Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavugal

From Amma Kanakku · 2016

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Vandana Srinivasan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Amma Kanakku2016

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanavugal paliththidumWill the time when dreams come true
Kaalamum namakkena kanindhidumaRipen favorably for us?
Ninaippadhu nadandhidum neramumWill the moment when our desires come to pass
Kaigalil palan tharumaaBear fruitful results in our hands?
Female
NadandhadhaiDwelling upon what has already transpired
Ninaithaal thuyaramBrings nothing but deep sorrow
Adhu vidiyaadhuThat grief will never clear into daylight
Ninaippadhinaalae mudivumSimply by worrying, the final outcome
Maari pogaadhuWill not alter or change
Female
Kanavugal paliththidumWill the time when dreams come true
Kaalamum namakkena kanindhidumaRipen favorably for us?
Ninaippadhu nadandhidum neramumWill the moment when our desires come to pass
Kaigalil palan tharumaaBear fruitful results in our hands?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses a deep sense of philosophical contemplation and emotional anguish regarding hope, destiny, and perseverance. The protagonist wonders if time will ever turn in their favor to fulfill their long-cherished dreams and yield the rewards of their effort. The lyrics offer a pragmatic reflection on grief, pointing out that endlessly ruminating on past miseries cannot change the ultimate outcome nor bring about a brighter tomorrow. It balances melancholic questioning with an underlying realization of reality.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kanavugal paliththidum / Kaalamum namakkena kanindhiduma

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ka' across 'Kanavugal', 'Kaalamum', and 'kanindhiduma'.

Metaphor

Kaalamum namakkena kanindhiduma

Comparing time to a fruit that must 'ripen' (kanindhiduma) to bear reward in one's hands.

Rhetorical Question

Ninaippadhu nadandhidum neramum / Kaigalil palan tharumaa

The lyrics pose questions asking if time will ripen and deliver results, underscoring the speaker's internal uncertainty and longing.

Anaphora / Root Repetition

Ninaithaal thuyaram ... Ninaippadhinaalae mudivum

Repeated use of the verb root 'Ninai' (think/remember) across lines to emphasize the futility of overthinking past sorrows.

Did you know?

Trivia

Amma Kanakku (2016) is the official Tamil remake of the critically acclaimed Hindi film 'Nil Battey Sannata'. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja not only composed the film's soundtrack but also penned the lyrics for this reflective song, highlighting his dual skill as a composer and a thoughtful lyricist.

Keep listening

More from Amma Kanakku