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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennam Pola Kannan

From Poovum Pottum · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Details
Poovum Pottum1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ennam pola kannan vandhaan ammammaaAs per my heart's desire, my beloved came, Oh dear!
Penmai vaazha thannai thandhan ammammaaTo let my womanhood thrive, he gave himself, Oh dear!
Ennam pola kannan vandhaan ammammaaAs per my heart's desire, my beloved came, Oh dear!
Penmai vaazha thannai thandhan ammammaaTo let my womanhood thrive, he gave himself, Oh dear!
Female
Kanni pennai katti kondaan ammammaaHe wedded this young virgin girl, Oh dear!
Kai vidaamal kakka vendum ammammaaHe must protect me without ever letting go, Oh dear!
Ennam pola kannan vandhaan ammammaaAs per my heart's desire, my beloved came, Oh dear!
Penmai vaazha thannai thandhan ammammaaTo let my womanhood thrive, he gave himself, Oh dear!
Female
Ponnai eduthu maalai thoduthuTaking gold and weaving a garland,
Poovum pottum soodi ennai alli anaithuAdorning me with flowers and bindi, gathering and embracing me,
Ponnai eduthu maalai thoduthuTaking gold and weaving a garland,
Poovum pottum soodi ennai alli anaithuAdorning me with flowers and bindi, gathering and embracing me,
Female
Kannan vazhangum indha uravuThis sacred bond bestowed by Kannan,
Thendral pola vaanam pola endrum valaraMay it grow forever like the breeze and like the sky!
Palliaraiyil mella nadanthuWalking softly into the bedchamber,
Kannan varum naal endru varumooAh, when will the day come when my Kannan arrives?
Female
Ennam pola kannan vandhaan ammammaaAs per my heart's desire, my beloved came, Oh dear!
Penmai vaazha thannai thandhan ammammaaTo let my womanhood thrive, he gave himself, Oh dear!
Female
Raadhai madiyil kannan irundhaanKannan rested on Radha's lap,
Kannan veru pennaiYet Kannan was thinking of another woman
Nenjil enniyirundhaanDeep inside his heart.
Seedhai madiyil raaman irundhaanRama rested on Sita's lap,
Raaman veru pennaiAnd Rama forgot to even imagine
Nenjil kaana marandhaanAny other woman in his heart.
Kannan enbadhu mogha vadivamKannan is the embodiment of desire and charm,
Raaman enbadhu kaadhal vadivamRama is the embodiment of true and steadfast love.
Female
Ennam pola kannan vandhaan ammammaaAs per my heart's desire, my beloved came, Oh dear!
Penmai vaazha thannai thandhan ammammaaTo let my womanhood thrive, he gave himself, Oh dear!
Kanni pennai katti kondaan ammammaaHe wedded this young virgin girl, Oh dear!
Kai vidaamal kakka vendum ammammaaHe must protect me without ever letting go, Oh dear!
Female
Ennam pola kannan vandhaan ammammaaAs per my heart's desire, my beloved came, Oh dear!
Penmai vaazha thannai thandhan ammammaaTo let my womanhood thrive, he gave himself, Oh dear!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ennam Pola Kannan Vandhaan is a timeless song from the 1968 film Poovum Pottum, sung by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kavinar Kannadasan. The song captures a bride's inner joy, anticipation, and philosophical reflections on marital love and fidelity. Wrapped in cultural symbolism such as flowers (poovum), red bindi (pottu), and wedding garlands, the protagonist celebrates finding a partner who fulfills her desires and seeks a lifelong bond built on protection and growth. In the second stanza, Kannadasan brilliantly contrasts two iconic mythological figures: Lord Krishna (Kannan) and Lord Rama. Krishna is presented as a deity of charm and multi-faceted passion (mogha vadivam) who could admire other women even while resting on Radha's lap, whereas Rama symbolizes unwavering, single-minded devotion and true love (kaadhal vadivam) dedicated solely to Sita. Through this contrast, the heroine expresses her deepest wish for a devoted love as pure and steadfast as Rama's.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Thendral pola vaanam pola endrum valara

Compares the infinite and gentle growth of their relationship to the breeze ('thendral pola') and the sky ('vaanam pola').

Contrast / Antithesis (Muran)

Kannan enbadhu mogha vadivam / Raaman enbadhu kaadhal vadivam

Contrasts Krishna as the personification of infatuation and charm (mogha vadivam) against Rama as the personification of absolute love and fidelity (kaadhal vadivam).

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Kanni pennai katti kondaan ammammaa / Kai vidaamal kakka vendum ammammaa

Initial consonant sound 'Ka' ('Kanni' / 'Kai') is repeated at the start of consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Poovum Pottum (1968) features music composed by R. Govarthanam, who worked extensively as a talented music assistant for the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. Kannadasan's lyric comparing Krishna's playful nature with Rama's singular devotion remains one of the most celebrated philosophical verses in Tamil cinema history.

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