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Kaathiruntha Kangal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Thulli Thirintha

From Kaathiruntha Kangal · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. B. Sreenivas
Music directors
M. S. Vishwanathan, T. K. Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Kaathiruntha Kangal
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
27 Mar 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Thulli thirintha penn ondru
Thuyil kondathen indru} (2)
Thodarnthu pesum kili ondru
Pesa maranthathen indru
Thulli thirintha penn ondru
Thuyil kondathen indru
{Velli vadiva mugam ondru
Vetkam kondathen indru} (2)
{Velil vaditha vizhi ondru
Moodikondathen indru} (2)
Thulli thirintha penn ondru
Thuyil kondathen indru
{Alli pootha mugathinilae
Mullai pootha nagai engae} (2)
Solli vaithu vanthathu pol
Sokka vaikkum mozhi engae
Thulli thirintha penn ondru
Thuyil kondathen indru
{Aasai nenjil irunthalum
Amaithikollum gunam yeno} (2)
Annai thantha seethanamo
Ennai vellum nadagamo
Thulli thirintha penn ondru
Thuyil kondathen indru
Thodarnthu pesum kili ondru
Pesa maranthathen indru
Thulli thirintha penn ondru
Thuyil kondathen indru
A girl who used to playfully leap around,
why has she fallen asleep today?
A parrot that used to chatter endlessly,
why has it forgotten to speak today?
A girl who used to playfully leap around,
why has she fallen asleep today?
A face shining bright like silver,
why has it turned so shy today?
An eye shaped like a sharp spear,
why has it closed today?
A girl who used to playfully leap around,
why has she fallen asleep today?
On a face blooming like a water lily,
where is the smile that blossomed like jasmine?
As if planned and practiced before,
where are those enchanting words?
A girl who used to playfully leap around,
why has she fallen asleep today?
Even when desire fills her heart,
why does she stay so quiet and calm?
Is this modesty a dowry given by her mother?
Or is it an act to win me over?
A girl who used to playfully leap around,
why has she fallen asleep today?
A parrot that used to chatter endlessly,
why has it forgotten to speak today?
A girl who used to playfully leap around,
why has she fallen asleep today?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this classic song from Kaathiruntha Kangal (1962), written by Kannadasan, the singer poetically reflects upon the sudden change in a young woman's demeanor. Once lively, vibrant, and talkative like a parrot, she has now become quiet, reserved, and still, as if lost in sleep or deep shyness. The protagonist ponders through beautiful metaphors whether this change stems from her blossoming love, maternal influence, or a playful act to captivate his heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile / Metaphor)

Thodarnthu pesum kili ondru

Comparing the girl's continuous chatter to a parrot (pesum kili) and her smile to blooming jasmine (mullai pootha nagai).

Metaphor (Visual Imagery)

Velil vaditha vizhi ondru

Describing her face as crafted like silver (Velli vadiva mugam) and her eyes as sculpted spears (Velil vaditha vizhi).

Emona / Etukai (Assonance / Rhyme)

Thulli thirintha penn ondru / Thuyil kondathen indru

Repetition of sound patterns at line beginnings like 'Thulli' and 'Thuyil' or 'Velli' and 'Vetkam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kaathiruntha Kangal (1962) was directed by T. Prakash Rao, starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri in dual roles. The music for the film was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy.

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