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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanave Kalaiyadhe

From Kannedhirey Thondrinal · 1998

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
P. Unnikrishnan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Kannedhirey Thondrinal1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ahaa….aaaa….aaa…aaaAhaa....aaaa....aaa...aaa
Aaaa……aaaa….a.aa…..Aaaa......aaaa....a.aa.....
Male
Kanavae kalaiyaadhaeOh dream, do not fade away
Kaadhal kanavae kalaiyaadhaeOh dream of love, do not fade away
Male
Kai yendhiyae naan ketpadhuWhat I ask with open hands
Orr yaasagamIs a humble plea for alms
Kann jaadaiyil nee pesiduSpeak to me with a glance of your eye
Orr vaasagamJust a single word
Male
Maragadha vaarththai sollvaayaa…aa…Will you speak a precious emerald-like word?
Mounaththinaalae kollvaaayaaOr will you kill me with your silence?
Chinna thiruvaai malarvaayaWill you open your small sacred lips?
Male
Kai yendhiyae naan ketpadhuWhat I ask with open hands
Orr yaasagamIs a humble plea for alms
Kann jaadaiyil nee pesiduSpeak to me with a glance of your eye
Orr vaasagamJust a single word
Male
Kanavae kalaiyaadhaeOh dream, do not fade away
Kaadhal kanavae kalaiyaadhaeOh dream of love, do not fade away
Female
{Thaam thakkitathoom{Rhythmic beats: Thaam thakkitathoom
Thakkitathom thakkitathomThakkitathom thakkitathom
Thaam thomkitta thakkitathoom} (2)Thaam thomkitta thakkitathoom} (2)
Male
Nee mounam kaakkumbodhumEven when you maintain your silence
Unn saarbil endhan peraiMy name on your behalf
Unn thotta pookkal sollum illaiyaaDo not the flowers touched by you speak it?
Female
Oru thendral thattumbodhumWhen a gentle breeze touches them
Kadum puyalae muttumbodhumOr when a fierce storm dashes against them
Ada pookkal poigal solvadhillaiyaeOh, flowers do not utter lies
Male
Unn idhazhai kettaalIf I ask your lips
Adhu poigal sollumThey will tell lies
Unn idhayam kettaalIf I ask your heart
Adhu meigal sollumIt will tell the truth
Female
Mmm… idhayaththai ketkka neramillaiMmm... there is no time to ask the heart
Idhu varai idhayaththil yaarumillaiUntil now, there is no one in my heart
Sandhu kidaiththaal nuzhaivaayaaIf you find a tiny gap, will you enter?
Male
Kai yendhiyae naan ketpadhuWhat I ask with open hands
Orr yaasagamIs a humble plea for alms
Kann jaadaiyil nee pesiduSpeak to me with a glance of your eye
Orr vaasagamJust a single word
Female
{Thaam thakkitathoom{Rhythmic beats: Thaam thakkitathoom
Thakkitathom thakkitathomThakkitathom thakkitathom
Thaam thomkitta thakkitathoom} (2)Thaam thomkitta thakkitathoom} (2)
Male
Unmai kaadhal unduTrue love exists
Adhai ullae vaiththukkonduHolding it hidden inside
Oru manmadha sabaiyilIn the court of Lord Cupid
Saabam vaangaadhaeDo not incur a curse
Female
Melliya mazhaiyin thuligalDelicate drops of rain
Oru megaththukkul unduExist within a cloud
Adhu thaanae pozhiyumIt will pour on its own accord
Pizhiyap paarkkaadhaeDo not try to force or squeeze it
Male
Nee mazhai tharum mugilaAre you a cloud that brings rain,
Illai idi tharum mugilaOr a cloud that brings thunder?
En ver nanaippaaya illai vilagiduvaayaWill you drench my roots, or move away?
Female
Aavani maadham kazhiyattumaeLet the month of Aavani pass by
Kaarththigai vandhaal mazhai varumaeWhen Kaarthigai arrives, the rain will fall
Innum sila naal poru manamaeBe patient for a few more days, oh heart
Male
Kai yendhiyae naan ketpadhuWhat I ask with open hands
Orr yaasagamIs a humble plea for alms
Kann jaadaiyil nee pesiduSpeak to me with a glance of your eye
Orr vaasagamJust a single word
Male
Kanavae kalaiyaadhaeOh dream, do not fade away
Kaadhal kanavae kalaiyaadhaeOh dream of love, do not fade away
Male
Kai yendhiyae naan ketpadhuWhat I ask with open hands
Orr yaasagamIs a humble plea for alms
Kann jaadaiyil nee pesiduSpeak to me with a glance of your eye
Orr vaasagamJust a single word
Male
Maragadha vaarththai sollvaayaa…aa…Will you speak a precious emerald-like word?
Mounaththinaalae kollvaaayaaOr will you kill me with your silence?
Chinna thiruvaai malarvaayaWill you open your small sacred lips?
Male
Kai yendhiyae naan ketpadhuWhat I ask with open hands
Orr yaasagamIs a humble plea for alms
Kann jaadaiyil nee pesiduSpeak to me with a glance of your eye
Orr vaasagamJust a single word

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kanave Kalaiyadhe is a poignant romantic track expressing the deep yearning and vulnerability of a lover begging for a sign of affection. The protagonist compares asking for love to seeking alms, pleading for even a small gesture or a glance to keep their romantic dream alive rather than being crushed by silence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Maragadha vaarththai sollvaayaa…aa…

Maragadha vaarththai translates to emerald word, metaphorically describing words of love as precious gems.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Orr yaasagam / Orr vaasagam

The second consonant sound 's' matches across 'Yaasagam' and 'Vaasagam', creating a melodious poetic cadence.

Antithesis

Adhu poigal sollum / Adhu meigal sollum

Contrasts lies (poigal) spoken by the lips with truths (meigal) known by the heart.

Nature Metaphor

Nee mazhai tharum mugila / Illai idi tharum mugila

Compares emotions to rain clouds, contrasting a cloud that brings life-giving rain versus thunder.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Deva for the 1998 hit movie Kannedhirey Thondrinal starring Prashanth and Simran, this track is famous for Hariharan's expressive vocal rendition paired with Vairamuthu's poetic lyrics.

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