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Kannodu Kan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Alai Alaiyaga Azhagazhakaga

From Kannodu Kan · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Kannodu Kan
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
27 Feb 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Alai alaiyaaga azhagazhakaga
Neer paayum odaikkaraiyil
Neeraadum neela kuyilgal
Entha naalum vaazhga
Alai alaiyaaga azhagazhakaga
Neer paayum odaikkaraiyil
Neeraadum neela kuyilgal
Entha naalum vaazhga
Nilamagal kulir perum kaar kaalamae
Panimazhai pozhinthidum venn neela aagaayamae
Nilamagal kulir perum kaar kaalamae
Panimazhai pozhinthidum venn neela aagaayamae
Iyarkkaiyin vanappum ilamaiyin thudippum
Inainthidum pozhuthallavo
Alai alaiyaaga azhagazhakaga
Female :Neer paayum odaikkaraiyil
Male :Neeraadum neela kuyilgal
Female :Entha naalum vaazhga
Radhi madhan rasanaigal yaeraalamo
Ragasiyam iruvarum kondaadum yaegaanthamo
Udhadugal ezhuthum kavithaigal
Muzhuthum unarchchiyai pizhinthidumo
Alai alaiyaaga azhagazhakaga
Male :Neer paayum odaikkaraiyil
Female :Neeraadum neela kuyilgal
Male :Entha naalum vaazhga
Malai mudi madiyena thaalaattumo
Mani mugil kuzhanthai pol
Vanthaada paaloottumo
Malai mudi madiyena thaalaattumo
Mani mugil kuzhanthai pol
Vanthaada paaloottumo
Aruginil irunth aval tharum virunthu
Avanukku iniththidumo
Alai alaiyaaga
Female :Alai alaiyaaga azhagazhakaga
Male :Azhagazhagaa
Female :Neer paayum odaikkaraiyil
Male :Neeraadum neela kuyilgal
Both :Entha naalum vaazhga
Wave upon wave, in great beauty,
By the banks of the flowing stream,
May the blue cuckoos bathing there
Live happily forever!
Wave upon wave, in great beauty,
By the banks of the flowing stream,
May the blue cuckoos bathing there
Live happily forever!
In this rainy season when Mother Earth finds cool comfort,
Beneath the pale blue sky showering misty rain,
In this rainy season when Mother Earth finds cool comfort,
Beneath the pale blue sky showering misty rain,
Isn't this the moment when nature's beauty
And the pulse of youth come together?
Wave upon wave, in great beauty,
Female: By the banks of the flowing stream,
Male: May the blue cuckoos bathing there
Female: Live happily forever!
Are the romantic desires of Rathi and Manmatha (god and goddess of love) endless?
Is this the quiet solitude where both celebrate their secret love?
Will the poems written by their lips
Pour out all their deepest feelings?
Wave upon wave, in great beauty,
Male: By the banks of the flowing stream,
Female: May the blue cuckoos bathing there
Male: Live happily forever!
Will the mountain peak cradle like a mother's lap and sing a lullaby?
As the lovely cloud comes playing like a child,
Will it nurture it with milk?
Will the mountain peak cradle like a mother's lap and sing a lullaby?
As the lovely cloud comes playing like a child,
Will it nurture it with milk?
Staying by his side, will the sweet feast she offers
Bring him pure delight?
Wave upon wave...
Female: Wave upon wave, in great beauty,
Male: So beautifully...
Female: By the banks of the flowing stream,
Male: May the blue cuckoos bathing there
Both: Live happily forever!
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Alai Alaiyaaga is a romantic duet from the 1982 Tamil movie Kannodu Kan, composed by Shankar-Ganesh and written by Vaali. The song celebrates the deep intimacy and affection between lovers against the backdrop of vibrant nature, riversides, and misty mountains. The couple equates their passion and youthfulness to the flowing stream, rainy skies, and lush surroundings. Throughout the track, romantic imagery such as the lovers being cuckoos bathing together, lips creating poetry, and mountains rocking clouds like babies underscores the harmony between human emotions and nature's grandeur.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Anaphora / Repetition)

“Alai alaiyaaga azhagazhakaga”

Repetition of words like 'Alai alaiyaaga' and 'azhagazhakaga' creates a rhythmic flow mimicking natural waves.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Udhadugal ezhuthum kavithaigal”

Comparing kisses and unspoken romantic expressions to poetry written by lips ('Udhadugal ezhuthum kavithaigal').

Simile (Uwamai)

“Mani mugil kuzhanthai pol”

Comparing the dark cloud drifting around mountain peaks to a playful child ('Mani mugil kuzhanthai pol').

Ethukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Malai mudi madiyena thaalaattumo / Mani mugil kuzhanthai pol”

Rhyming of the second letter 'la' in 'Malai' and 'Mani' across adjacent lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features iconic vocal chemistry between S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam. Set to music by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, lyricist Vaali uses classic Tamil poetic tropes connecting human love with natural elements.

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