Kannukku Mai Azhagu
From Pudhiya Mugam · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Unni Menon
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Pudhiya Mugam1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmmmmm..mmmmmmm….mmmmm | Hmmmm... mmmmmm... mmmmm |
| Male | |
| Kannukku maiyazhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes, |
| Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu | Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry, |
| Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu | A dimple adds beauty to the cheek, |
| Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu | Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman. |
| Male | |
| Kannukku maiyazhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes, |
| Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu | Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry, |
| Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu | A dimple adds beauty to the cheek, |
| Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu | Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman. |
| Male | |
| Ilamaikku nadayazhagu | A graceful stride adds beauty to youth, |
| Mudhumaikku narayazhagu | Grey hair adds beauty to old age, |
| Kalvarkku iravazhagu | The dark night adds beauty to thieves, |
| Kaadhalarkku nilavazhagu | The bright moon adds beauty to lovers. |
| Male | |
| Nilavukku karayazhagu | The crater-spot adds beauty to the moon, |
| Paravaikku siragazhagu | Wings add beauty to a bird. |
| Nilavukku karayazhagu | The crater-spot adds beauty to the moon, |
| Paravaikku siragazhagu | Wings add beauty to a bird. |
| Avvaikku koonazhagu | A bent back adds beauty to the legendary poetess Avvai, |
| Annaikku seyazhagu… | A child adds beauty to a mother... |
| Male | |
| Kannukku maiyazhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes, |
| Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu | Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry, |
| Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu | A dimple adds beauty to the cheek, |
| Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu | Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman. |
| Male | |
| Vidikaalai vinnazhagu | Early morning adds beauty to the sky, |
| Vidiyum varai pennazhagu | Until the break of dawn, a woman adds beauty, |
| Nellukku natrazhagu | Young saplings add beauty to the paddy crop, |
| Thennaikku keetrazhagu | Leaves add beauty to the coconut tree, |
| Male | |
| Oorukku aarazhagu | A river adds beauty to a town, |
| Oorvalathil therazhagu | A chariot adds beauty to a temple procession. |
| Oorukku aarazhagu | A river adds beauty to a town, |
| Oorvalathil therazhagu | A chariot adds beauty to a temple procession. |
| Thamizhukku zha azhagu | The unique letter 'Zha' adds beauty to the Tamil language, |
| Thalaivikku naanazhagu… | Shyness adds beauty to the lead woman... |
| Male | |
| {Kannukku maiyazhagu | {Kohl adds beauty to the eyes, |
| Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu | Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry, |
| Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu | A dimple adds beauty to the cheek, |
| Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu} (2) | Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.} (2) |
ஹ்ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்ம்
Hmmmm... mmmmmm... mmmmm
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு கன்னத்தில் குழி
அழகு கார் கூந்தல்
பெண் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு கன்னத்தில் குழி
அழகு கார் கூந்தல்
பெண் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.
இளமைக்கு
நடை அழகு முதுமைக்கு
நரை அழகு கள்வர்க்கு
இரவழகு காதலர்க்கு
நிலவழகு
A graceful stride adds beauty to youth,
Grey hair adds beauty to old age,
The dark night adds beauty to thieves,
The bright moon adds beauty to lovers.
நிலவுக்கு கரை
அழகு பறவைக்கு
சிறகழகு நிலவுக்கு
கரை அழகு பறவைக்கு
சிறகழகு அவ்வைக்கு
கூன் அழகு அன்னைக்கு
சேய் அழகு
The crater-spot adds beauty to the moon,
Wings add beauty to a bird.
The crater-spot adds beauty to the moon,
Wings add beauty to a bird.
A bent back adds beauty to the legendary poetess Avvai,
A child adds beauty to a mother...
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு கன்னத்தில் குழி
அழகு கார் கூந்தல்
பெண் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.
விடிகாலை
விண்ணழகு விடியும்
வரை பெண் அழகு
நெல்லுக்கு நாற்றழகு
தென்னைக்கு கீற்றழகு
Early morning adds beauty to the sky,
Until the break of dawn, a woman adds beauty,
Young saplings add beauty to the paddy crop,
Leaves add beauty to the coconut tree,
ஊருக்கு
ஆறழகு ஊர்வலத்தில்
தேர் அழகு ஊருக்கு
ஆறழகு ஊர்வலத்தில்
தேர் அழகு தமிழுக்கு ழா
அழகு தலைவிக்கு நான்
அழகு
A river adds beauty to a town,
A chariot adds beauty to a temple procession.
A river adds beauty to a town,
A chariot adds beauty to a temple procession.
The unique letter 'Zha' adds beauty to the Tamil language,
Shyness adds beauty to the lead woman...
{ கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு கன்னத்தில் குழி
அழகு கார் கூந்தல்
பெண் அழகு } (2)
{Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.} (2)
Hmmmmm..mmmmmmm….mmmmm
Hmmmm... mmmmmm... mmmmm
Kannukku maiyazhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.
Kannukku maiyazhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.
Ilamaikku nadayazhagu
A graceful stride adds beauty to youth,
Mudhumaikku narayazhagu
Grey hair adds beauty to old age,
Kalvarkku iravazhagu
The dark night adds beauty to thieves,
Kaadhalarkku nilavazhagu
The bright moon adds beauty to lovers.
Nilavukku karayazhagu
The crater-spot adds beauty to the moon,
Paravaikku siragazhagu
Wings add beauty to a bird.
Nilavukku karayazhagu
The crater-spot adds beauty to the moon,
Paravaikku siragazhagu
Wings add beauty to a bird.
Avvaikku koonazhagu
A bent back adds beauty to the legendary poetess Avvai,
Annaikku seyazhagu…
A child adds beauty to a mother...
Kannukku maiyazhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.
Vidikaalai vinnazhagu
Early morning adds beauty to the sky,
Vidiyum varai pennazhagu
Until the break of dawn, a woman adds beauty,
Nellukku natrazhagu
Young saplings add beauty to the paddy crop,
Thennaikku keetrazhagu
Leaves add beauty to the coconut tree,
Oorukku aarazhagu
A river adds beauty to a town,
Oorvalathil therazhagu
A chariot adds beauty to a temple procession.
Oorukku aarazhagu
A river adds beauty to a town,
Oorvalathil therazhagu
A chariot adds beauty to a temple procession.
Thamizhukku zha azhagu
The unique letter 'Zha' adds beauty to the Tamil language,
Thalaivikku naanazhagu…
Shyness adds beauty to the lead woman...
{Kannukku maiyazhagu
{Kohl adds beauty to the eyes,
Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu
Poetic exaggeration adds beauty to poetry,
Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu
A dimple adds beauty to the cheek,
Kaarkoondhal pennazhagu} (2)
Dark cloud-like hair adds beauty to a woman.} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song 'Kannukku Maiyazhagu' is a lyrical masterpiece structured as a series of poetic comparisons highlighting what gives beauty ('azhagu') to various aspects of nature, life, human relationships, and art. Vairamuthu crafts a mesmerizing catalog of aesthetic aesthetics, ranging from physical features like kohl-rimmed eyes and cheek dimples to natural elements like the moon's spots and a river in a town. The emotional arc elevates simple observational beauty into deep cultural appreciation, celebrating maternal love, elderly wisdom, youth, and even linguistic pride with the unique Tamil letter 'Zha'. Through this poetic cadence, the song reflects on how harmony and complementary traits enhance the essence of everything in existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Epiphora)
“Kannukku maiyazhagu / Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu”
Almost every line in the song ends with the word 'azhagu' (beauty), creating a hypnotic internal rhythm and structured end-rhyme scheme across all verses.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Kannukku maiyazhagu / Kavidhaikku poiyazhagu / Kannathil kuzhiyazhagu”
The repetitive use of the initial consonant 'K' across consecutive lines forms a pleasing phonetic rhythm characteristic of traditional Tamil poetry.
Metaphor & Juxtaposition
“Kalvarkku iravazhagu / Kaadhalarkku nilavazhagu”
Contrasts two opposing perspectives—how darkness is ideal for thieves while moonlight is ideal for romantic lovers.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed with unknown metadata in the prompt, 'Kannukku Maiyazhagu' from 'Pudhiya Mugam' (1993) was composed by A.R. Rahman and sung by Unni Menon and Sujatha Mohan. Lyricist Vairamuthu's inclusion of 'Thamizhukku zha azhagu' is widely celebrated as a proud tribute to the unique retroflex voiced approximant 'Zha' (ழ) found distinctively in the Tamil language.
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