Kanalukkul Meen Pidithen
From Kadhal Parisu · 1987
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kadhal Parisu1987
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Poovai naan vaada vittenae | I allowed the flower to wither away |
| Meenai naan oda vittenae…ae….. | I let the fish escape away... |
| Female | |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Female | |
| Unnai engo paarthaen | I saw you somewhere |
| Oru naal kaaviyam | One day it was a grand epic |
| Ennai enna kettaai | What did you ask of me? |
| Maru naal naadagam | The next day it became a theatrical drama |
| Female | |
| Anbin vaasal podum | The doorway of love is covered by |
| Thiraigal aayiram | A thousand curtains |
| Inbam ingae naalum | Happiness here every day |
| Irulin oviyam | Is a painting drawn in the dark |
| Paadhaiyundu hoo… ho… | There is a path, hoo... ho... |
| Oorgal illai hoo hoo… | There are no towns, hoo hoo... |
| Female | |
| Paadhaiyundu oorgal illai | There is a path, but no towns |
| Paadal undu medai illai | There is a song, but no stage |
| Veenaiyundu meettum neram | There is a Veena, but when it is time to play |
| Kaigal illai ingae | There are no hands here |
| Female | |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Female | |
| Kanneer gangai paayum | A Ganges of tears flows |
| Karai mel vaazhgiren | I live upon its bank |
| En mel enna kobam | Why such anger towards me? |
| Vidhiyai ketkiren | I ask of fate |
| Female | |
| Nenjam ennum poovo | The flower called the heart |
| Sarugaai aanadhae | Has turned into dry withered leaves |
| Anbil sindhum thaeno | The honey spilled in love |
| Vishamaai ponadhae | Has turned into deadly poison |
| Dheepam ingae hoo… ho… | The lamp is here, hoo... ho... |
| Kovil ingae hoo… ho… | The temple is here, hoo... ho... |
| Female | |
| Dheepam ingae kovil ingae | The lamp is here, the temple is here |
| Dheivam engae kaadhal nenjae | Where is God, O loving heart? |
| Sogam vellam aagum ullam | Grief becomes a flood inside the heart |
| Sondham ondru thaedum | Searching for a companion of its own |
| Female | |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Poovai naan vaada vittenae | I allowed the flower to wither away |
| Meenai naan oda vittenae…ae…. | I let the fish escape away... |
| Female | |
| Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen | I caught a fish inside a mirage |
| Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae | I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer |
| Poo maanae………………… | O flower-like deer... |
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
பூவை நான் வாட விட்டேனே
மீனை நான் ஓட விட்டேனே.....ஏ.....
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
I allowed the flower to wither away
I let the fish escape away...
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
உன்னை எங்கோ பார்த்தேன்
ஒரு நாள் காவியம்
என்னை என்ன கேட்டாய்
மறு நாள் நாடகம்
I saw you somewhere
One day it was a grand epic
What did you ask of me?
The next day it became a theatrical drama
அன்பின் வாசல் போடும்
திரைகள் ஆயிரம்
இன்பம் இங்கே நாளும்
இருளின் ஓவியம்
பாதையுண்டு ஹோ....ஹோ....
ஊர்கள் இல்லை ஹோ ஹோ.....
The doorway of love is covered by
A thousand curtains
Happiness here every day
Is a painting drawn in the dark
There is a path, hoo... ho...
There are no towns, hoo hoo...
பாதையுண்டு ஊர்கள் இல்லை
பாடல் உண்டு மேடை இல்லை
வீணையுண்டு மீட்டும் நேரம்
கைகள் இல்லை இங்கே
There is a path, but no towns
There is a song, but no stage
There is a Veena, but when it is time to play
There are no hands here
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
கண்ணீர் கங்கை பாயும்
கரை மேல் வாழ்கிறேன்
என் மேல் என்ன கோபம்
விதியை கேட்கிறேன்
A Ganges of tears flows
I live upon its bank
Why such anger towards me?
I ask of fate
நெஞ்சம் என்னும் பூவோ
சருகாய் ஆனதே
அன்பில் சிந்தும் தேனோ
விஷமாய் போனதே
தீபம் இங்கே ஹோ....ஹோ
கோவில் இங்கே ஹோ....ஹோ
The flower called the heart
Has turned into dry withered leaves
The honey spilled in love
Has turned into deadly poison
The lamp is here, hoo... ho...
The temple is here, hoo... ho...
தீபம் இங்கே கோவில் இங்கே
தெய்வம் எங்கே காதல் நெஞ்சே
சோகம் வெள்ளம் ஆகும் உள்ளம்
சொந்தம் ஒன்று தேடும்
The lamp is here, the temple is here
Where is God, O loving heart?
Grief becomes a flood inside the heart
Searching for a companion of its own
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
பூவை நான் வாட விட்டேனே
மீனை நான் ஓட விட்டேனே.....ஏ......
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
I allowed the flower to wither away
I let the fish escape away...
கானலுக்குள் மீன் பிடித்தேன்
காகிதப் பூ தேன் எடுத்தேன் பூ மானே
பூ மானே...................
I caught a fish inside a mirage
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
O flower-like deer...
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Poovai naan vaada vittenae
I allowed the flower to wither away
Meenai naan oda vittenae…ae…..
I let the fish escape away...
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Unnai engo paarthaen
I saw you somewhere
Oru naal kaaviyam
One day it was a grand epic
Ennai enna kettaai
What did you ask of me?
Maru naal naadagam
The next day it became a theatrical drama
Anbin vaasal podum
The doorway of love is covered by
Thiraigal aayiram
A thousand curtains
Inbam ingae naalum
Happiness here every day
Irulin oviyam
Is a painting drawn in the dark
Paadhaiyundu hoo… ho…
There is a path, hoo... ho...
Oorgal illai hoo hoo…
There are no towns, hoo hoo...
Paadhaiyundu oorgal illai
There is a path, but no towns
Paadal undu medai illai
There is a song, but no stage
Veenaiyundu meettum neram
There is a Veena, but when it is time to play
Kaigal illai ingae
There are no hands here
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Kanneer gangai paayum
A Ganges of tears flows
Karai mel vaazhgiren
I live upon its bank
En mel enna kobam
Why such anger towards me?
Vidhiyai ketkiren
I ask of fate
Nenjam ennum poovo
The flower called the heart
Sarugaai aanadhae
Has turned into dry withered leaves
Anbil sindhum thaeno
The honey spilled in love
Vishamaai ponadhae
Has turned into deadly poison
Dheepam ingae hoo… ho…
The lamp is here, hoo... ho...
Kovil ingae hoo… ho…
The temple is here, hoo... ho...
Dheepam ingae kovil ingae
The lamp is here, the temple is here
Dheivam engae kaadhal nenjae
Where is God, O loving heart?
Sogam vellam aagum ullam
Grief becomes a flood inside the heart
Sondham ondru thaedum
Searching for a companion of its own
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Poovai naan vaada vittenae
I allowed the flower to wither away
Meenai naan oda vittenae…ae….
I let the fish escape away...
Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen
I caught a fish inside a mirage
Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae
I extracted honey from a paper flower, my flower-like deer
Poo maanae…………………
O flower-like deer...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kaanalukkul Meen Pidithaen is a melancholic Tamil song centered on the pain of chasing unattainable illusions and the despair of shattered love. Through vivid, surrealistic metaphors—such as attempting to catch fish in a mirage or seeking sweet honey from a paper flower—the speaker conveys the absurdity and sorrow of seeking genuine warmth in a relationship built on falsehoods and tragic fate. As the song unfolds, the narrative reflects on how a love story that once felt like a magnificent epic turned into a bitter drama. The heart, once delicate like a blossom, dries into a withered leaf, and the nectar of affection turns to poison. It expresses the anguish of walking a lonely path without a destination and living by a river of one's own tears.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox / Surrealism
“Kaanalukkul meen pidithaen”
Attempting to catch fish in a mirage (kaanal) represents chasing impossible and non-existent desires.
Metaphor
“Kaagidha poo thaen eduthaen poo maanae”
Gathering nectar from a 'paper flower' symbolizes seeking true emotion from artificial or superficial love.
Hyperbole
“Kanneer gangai paayum”
Describing tears as a flowing 'Ganges' exaggerates the depth of sorrow to highlight immense heartbreak.
Metaphor
“Nenjam ennum poovo Sarugaai aanadhae”
Comparing the human heart to a flower that has withered into a dry leaf illustrates emotional deadness.
Did you know?
Trivia
Kadhal Parisu (1987) stars Kamal Haasan, Ambika, and Radha. The music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with deeply metaphorical and surrealistic lyrics written by lyricist Na. Kamarasan.
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