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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavu Kandaen Naan Kanavu Kandaen Sad

From Sivagangai Seemai · 1959

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. S. Bagavathi
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Sivagangai Seemai1959

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Female
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Ummai kaalam azhaithathendruThat time has summoned you
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Kaalam azhaithathendruThat time has summoned you
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Female
Vaazhai marangal vizhaPlantain trees falling down
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Angae vaitha vilakkugalumAnd the lamps placed there
Anaiya kandenI saw being extinguished
Female
Vaazhai marangal vizhaPlantain trees falling down
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Angae vaitha vilakkugalumAnd the lamps placed there
Anaiya kandenI saw being extinguished
Female
Maalai udhirnthu vizhaThe garland falling apart
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
En manjalum kungumamumMy turmeric and vermilion
Kalaiya kandenI saw being erased
Female
Maalai udhirnthu vizhaThe garland falling apart
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
En manjalum kungumamumMy turmeric and vermilion
Kalaiya kandenI saw being erased
Female
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Ummai kaalam azhaithathendruThat time has summoned you
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream
Kanavu kanden naanI had a dream
Kanavu kandenI had a dream

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kanavu Kanden Naan from Sivagangai Seemai (1959) is a deeply emotional, ominous song where the protagonist recounts a haunting nightmare foreshadowing her husband's death and her impending widowhood. Penned by legendary poet Kannadasan, the lyrics draw heavily from traditional Tamil cultural symbolism and literary tropes regarding bad omens, such as falling banana trees, extinguishing lamps, unraveling garlands, and the fading of turmeric and vermilion (mangalsutra symbols).

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Repetition

“Kanavu kanden naan / Kanavu kanden”

The phrase 'Kanavu kanden' (I had a dream) is repeated continually to emphasize the haunting and persistent nature of the nightmare.

Cultural Symbolism / Bad Omens

“Vaazhai marangal vizha... En manjalum kungumamum kalaiya kanden”

Falling plantain trees, fading turmeric/vermilion, and blowing lamps are classic Tamil literary omens representing death and loss of auspiciousness.

Emonai (Initial Assonance) & Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Vaazhai marangal vizha / Maalai udhirnthu vizha”

Use of matching phonetic structures in consecutive couplets like 'Vaazhai' and 'Maalai' creates poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sivagangai Seemai (1959) was written and produced by Kannadasan, featuring music by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy. The song's portrayal of bad omens in a dream mirrors a famous section in the ancient Tamil epic Silappatikaram, where Kannagi dreams of disaster before Kovalan's death.

Keep listening

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