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Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanava Idhu Unmaiya

From Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
19 Feb 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Azhagae idhu penmaiyaa
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Azagae idhu penmaiyaa
Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya
Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa
Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya
Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
Un salangai osai ellaam yaaradi
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu endhan perai
Naalum paadum keladi
Aa… aa… aa…
Un salangai osai ellaam yaaradi
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu endhan perai
Naalum paadum keladi
Aa… aa… aa…
Vaazhkkai pogum pokkilae pogudhae
Vaazhga endru solladi vaazhgiren
Azhagae azhagae marukkaadhae
Jathiyae sudhiyai verukkaadhae
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu ullirundhu thee
Valarkkum innumae
Aa… aa… aa…
Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu ullirundhu thee
Valarkkum innumae
Aa… aa… aa…
Mannil vaazhndha vaazhkkaiyae
Paadhiyae
Illai endru povadho meedhiyae
Mayilae mayilae vara vendum
Madiyil urangum varam vaendum
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
Nadanam aada manam thullum
Vidhiyai kettaal vidai sollum
Is this a dream, or is it real?
Oh beauty, is this what womanhood is?
Is this a dream, or is it real?
Oh beauty, is this what womanhood is?
Oh flower, did you soak in honey?
Did you come on your own to unite with me?
Oh flower, did you soak in honey?
Did you come on your own to unite with me?
Is this a dream, or is it real?
Oh heart, have you no answer?
Whom is all the sound of your dancing bells calling, girl?
Ah… ah… ah…
It is my name
that it sings every day—listen, girl!
Ah… ah… ah…
Whom is all the sound of your dancing bells calling, girl?
Ah… ah… ah…
It is my name
that it sings every day—listen, girl!
Ah… ah… ah…
Life simply drifts along its own path
Just tell me to live, girl, and I will live
Oh beauty, oh beauty, do not turn me away
Oh dance rhythm, do not reject the musical pitch
Oh heart, have you no answer?
I have showered a kiss on you, my gentle swan
Ah… ah… ah…
It kindles a flame from within,
and keeps it burning even now
Ah… ah… ah…
I have showered a kiss on you, my gentle swan
Ah… ah… ah…
It kindles a flame from within,
and keeps it burning even now
Ah… ah… ah…
The life I have lived on this earth
is only half,
will the remaining half also disappear into nothing?
Oh graceful peacock, you must come to me
I need the blessing of sleeping on your lap
Ah… ah… ah… ah… ah… ah…
Is this a dream, or is it real?
Oh heart, have you no answer?
Is this a dream, or is it real?
Oh heart, have you no answer?
The heart leaps up to dance,
and if you ask destiny, it will reveal the answer
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poetic track captures the surreal emotion of profound love and togetherness, where the protagonist wonders whether the current joy is a sweet reality or an ethereal dream. Through lush sensory language, the speaker compares the beloved to a flower drenched in honey, a swan, and a peacock, expressing a deep desire for emotional and spiritual union. Musical metaphors—such as comparing their relationship to the harmony between rhythm (jathi) and pitch (sruti)—highlight the deep cultural and artistic resonance of their love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya / Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa

The line endings 'nanaindhaaya' and 'inaindhaayaa' create a melodious end-rhyme scheme common in Tamil lyrical poetry.

Musical Metaphor

Jathiyae sudhiyai verukkaadhae

The lyrics metaphorically liken the lovers to 'Jathi' (dance rhythm) and 'Sudhi' (musical pitch/pitch control), emphasizing that love requires perfect artistic harmony.

Uwamai (Anatomy/Avian Metaphor)

Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae

Addressing the beloved as 'annamae' (swan) and 'mayilae' (peacock) employs classical Tamil romantic symbolism attributing grace and beauty to avian imagery.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song uses rich artistic terminology derived from Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, such as 'salangai' (anklets), 'jathi' (rhythmic patterns), and 'sudhi' (pitch scale), reflecting Vairamuthu's signature style of blending classical art forms into cinematic poetry.

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