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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Kannanukkethani

From Vettaikaaran (1964) Film · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Vettaikaaran (1964) Film1964

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
En ..mmmm….mmm….mmm……My ..mmmm….mmm….mmm……
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?
Kaavalil ethanai dheivamoHow many guardian deities stand guard?
Mannanukkethanai ullamoHow many hearts does the king possess?
Manadhil ethanai vellamoHow many floods of emotion reside in the mind?
Female
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?
Kaavalil ethanai dheivamoHow many guardian deities stand guard?
Mannanukkethanai ullamoHow many hearts does the king possess?
Manadhil ethanai vellamoHow many floods of emotion reside in the mind?
Female
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?
Female
Avan thottathil ethanai maangaloHow many mangoes are in his garden?
Avan tholgalil ethanai kiligaloHow many parrots rest on his shoulders?
Avan paattuku ethanai raagamoHow many ragas are in his song?
Avan paarvaiyil ethanai bhaavamoHow many expressions dwell in his gaze?
Aaa….aaa….aa….haaa….aaa…aaa…aa…Aaa….aaa….aa….haaa….aaa…aaa…aa…
Thottathil ethanai maangaloHow many mangoes in the garden?
Tholgalil ethanai kiligaloHow many parrots on the shoulders?
Female
Thottathil ethanai maangaloHow many mangoes in the garden?
Tholgalil ethanai kiligaloHow many parrots on the shoulders?
Paattuku ethanai raagamoHow many ragas in the song?
Paarvaiyil ethanai bhaavamoHow many expressions in the gaze?
Paattuku ethanai raagamoHow many ragas in the song?
Paarvaiyil ethanai bhaavamoHow many expressions in the gaze?
Female
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?
Kaavalil ethanai dheivamoHow many guardian deities stand guard?
Mannanukkethanai ullamoHow many hearts does the king possess?
Manadhil ethanai vellamoHow many floods of emotion reside in the mind?
Female
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?
Oo…ooo….ooo…oo…Oo…ooo….ooo…oo…
Female
En kannan thottadhu ponnaagumWhatever my Krishna touches turns into gold
Avan kanindha punnagai pennaagumHis gentle ripe smile turns into a maiden
Mangai enakku kannaagumThis maiden is like the very eye to me
Avan marandhu vittaal ennaagumWhat will become of me if he forgets?
Aaa….aaa….aa….haaa….aaa…aaa…aa…Aaa….aaa….aa….haaa….aaa…aaa…aa…
Kannan thottadhu ponnaagumWhatever Krishna touches turns into gold
Avan kanindha punnagai pennaagumHis gentle ripe smile turns into a maiden
Female
En kannan thottadhu ponnaagumWhatever my Krishna touches turns into gold
Avan kanindha punnagai pennaagumHis gentle ripe smile turns into a maiden
Mangai enakku kannaagumThis maiden is like the very eye to me
Marandhu vittaal ennaagumWhat will become of me if he forgets?
Mangai enakku kannaagumThis maiden is like the very eye to me
Marandhu vittaal ennaagumWhat will become of me if he forgets?
Female
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?
Kaavalil ethanai dheivamoHow many guardian deities stand guard?
Mannanukkethanai ullamoHow many hearts does the king possess?
Manadhil ethanai vellamoHow many floods of emotion reside in the mind?
Female
Kannanukkethanai koviloHow many temples are there for Lord Krishna?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kannanukkethanai Kovilo is a classic lyrical composition from the 1964 Tamil film Vettaikaaran. Penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan, the song expresses romantic adoration interwoven with devotional symbolism, comparing the male protagonist to Lord Krishna. The heroine muses on her beloved's charm, wondering how many shrines he occupies, how many emotions flood his mind, and how many shades of expression dwell in his gaze.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)

“Kannanukkethanai kovilo / Kaavalil ethanai dheivamo”

Matching initial sounds across paired lines creating musical rhythm, such as 'Kannanukkethanai' and 'Kaavalil'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kannanukkethanai kovilo ... Mannanukkethanai ullamo”

The second consonant 'nn' matches in both 'Kannanukkethanai' and 'Mannanukkethanai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“En kannan thottadhu ponnaagum / Avan kanindha punnagai pennaagum”

Comparing the hero's gentle touch to gold ('thottadhu ponnaagum') and his smile to a woman, symbolizing alchemy of love.

Anaphora (Repetitive Rhetorical Questioning)

“Avan thottathil ethanai maangalo / Avan tholgalil ethanai kiligalo”

Repeated use of 'ethanai' (how many) to accentuate boundless affection and divine charm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Vettaikaaran' (1964) starred M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and K. R. Vijaya. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan, and this soft, melody-driven track was rendered by the playback singer P. Susheela with lyrics by Kannadasan.

Keep listening

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