Gangaikarai Kannan
From Perumaikkuriyaval · 1977
- Lyricist
- K. Selva Bharathy
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Perumaikkuriyaval1977
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan | Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here. |
| Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan | Where did he go in the blink of an eye? |
| Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan | Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here. |
| Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan | Where did he go in the blink of an eye? |
| Male | |
| Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan | Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here. |
| Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan | Where did he go in the blink of an eye? |
| Male | |
| Sevvanthipoo polae siriththirunthaan | He smiled like a chrysanthemum flower, |
| Sellum idam sollaamal | Without telling where he was going, |
| Paranthuvittaan paranthuvittaan | He flew away, he flew away. |
| Male | |
| Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan | Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here. |
| Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan | Where did he go in the blink of an eye? |
| Male | |
| Pon anthipozhuthinil thaedugindraen | I search for you in the golden dusk hour, |
| Un poo mgaththai kaanaamal vaadugindraen | Unable to see your flower-like face, I wither away. |
| Pon anthipozhuthinil thaedugindraen | I search for you in the golden dusk hour, |
| Un poo mgaththai kaanaamal vaadugindraen | Unable to see your flower-like face, I wither away. |
| Male | |
| Thanga manam thaedi thavikkindraen | I yearn and ache searching for your golden heart, |
| Anbu thambi unthan pirivaal | Oh dear younger brother, due to your separation, |
| Thudikkindraen thudikkindraen | I am squirming in pain, squirming in pain. |
| Male | |
| Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan | Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here. |
| Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan | Where did he go in the blink of an eye? |
| Female | |
| Chinnakili ondru paranthathendru | Just because a little parrot flew away, |
| Oru vanna mani paravaiyai maranthaai indru | Today you forgot a colorful precious bird. |
| Chinnakili ondru paranthathendru | Just because a little parrot flew away, |
| Oru vanna mani paravaiyai maranthaai indru | Today you forgot a colorful precious bird. |
| Female | |
| Vanna mani paravaiyai ninaiththirunthaal | If you keep that colorful precious bird in mind, |
| Antha chinnakili ingu thirubi varum | That little parrot will return back here. |
| Female | |
| Gangai karai kannan ingu varuvaan | Krishna of the Ganges banks will return here, |
| Singaara maganaaga vanthu pirappaan | He will be reborn as a charming son. |
மற்றும் வாணி ஜெய்ராம்
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
கங்கைக்கரை கண்ணன் இங்கிருந்தான்
கண் மூடும் நேரத்தில் எங்கு சென்றான்
கங்கைக்கரை கண்ணன் இங்கிருந்தான்
கண் மூடும் நேரத்தில் எங்கு சென்றான்
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
கங்கைக்கரை கண்ணன் இங்கிருந்தான்
கண் மூடும் நேரத்தில் எங்கு சென்றான்
He smiled like a chrysanthemum flower,
Without telling where he was going,
He flew away, he flew away.
செவ்வந்திப்பூ போலே சிரித்திருந்தான்
செல்லும் இடம் சொல்லாமல்
பறந்துவிட்டான் பறந்துவிட்டான்
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
கங்கைக்கரை கண்ணன் இங்கிருந்தான்
கண் மூடும் நேரத்தில் எங்கு சென்றான்
I search for you in the golden dusk hour,
Unable to see your flower-like face, I wither away.
I search for you in the golden dusk hour,
Unable to see your flower-like face, I wither away.
பொன் அந்திப்பொழுதினில் தேடுகின்றேன்
உன் பூ முகத்தைக் காணாமல் வாடுகின்றேன்
பொன் அந்திப்பொழுதினில் தேடுகின்றேன்
உன் பூ முகத்தைக் காணாமல் வாடுகின்றேன்
I yearn and ache searching for your golden heart,
Oh dear younger brother, due to your separation,
I am squirming in pain, squirming in pain.
தங்க மனம் தேடித் தவிக்கின்றேன்
அன்பு தம்பி உந்தன் பிரிவால்
துடிக்கின்றேன் துடிக்கின்றேன்
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
கங்கைக்கரை கண்ணன் இங்கிருந்தான்
கண் மூடும் நேரத்தில் எங்கு சென்றான்
Just because a little parrot flew away,
Today you forgot a colorful precious bird.
Just because a little parrot flew away,
Today you forgot a colorful precious bird.
சின்னக்கிளி ஒன்று பறந்ததென்று
ஒரு வண்ண மணிப் பறவையை மறந்தாய் இன்று
சின்னக்கிளி ஒன்று பறந்ததென்று
ஒரு வண்ண மணிப் பறவையை மறந்தாய் இன்று
If you keep that colorful precious bird in mind,
That little parrot will return back here.
வண்ண மணிப் பறவையை நினைத்திருந்தால்
அந்த சின்னக்கிளி இங்கு திரும்பி வரும்
Krishna of the Ganges banks will return here,
He will be reborn as a charming son.
கங்கைக்கரை கண்ணன் இங்கு வருவான்
சிங்கார மகனாக வந்து பிறப்பான்
Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
Sevvanthipoo polae siriththirunthaan
He smiled like a chrysanthemum flower,
Sellum idam sollaamal
Without telling where he was going,
Paranthuvittaan paranthuvittaan
He flew away, he flew away.
Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
Pon anthipozhuthinil thaedugindraen
I search for you in the golden dusk hour,
Un poo mgaththai kaanaamal vaadugindraen
Unable to see your flower-like face, I wither away.
Pon anthipozhuthinil thaedugindraen
I search for you in the golden dusk hour,
Un poo mgaththai kaanaamal vaadugindraen
Unable to see your flower-like face, I wither away.
Thanga manam thaedi thavikkindraen
I yearn and ache searching for your golden heart,
Anbu thambi unthan pirivaal
Oh dear younger brother, due to your separation,
Thudikkindraen thudikkindraen
I am squirming in pain, squirming in pain.
Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan
Lord Krishna on the banks of the Ganges was right here.
Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan
Where did he go in the blink of an eye?
Chinnakili ondru paranthathendru
Just because a little parrot flew away,
Oru vanna mani paravaiyai maranthaai indru
Today you forgot a colorful precious bird.
Chinnakili ondru paranthathendru
Just because a little parrot flew away,
Oru vanna mani paravaiyai maranthaai indru
Today you forgot a colorful precious bird.
Vanna mani paravaiyai ninaiththirunthaal
If you keep that colorful precious bird in mind,
Antha chinnakili ingu thirubi varum
That little parrot will return back here.
Gangai karai kannan ingu varuvaan
Krishna of the Ganges banks will return here,
Singaara maganaaga vanthu pirappaan
He will be reborn as a charming son.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song depicts a deep sense of separation, loss, and ultimate hope within a family setting. The speaker mourns the sudden disappearance of a beloved younger brother ('thambi'), comparing him to Lord Krishna who vanished mysteriously from the banks of the Ganges. The grief is painted vividly through metaphors of golden dusk, withered flowers, and a aching heart. In the second half, a reassuring perspective enters the narrative. The song advises against grieving so intensely for the lost 'little parrot' that one overlooks the remaining loved ones ('colorful bird'). It offers solace and hope by promising that the departed soul will return, perhaps reincarnated as a charming child to bring joy back into their lives.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Sevvanthipoo polae siriththirunthaan”
Compares the brother's sweet smile to the blooming of a chrysanthemum flower ('Sevvanthipoo polae').
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Un poo mgaththai kaanaamal vaadugindraen”
Refers to the face directly as a flower ('poo mugam'), enhancing the visual tenderness of the person being missed.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Chinnakili ondru paranthathendru / Oru vanna mani paravaiyai maranthaai indru”
Uses birds ('chinnakili' - little parrot, 'vanna mani paravai' - colorful precious bird) as metaphors for beloved family members.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Gangai karai kannan ingirunthaan / Kann moodum neraththil engu sendraan”
Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the beginning of key words across lines (Gangai, Kannan, Kann).
Repetition for Emphasis (Adukkuthodar)
“Paranthuvittaan paranthuvittaan / Thudikkindraen thudikkindraen”
Words repeated consecutively to amplify the emotional intensity of anguish and sudden departure.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Gangai Karai Kannan' from *Perumaikkuriyaval* (1977) features music composed by M. S. Viswanathan, known for creating soulful melodies with rich orchestration. Sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam, the song stands out for its blend of devotional iconography (referencing Krishna) with intimate familial emotions of grief and longing.
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