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Isaimozhi
Akbar album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavu Kanda Kathal

From Akbar · 1961

Lyricist
Kambadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Nausad
Movie name
Akbar
Movie release year
1961
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae
Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachae
Mazhai soozhalaachae
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae
Munbae enni paaramal nenjam eendhittenae
Endhan aasaiyae indru ennai kollalaachae
Undhan kaadhalin kanavellaam kanneeraachae
Aachae kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae
Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachae
Mazhai soozhalaachae
Agam vattum kaadhal thee yaarkkum solladhae
Maraithae naan vaazhgindra maargam kedathae
Jegam vaazhgiren vaazhkaiyae kanneeraachae
Aachae kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae
Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachae
Mazhai soozhalaachae
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae
Kadhai kanneeraachae
The love story I dreamed of has ended in tears
The love story I dreamed of has ended in tears
Rain clouds have gathered in the moonlit sky
Rain clouds have gathered
The love story I dreamed of has ended in tears
Without thinking ahead, I gave away my heart
Today, my very own desire is killing me
All the dreams of your love have ended in tears
Yes, the love story I dreamed of has ended in tears
Rain clouds have gathered in the moonlit sky
Rain clouds have gathered
Tell no one of the fire of love tormenting my heart
Let not the way I live in secret be ruined
I live in this world, but life itself has ended in tears
Yes, the love story I dreamed of has ended in tears
Rain clouds have gathered in the moonlit sky
Rain clouds have gathered
The love story I dreamed of has ended in tears
The story has ended in tears
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This sorrowful song expresses the deep pain of heartbreak and unfulfilled love. The protagonist laments how a beautiful dream of romance unexpectedly devolved into endless sorrow and tears. By using the imagery of dark rain clouds gathering in a bright moonlit sky, the song illustrates how grief overshadowed her life's happiness. She regrets surrendering her heart carelessly without considering the future, realizing that her own intense desires have now become the source of her agony. Despite continuing to live in this world, her inner life is consumed by the secret fire of love, turning her entire existence into a tragedy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Alliteration (எதுகை / மோனை)

Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachae

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words creates melodic rhythm and emphasis.

Metaphor (உவமை)

Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachae

Comparing a serene, happy heart to a moonlit sky ('Nilaa veesum vaan') and sudden grief to dark gathering rain clouds ('mazhai soozhalaachae').

Personification / Imagery (உருவகம்)

Agam vattum kaadhal thee yaarkkum solladhae

Describing love as a consuming, secret internal fire ('kaadhal thee') that silently scorches the soul.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track is from 'Akbar' (1961), the Tamil dubbed version of K. Asif's historical Hindi epic 'Mughal-e-Azam' (1960). Legendary composer Naushad's original tune was retained, with Tamil lyrics authored by Kambadasan and vocals rendered by P. Susheela.

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