Kanavodu Yengum
From Anbe Odi Vaa · 1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aa | [Vocalizing] |
| Aaa…aaa…aaa….aahaa… aahaa… haa | [Vocalizing] |
| Female | |
| Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi | A young tender vine longing in dreams |
| Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi hohoho | Cannot bear to look at the mirror, oh! |
| Female | |
| Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi | A young tender vine longing in dreams |
| Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi | Cannot bear to look at the mirror |
| En maunam en ennam sollaadho | Will my silence not speak my thoughts? |
| Sollaamal en penmai thallaadaadho | Without speaking, will my womanhood not falter? |
| Female | |
| Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi | A young tender vine longing in dreams |
| Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi | Cannot bear to look at the mirror |
| Female | |
| Kaalangalae sollungalae | O passing times, tell me |
| Kaadhal oru maayam | Is love an illusion? |
| Kaanaamalum aaraamalum | Unseen and unhealed |
| Nenjil oru kaayam | There is a wound in my heart |
| Naetru varai en vaasalil naan pottadhae kolam | Until yesterday, it was I who drew decorative patterns at my doorstep |
| Neeraadum ninaivugalae nenjin baaramaa | Are these bathing memories now a heavy burden on my heart? |
| Aadai kondu moodum nilaa yaar adhu naanaa | A moon draped in clothing, who is that, is it me? |
| Female | |
| Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi | A young tender vine longing in dreams |
| Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi | Cannot bear to look at the mirror |
| Female | |
| En jannalin oram vandhu | Coming near my window |
| Thendral ennai paarkkum | The gentle breeze gazes at me |
| Ennai kandu paavam endru | Seeing me and taking pity on me |
| Thendral mugam vaerkkum | The gentle breeze breaks into a sweat on its face |
| Neendhi chellum megam ondru | A floating cloud swimming across |
| Yedho ennai ketkum | Asks me something softly |
| Kanavil varum rojaakkal vaasam veesumaa | Do roses appearing in dreams scatter real fragrance? |
| Kaar kaalathil paadum kuyil yaar adhu naanaa | The cuckoo singing in the rainy season, who is that, is it me? |
| Female | |
| Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi | A young tender vine longing in dreams |
| Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi | Cannot bear to look at the mirror |
| En maunam en ennam sollaadho | Will my silence not speak my thoughts? |
| Sollaamal en penmai thallaadaadho | Without speaking, will my womanhood not falter? |
| Female | |
| Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi | A young tender vine longing in dreams |
| Kannaadi paarthaal …………….. | Cannot bear to look at the mirror... |
ஆஆ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....
ஆஅ......ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆ....
ஆஅ....ஆஅ....ஆஅ.....ஆஹா.....ஆஹா....ஹா.....
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
கனவோடு ஏங்கும்
இளம் பூங்கொடி
கண்ணாடி பார்த்தால்
தாங்காதடி ஓஹோஹோ
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Cannot bear to look at the mirror, oh!
கனவோடு ஏங்கும்
இளம் பூங்கொடி
கண்ணாடி பார்த்தால்
தாங்காதடி
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
Will my silence not speak my thoughts?
Without speaking, will my womanhood not falter?
என் மௌனம் என் எண்ணம்
சொல்லாதோ
சொல்லாமல் என் பெண்மை
தள்ளாடாதோ
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
கனவோடு ஏங்கும்
இளம் பூங்கொடி
கண்ணாடி பார்த்தால்
தாங்காதடி
O passing times, tell me
Is love an illusion?
Unseen and unhealed
There is a wound in my heart
Until yesterday, it was I who drew decorative patterns at my doorstep
Are these bathing memories now a heavy burden on my heart?
A moon draped in clothing, who is that, is it me?
காலங்களே சொல்லுங்களே
காதல் ஒரு மாயம்
காணாமலும் பாராமலும்
நெஞ்சில் ஒரு காயம்
நேற்று வரை என் வாசலில்
நான் போட்டதே கோலம்
நீராடும் நினைவுகளே
நெஞ்சின் பாரமா....ஆஅ
ஆடை கொண்டு மூடும்
நிலா யார் அது நானா
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
கனவோடு ஏங்கும்
இளம் பூங்கொடி
கண்ணாடி பார்த்தால்
தாங்காதடி
Coming near my window
The gentle breeze gazes at me
Seeing me and taking pity on me
The gentle breeze breaks into a sweat on its face
A floating cloud swimming across
Asks me something softly
Do roses appearing in dreams scatter real fragrance?
The cuckoo singing in the rainy season, who is that, is it me?
என் ஜன்னலின் ஓரம் வந்து
தென்றல் என்னைப் பார்க்கும்
என்னைக் கண்டு பாவம் என்று
தென்றல் முகம் வேர்க்கும்
நீந்திச் செல்லும் மேகம் ஒன்று
ஏதோ என்னை கேட்கும்
கனவில் வரும் ரோஜாக்கள்
வாசம் வீசுமா
கார்காலத்தில் பாடும்
குயில் யார் அது நானா
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
Will my silence not speak my thoughts?
Without speaking, will my womanhood not falter?
கனவோடு ஏங்கும்
இளம் பூங்கொடி
கண்ணாடி பார்த்தால்
தாங்காதடி
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Cannot bear to look at the mirror...
என் மௌனம் என் எண்ணம்
சொல்லாதோ
சொல்லாமல் என் பெண்மை
தள்ளாடாதோ
கனவோடு ஏங்கும்
இளம் பூங்கொடி
கண்ணாடி பார்த்தால்
Aaa….aaa…aaa…aaa…aaa….aaa…aa
[Vocalizing]
Aaa…aaa…aaa….aahaa… aahaa… haa
[Vocalizing]
Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi hohoho
Cannot bear to look at the mirror, oh!
Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
En maunam en ennam sollaadho
Will my silence not speak my thoughts?
Sollaamal en penmai thallaadaadho
Without speaking, will my womanhood not falter?
Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
Kaalangalae sollungalae
O passing times, tell me
Kaadhal oru maayam
Is love an illusion?
Kaanaamalum aaraamalum
Unseen and unhealed
Nenjil oru kaayam
There is a wound in my heart
Naetru varai en vaasalil naan pottadhae kolam
Until yesterday, it was I who drew decorative patterns at my doorstep
Neeraadum ninaivugalae nenjin baaramaa
Are these bathing memories now a heavy burden on my heart?
Aadai kondu moodum nilaa yaar adhu naanaa
A moon draped in clothing, who is that, is it me?
Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
En jannalin oram vandhu
Coming near my window
Thendral ennai paarkkum
The gentle breeze gazes at me
Ennai kandu paavam endru
Seeing me and taking pity on me
Thendral mugam vaerkkum
The gentle breeze breaks into a sweat on its face
Neendhi chellum megam ondru
A floating cloud swimming across
Yedho ennai ketkum
Asks me something softly
Kanavil varum rojaakkal vaasam veesumaa
Do roses appearing in dreams scatter real fragrance?
Kaar kaalathil paadum kuyil yaar adhu naanaa
The cuckoo singing in the rainy season, who is that, is it me?
Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Kannaadi paarthaal thaangaadhadi
Cannot bear to look at the mirror
En maunam en ennam sollaadho
Will my silence not speak my thoughts?
Sollaamal en penmai thallaadaadho
Without speaking, will my womanhood not falter?
Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi
A young tender vine longing in dreams
Kannaadi paarthaal ……………..
Cannot bear to look at the mirror...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful composition from 'Anbe Odi Vaa' (1984) captures the introspective sorrow, romantic longing, and emotional fragility of a young woman. She metaphorically addresses herself as a delicate flowering vine so consumed by melancholic yearning that she lacks the courage to face her own reflection. She reflects on her unvoiced emotions, wondering if her maiden silence will destroy her inner tranquility.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagom (Metaphor)
“Kanavodu yengum ilam poongodi”
Compares the protagonist to an 'ilam poongodi' (young tender vine) and an 'aadai kondu moodum nilaa' (a moon draped in garments) to convey innocence and beauty.
Personification
“Ennai kandu paavam endru Thendral mugam vaerkkum”
Gives human traits to the breeze ('thendral mugam vaerkkum'), suggesting the wind pities her so deeply that its face breaks into a sweat.
Ethukai (Second-letter rhyme)
“En maunam en ennam sollaadho”
The second consonant 'n' is repeated across successive lines ('En / Sollaamal / Penmai').
Rhetorical Question
“Kanavil varum rojaakkal vaasam veesumaa”
The protagonist poses introspective questions about dream roses emitting fragrance and her own identity as a monsoon cuckoo.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Anbe Odi Vaa' (1984) stars Mohan and Urvashi in lead roles. Legendary lyricist Vaali penned the lyrics for this film, blending traditional Tamil literary metaphors like the 'poongodi' (flowering vine) with gentle introspective imagery.
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