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Isaimozhi
Imayam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanaile Kadiyirunthu

From Imayam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, L. R. Anjali
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Imayam
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
11 Nov 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannilae kudiyirundhu
Karunai tharum dheivam ondru
Kuzhandhai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Gangai nadhi perugi vandhu
Kavidhai tharum vaarthai ondru
Mazhalai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Kannilae kudiyirundhu
Karunai tharum dheivam ondru
Kuzhandhai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Gangai nadhi perugi vandhu
Kavidhai tharum vaarthai ondru
Mazhalai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Neela kadal maanikkangal
Vaira valai pavalamadaa
Nenjai thodum kaattru vandhu
Eduthu kodutha thanga thattu
Neela kadal maanikkangal
Vaira valai pavalamadaa
Nenjai thodum kaattru vandhu
Eduthu kodutha thanga thattu
Pesa varum pachai kili
Pirithu vaithaal paavamadaa
Pillai unnai kuttram sonnaal
Pirappu muzhudhum thunbam kannaa
Kannilae kudiyirundhu
Karunai tharum dheivam ondru
Kuzhandhai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Gangai nadhi perugi vandhu
Kavidhai tharum vaarthai ondru
Mazhalai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Sathiyathin gopurathil
Thavazhuvadhae kuzhandhaiyadaa
Thathi thathi odum pillai
Maraithu keduppadhillaiyadaa
Sathiyathin gopurathil
Thavazhuvadhae kuzhandhaiyadaa
Thathi thathi odum pillai
Maraithu keduppadhillaiyadaa
Oor muzhudhum yaesattumae
Unadhu vaarthai vaedhamadaa
Unmai nambum ullam ingae
Unakkum enakkum sondham kannaa
Kannilae kudiyirundhu
Karunai tharum dheivam ondru
Kuzhandhai endru
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Kannilae kudiyirundhu
Karunai tharum dheivam ondru
Kuzhandhai endru
Both :Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Male : Gangai nadhi perugi vandhu
Kavidhai tharum vaarthai ondru
Mazhalai endru
Both :Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Naanaa naanaa dhanakku dhandhan
Living right within our eyes,
there is a god who showers grace—
known as a child.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Like the River Ganges overflowing,
there is a word that brings poetry—
known as a child's sweet talk.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Living right within our eyes,
there is a god who showers grace—
known as a child.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Like the River Ganges overflowing,
there is a word that brings poetry—
known as a child's sweet talk.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
The gems of the blue ocean,
a net of diamonds and corals, my dear,
the heart-touching breeze brought over
and offered like a golden platter!
The gems of the blue ocean,
a net of diamonds and corals, my dear,
the heart-touching breeze brought over
and offered like a golden platter!
Like a green parrot learning to speak,
it is a sin to keep you apart, my dear!
If anyone ever blames you, my child,
their entire life will be filled with sorrow!
Living right within our eyes,
there is a god who showers grace—
known as a child.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Like the River Ganges overflowing,
there is a word that brings poetry—
known as a child's sweet talk.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Upon the high tower of truth,
it is an innocent child that crawls, my dear!
A toddler running with tiny wobbly steps
never hides anything to do harm!
Upon the high tower of truth,
it is an innocent child that crawls, my dear!
A toddler running with tiny wobbly steps
never hides anything to do harm!
Let the whole town speak ill of us,
your little word is sacred scripture to me!
A pure heart that believes in truth
is something you and I share, my dear!
Living right within our eyes,
there is a god who showers grace—
known as a child.
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Living right within our eyes,
there is a god who showers grace—
known as a child.
Both: Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Male: Like the River Ganges overflowing,
there is a word that brings poetry—
known as a child's sweet talk.
Both: Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Naana naanaa thanakku thanthan
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannilae Kudiyirundhu is a deeply affectionate and poetic song penned by Kannadasan for the movie Imayam (1979). The lyrics venerate the innate divinity and innocence of a child. The song equates a child to a merciful deity dwelling within one's eyes and describes the child's soft babble as poetic inspiration flowing as abundantly as the river Ganges. It emphasizes that a child's truthfulness and purity far outweigh any earthly wealth or gems.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Sathiyathin gopurathil Thavazhuvadhae kuzhandhaiyadaa

The line metaphorically places the child on the 'tower of truth' (Sathiyathin gopuram), highlighting pure innocence.

Uvamai (Simile / Imagery)

Gangai nadhi perugi vandhu Kavidhai tharum vaarthai ondru Mazhalai endru

Compares the child's gentle speech/prattle (Mazhalai) to an overflowing Ganges river that inspires poetry.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kannilae kudiyirundhu Karunai tharum dheivam ondru

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words creates a melodic rhythm.

Sol Anaphora / Repetition

Thathi thathi odum pillai

The rhythmic repetition of 'Thathi thathi' vividly captures the toddling movement of a child.

Did you know?

Trivia

Imayam (1979) features music by M. S. Viswanathan and stars Sivaji Ganesan and Sripriya. Kannadasan's verses in this song celebrate the philosophical idea that children are embodiments of divine truth and incapable of deception.

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