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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Uyir Kaatre

From Vaanam Kottattum · 2020

Lyricist
Siva Ananth
Singer
Sid Sriram
Music director
Sid Sriram
Details
Vaanam Kottattum2020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannamma kannammaOh Kannamma, my beloved Kannamma
SolvaayaWill you tell me?
En vasam un karam thaaraayaWill you yield your hand into my possession?
HeyyyHeyyy
Kan moodiya podhilumEven when my eyes are closed
Minnidum kathiraaiLike a gleaming ray of light
Ennulae olirvathu yaarWho is it that shines within me?
Sollvaai solvaaiyaa..heyyyTell me, won't you tell me... heyyy
Male
Kannamma kannamma…Oh Kannamma, my beloved Kannamma...
Heyy..heyyHeyy.. heyy
Naan yaaringaeWho am I here
Un nenjilaeIn your heart?
Endhan per ennammaa…aa…haaWhat is my name to you?
Endhan per ennammaa…aa….heyyWhat is my name to you? Hey
Male
En uyir kaatraeOh my vital breath of life
Oranga naadagam sariyaaIs this one-act play fair?
Naan enna seidhenWhat wrong have I done?
Padhil sollidammaa…..Please give me an answer, my dear...
Male
En uyir kaatrae…heyyOh my vital breath... heyy
Un kannil kaadhalum varumaWill love blossom in your eyes too?
Yaasithu ketten…heyI asked as a plea... hey
Konjam kai kodammaa…aa…Please lend me a hand, my dear...
Pa ni sa gaPa ni sa ga (musical swaras)
Kavithaigalil karaiyavaa…Should I dissolve in poetry?
Ri maa ga dha ni…maraiyavaaRi maa ga dha ni... disappear
Pani nathigalil maraiyavaaShould I disappear into icy rivers?
Pa pa ma maaa…vazhi koorammaPa pa ma maaa... show me the way, my dear
Vazhi koorammaShow me the way
Pa pa ma maa ga riPa pa ma maa ga ri (musical swaras)
Pa pa ma maa ri ga ree ga ri ga riiiPa pa ma maa ri ga ree ga ri ga riii (musical swaras)
Ri ga ree ga ri ga riiiRi ga ree ga ri ga riii (musical swaras)
Pa ma ga ri pa ma ga ri ga riPa ma ga ri pa ma ga ri ga ri (musical swaras)
Ri sa ni dha ri sa saaRi sa ni dha ri sa saa (musical swaras)
Male
Kannamma kannammaOh Kannamma, my beloved Kannamma
SolvaayaWill you tell me?
En vasam un karam thaaraayaWill you yield your hand into my possession?
HeyyyHeyyy
Kannamma kannammaOh Kannamma, my beloved Kannamma
SolvaayaWill you tell me?
En vasam un karam thaaraaya….aaa…Will you yield your hand into my possession?
Male
Pa ni sa gaPa ni sa ga (musical swaras)
Kavithaigalil karaiyavaa…Should I dissolve in poetry?
En uyir kaatrae maraiyavaaMy vital breath, should I disappear?
Pani nathigalil maraiyavaaShould I disappear into icy rivers?
Ri pa pa maa maaRi pa pa maa maa (musical swaras)
En uyir kaatraeOh my vital breath
Vazhi koorammaShow me the way, my dear
Vazhi kooramma ma ri riShow me the way ma ri ri
Pa pa ma maa ga riPa pa ma maa ga ri (musical swaras)
En uyir kaatraeOh my vital breath
Pa pa ma maa ri ga ree ga ri ga riiiPa pa ma maa ri ga ree ga ri ga riii (musical swaras)
Ri ga ree ga ri ga riiiRi ga ree ga ri ga riii (musical swaras)
Pa ma ga ri pa ma ga ri ga riPa ma ga ri pa ma ga ri ga ri (musical swaras)
Ri sa ni dha ri sa saaRi sa ni dha ri sa saa (musical swaras)
En uyir kaatraeOh my vital breath

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kannamma from Vaanam Kottattum is a tender and soulful expression of love, longing, and emotional vulnerability. The lover addresses his beloved, Kannamma, yearning to know his true place in her heart and asking whether she returns his profound affection. Filled with poetic metaphors comparing her presence to a gleaming light behind closed eyes and describing her as his vital breath, he questions the silent distance between them, pleading for clarity and emotional warmth. Interwoven with Carnatic musical notes (swaras), the song blends classical musical phrasing with poetic introspection. The protagonist ponders whether he should dissolve into poetry or icy rivers to find a path to her heart, capturing the intense affection and earnest longing of a lover seeking acceptance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

En uyir kaatrae

Addressing the beloved as 'uyir kaatrae' (vital breath of life) and 'minnidum kathir' (gleaming ray), equating her presence to essential elements of life and light.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Oranga naadagam sariyaa

Using questions to express emotional helplessness and seek validation from the beloved.

Repetition / Anaphora (Edhukai / Anaphora)

Kannamma kannamma

Repeatedly invoking 'Kannamma' and 'Vazhi kooramma' to emphasize pleading, intimacy, and emotional urgency.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannamma was composed and sung by musician Sid Sriram, marking one of his key soundtrack projects as a full album composer for the 2020 film Vaanam Kottattum, directed by Dhana Sekaran and produced by Mani Ratnam's Madras Talkies.

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