Kanava Idhu Unmaiya
From Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Salangaiyil Oru Sangeetham1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa | Is this a dream or reality? |
| Azhagae idhu penmaiyaa | O beauty, is this true womanhood? |
| Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa | Is this a dream or reality? |
| Azagae idhu penmaiyaa | O beauty, is this true womanhood? |
| Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya | O flower, did you soak in honey? |
| Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa | Did you come yourself and unite with me? |
| Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya | O flower, did you soak in honey? |
| Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa | Did you come yourself and unite with me? |
| Female | |
| Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa | Is this a dream or reality? |
| Manamae badhil illaiyaa | O mind, is there no answer? |
| Male | |
| Un salangai osai ellaam yaaradi | Whom does the sound of your anklets belong to, my dear? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Adhu endhan perai | Listen, my dear, it always sings |
| Naalum paadum keladi | My name every single day |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Un salangai osai ellaam yaaradi | Whom does the sound of your anklets belong to, my dear? |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Adhu endhan perai | Listen, my dear, it always sings |
| Naalum paadum keladi | My name every single day |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Vaazhkkai pogum pokkilae pogudhae | Life drifts along in whatever way it flows |
| Vaazhga endru solladi vaazhgiren | Just say 'live long' and I will live |
| Azhagae azhagae marukkaadhae | O beauty, beauty, do not refuse me |
| Jathiyae sudhiyai verukkaadhae | O rhythm, do not detest the musical pitch |
| Female | |
| Manamae badhil illaiyaa | O mind, is there no answer? |
| Male | |
| Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae | I have bestowed a kiss upon you, my swan-like love |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Adhu ullirundhu thee | It ignites a fire from deep within |
| Valarkkum innumae | And will continue to kindle it further |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae | I have bestowed a kiss upon you, my swan-like love |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Adhu ullirundhu thee | It ignites a fire from deep within |
| Valarkkum innumae | And will continue to kindle it further |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… |
| Male | |
| Mannil vaazhndha vaazhkkaiyae | The life lived on this earth so far |
| Paadhiyae | Is merely half of what is meant to be |
| Illai endru povadho meedhiyae | Will the remainder vanish into nothingness? |
| Mayilae mayilae vara vendum | O peacock, peacock, you must come to me |
| Madiyil urangum varam vaendum | I seek the divine blessing to sleep in your lap |
| Female | |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… | Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… |
| Female | |
| Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa | Is this a dream or reality? |
| Manamae badhil illaiyaa | O mind, is there no answer? |
| Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa | Is this a dream or reality? |
| Manamae badhil illaiyaa | O mind, is there no answer? |
| Nadanam aada manam thullum | The heart leaps in excitement to dance |
| Vidhiyai kettaal vidai sollum | If you question fate, it will yield the answer |
கனவா இது உண்மையா
அழகே இது பெண்மையா
கனவா இது உண்மையா
அழகே இது பெண்மையா
பூவே தேனில் நனைந்தாயா
நீயே வந்து இணைந்தாயா
பூவே தேனில் நனைந்தாயா
நீயே வந்து இணைந்தாயா
Is this a dream or reality?
O beauty, is this true womanhood?
Is this a dream or reality?
O beauty, is this true womanhood?
O flower, did you soak in honey?
Did you come yourself and unite with me?
O flower, did you soak in honey?
Did you come yourself and unite with me?
கனவா இது உண்மையா
மனமே பதில் இல்லையா
Is this a dream or reality?
O mind, is there no answer?
உன் சலங்கை ஓசை எல்லாம் யாரடி
Whom does the sound of your anklets belong to, my dear?
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…
அது எந்தன் பேரை
நாளும் பாடும் கேளடி
Listen, my dear, it always sings
My name every single day
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…
உன் சலங்கை ஓசை எல்லாம் யாரடி
Whom does the sound of your anklets belong to, my dear?
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…
அது எந்தன் பேரை
நாளும் பாடும் கேளடி
Listen, my dear, it always sings
My name every single day
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…
வாழ்க்கை போகும் போக்கிலே போகுதே
வாழ்க என்று சொல்லடி வாழ்கிறேன்
அழகே அழகே மறுக்காதே
ஜதியே சுதியை வெறுக்காதே
Life drifts along in whatever way it flows
Just say 'live long' and I will live
O beauty, beauty, do not refuse me
O rhythm, do not detest the musical pitch
மனமே பதில் இல்லையா…….
O mind, is there no answer?
முத்தம் ஒன்று சிந்தி விட்டேன் அன்னமே
I have bestowed a kiss upon you, my swan-like love
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…
அது உள்ளிருந்து தீ வளர்க்கும் இன்னுமே
It ignites a fire from deep within
And will continue to kindle it further
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...
Aa… aa… aa…
மண்ணில் வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கையே
பாதியே
இல்லை என்று போவதோ மீதியே
மயிலே மயிலே வர வேண்டும்
மடியில் உறங்கும் வரம் வேண்டும்
I have bestowed a kiss upon you, my swan-like love
ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ...ஆ......ஆ.....ஆ.....ஆ.....
Aa… aa… aa…
ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆ.....ஆ......ஆ.....
It ignites a fire from deep within
And will continue to kindle it further
கனவா இது உண்மையா
மனமே பதில் இல்லையா
கனவா இது உண்மையா
மனமே பதில் இல்லையா
நடனம் ஆட மனம் துள்ளும்
விதியை கேட்டால் விடை சொல்லும்
Aa… aa… aa…
The life lived on this earth so far
Is merely half of what is meant to be
Will the remainder vanish into nothingness?
O peacock, peacock, you must come to me
I seek the divine blessing to sleep in your lap
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Is this a dream or reality?
O mind, is there no answer?
Is this a dream or reality?
O mind, is there no answer?
The heart leaps in excitement to dance
If you question fate, it will yield the answer
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Is this a dream or reality?
Azhagae idhu penmaiyaa
O beauty, is this true womanhood?
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Is this a dream or reality?
Azagae idhu penmaiyaa
O beauty, is this true womanhood?
Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya
O flower, did you soak in honey?
Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa
Did you come yourself and unite with me?
Poovae thaenil nanaindhaaya
O flower, did you soak in honey?
Neeyae vandhu inaindhaayaa
Did you come yourself and unite with me?
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Is this a dream or reality?
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
O mind, is there no answer?
Un salangai osai ellaam yaaradi
Whom does the sound of your anklets belong to, my dear?
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu endhan perai
Listen, my dear, it always sings
Naalum paadum keladi
My name every single day
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Un salangai osai ellaam yaaradi
Whom does the sound of your anklets belong to, my dear?
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu endhan perai
Listen, my dear, it always sings
Naalum paadum keladi
My name every single day
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Vaazhkkai pogum pokkilae pogudhae
Life drifts along in whatever way it flows
Vaazhga endru solladi vaazhgiren
Just say 'live long' and I will live
Azhagae azhagae marukkaadhae
O beauty, beauty, do not refuse me
Jathiyae sudhiyai verukkaadhae
O rhythm, do not detest the musical pitch
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
O mind, is there no answer?
Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae
I have bestowed a kiss upon you, my swan-like love
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu ullirundhu thee
It ignites a fire from deep within
Valarkkum innumae
And will continue to kindle it further
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Mutham ondru sindhi vitten annamae
I have bestowed a kiss upon you, my swan-like love
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Adhu ullirundhu thee
It ignites a fire from deep within
Valarkkum innumae
And will continue to kindle it further
Aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa…
Mannil vaazhndha vaazhkkaiyae
The life lived on this earth so far
Paadhiyae
Is merely half of what is meant to be
Illai endru povadho meedhiyae
Will the remainder vanish into nothingness?
Mayilae mayilae vara vendum
O peacock, peacock, you must come to me
Madiyil urangum varam vaendum
I seek the divine blessing to sleep in your lap
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Is this a dream or reality?
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
O mind, is there no answer?
Kanavaa idhu unmaiyaa
Is this a dream or reality?
Manamae badhil illaiyaa
O mind, is there no answer?
Nadanam aada manam thullum
The heart leaps in excitement to dance
Vidhiyai kettaal vidai sollum
If you question fate, it will yield the answer
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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