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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaatru Veliyidai

From Kappalotiya Tamizhan · 1961

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Kappalotiya Tamizhan1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaatru veliyidai kannaama kannammaIn the vast expanse of wind, Kannamma, my Kannamma,
Female :Aahaa..Aahaa..Female: Aahaa.. Aahaa..
Male :Kaatru veliyidai kannaama kannammaMale: In the vast expanse of wind, Kannamma, my Kannamma,
Nindran kadhalai enni kalikkindrenThinking of your love, I rejoice.
Kaatru veliyidai kannaama kannammaIn the vast expanse of wind, Kannamma, my Kannamma,
Nindran kadhalai enni kalikkindrenThinking of your love, I rejoice.
Female
Amudhootrinai otha idhazhgalumLips like a fountain of nectar,
IdhazhgalumLips,
Male :Aahaa..aahaa..Male: Aahaa.. aahaa..
Female
Amudhootrinai otha idhazhgalumLips like a fountain of nectar,
Nilavoori thadhumbum vizhigalumEyes brimming with radiant moonlight,
Male :Amudhootrinai otha idhazhgalumMale: Lips like a fountain of nectar,
Nilavoori thadhumbum vizhigalumEyes brimming with radiant moonlight,
Female
Pathu maatru ponn otha nin maeniyumYour body like pure ten-carat gold,
Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa..Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa..
Pathu maatru ponn otha nin maeniyumYour body like pure ten-carat gold,
Indha vaiyathil yaan ulla mattilumAs long as I live in this world,
Male
Ennai vetru ninaivindri pesiyaeSpeaking to me without any other thoughts,
Ingor vinnavanaaga puriyumeMakes me feel like a heavenly being right here.
Ennai vetru ninaivindri pesiyaeSpeaking to me without any other thoughts,
Ingor vinnavanaaga puriyumeMakes me feel like a heavenly being right here.
Kaatru veliyidai kannaama kannammaIn the vast expanse of wind, Kannamma, my Kannamma,
Nindran kadhalai enni kalikkindrenThinking of your love, I rejoice.
Male
Nee enadhu innuyir kannammaYou are my sweet life, Kannamma,
Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa..Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa..
Nee enadhu innuyir kannammaYou are my sweet life, Kannamma,
Endha neramum sindhanai pottruvenI will cherish thoughts of you at all times.
Nee enadhu innuyir kannammaYou are my sweet life, Kannamma,
Female
Thuyar poyina poyina thunbangalSorrows are gone, gone are the afflictions,
Thuyar poyina poyina thunbangalSorrows are gone, gone are the afflictions,
Ninai ponnena konda pozhudhileThe moment I held you as pure gold.
Male
Endhan vaayinile amudhoorudheNectar flows in my mouth,
Kannamma endra paer sollum bodhileThe moment I speak the name Kannamma.
KannammaKannamma
Female :HmmFemale: Hmm
Male :KannammaMale: Kannamma
Female :HmmFemale: Hmm
Male :Kannamma endra paer sollum bodhileMale: The moment I speak the name Kannamma,
Endhan vaayinile amudhoorudheNectar flows in my mouth.
Female
Uyir theeyinile valar jodhiyeOh flame growing in the fire of life!
Endran sindhanaiye endran siththameMy thought and my consciousness!
Male
Kaatru veliyidai kannaama kannammaIn the vast expanse of wind, Kannamma, my Kannamma,
Nindran kadhalai enni kalikkindrenThinking of your love, I rejoice.
Female :Nindran kadhalai enni kalikkindrenFemale: Thinking of your love, I rejoice.
Both :Nindran kadhalai enni kalikkindrenBoth: Thinking of your love, I rejoice.
Female : Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa..Female: Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This timeless composition by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, featured in the historical biopic 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan' (1961), expresses ecstatic romantic love and spiritual devotion addressed to 'Kannamma'. Standing under the open sky amidst the gentle breeze, the lover rejoices in the thought of Kannamma, describing her lips as a fountain of nectar, her eyes overflowing with moonlight, and her form radiant like pure gold. Her single-minded love elevates him from mortal earthly existence to the divine realm of heavenly beings. Merely uttering her name fills his mouth with nectar and banishes all life's sorrows, as she embodies the luminous flame within his very soul and consciousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Amudhootrinai otha idhazhgalum

Compares Kannamma's lips to a fountain of sweet nectar ('Amudhootrinai otha idhazhgalum').

Uvamai (Simile)

Pathu maatru ponn otha nin maeniyum

Compares her complexion and body to pure 10-carat fine gold ('Pathu maatru ponn otha nin maeniyum').

Adukkuthodai (Reduplication / Anaphora)

Thuyar poyina poyina thunbangal

The word 'poyina' (gone) is repeated consecutively for emotional emphasis on the removal of grief.

Uruvagamb (Metaphor)

Uyir theeyinile valar jodhiye

Directly metaphorizes Kannamma as the radiant divine flame growing within the fire of life ('Uyir theeyinile valar jodhiye').

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic track from 'Kappalottiya Thamizhan' (1961)—a biopic on freedom fighter V. O. Chidambaram Pillai starring Sivaji Ganesan—is one of Subramanya Bharathiyar's most famous romantic-philosophical poems. Composed in Carnatic classical style by G. Ramanathan (predominantly in Suddha Dhanyasi ragam), P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela rendered this duet, making it one of the most celebrated Bharathiyar compositions in Tamil cinema history.

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