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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavile

From Kanavile Lyrics · 2018

Lyricist
Navneeth Sundar
Singer
Aalap Raju
Music director
Navneeth Sundar
Movie name
Kanavile Lyrics
Movie release year
2018
Lyrics added on
9 May 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanavilae thana nana nana nana nana
Isaiyaa mozhiyaa
Nee varugaiyil gama gama gama gama
Athu swaramaa manamaa
Idhayamae pada pada pada pada pada
Thudippaa nadippaa
Ezhum kavithaigal chuda chuda chuda chuda
Uyirin pidippaa
Nee enathae enathae
En swasamae unnodu
Naan vizhunthen azhuthen
Penn kaadhal konden
Adada adada varangal meithaano
Kanavilae thana nana nana nana nana
Isaiyaa mozhiyaa
Nee varugaiyil gama gama gama gama
Athu swaramaa manamaa
Idhayamae pada pada pada pada pada
Thudippaa nadippaa
Ezhum kavithaigal chuda chuda chuda chuda
Uyirin pidippaa
Pesathu bothu
Un mounam gaanam paadatho
Naan thoongum neram
Athuvae thaan thaalattatho
Pennaga unnai
Padaithavanae mayam seidhaano
En nenjil unnai
Vaithae thaiyal pottaano
Yaar ival en katrodu thaan
Ivalae en idhalin paatodu thaan
Mudhalo mudivo
Enathu uyir ival thaanae
Kanavilae thana nana nana nana nana
Isaiyaa mozhiyaa
Nee varugaiyil gama gama gama gama
Athu swaramaa manamaa
Idhayamae pada pada pada pada pada
Thudippaa nadippaa
Ezhum kavithaigal chuda chuda chuda chuda
Uyirin pidippaa
Nee enathae enathae
En swasamae unnodu
Naan vizhunthen azhuthen
Penn kaadhal konden
Adada adada varangal meithaano
Hmm hmm heyyy
Isaiyaa mozhiyaa
Hmm hmm hmm ahhh
Swaramaa manamaa
In a dream, tha na na na na na
Is it music, or is it words?
When you arrive with such sweet fragrance,
Is it a musical note, or a sweet scent?
My heart beats fast, pit-a-pat,
Is it a true heartbeat, or just an act?
The poems that rise, fresh and warm,
Is it life holding on tight?
You are mine, only mine
My very breath is with you
I fell, I wept,
Girl, I fell in love
Oh my, are these blessings truly real?
In a dream, tha na na na na na
Is it music, or is it words?
When you arrive with such sweet fragrance,
Is it a musical note, or a sweet scent?
My heart beats fast, pit-a-pat,
Is it a true heartbeat, or just an act?
The poems that rise, fresh and warm,
Is it life holding on tight?
When you say nothing at all,
Doesn't your silence sing a song?
When I go to sleep,
Doesn't it sing me a lullaby?
In creating you as a woman,
Did the Creator work magic?
Placing you inside my heart,
Did He stitch it shut?
Who is she in the air I breathe?
She is the song upon my lips
The beginning or the end,
She is my very life
In a dream, tha na na na na na
Is it music, or is it words?
When you arrive with such sweet fragrance,
Is it a musical note, or a sweet scent?
My heart beats fast, pit-a-pat,
Is it a true heartbeat, or just an act?
The poems that rise, fresh and warm,
Is it life holding on tight?
You are mine, only mine
My very breath is with you
I fell, I wept,
Girl, I fell in love
Oh my, are these blessings truly real?
Mmm mmm hey
Is it music, or is it words?
Mmm mmm mmm aah
Is it a musical note, or a sweet scent?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kanavile explores the dreamy, euphoric sensation of being captivated by a beloved. The lyrics blur the lines between sensory experiences—questioning if the lover's presence is music, language, fragrance, or magic. The narrator experiences physical and emotional awakenings, feeling as though poetry erupts within him and his heart flutters at her presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irattai Kilaivi (Anaphoric/Onomatopoeic Echo Words)

Nee varugaiyil gama gama gama gama

Use of doubled rhythm words like 'gama gama' (evoking swaras/fragrance), 'pada pada' (rapid heartbeat), and 'chuda chuda' (steaming hot/freshness) to enhance sensory description.

Rhetorical Questioning (Vinah Ani)

Isaiyaa mozhiyaa

Posing series of poetic questions comparing abstract emotions to physical senses (music vs speech, swaras vs fragrance).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

En nenjil unnai vaithae thaiyal pottaano

Hyperbolic imagery depicting the Creator placing the beloved inside the lover's heart and stitching it shut.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics uniquely play on musical terminologies such as 'Swaram' (musical notes), 'Gama' (referencing Gamaka, a key element in Carnatic music), and 'Gaanam' (song/melody), reflecting lyricist Navneeth Sundar's strong background in Indian classical and fusion music compositions.

Keep listening

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Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.