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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanaa Kaangiren

From Anandha Thandavam · 2009

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Nithyashree, Shubha Mudgal, Vinita
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Anandha Thandavam2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa….aaa….Aaa….aaa….
Aaa..aaa…aaa…aaa…Aaa..aaa…aaa…aaa…
Aaaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…Aaaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…
…………………………….............................
Male
{Sa saa ni nidha nipa{Sa saa ni nidha nipa
Pasa sa saani nidha ni paaPasa sa saani nidha ni paa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saa} (2)Mapani gari sani saa} (2)
Female
Kanaa kaangirenI am dreaming
Kanaa kaangiren kannaalanaeI am dreaming, my beloved with beautiful eyes
Orae panthalilUnder the same wedding pandal
Orae medaiyil iruvarumaeOn the same stage, the two of us
Female
Kanaa kaangirenI am dreaming
Kanaa kaangiren kannaalanaeI am dreaming, my beloved with beautiful eyes
Orae panthalilUnder the same wedding pandal
Orae medaiyil iruvarumaeOn the same stage, the two of us
Female
Mannai thottaadumTouching the ground as it sways
Selai selai konduDraped in fine sarees
Maarbai thoodaadumResting against my chest
Thaali thaali konduAdorned with the sacred thali necklace
Madiyai thoodaadumSwaying gently upon my lap
Maalai maalai kondu magizhvenI will rejoice with garlands every single day
Dhinam dhinamumEvery single day
Female
Vaasam kondaadumFragrant and blooming
Pookal pookal vaithuAdorned with sweet flowers
Vaasal kollathaFilling the entire doorway
Kolam kolam ittuDrawing beautiful rangoli patterns
Kaadhal kondaadumCelebrating our love
Kanavan thirumadiyil malarvenI will bloom upon my husband's sacred lap
Male
Sa saa ni nidha nipaSa saa ni nidha nipa
Pasa sa saani nidha ni paaPasa sa saani nidha ni paa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Female
{Kanaa kaangiren{I am dreaming
Kanaa kaangiren kannaalanaeI am dreaming, my beloved with beautiful eyes
Orae panthalilUnder the same wedding pandal
Orae medaiyil iruvarumae} (2)On the same stage, the two of us} (2)
Iruvarumae…(5)The two of us… (5)
Female
………………………...................
Female
En thozhigalumMy female friends
Un thozhargalumAnd your male friends
Aiyoo nammai geli seiyaOh dear, teasing the two of us
En selaiyum un vettiyum naanumMy saree, your dhoti, and I
Female
Nee killi vidaWhen you pinch me playfully
Naan thulli yezhaI jump up in delight
Aahaa adhu inba thunbamAh, what a sweet distress!
Naan killi vida en kai viralgal yengumMy fingers yearn to pinch you back in return
Female
Thanjavur melam kottaWith Thanjavur drums beating loudly
Tamil nadae vazhthu chollaWith all of Tamil Nadu bestowing blessings
Sivakasi vettu saththamThe grand crackers of Sivakasi
Oorai kizhikkumRending the air across the entire town
Thennaattu neiyin vaasamThe aroma of South Indian ghee
Chetti naattu samayal vaasamThe fragrance of Chettinad cuisine
Newyork-ai thaandi koodaWill travel past New York
Mookai thulaikkumAnd pierce through the nose with aroma
Male
Sa saa ni nidha nipaSa saa ni nidha nipa
Pasa sa saani nidha ni paaPasa sa saani nidha ni paa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Female
{Kanaa kaangiren{I am dreaming
Kanaa kaangiren kannaalanaeI am dreaming, my beloved with beautiful eyes
Orae panthalilUnder the same wedding pandal
Orae medaiyil iruvarumae} (2)On the same stage, the two of us} (2)
Female
Nam palli araiOur bridal bedroom
Nam chella araiOur cherished room
Anbae adhil pookal unduMy beloved, filled with flowers inside
Poo vaadai indri veraadaigal illaiWith no other garments except a dress of flowers
Female
Aan enbadhumBeing a man
Pen enbadhumAnd being a woman
Haiyo ini artham aagumAh, now it finally finds its true meaning
Nee enbadhum naan enbadhum illaiThere is no 'you' and 'I' anymore
Female
Maarbodu pinni konduEntwined close to the chest
Mani mutham enni konduCounting precious kisses
Madiodu veedu kattiBuilding a home upon the lap
Kaadhal seiguvenI shall make love to you
Udal konda aasai allaThis is not a desire of the physical body
Uyir konda aasai endhanIt is a desire born of the soul
Uyir pogum munnalBefore my breath departs
Vazhvai vetri kolludhaeMy life achieves ultimate victory
Male
Sa saa ni nidha nipaSa saa ni nidha nipa
Pasa sa saani nidha ni paaPasa sa saani nidha ni paa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Mapani maapaapaaMapani maapaapaa
Mapani gari sani saaMapani gari sani saa
Female
{Kanaa kaangiren{I am dreaming
Kanaa kaangiren kannaalanaeI am dreaming, my beloved with beautiful eyes
Orae panthalilUnder the same wedding pandal
Orae medaiyil iruvarumae} (2)On the same stage, the two of us} (2)
Female
Mannai thottaadumTouching the ground as it sways
Selai selai konduDraped in fine sarees
Maarbai thoodaadumResting against my chest
Thaali thaali konduAdorned with the sacred thali necklace
Madiyai thoodaadumSwaying gently upon my lap
Maalai maalai kondu magizhvenI will rejoice with garlands every single day
Dhinam dhinamumEvery single day
Female
Vaasam kondaadumFragrant and blooming
Pookal pookal vaithuAdorned with sweet flowers
Vaasal kollathaFilling the entire doorway
Kolam kolam ittuDrawing beautiful rangoli patterns
Kaadhal kondaadumCelebrating our love
Kanavan thirumadiyil malarvenI will bloom upon my husband's sacred lap

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kanaa Kaangiren is a grand, romantic daydream expressed by a young woman imagining her wedding and married life with her beloved. She envisions standing under the traditional marriage canopy, adorned with sarees and the sacred marital thread (Thali), surrounded by the joy of family, grand feasts, Thanjavur drums, and Sivakasi firecrackers. The lyrics vividly describe both the cultural grandeur of a South Indian wedding and the intimate, poetic togetherness of marital life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kanaa kaangiren kannaalanae / Orae panthalil

Matching second consonant 'n' across consecutive lines (Kannaalanae / Panthalil).

Anaphora / Repetition

Selai selai kondu / Thaali thaali kondu

Repetition of words like 'selai selai', 'thaali thaali', and 'kolam kolam' to emphasize passion and vivid imagery.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Newyork-ai thaandi kooda / Mookai thulaikkum

Exaggerating the aroma of Chettinad food extending past New York to highlight grand celebration.

Oxymoron

Aahaa adhu inba thunbam

Combining contrasting ideas 'inba thunbam' (sweet sorrow/pleasure-pain) to depict romantic teasing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar for Anandha Thandavam (2009), based on Sujatha's popular novel 'Pirivom Santhippom'. The song features classical carnatic swara passages performed blending classical and contemporary melody styles.

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