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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Alaipayuthey Kanna

From Alaipayuthey · 2000

Lyricist
Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi
Singers
Harini, Kalyani Menon, Neyveli Ramalakshmi
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Alaipayuthey
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
6 May 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Alaipaayudhae kannaa
En manam alaipaayudhae
Aanandha mogana venu gaanamadhil
Alaipaayudhae kannaa
En manam alaipaayudhae
Un aanandha mogana venu gaanamadhil
Alaipaayudhae kannaa aaaa…
{Nilaipeyaraadhu
Silaipolavae nindru} (2)
Neramaavadhariyaamalae
Miga Vinodhamaana
Muraleedharaa en manam
Alaipaayudhae kannaa aaaa…
{Thelindha nilavu
Pattappagal pol eriyudhae} (2)
Dhikkai nokkien puruvam neriyudhae
{Kanindha un venugaanam
Kaatril varugudhae} (2)
{Kangal sorugi oru vidhamaai
Varugudhae} (2)
{Kadhiththa manaththil
Oruththi padhaththai
Enakku aliththu magizhththavaa (2)
{Oru thaniththa manaththil
Anaiththu enakku
Unarchchi koduththu mugizhththavaa} (2)
{Kanai kadal alaiyinil
Kadhiravan oliyena
Inaiyiru kazhalena kaliththavaa} (2)
{Kadhari manamurugi naan azhaikkavo
Idhara maadharudan
Nee kalikkavo} (2)
{Idhu thagumo
Idhu muraiyo
Idhu dharmam thaano} (2)
Kuzhaloodhidum pozhudhu
Aadigum kuzhaigal polavae
Manadhu vedhanai migavodu
Alaipaayudhae kannaa
En manam alaipaayudhae
Un aanandha mogana venu gaanamadhil
Alaipaayudhae kannaa aaaa…aaa…
It is tossing like restless waves, O Krishna,
my heart is tossing like waves,
to the blissful, enchanting melody of your flute,
it is tossing like waves, O Krishna,
my heart is tossing like waves,
to your blissful, enchanting melody of the flute,
it is tossing like waves, O Krishna, ah...
Without moving an inch,
standing still like a statue,
unaware of time slipping by,
O wondrous
flute-player, my heart
is tossing like waves, O Krishna, ah...
The bright moonlight
burns like broad daylight,
my brows furrow as I search in every direction,
the sweet music of your flute
comes floating on the breeze,
my eyes droop in a daze,
and a strange feeling sweeps over me.
In this trembling heart,
the place of your chosen beloved,
grant it to me and bring me joy, O Lord!
In this lonely heart,
embracing me close,
awakening deep feelings and blossoming within me!
Like the sunlight dancing
on the roaring waves of the sea,
you danced with joy on your sacred feet!
Should I cry out with a melting heart calling for you,
while with other women
you enjoy yourself in pleasure?
Is this right?
Is this fair?
Is this truly just?
When you play your flute,
just like your earrings swinging back and forth,
filled with so much aching pain,
my heart is tossing like waves, O Krishna,
my heart is tossing like waves,
to your blissful, enchanting melody of the flute,
it is tossing like waves, O Krishna, ah... ah...
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Alaipayuthey Kanna is a classic Tamil composition written by Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi and adapted into modern cinema by A.R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's 2000 film Alaipayuthey. The song expresses the profound spiritual and emotional turmoil of a devotee (or Radha) yearning for Lord Krishna. Enchanted by the divine melody of Krishna's flute, her mind tosses frantically like ocean waves, completely losing track of time and sense of reality. She experiences intense sensory illusions—where soft moonlight feels as scorching as bright daylight and her eyes heavy in a mystic trance. She questions Krishna's teasing neglect and playfully asks if it is fair for him to make merry with other maidens while her heart aches for his exclusive grace. The song beautifully captures 'Nayaka-Nayaki Bhava'—the ultimate longing of the human soul to unite with the Supreme Soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Silaipolavae nindru”

Compares standing unmoving in a trance to a statue ('Silaipolavae').

Simile (Upamai)

“Pattappagal pol eriyudhae”

Compares the brightness/intensity of the clear moonlight to broad daylight ('Pattappagal pol').

Metaphor / Visual Imagery

“Kanai kadal alaiyinil Kadhiravan oliyena”

Compares the shine of divine feet to sunlight reflecting off oceanic waves.

Simile (Upamai)

“Aadigum kuzhaigal polavae”

Compares the restless swaying of her heart/mind in pain to the rhythmic movement of Krishna's earrings while playing the flute.

Rhetorical Question & Anaphora

“Idhu thagumo Idhu muraiyo Idhu dharmam thaano”

Repeated intense questioning ('Idhu thagumo, Idhu muraiyo, Idhu dharmam thaano') to emphasize emotional anguish.

Did you know?

Trivia

Originally composed in the Carnatic Raga Kanada and Talam Adi by the 18th-century composer Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi, this song is a masterpiece of Tamil classical music. A.R. Rahman re-imagined the classical piece with contemporary orchestration for Mani Ratnam's hit movie Alaipayuthey (2000), sung exquisitely by Sona Mohapatra, Harini, and K.S. Chithra across soundtrack tracks, bringing an 18th-century masterpiece to modern pop culture.

Keep listening

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