- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. V. Janaki
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Movie name
- Kanniyin Kadhali
- Movie release year
- 1949
- Lyrics added on
- 10 Dec 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
This classic song serves as an uplifting message of patience, perseverance, and romantic hope. The singer addresses his troubled heart, reassuring himself that continuous effort yields results and that dreams will eventually materialize. Nothing worth having is achieved without hard work, and persistence guarantees success. To illustrate his optimism in love, the singer draws upon the mythological tale of Queen Alli—a fiercely independent warrior queen who despised men, yet eventually succumbed to Arjuna's charm. He reassures himself that even if his beloved feigns indifference now, time and youth will awaken her love, leading her to yield and express her affection freely.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal / Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kadinapadaamal yedhum kaikku varaadhu”
Repetition of the initial consonant 'Ka' in lines 7 and 9 ('Kadinapadaamal', 'Kastapaduvaar') and 'Pa' in lines 24-28 ('Pagatukaaga', 'Paarkkavae', 'Paruva').
Anaphora / Epanalepsis (Repetition)
“Kalangaadhiru manamae”
The refrain 'Kalangaadhiru manamae / Nee kalangaadhiru maname' repeats throughout the song to anchor the encouraging message.
Mythological Allusion
“Alliyum oru naal Archunan valaithanil Veezhnthanal sariyaai”
References Queen Alli and Arjuna from Tamil folklore/Mahabharata tradition ('Alliyum oru naal Archunan valaithanil veezhnthanal') to make a point about conquering an indifferent heart.
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Trivia
This song holds immense historical significance in Tamil cinema as it marks the silver-screen debut of the legendary poet and lyricist Kannadasan (Kaviarasu Kannadasan). Written for the 1949 film 'Kanniyin Kadhali', this song laid the foundation for his illustrious career of over 5,000 song lyrics.
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