Kana Kaanum Kangal
From Agni Sakshi · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Saritha
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Agni Sakshi1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanaa kaanum kangal mella | Will these dreaming eyes slowly... |
| Urangaatho paadal solla | ...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby? |
| Nilaakkaala megam ellaam | All the clouds in this moonlit season... |
| Ulaap pogum neram kannae | ...are taking a stroll right now, my dear. |
| Ulaap pogum neram kannae | ...are taking a stroll right now, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Kanaa kaanum kangal mella | Will these dreaming eyes slowly... |
| Urangaatho paadal solla | ...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby? |
| Nilaakkaala megam ellaam | All the clouds in this moonlit season... |
| Ulaap pogum neram kannae | ...are taking a stroll right now, my dear. |
| Ulaap pogum neram kannae | ...are taking a stroll right now, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Kumari uruvam kuzhanthai ullam | A maiden's form with a child's innocent heart, |
| Rendum ondraana maayam neeyo | are you a magic where both become one? |
| Thalaivan madiyil magalin vadivil thoongum seyo | Are you a child sleeping on her partner's lap in the form of a daughter? |
| Male | |
| Kumari uruvam kuzhanthai ullam | A maiden's form with a child's innocent heart, |
| Rendum ondraana maayam neeyo | are you a magic where both become one? |
| Thalaivan madiyil magalin vadivil thoongum seyo | Are you a child sleeping on her partner's lap in the form of a daughter? |
| Male | |
| Nodiyil naalthorum niram maarum devi | O Goddess who changes colors every second of every day, |
| Vidaithaan kidaikkaamal thadumaarum kelvi | you are an unanswered question stumbling without finding a solution. |
| Male | |
| Vilakku yaetri vaiththaalkooda | Even when a bright lamp is lit, |
| Nizhal pola thondrum nijamae | you are a reality that appears only like a shadow, |
| Nizhal pola thondrum nijamae | you are a reality that appears only like a shadow. |
| Female | |
| Naan un nijaththai nesikkiraen | I love your true self, |
| Un nizhalaiyo poojikkiraen | and I worship even your shadow. |
| Adhanaalthaan un nizhal vizhuntha | That is why, on the very ground where your shadow falls, |
| Nilaththin mannai kooda | even the dust of that soil, |
| En nettriyil neeru pol thiruneeru pol | upon my forehead like sacred holy ash, |
| Ittu kolgiraen | I place it reverence. |
| Male | |
| Kanaa kaanum kangal mella | Will these dreaming eyes slowly... |
| Urangaatho paadal solla | ...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby? |
| Male | |
| Pudhiya kavithai punaiyum kuyilae | O cuckoo bird composing new poetry, |
| Nenjjil undaana kaayam enna | what is this deep wound created in your heart? |
| Ninaivu alaigal neruppil kulikkum paavam enna | What sin makes the waves of your memories bathe in fire? |
| Kizhakku velukkaamal irukkaathu vaanam | The eastern sky will never fail to brighten at dawn, |
| Male | |
| Vidiyum naal paarththu iruppaenae naanum | and I too shall wait faithfully for that day to break. |
| Varungaalam inbam endru | That the future holds true joy, |
| Nigazhkaalam koorum kannae | the present reassures us, my dear, |
| Nigazhkaalam koorum kannae | the present reassures us, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Kanaa kaanum kangal mella | Will these dreaming eyes slowly... |
| Urangaatho paadal solla | ...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby? |
| Nilaakkaala megam ellaam | All the clouds in this moonlit season... |
| Ulaap pogum neram kannae | ...are taking a stroll right now, my dear. |
| Ulaap pogum neram kannae | ...are taking a stroll right now, my dear. |
| Heemmm hmm hmmm mmmm | [Humming] |
கனாக் காணும் கண்கள் மெல்ல
உறங்காதோ பாடல் சொல்ல
நிலாக்கால மேகம் எல்லாம்
உலாப் போகும் நேரம் கண்ணே
உலாப் போகும் நேரம் கண்ணே
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
All the clouds in this moonlit season...
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
கனாக் காணும் கண்கள் மெல்ல
உறங்காதோ பாடல் சொல்ல
நிலாக்கால மேகம் எல்லாம்
உலாப் போகும் நேரம் கண்ணே
உலாப் போகும் நேரம் கண்ணே
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
All the clouds in this moonlit season...
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
குமரி உருவம் குழந்தை உள்ளம்
ரெண்டும் ஒன்றான மாயம் நீயோ
தலைவன் மடியில் மகளின் வடிவில் தூங்கும் சேயோ
A maiden's form with a child's innocent heart,
are you a magic where both become one?
Are you a child sleeping on her partner's lap in the form of a daughter?
குமரி உருவம் குழந்தை உள்ளம்
ரெண்டும் ஒன்றான மாயம் நீயோ
தலைவன் மடியில் மகளின் வடிவில் தூங்கும் சேயோ
A maiden's form with a child's innocent heart,
are you a magic where both become one?
Are you a child sleeping on her partner's lap in the form of a daughter?
நொடியில் நாள் தோறும் நிறம் மாறும் தேவி
விடை தான் கிடைக்காமல் தடுமாறும் கேள்வி
O Goddess who changes colors every second of every day,
you are an unanswered question stumbling without finding a solution.
விளக்கு ஏற்றி வைத்தால் கூட
நிழல் போலத் தோன்றும் நிஜமே
நிழல் போலத் தோன்றும் நிஜமே
Even when a bright lamp is lit,
you are a reality that appears only like a shadow,
you are a reality that appears only like a shadow.
நான் உன் நிஜத்தை நேசிக்கிறேன்
உன் நிழலையோ பூஜிக்கிறேன்
அதனால் தான் உன் நிழல் விழுந்த
நிலத்தின் மண்ணைக் கூட
என் நெற்றியில் நீறு போல் திருநீறு போல்
இட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன்
I love your true self,
and I worship even your shadow.
That is why, on the very ground where your shadow falls,
even the dust of that soil,
upon my forehead like sacred holy ash,
I place it reverence.
கனாக் காணும் கண்கள் மெல்ல
உறங்காதோ பாடல் சொல்ல
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
புதிய கவிதை புனையும் குயிலே
நெஞ்சில் உண்டான காயம் என்ன
நினைவு அலைகள் நெருப்பில் குளிக்கும் பாவம் என்ன
கிழக்கு வெளுக்காமல் இருக்காது வானம்
O cuckoo bird composing new poetry,
what is this deep wound created in your heart?
What sin makes the waves of your memories bathe in fire?
The eastern sky will never fail to brighten at dawn,
விடியும் நாள் பார்த்து இருப்பேனே நானும்
வருங்காலம் இன்பம் என்று
நிகழ்காலம் கூறும் கண்ணே
நிகழ்காலம் கூறும் கண்ணே
and I too shall wait faithfully for that day to break.
That the future holds true joy,
the present reassures us, my dear,
the present reassures us, my dear.
கனாக் காணும் கண்கள் மெல்ல
உறங்காதோ பாடல் சொல்ல
நிலாக்கால மேகம் எல்லாம்
உலாப் போகும் நேரம் கண்ணே
உலாப் போகும் நேரம் கண்ணே
ஹீம்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
All the clouds in this moonlit season...
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
[Humming]
Kanaa kaanum kangal mella
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
Urangaatho paadal solla
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
Nilaakkaala megam ellaam
All the clouds in this moonlit season...
Ulaap pogum neram kannae
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
Ulaap pogum neram kannae
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
Kanaa kaanum kangal mella
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
Urangaatho paadal solla
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
Nilaakkaala megam ellaam
All the clouds in this moonlit season...
Ulaap pogum neram kannae
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
Ulaap pogum neram kannae
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
Kumari uruvam kuzhanthai ullam
A maiden's form with a child's innocent heart,
Rendum ondraana maayam neeyo
are you a magic where both become one?
Thalaivan madiyil magalin vadivil thoongum seyo
Are you a child sleeping on her partner's lap in the form of a daughter?
Kumari uruvam kuzhanthai ullam
A maiden's form with a child's innocent heart,
Rendum ondraana maayam neeyo
are you a magic where both become one?
Thalaivan madiyil magalin vadivil thoongum seyo
Are you a child sleeping on her partner's lap in the form of a daughter?
Nodiyil naalthorum niram maarum devi
O Goddess who changes colors every second of every day,
Vidaithaan kidaikkaamal thadumaarum kelvi
you are an unanswered question stumbling without finding a solution.
Vilakku yaetri vaiththaalkooda
Even when a bright lamp is lit,
Nizhal pola thondrum nijamae
you are a reality that appears only like a shadow,
Nizhal pola thondrum nijamae
you are a reality that appears only like a shadow.
Naan un nijaththai nesikkiraen
I love your true self,
Un nizhalaiyo poojikkiraen
and I worship even your shadow.
Adhanaalthaan un nizhal vizhuntha
That is why, on the very ground where your shadow falls,
Nilaththin mannai kooda
even the dust of that soil,
En nettriyil neeru pol thiruneeru pol
upon my forehead like sacred holy ash,
Ittu kolgiraen
I place it reverence.
Kanaa kaanum kangal mella
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
Urangaatho paadal solla
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
Pudhiya kavithai punaiyum kuyilae
O cuckoo bird composing new poetry,
Nenjjil undaana kaayam enna
what is this deep wound created in your heart?
Ninaivu alaigal neruppil kulikkum paavam enna
What sin makes the waves of your memories bathe in fire?
Kizhakku velukkaamal irukkaathu vaanam
The eastern sky will never fail to brighten at dawn,
Vidiyum naal paarththu iruppaenae naanum
and I too shall wait faithfully for that day to break.
Varungaalam inbam endru
That the future holds true joy,
Nigazhkaalam koorum kannae
the present reassures us, my dear,
Nigazhkaalam koorum kannae
the present reassures us, my dear.
Kanaa kaanum kangal mella
Will these dreaming eyes slowly...
Urangaatho paadal solla
...not go to sleep as I sing a lullaby?
Nilaakkaala megam ellaam
All the clouds in this moonlit season...
Ulaap pogum neram kannae
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
Ulaap pogum neram kannae
...are taking a stroll right now, my dear.
Heemmm hmm hmmm mmmm
[Humming]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kanaa Kaanum Kangal Mella is a deeply emotional lullaby and love song from the 1982 Tamil movie Agni Sakshi. Sung primarily to comfort a emotionally troubled or mentally fragile partner, the lyricist Vaali captures the delicate intersection between romance, paternal care, and tragic helplessness. The speaker admires the heroine's childlike innocence while acknowledging her complex, changing psyche, offering unconditional devotion that borders on worship.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagakani)
“Pudhiya kavithai punaiyum kuyilae”
Compares the beloved to a cuckoo composing new poetry and an unanswered question struggling without a response.
Simile (Upamai)
“En nettriyil neeru pol thiruneeru pol”
Compares applying the dirt from where her shadow fell on his forehead to applying holy ash (Thiruneeru).
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Nizhal pola thondrum nijamae”
Contrasts reality (Nijam) with shadow (Nizhal), describing the person as a truth that manifests only as an elusive shadow.
Emoni / Monai (Alliteration)
“Kanaa kaanum kangal mella”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('K' sound in Kanaa/Kaanum/Kangal and 'N' sound in Nodiyil/Naalthorum/Niram).
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by M. S. Viswanathan for K. Balachander's film Agni Sakshi starring Sivakumar and Saritha, this song is acclaimed for its haunting melody rendered by K. J. Yesudas and S. Janaki. Saritha received widespread critical acclaim for portraying a complex psychological character in the film.
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