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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanaa Kandaen

From Naatpadu Theral 2 · 2022

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Haricharan
Music director
Anil Srinivasan
Details
Naatpadu Theral 22022

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanakanden pen paavaai ..I saw a dream, my maiden...
Kanaa kandenI saw a dream
Nilakaala iravil thendralIn the moonlit night, as the gentle breeze
Neendhi varum poluthilComes swimming by
Kanaa..aaa kandenI saw... a dream
Male
Valar mulai pendirYoung women with burgeoning beauty
Varisai thataendhi varaCarrying ceremonial trays in a row
Thalar nadai maadharElderly women walking with gentle, slow steps
Thaangi vazhiyuraSupporting and guiding the way
Valar pirai pennaalLike a growing crescent moon, she
Vandhen idam pidikkaCame and took her place near me
Kilar manam kalikollaAs my exhilarated heart overflowed with joy
Kanaa…kanden penpaavaai…I saw a dream, my maiden...
Male
Vaazhai ilam pachaiIn a dress woven of
Variththor aadaiyilaeFresh tender banana-leaf green
Thaazhai narunguzhalA woman with fragrant tresses adorned with pandanus flower
Thaiyalaal veetrirukkaSeated gracefully
Ezhai oruvan ezhukodiLike a poor man who stumbles upon
Pon kondaA treasure chest filled with
Pezhai kandathu polSeventy million gold coins
Pithuttren pen paavaai….I went mad with ecstasy, my maiden...
Male
Uyirae enbaenoShall I call her my life?
Ullathil ver kondaA crop that took root
Payirae enbaenoDeep within my heart, shall I call her?
Pasi kandaan nirai seidhaA full belly that satiated
Vayirae enbaenoThe one who suffered hunger, shall I call her?
Vaazhvinai kattuvithaThe sacred thread that bound
Kayirae enabenooMy life together, shall I call her?
Karuthazhindhen pen paavaai…I lost my senses in bliss, my maiden...
Kanaaa kanden pen paavaai…I saw a dream, my maiden...
Male
Enganam munnorJust as our ancient ancestors
Iyattri vagutharoFormulated and ordained
Anganam medaiBeneath the grand canopy
Amaitha pandharkeezhSet up as a traditional stage
Enganam vaazhatholiHow joyous ululations
Elundhu nalam parappaArose to spread auspiciousness all around
Kanganam kattaTo tie the sacred wedding wristband
Kanaa kanden pen paavaai…..pavaaaaiiii..I saw a dream, my maiden...
Pen paaavaaii..My maiden...
Male
Vaanpoottum villinShe who wears the vibrant beauty
Vanna thiruvudaiyaalOf a rainbow spanning the sky
Thaen poottum idhazhaalWith lips that yield sweetness like honey
Deiva thirukkazhuthilAround her divine, sacred neck
Poonpootti seidhaAdorned with delicate floral garlands
Porsaradu nanyaendhiHolding the auspicious golden cord
Naanpotta kanakandaenI dreamt a true dream
Nallaai ….pen paavaaiOh virtuous woman... my maiden
Male
Kanaa kanden pen paavaai…..pavaaaaiiii..I saw a dream, my maiden...
Pen paaavaaii..My maiden...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kana Kanden Pen Paavaai is a classical-infused Tamil song from Vairamuthu's Naatpadu Theral 2 album, set to music by Anil Srinivasan and rendered by Haricharan. The song vividly captures a groom's blissful dream of his upcoming traditional wedding. Set during a cool, moonlit breeze, he envisions his bride arriving like a crescent moon amidst ceremonial rituals, accompanied by joyful elders and festive traditions.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Etukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Vaazhai ilam pachai / Thaazhai narunguzhal

Harmonious repetition of the second consonant sound across adjacent lines ('Vaazhai' and 'Thaazhai').

Uvamai (Simile)

Ezhai oruvan ezhukodi pon konda pezhai kandathu pol

The speaker compares his sudden bliss upon seeing his bride to a destitute person stumbling upon a chest filled with seventy million gold coins.

Anaphora / Rhetorical Repetition

Uyirae enbaeno / Payirae enbaeno / Vayirae enbaeno / Kayirae enabenoo

Rhythmic repetition of 'enbaeno' ('shall I call her?') across multiple lines to emphasize poetic wonder and devotion.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ullathil ver konda payirae enbaeno / Pasi kandaan nirai seidha vayirae enbaeno

Comparing the beloved to a crop rooted in the heart and a nourishing meal for a hungry soul.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song draws thematic inspiration from Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi ('Kana Kanden Thozhi'), an 8th-century Tamil bhakti masterpiece where Andal dreams of her divine wedding with Lord Ranganatha. Vairamuthu adapts this classic dream-narrative motif from a male perspective in a modern classical aesthetic.

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