Kanavilum
From Themmangu Paattukaaran · 1997
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- Bhavatharani
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Themmangu Paattukaaran1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanavilum undhan mugam | Your face is in my dreams, |
| Ninaivilum undhan mugam | Your face is in my conscious thoughts as well, |
| Varuvadhennavoo..ooo | Why does it keep appearing? Oh... |
| Female | |
| Kaatrilae yedho ondru | There is something lingering in the breeze, |
| Kalandhidum nenjil ondru | Something that merges into my heart, |
| Varuvadhennavoo..ooo | Why does it keep coming? Oh... |
| Female | |
| En kaadhal kovil | In this temple of my love, |
| Vaazhum deivam ingu nee thaan | You are the living deity who resides here, |
| Varam ondru vendum ena ketkkum | Asking for a single boon from you, |
| Kodhai naan thaan | That maiden is me, |
| Female | |
| En idhayam ingae | My heart is right here, |
| Athu unnai thedudhu | It goes searching for you, |
| Unakaaga thaane | Only for your sake, |
| Dhinam ingu vaadudhu | It pines away here every day. |
கனவிலும் உந்தன் முகம்
நினைவிலும் உந்தன் முகம்
வருவதென்னவோ....ஓ
Your face is in my dreams,
Your face is in my conscious thoughts as well,
Why does it keep appearing? Oh...
காற்றிலே ஏதோ ஒன்று
கலைந்திடும் நெஞ்சில் ஒன்று
வருவதென்னவோ....ஓ
There is something lingering in the breeze,
Something that merges into my heart,
Why does it keep coming? Oh...
என் காதல் கோவில்
வாழும் தெய்வம் இங்கு நீதான்
வரம் ஒன்று வேண்டும் என கேட்கும்
கோதை நான்தான்
In this temple of my love,
You are the living deity who resides here,
Asking for a single boon from you,
That maiden is me,
என் இதயம் இங்கே
அது உன்னை தேடுது
உனக்காகதானே
தினம் இங்கு வாடுது
My heart is right here,
It goes searching for you,
Only for your sake,
It pines away here every day.
Kanavilum undhan mugam
Your face is in my dreams,
Ninaivilum undhan mugam
Your face is in my conscious thoughts as well,
Varuvadhennavoo..ooo
Why does it keep appearing? Oh...
Kaatrilae yedho ondru
There is something lingering in the breeze,
Kalandhidum nenjil ondru
Something that merges into my heart,
Varuvadhennavoo..ooo
Why does it keep coming? Oh...
En kaadhal kovil
In this temple of my love,
Vaazhum deivam ingu nee thaan
You are the living deity who resides here,
Varam ondru vendum ena ketkkum
Asking for a single boon from you,
Kodhai naan thaan
That maiden is me,
En idhayam ingae
My heart is right here,
Athu unnai thedudhu
It goes searching for you,
Unakaaga thaane
Only for your sake,
Dhinam ingu vaadudhu
It pines away here every day.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song captures a woman's deep romantic yearning and devotion toward her lover. She describes how his image constantly fills both her dreams and waking moments, while an indefinable feeling lingers in the air and blends into her heart. Frame by frame, she expresses her profound love by comparing her affection to a temple where her lover is the residing deity and she is the devotee praying for his presence. Her heart continuously searches for him, silently wilting away in separation each day.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Anaphora / Parallelism
“Kanavilum undhan mugam / Ninaivilum undhan mugam”
The repeating structural frame 'Kanavilum undhan mugam / Ninaivilum undhan mugam' creates rhythmic symmetry emphasizing constant remembrance.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“En kaadhal kovil / Vaazhum deivam ingu nee thaan”
Love is metaphorically equated to a temple ('kaadhal kovil') and the lover is elevated to a living deity ('vaazhum deivam').
Personification
“En idhayam ingae / Athu unnai thedudhu”
The speaker's heart ('idhayam') is personified as an active entity searching for the beloved and pining away daily.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song comes from the 1997 Tamil film 'Themmangu Paattukaaran', featuring lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran, showcasing classic folk-infused romantic lyricism typical of 90s Tamil cinema.
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