Kaanalile Meen Vettai
From Sujatha · 1980
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Jayachandran
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Sujatha1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kaanalilae meen vettai | Fishing in a mirage, |
| Kaatrinilae maaligaigal | Building castles/palaces in the wind, |
| Vaanagaththu veedhiyilae | On the streets of the sky, |
| Valam poguum karpanaigal | Imaginations wandering around. |
| Male | |
| Maanidarin vaazhkkaiyilae | In the lives of human beings, |
| Mayakka migum sonthangal | Delusive and intoxicating relationships exist; |
| Aanavarai paarththu vittaen | I have observed as much as humanly possible, |
| Aththanaiyum kanavugalae | All of them turned out to be mere dreams. |
| Male | |
| Antharanga neer kulaththae | In the private, intimate pond of water, |
| Pooththezhuntha thamaraigal | The lotuses that bloomed forth, |
| Santhiyilae malaraagi | Becoming full flowers at the crossroads, |
| Anthiyilae mottaagi | Reversing back to buds by the evening, |
| Male | |
| Sinthaiyilae kolamittu | Creating artistic patterns within the mind, |
| Thirumpaamal poyinavo | Have they departed, never to return? |
| Vinthaiyaai kalanthu vitta | Wondrously blended together, |
| Vilaiyaattu bommaigalae | Oh, you playing toy dolls! |
கானலிலே மீன் வேட்டை
காற்றினிலே மாளிகைகள்
வானகத்து வீதியிலே
வலம் போகும் கற்பனைகள்
Fishing in a mirage,
Building castles/palaces in the wind,
On the streets of the sky,
Imaginations wandering around.
மானிடரின் வாழ்க்கையிலே
மயக்க மிகும் சொந்தங்கள்
ஆனவரை பார்த்து விட்டேன்
அத்தனையும் கனவுகளே
In the lives of human beings,
Delusive and intoxicating relationships exist;
I have observed as much as humanly possible,
All of them turned out to be mere dreams.
அந்தரங்க நீர் குளத்தே
பூத்தெழுந்த தாமரைகள்
சந்தியிலே மலராகி
அந்தியிலே மொட்டாகி
In the private, intimate pond of water,
The lotuses that bloomed forth,
Becoming full flowers at the crossroads,
Reversing back to buds by the evening,
சிந்தையிலே கோலமிட்டுத்
திரும்பாமல் போயினவோ
விந்தையாய்க் கலந்து விட்ட
விளையாட்டு பொம்மைகளே...
Creating artistic patterns within the mind,
Have they departed, never to return?
Wondrously blended together,
Oh, you playing toy dolls!
Kaanalilae meen vettai
Fishing in a mirage,
Kaatrinilae maaligaigal
Building castles/palaces in the wind,
Vaanagaththu veedhiyilae
On the streets of the sky,
Valam poguum karpanaigal
Imaginations wandering around.
Maanidarin vaazhkkaiyilae
In the lives of human beings,
Mayakka migum sonthangal
Delusive and intoxicating relationships exist;
Aanavarai paarththu vittaen
I have observed as much as humanly possible,
Aththanaiyum kanavugalae
All of them turned out to be mere dreams.
Antharanga neer kulaththae
In the private, intimate pond of water,
Pooththezhuntha thamaraigal
The lotuses that bloomed forth,
Santhiyilae malaraagi
Becoming full flowers at the crossroads,
Anthiyilae mottaagi
Reversing back to buds by the evening,
Sinthaiyilae kolamittu
Creating artistic patterns within the mind,
Thirumpaamal poyinavo
Have they departed, never to return?
Vinthaiyaai kalanthu vitta
Wondrously blended together,
Vilaiyaattu bommaigalae
Oh, you playing toy dolls!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful philosophical track written by Kannadasan reflects on the illusory and transient nature of human existence, worldly attachments, and emotional desires. Using vivid surreal imagery—such as attempting to catch fish in a desert mirage or building castles in the wind—the song illustrates how human aspirations often chase impossibilities. The lyrics express disillusionment after observing life extensively, concluding that human relationships and mental desires are fleeting dreams that leave people feeling like helpless playthings in the hands of time and destiny.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kaanalilae meen vettai / Kaatrinilae maaligaigal”
Compares futile human desires and pursuits to the impossible act of fishing in a mirage and building palaces in the wind.
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Maanidarin vaazhkkaiyilae / Mayakka migum sonthangal”
The initial sound 'M' is repeated across consecutive lines to create a lyrical cadence.
Emonai / Paradox
“Santhiyilae malaraagi / Anthiyilae mottaagi”
Presents an unnatural reversal where flowers blossom into full bloom at a public junction but regress back into buds by dusk, symbolizing distorted expectations.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Viswanathan for the 1980 film Sujatha, this song sung by P. Jayachandran captures poet Kannadasan's signature philosophical style regarding the impermanence of life, reminiscent of his famous existential compositions.
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