Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaanbeno Kaanbeno

From Mayakkari · 1951

Lyricist
Kambadasan
Singers
R. Balasaraswathy, Nageswara Rao
Music director
P. Aadhinarayana Rao
Details
Mayakkari1951

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Kaadhal thaan pirivenum inimaelWill love henceforth mean separation?
Kaanbaeno kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see? Will I see?
Female
Kaadhal moorthi ennai che poo enavaeFor the embodiment of love to tell me to go away,
Yedhu seidhenoo arigilaenaeWhat did I do? I do not know.
Kaadhal moorthi ennai che poo enavaeFor the embodiment of love to tell me to go away,
Yedhu seidhenoo arigilaenaeWhat did I do? I do not know.
Female
Kaadhalin nan manam maari pogavaeFor the good heart of love to change away,
Kaadhalin nan manam maari pogavaeFor the good heart of love to change away,
Yedhu maayamoo therigilaenaeWhat illusion is this? I do not know.
Yedhu maayamoo therigilaenaeWhat illusion is this? I do not know.
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Male
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Kaadhalin siru velli meenaeOh little silver star of love!
Kaanbaeno kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see? Will I see?
Male
Evvidam evvidham kanneer sindhiyaeWhere and how, shedding tears,
Vaedhanaiyil vaadukindraalooIs she wilting away in pain?
Evvidam evvidham kanneer sindhiyaeWhere and how, shedding tears,
Vaedhanaiyil vaadukindraalooIs she wilting away in pain?
Male
Nambiyadhu ellam poiyadhu aagaWith all that was believed turning out to be false,
Nambiyadhu ellam poiyadhu aagaWith all that was believed turning out to be false,
Nadu kadal thanilae maraindhadhuvooDid it vanish into the middle of the ocean?
Nadu kadal thanilae maraindhadhuvooDid it vanish into the middle of the ocean?
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Female
Indha gnyaana logam thanilaeIn this worldly realm of wisdom,
Inaindha kaadhalarkkae idamae illaiyaaIs there no place for united lovers?
Innarul kaadhalukku ennai illaiyaaIs there no end or equal to sweet graceful love?
Irulae neengi oli veesaadhooWill the darkness not clear and light shine forth?
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Male
Ella sugangalai thiyaagamae seidhaeHaving sacrificed all pleasures,
Ennai nambhiyadhae poiyadhu thaanaWas her faith in me a falsehood?
Idhu vidiya ethanai naal munn therindhaalIf I knew how many days remain before this dawns,
Thunivudan varuven naanI would arrive with courage.
Male
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Kaadhalin siru velli meenaeOh little silver star of love!
Kaanbaeno kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see? Will I see?
Female
Kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see?
Kaadhal thaan pirivenum inimaelWill love henceforth mean separation?
Kaanbaeno kaanbaeno kaanbaenoWill I see? Will I see? Will I see?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful song from Mayakkari (1951) captures the anguish and profound sense of loss felt by separated lovers. Through poignant questioning, the protagonists express despair over their sudden parting, wondering what wrongdoing or cruel fate broke their bond. They reflect on how all their hopes seem to have vanished like a vessel lost in the deep ocean, while desperately holding on to the hope of reunion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

Kaanbaeno kaanbaeno kaanbaeno

The repetitive refrain 'Kaanbaeno' (Will I see?) emphasizes the lingering desperation and yearning of the lover.

Metaphor

Kaadhalin siru velli meenae

The beloved is metaphorically addressed as 'siru velli meen' (little silver star), representing a distant beacon of hope and beauty.

Imagery

Nadu kadal thanilae maraindhadhuvoo

Visual imagery of hopes disappearing into the deep ocean ('nadu kadal thanilae maraindhadhuvoo') illustrates complete loss and helplessness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Mayakkari (1951) was a popular fantasy film released simultaneously in Telugu as Mayalamari, starring Akkineni Nageswara Rao and Anjali Devi, with iconic music composed by P. Adinarayana Rao.

Keep listening

More from Mayakkari