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Kaanchi Thalaivan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kan Kavarum Silaiye

From Kaanchi Thalaivan · 1963

Lyricist
K. D. Santhanam
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaanchi Thalaivan
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
16 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kan kavarum silaiyae
Kaanji tharum kalaiyae
Kavi piravaa mun pirandha
Thamizhaghathin nidhiyae
Kan kavarum silaiyae
Kaanji tharum kalaiyae
Kavi piravaa mun pirandha
Thamizhaghathin nidhiyae
Kan kavarum silaiyae …ae….
Pagai mudikka pala vagaiyaam
Padai kalanghal modhum
Ezhil silai vadikka siru uliyum
Iru karamum podhum
Pagai mudikka pala vagaiyaam
Padai kalanghal modhum
Ezhil silai vadikka siru uliyum
Iru karamum podhum
Mugai vedikkum muruval yena
Pennidhazhil therivaai
Mugai vedikkum muruval yena
Pennidhazhil therivaai
Sinam moondezhundhaal aandavan paei
Thaandavamum purivaai thaandavamum purivaai…
Kan kavarum silaiyae
Kaanji tharum kalaiyae
Kavi piravaa mun pirandha
Thamizhaghathin nidhiyae
Kan kavarum silaiyae …ae….
Padikkum munnae seviyinil thaen
Paaya varum thamizh pol
Naan ninaikkum munnae pala vadivaai
Nenjamellaam niraivaai
Padikkum munnae seviyinil thaen
Paaya varum thamizh pol
Naan ninaikkum munnae pala vadivaai
Nenjamellaam niraivaai
Enakkum munnae vaazhdhavargal
Ethanaiyo kodi
Enakkum munnae vaazhdhavargal
Ethanaiyo kodi
Andha idam peyarndhaar perumai ellaam
Thodar kadhai pol tharuvaai
Kan kavarum silaiyae
Kaanji tharum kalaiyae
Kavi piravaa mun pirandha
Thamizhaghathin nidhiyae
Kan kavarum silaiyae …ae….
O captivating sculpture,
O art gifted by Kanchi,
Born even before poetry was born,
O treasure of the Tamil land!
O captivating sculpture,
O art gifted by Kanchi,
Born even before poetry was born,
O treasure of the Tamil land!
O captivating sculpture!
To destroy an enemy, many kinds of
weapons clash in war,
Yet to sculpt a beautiful statue, a small chisel
and two hands are enough.
To destroy an enemy, many kinds of
weapons clash in war,
Yet to sculpt a beautiful statue, a small chisel
and two hands are enough.
Like a budding flower's gentle smile,
you shine upon a woman's lips;
Like a budding flower's gentle smile,
you shine upon a woman's lips;
Yet if anger flares up, like God's fierce
cosmic dance you rage, you rage!
O captivating sculpture,
O art gifted by Kanchi,
Born even before poetry was born,
O treasure of the Tamil land!
O captivating sculpture!
Even before it is read, like honey
flowing into the ears as Tamil does,
Even before I can think, in countless forms
you fill my whole heart!
Even before it is read, like honey
flowing into the ears as Tamil does,
Even before I can think, in countless forms
you fill my whole heart!
Those who lived before my time
were countless millions;
Those who lived before my time
were countless millions;
All the great glory of those who have passed on,
you unfold like an endless story!
O captivating sculpture,
O art gifted by Kanchi,
Born even before poetry was born,
O treasure of the Tamil land!
O captivating sculpture!
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kan Kavarum Silaiyae' is a grand tribute to the timeless sculpturing art and cultural heritage of Kanchipuram and Tamilakam. The lyrics emphasize that artistic tradition predates poets and serves as the ultimate treasure of Tamil history. It beautifully contrasts the chaos of warfare, which requires endless weapons, with the creation of timeless beauty, achievable through a simple chisel and a sculptor's hand. The song portrays art as an evocative entity capable of expressing gentle beauty like a blooming smile as well as divine intensity. Ultimately, art acts as an enduring storyteller that preserves the legacy of past generations, filling the heart with sweet harmony akin to the Tamil language itself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kan kavarum silaiyae / Kaanji tharum kalaiyae”

Repetition of initial consonant sounds such as 'Kan' and 'Kaanji' in lines 1 and 2, as well as 'Kavi' in line 3.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Mugai vedikkum muruval yena / Pennidhazhil therivaai”

Comparing the gentle smile appearing on a woman's lips to a blooming flower bud ('Mugai vedikkum muruval yena').

Simile (Uvamai)

“Padikkum munnae seviyinil thaen / Paaya varum thamizh pol”

Comparing the immersive experience of thought and art to Tamil language flowing like honey into the ears ('Seviyinil thaen paaya varum thamizh pol').

Refrain (Anaphora)

“Kan kavarum silaiyae”

Repetition of the refrain 'Kan kavarum silaiyae...' throughout the song to anchor the thematic focus on the statue/art form.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kaanchi Thalaivan' (1963) is a historical drama starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), S. S. Rajendran, C. R. Vijayakumari, and Bhanumathi. The soundtrack was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics penned by K. D. Santhanam.

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