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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kana Karunguyile

From Ponmana Selvan · 1989

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ponmana Selvan1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
KaanakarunguyilaeOh black cuckoo of the forest,
Kaadhal or paavamadiLove is a sin, my dear.
Female
KaanakarunguyilaeOh black cuckoo of the forest,
Kaadhal or paavamadiLove is a sin, my dear.
Kaadhal kanakkinilaeIn the mathematics of love,
Kanneer thaan laabamadiTears are the only profit, my dear.
Female
Aasai… undaanathuDesire... was born,
Adhil veedu…rendaanathuAnd because of it, the home... got split into two.
Female
Adi kaanakarunguyilaeOh black cuckoo of the forest,
Kaadhal or paavamadiLove is a sin, my dear.
Male
Boomiyil naan piranthaThe horoscope I was born with on earth
Jaathagam maaruthuIs changing now.
En vidhi maedai kattiMy destiny has set up a stage
Naadagam aaduthuAnd is performing a play.
Male
Vanjiyae un manamOh maiden, why did your heart
Ennidam yaen vanthathuCome seeking me?
Vanthathaal iththanaiBecause it came,
Thunbamum vaainthathuSo much sorrow befell us.
Male
Vaedhanai sodhanaiAgony and trials,
Yaaridam naan solvathuTo whom shall I express them?
En manam indru thaanOnly today has my heart
Ambalam aanathuBecome laid bare in public.
Neeyum indha thukkathilaeYou too in this sorrow,
Nillu maru pakkathilaeStand on the other side.
Naeram oru kaalamA time and season
Vara koodum andru onnaagalamMight arrive, and on that day we may become one.
Female
KaanakarunguyilaeOh black cuckoo of the forest,
Kaadhal or paavamadiLove is a sin, my dear.
Kaadhal kanakkinilaeIn the mathematics of love,
Kanneer thaan laabamadiTears are the only profit, my dear.
Female
Aasai… undaanathuDesire... was born,
Adhil veedu…rendaanathuAnd because of it, the home... got split into two.
Female
Kangalil neer vazhinthuTears stream from my eyes
Kannathil oduthuAnd run down my cheeks.
Karpanai aayiram thaanA thousand imaginations
Ennathil oduthuRun through my mind.
Female
Vaanamae illaiyaeWhen there is no sky,
Vennila ennavathuWhat becomes of the moon?
Valarvathaa thaeivathaWhether to wax or wane,
Yaaridam ketpathuWhom shall I ask?
Female
Poomaram illaiyaeWhen there is no flowering tree,
Poongodi ennavathuWhat becomes of the flowering vine?
Vaazhvatha veezhvathaWhether to live or perish,
Yaaridam ketpathuWhom shall I ask?
Female
Irunthaal iniIf I live hereafter,
Unnodu thaanIt will only be with you.
Illaiyael udal mannodu thaanOtherwise, my body belongs to the earth.
Maalai idum vaelaiThe time for garlanding each other
Varum naalai endru naan vaazhgirenWill come tomorrow, believing so I live.
Male
KaanakarunguyilaeOh black cuckoo of the forest,
Kaadhal or paavamadiLove is a sin, my dear.
Aasai… undaanathuDesire... was born,
Adhil veedu…rendaanathuAnd because of it, the home... got split into two.
Female
Adi kaanakarunguyilaeOh black cuckoo of the forest,
Kaadhal or paavamadiLove is a sin, my dear.
Male
Kaadhal kanakkinilaeIn the mathematics of love,
Kanneer thaan laabamadiTears are the only profit, my dear.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses the grief and despair of a lover facing the painful consequences of love and social or familial division. Addressing a wild cuckoo ('Kaanakarunguyil'), the speaker reflects on how love, which began with desire and affection, ended up tearing households apart and bringing endless tears instead of joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Apostrophe & Metaphor

Kaanakarunguyilae

Addressing the 'Kaanakarunguyil' (forest cuckoo) serves as a poetic proxy to express inner despair.

Monorhyme / Second-letter Rhyme (Edukai)

Kaadhal kanakkinilae

Matching second consonants in Tamil poetic structure ('Kaadhal' / 'Kanneer' / 'Aasai').

Metaphor

Kaadhal kanakkinilae / Kanneer thaan laabamadi

Comparing love's emotional balance sheet to accounting, where tears are the only 'profit'.

Analogy

Vaanamae illaiyae / Vennila ennavathu

Comparing the lovers' interdependence to the sky and moon, and a tree and a flowering vine.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is written by Gangai Amaran for the movie 'Ponmana Selvan' (1989), starring Vijayakanth and Shobana, with music composed by Ilaiyaraaja.

Keep listening

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