Kanava Illai
From Thandanai · 1985
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Chandrabose
- Details
- Thandanai1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa | Is this a dream or a story? |
| Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa | Is this what fate dictates? |
| Kaadhal endroru deepam | The lamp named love, |
| Kaatril saainddhathu paavam | It is a pity it tilted in the wind. |
| En mel ennadi kovam | Why this anger at me? |
| Kannae kanmaniyae.. | Oh my dear, my precious apple of my eye... |
| Male | |
| Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa | Is this a dream or a story? |
| Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa | Is this what fate dictates? |
| Male | |
| Endhan kaadhal koyil | The temple of my love, |
| Indru vendhathu ingae theeyil | Burnt today here in fire. |
| Thullidum aasai maanae | Oh playful, yearning deer, |
| Ingu kolliyai vaithavan naanae | I am the one who set fire to it here. |
| Male | |
| Manadhinil undhan ninaivugalae | In my mind, memories of you |
| Kadal alai pole alaigirathae | Surge like ocean waves. |
| Indru yeno naanum vaazhgiren | Today, why am I even living? |
| Male | |
| Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa | Is this a dream or a story? |
| Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa | Is this what fate dictates? |
| Male | |
| Kangalil kanneer odum | Tears flow in my eyes, |
| Thunba kaaviyam naalum paadum | Singing an epic of sorrow every day. |
| Unakkadhu engae ketkum | Where will you ever hear it? |
| Idhu oomaiyin raagam aagum | This becomes the melody of a mute person. |
| Male | |
| Malarvanam ingae erigirathae | The garden of flowers is burning here, |
| Vasanthathil ilaigal uthirgirathae | Leaves are falling even during spring. |
| Ithu nyaayam thaanaa kanmani | Is this justice, my precious one? |
| Male | |
| Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa | Is this a dream or a story? |
| Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa | Is this what fate dictates? |
| Kaadhal endroru deepam | The lamp named love, |
| Kaatril saainddhathu paavam | It is a pity it tilted in the wind. |
| En mel ennadi kovam | Why this anger at me? |
| Kannae kanmaniyae.. | Oh my dear, my precious apple of my eye... |
| Male | |
| Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa | Is this a dream or a story? |
| Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa | Is this what fate dictates? |
கனவா இல்லை கதையா
இதுதான் சொல்லும் விதியா
காதல் என்றொரு தீபம்
காற்றில் சாய்ந்தது பாவம்
என் மேல் என்னடி கோபம்
கண்ணே கண்மணியே......
Is this a dream or a story?
Is this what fate dictates?
The lamp named love,
It is a pity it tilted in the wind.
Why this anger at me?
Oh my dear, my precious apple of my eye...
கனவா இல்லை கதையா
இதுதான் சொல்லும் விதியா
Is this a dream or a story?
Is this what fate dictates?
எந்தன் காதல் கோயில்
இன்று வெந்தது இங்கே தீயில்
துள்ளிடும் ஆசை மானே
இங்கு கொள்ளியை வைத்தவன் நானே
The temple of my love,
Burnt today here in fire.
Oh playful, yearning deer,
I am the one who set fire to it here.
மனதினில் உந்தன் நினைவுகளே
கடலலை போலே அலைகிறதே
இன்று ஏனோ நானும் வாழ்கிறேன்....
In my mind, memories of you
Surge like ocean waves.
Today, why am I even living?
கனவா இல்லை கதையா
இதுதான் சொல்லும் விதியா
Is this a dream or a story?
Is this what fate dictates?
கண்களில் கண்ணீர் ஓடும்
துன்ப காவியம் நாளும் பாடும்
உனக்கது எங்கே கேட்கும்
இது ஊமையின் ராகம் ஆகும்
Tears flow in my eyes,
Singing an epic of sorrow every day.
Where will you ever hear it?
This becomes the melody of a mute person.
மலர்வனம் இங்கே எரிகிறதே
வசந்தத்தில் இலைகள் உதிர்கிறதே
இது ஞாயம் தானா கண்மணி
The garden of flowers is burning here,
Leaves are falling even during spring.
Is this justice, my precious one?
கனவா இல்லை கதையா
இதுதான் சொல்லும் விதியா
காதல் என்றொரு தீபம்
காற்றில் சாய்ந்தது பாவம்
என் மேல் என்னடி கோபம்
கண்ணே கண்மணியே......
Is this a dream or a story?
Is this what fate dictates?
The lamp named love,
It is a pity it tilted in the wind.
Why this anger at me?
Oh my dear, my precious apple of my eye...
கனவா இல்லை கதையா
இதுதான் சொல்லும் விதியா
Is this a dream or a story?
Is this what fate dictates?
Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa
Is this a dream or a story?
Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa
Is this what fate dictates?
Kaadhal endroru deepam
The lamp named love,
Kaatril saainddhathu paavam
It is a pity it tilted in the wind.
En mel ennadi kovam
Why this anger at me?
Kannae kanmaniyae..
Oh my dear, my precious apple of my eye...
Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa
Is this a dream or a story?
Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa
Is this what fate dictates?
Endhan kaadhal koyil
The temple of my love,
Indru vendhathu ingae theeyil
Burnt today here in fire.
Thullidum aasai maanae
Oh playful, yearning deer,
Ingu kolliyai vaithavan naanae
I am the one who set fire to it here.
Manadhinil undhan ninaivugalae
In my mind, memories of you
Kadal alai pole alaigirathae
Surge like ocean waves.
Indru yeno naanum vaazhgiren
Today, why am I even living?
Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa
Is this a dream or a story?
Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa
Is this what fate dictates?
Kangalil kanneer odum
Tears flow in my eyes,
Thunba kaaviyam naalum paadum
Singing an epic of sorrow every day.
Unakkadhu engae ketkum
Where will you ever hear it?
Idhu oomaiyin raagam aagum
This becomes the melody of a mute person.
Malarvanam ingae erigirathae
The garden of flowers is burning here,
Vasanthathil ilaigal uthirgirathae
Leaves are falling even during spring.
Ithu nyaayam thaanaa kanmani
Is this justice, my precious one?
Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa
Is this a dream or a story?
Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa
Is this what fate dictates?
Kaadhal endroru deepam
The lamp named love,
Kaatril saainddhathu paavam
It is a pity it tilted in the wind.
En mel ennadi kovam
Why this anger at me?
Kannae kanmaniyae..
Oh my dear, my precious apple of my eye...
Kanavaa illai kadhaiyaa
Is this a dream or a story?
Idhu thaan sollum vidhiyaa
Is this what fate dictates?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply emotional lament of a lover burdened by intense guilt and heartbreak. He struggles to accept the cruel reality, asking whether his tragic plight is merely a bad dream or an unfair story written by destiny. He compares his lost love to a temple burnt to ashes and a delicate lamp extinguished by gusty winds, confessing with remorse that he himself caused this destruction. Haunted by relentless memories that rise like turbulent ocean waves, he laments how his sorrow has become an unheard melody—a song sung by a mute person. Unnatural, tragic imagery like leaves shedding during springtime and a blooming garden going up in flames emphasizes the unnatural depth of his grief and despair.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Kaadhal endroru deepam”
Comparing love to a fragile lamp ('Kaadhal endroru deepam') and a sacred temple ('Endhan kaadhal koyil'). Also describing unheard grief as 'Oomaiyin raagam' (melody of a mute).
Simile (Upamai)
“Kadal alai pole alaigirathae”
Comparing the surging and restless memories in the mind to the constant movement of ocean waves using 'pole' (like).
Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thullidum aasai maanae / Ingu kolliyai vaithavan naanae”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'lli' across consecutive lines (Thullidum / Kolliyai).
Paradox / Imagery
“Vasanthathil ilaigal uthirgirathae”
Describing leaves falling in spring ('Vasanthathil ilaigal uthirgirathae'), which symbolically represents loss and death during a time meant for life and bloom.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Chandrabose for the 1985 film 'Thandanai', this song stands out for SPB's soulful rendering and Pulamaipithan's poignant lyricism using classical Tamil tragic motifs.
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