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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanave Kanave

From Sketch · 2017

Lyricist
Vijay Shankar
Singer
Vikram
Music director
S. Thaman
Details
Sketch2017

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanavae kanavaeDream, O dream
Pudhu kanavaeA brand new dream
Vizhikkum podhumEven when I wake up
Varum kanavaeA dream that keeps recurring
Manam paravai polavaeMy heart is like a bird
Siragai virithu parakkuthaeSpreading its wings and flying
Male
Thaniyae thaniyaeAll alone, all alone
TholaigirenaeI am getting lost
Tholaivil thooralA drizzle in the distance
VizhugirathaeIs falling down
Manam nanaiya nanaiyaFeeling like getting soaked
ThondruthaeIt feels so
Thuli vilagi poguthaeYet the drop slips away
Male
Unnai thaanae naanumIt is you alone
Paarthae karaindhenaeLooking at whom I melted
Kekkaamal kaalgalWithout asking me, my feet
Undhan pinnae selgirathaeAre walking behind you
Male
Meithaano poithaanoIs this real or a lie?
Ennai naanae kettenaeI asked myself
Hey pennae adi pennaeHey girl, oh girl
Enna vasiyam seithaayo…What spell did you cast on me?
Male
En kannukulla unnaInside my eyes, you
VachathaalaBecause I kept you
ImmaikkaamaWithout blinking
Kaathirunthen naI was waiting
En nenjukulla unnaInside my heart, you
Vachu thaithaenI stitched and kept
Thikki mukkiSuffocated and breathless
Thindaaaduren naI am struggling now
Chorus
En kannukulla unnaInside my eyes, you
VachathaalaBecause I kept you
ImmaikkaamaWithout blinking
Kaathirunthen naI was waiting
En nenjukulla unnaInside my heart, you
Vachu thaithaenI stitched and kept
Thikki mukkiSuffocated and breathless
Thindaaaduren naI am struggling now
Chorus
{Podaathae kaadhal gate-uDon't shut the gate of love
Weight aagum endhan heart-uMy heart will become heavy
Cute-ah nee paarkkum podhuWhen you look at me so cutely
Gaanaa poduPlay a gaana song
Strawberry kanna paarthuLooking at those strawberry eyes
Soodaachu moochu kaathuMy breath has turned hot
Nenjoram yellow rice-uIn the corner of my heart, yellow rice
Kaanaama pochae} (2)Has gone missing
Male
Kanavae…Don't shut the gate of love
Kanavae….kanavae..ae…My heart will become heavy
Male
Kanavae kanavaeWhen you look at me so cutely
Pudhu kanavaePlay a gaana song
Vizhikkum podhumLooking at those strawberry eyes
Varum kanavaeMy breath has turned hot
Manam paravai polavaeIn the corner of my heart, yellow rice
Siragai virithu parakkuthaeHas gone missing
Male
Thaniyae thaniyaeO dream...
TholaigirenaeO dream... dream...
Tholaivil thooralDream, O dream
VizhugirathaeA brand new dream
Manam nanaiya nanaiyaEven when I wake up
ThondruthaeA dream that keeps recurring
Thuli vilagi poguthaeMy heart is like a bird
Chorus
Swag swag swag swagSpreading its wings and flying
Male
Paarvaiyaalae vendravalAll alone, all alone
Vaarthaiyaalae kondravalI am getting lost
Nee yaa…nee yaa..A drizzle in the distance
Male
Memaiyaana pennidamIs falling down
Vanmaiyaaga minnidumFeeling like getting soaked
GunamIt feels so
Male
En kannukulla unnaYet the drop slips away
VachathaalaSwag swag swag swag
ImmaikkaamaThe one who conquered with her look
Kaathirunthen naThe one who killed with her words
En nenjukulla unnaIs it you... is it you?
Vachu thaithaenIn a soft girl
Thikki mukkiFiercely shining
Thindaaaduren naCharacter trait
Chorus
En kannukulla unnaInside my eyes, you
VachathaalaBecause I kept you
ImmaikkaamaWithout blinking
Kaathirunthen naI was waiting
En nenjukulla unnaInside my heart, you
Vachu thaithaenI stitched and kept
Thikki mukkiSuffocated and breathless
Thindaaaduren naI am struggling now
Chorus
{Podaathae kaadhal gate-uInside my eyes, you
Weight aagum endhan heart-uBecause I kept you
Cute-ah nee paarkkum podhuWithout blinking
Gaanaa poduI was waiting
Strawberry kanna paarthuInside my heart, you
Soodaachu moochu kaathuI stitched and kept
Nenjoram yellow rice-uSuffocated and breathless
Kaanaama pochae} (2)I am struggling now
Male
Kanavae…..Don't shut the gate of love
Kanavae kanavaeMy heart will become heavy
Pudhu kanavaeWhen you look at me so cutely
Vizhikkum podhumPlay a gaana song
Varum kanavaeLooking at those strawberry eyes
Manam paravai polavaeMy breath has turned hot
Siragai virithu parakkuthaeIn the corner of my heart, yellow rice
Chorus
{Swag swag swag swag} (3)Has gone missing
Male
Kanavae….. Chorus : Swag.. swagDon't shut the gate of love
Kanavae kanavaeMy heart will become heavy
Pudhu kanavae…When you look at me so cutely

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kanave Kanave' (also known as 'Kanave Kanave / Swag' from the movie Sketch) expresses the protagonist's deep fascination and overwhelming feelings of love for his beloved. He compares his state of mind to living in a continuous dream that stays with him even when awake. His heart feels free like a bird, yet completely mesmerized and helpless under her charm.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Manam paravai polavae

Compares the mind directly to a bird spreading wings to fly ('Manam paravai polavae siragai virithu parakkuthae').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En nenjukulla unna vachu thaithaen

Metaphorically describes keeping the lover stitched inside the heart ('En nenjukulla unna vachu thaithaen').

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku Thodar)

Kanavae kanavae

Repetition of words like 'Kanavae kanavae' and 'Thaniyae thaniyae' for rhythmic emphasis.

Rhyme / Assonance (Monai & Ethirai)

Paarvaiyaalae vendraval / Vaarthaiyaalae kondraval

Rhythmic rhyming of 'Paarvaiyaalae vendraval' and 'Vaarthaiyaalae kondraval' enhancing the musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Kanave Kanave' is featured in the 2017 Tamil action film 'Sketch', starring Vikram and Tamannaah. The music for the film was composed by S. Thaman, and the lyrics for this energetic track were penned by director Vijay Chandar himself, blending contemporary slang with traditional gaana flavor.

Keep listening

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