Kanavu Kaanum
From Neengal Kettavai · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Neengal Kettavai1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
| Male | |
| Thuduppu kooda baaram endru | Feeling even the oar to be a burden, |
| Karaiyai thedum odangal | Boats search for the shore. |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
| Male | |
| Pirakindra pothae… | At the very moment of birth... |
| Pirakindra pothae… irakkindra thedhi | At the very moment of birth, the date of death... |
| Irukkindra thenbadhu | ...is already fixed and present, |
| Mei thaanae | Is that not the truth? |
| Male | |
| Aasaigal enna….aaaa… | What are desires... ah... |
| Aasaigal enna aanavam enna | What are desires and what is arrogance? |
| Uravugal enbadhum | Even relationships, |
| Poi thaanae | Are false, aren't they? |
| Male | |
| Udambu enbathu…uuu… | What is the body... ooo... |
| Udambu enbathu unmaiyil enna | What is the body in truth? |
| Kanavugal vaangum | It is merely a bag, |
| Pai thaanae… | That holds dreams... |
| Male | |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
| Thuduppu kooda baaram endru | Feeling even the oar to be a burden, |
| Karaiyai thedum odangal | Boats search for the shore. |
| Male | |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
| Male | |
| Kaalangal maarum… | Times change... |
| Kaalangal maarum… kolangal maarum | Times change... patterns change, |
| Vaalibam enbathu | Youth is nothing but... |
| Poi vesham | A false disguise. |
| Male | |
| Thookathil paadhi…eeee | Half spent in sleep... |
| Thookathil paadhi… yekkathil paadhi | Half spent in sleep... half in longing, |
| Ponathu poga | Apart from what has passed, |
| Edhu meedham | What else remains? |
| Male | |
| Pedhai manithanae… | Oh foolish human... |
| Pedhai manithanae | Oh foolish human, |
| Kadamaigal indrae | In performing your duties today, |
| Seivathil thaanae aanatham | Lies true happiness. |
| Male | |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
| Thuduppu kooda baaram endru | Feeling even the oar to be a burden, |
| Karaiyai thedum odangal | Boats search for the shore. |
| Male | |
| Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum | All life lived in dreams, |
| Kalainthu pogum kolangal | Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away. |
கனவு காணும்
வாழ்க்கை யாவும்
கலைந்து போகும்
கோலங்கள் கனவு
காணும் வாழ்க்கை
யாவும் கலைந்து போகும்
கோலங்கள்
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
துடுப்புக்கூட
பாரம் என்று கரையைத்
தேடும் ஓடங்கள் கனவு
காணும் வாழ்க்கை யாவும்
கலைந்து போகும் கோலங்கள்
Feeling even the oar to be a burden,
Boats search for the shore.
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
பிறக்கின்ற
போதே பிறக்கின்ற
போதே இறக்கின்ற
தேதி இருக்கின்ற
தென்பது மெய்தானே
At the very moment of birth...
At the very moment of birth, the date of death...
...is already fixed and present,
Is that not the truth?
ஆசைகள் என்ன...
ஆசைகள் என்ன ஆணவம்
என்ன உறவுகள் என்பதும்
பொய்தானே
What are desires... ah...
What are desires and what is arrogance?
Even relationships,
Are false, aren't they?
உடம்பு என்பது...
உடம்பு என்பது உண்மையில்
என்ன கனவுகள் வாங்கும்
பை தானே
What is the body... ooo...
What is the body in truth?
It is merely a bag,
That holds dreams...
கனவு காணும்
வாழ்க்கை யாவும்
கலைந்து போகும்
கோலங்கள் துடுப்புக்கூட
பாரம் என்று கரையைத்
தேடும் ஓடங்கள்
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Feeling even the oar to be a burden,
Boats search for the shore.
கனவு காணும்
வாழ்க்கை யாவும்
கலைந்து போகும்
கோலங்கள்
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
காலங்கள் மாறும்
காலங்கள் மாறும் கோலங்கள்
மாறும் வாலிபம் என்பது
பொய் வேஷம்
Times change...
Times change... patterns change,
Youth is nothing but...
A false disguise.
தூக்கத்தில் பாதி...
தூக்கத்தில் பாதி ஏக்கத்தில்
பாதி போனது போக ஏது மீதம்
Half spent in sleep...
Half spent in sleep... half in longing,
Apart from what has passed,
What else remains?
பேதை மனிதனே...
பேதை மனிதனே கடமைகள்
இன்றே செய்வதில் தானே
ஆனந்தம்
Oh foolish human...
Oh foolish human,
In performing your duties today,
Lies true happiness.
கனவு காணும்
வாழ்க்கை யாவும்
கலைந்து போகும்
கோலங்கள் துடுப்புக்கூட
பாரம் என்று கரையைத்
தேடும் ஓடங்கள்
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Feeling even the oar to be a burden,
Boats search for the shore.
கனவு காணும்
வாழ்க்கை யாவும்
கலைந்து போகும்
கோலங்கள்
All life lived in dreams,
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Thuduppu kooda baaram endru
Feeling even the oar to be a burden,
Karaiyai thedum odangal
Boats search for the shore.
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Pirakindra pothae…
At the very moment of birth...
Pirakindra pothae… irakkindra thedhi
At the very moment of birth, the date of death...
Irukkindra thenbadhu
...is already fixed and present,
Mei thaanae
Is that not the truth?
Aasaigal enna….aaaa…
What are desires... ah...
Aasaigal enna aanavam enna
What are desires and what is arrogance?
Uravugal enbadhum
Even relationships,
Poi thaanae
Are false, aren't they?
Udambu enbathu…uuu…
What is the body... ooo...
Udambu enbathu unmaiyil enna
What is the body in truth?
Kanavugal vaangum
It is merely a bag,
Pai thaanae…
That holds dreams...
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Thuduppu kooda baaram endru
Feeling even the oar to be a burden,
Karaiyai thedum odangal
Boats search for the shore.
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Kaalangal maarum…
Times change...
Kaalangal maarum… kolangal maarum
Times change... patterns change,
Vaalibam enbathu
Youth is nothing but...
Poi vesham
A false disguise.
Thookathil paadhi…eeee
Half spent in sleep...
Thookathil paadhi… yekkathil paadhi
Half spent in sleep... half in longing,
Ponathu poga
Apart from what has passed,
Edhu meedham
What else remains?
Pedhai manithanae…
Oh foolish human...
Pedhai manithanae
Oh foolish human,
Kadamaigal indrae
In performing your duties today,
Seivathil thaanae aanatham
Lies true happiness.
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Thuduppu kooda baaram endru
Feeling even the oar to be a burden,
Karaiyai thedum odangal
Boats search for the shore.
Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum
All life lived in dreams,
Kalainthu pogum kolangal
Are like Rangoli patterns that fade away.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic philosophical song reflects on the ephemeral nature of human life, material desires, and worldly attachments. Life is likened to decorative floor patterns (Kolam) that easily get erased, while humans are compared to weary boats searching for the shore, overwhelmed even by the light weight of their oars. The lyrics highlight that birth inherently brings death, and youth, arrogance, and physical form are merely transient illusions. The song urges humanity to stop wasting time in endless longing, sleep, and pride. True joy and meaning are not found in accumulating desires or clinging to temporal relationships, but in selflessly fulfilling one's moral duties in the present moment.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kalainthu pogum kolangal”
Compares human life to 'Kolam' (floor patterns made of flour/powder) that get erased quickly, signifying impermanence.
Allegory / Metaphor
“Thuduppu kooda baaram endru / Karaiyai thedum odangal”
Compares weary humans searching for peace to boats seeking the shore, finding even their oars burdensome.
Monai (Initial Assonance / Alliteration)
“Kanavu kaanum vaazhkkai yaavum / Kalainthu pogum kolangal”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' across consecutive words in the opening phrase.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Udambu enbathu unmaiyil enna / Kanavugal vaangum / Pai thaanae”
Reduces the physical human body to a mere 'bag' meant for carrying temporary dreams.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Kanavu Kaanum Vaazhkkai' from Neengal Kettavai (1984) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, written by Vairamuthu, and sung soulfully by K. J. Yesudas. It remains one of the most celebrated existential and philosophical songs in Tamil cinema.
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