and a heart too fragile to bear this longing—
you gave them all to me when you saw me.
Sleepless
eyes,
a throbbing thrill of joy,
and a heart too fragile to bear this longing—
you gave them all to me when you saw me.
Sleepless
eyes...
In the tender, early hours of
the night as I pine away,
and you speak of an endless tale,
unseen by our
kin, our souls
unite and dance together, creating
a sweet delight of their own...
Sleepless
eyes...
Whatever
anyone may say,
it holds no weight; even if dams
are built to hold it back, it will not stop.
Behind drawn curtains,
we play an endless game of love
and discover together
a whole world of our own...
Sleepless
eyes...
Even if you go
and stand far away,
and only your eyes
reach out to me alone,
from that arriving
gaze comes a precious gift,
an ever-flowing,
boundless joy of its own...
Sleepless
eyes,
a throbbing thrill of joy,
and a heart too fragile to bear this longing—
you gave them all to me when you saw me.
Sleepless
eyes...
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic classic duet captures the intoxicating feeling of newfound love and longing between lovers. The song describes how love brings sleepless nights, a yearning heart, and a trembling joy that cannot be suppressed by societal constraints or distance. The lyrics emphasize that love creates an intimate, private world where time stands still and souls unite away from the eyes of the world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mondhana / Monnai (Alliteration / Initial Rhyme)

Thoongadha / Thudikindra sugam endru ondru / Thaangaadha manam endru ondru

The repetitive initial 'Th' sounds in 'Thoongadha', 'Thudikindra', 'Thaangaadha', and 'Thandhaayae' create a pleasing initial rhyme (Mondhana/Emonai) characteristic of classical Tamil poetry.

Anaphora (Repetition of Refrain)

Kan endru ondru / Suvai endru ondru / Ulagendru ondru / Sugamendru ondru

The recurring cadence of 'endru ondru' (there is one such thing) acts as a rhythmic anchor throughout the song, building a thematic structure around the sweet discoveries of love.

Metaphor

Selladhu anai potu / Thaduthaalum nilladhu

Comparing the overwhelming emotion of love to a river that cannot be stemmed or blocked by building a dam ('anai potu thaduthaalum nilladhu').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thoongadha Kan Endru Ondru' is a classic romantic duet from the 1963 Tamil movie 'Kungumam', starring Sivaji Ganesan and S. S. Rajendran. The film's music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, with memorable lyrics penned by Kannadasan and vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

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