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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavu Kanda Kathal

From Akbar · 1961

Lyricist
Kambadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Nausad
Details
Akbar1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachaeThe love story dreamed of has turned into tears.
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachaeThe love story dreamed of has turned into tears.
Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachaeRain clouds have gathered in the moonlit sky.
Mazhai soozhalaachaeRain clouds have gathered.
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachaeThe love story dreamed of has turned into tears.
Female
Munbae enni paaramal nenjam eendhittenaeWithout thinking beforehand, I gave away my heart.
Endhan aasaiyae indru ennai kollalaachaeToday, my very own desire has come to kill me.
Undhan kaadhalin kanavellaam kanneeraachaeAll the dreams of your love have turned into tears.
Aachae kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachaeAlas, the love story dreamed of has turned into tears.
Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachaeRain clouds have gathered in the moonlit sky.
Mazhai soozhalaachaeRain clouds have gathered.
Female
Agam vattum kaadhal thee yaarkkum solladhaeThe fire of love that scorches the heart tells no one.
Maraithae naan vaazhgindra maargam kedathaeThe way I live by concealing it is ruined.
Jegam vaazhgiren vaazhkaiyae kanneeraachaeI live in this world, yet life itself has turned into tears.
Aachae kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachaeAlas, the love story dreamed of has turned into tears.
Nilaa veesum vaanil mazhai soozhalaachaeRain clouds have gathered in the moonlit sky.
Mazhai soozhalaachaeRain clouds have gathered.
Kanavu kanda kaadhal kadhai kanneeraachaeThe love story dreamed of has turned into tears.
Kadhai kanneeraachaeThe story has turned into tears.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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