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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavugale Aayiram

From Needhikku Thalaivanangu · 1976

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Needhikku Thalaivanangu1976

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa… laala…Ah... laala...
Mmm… mmm… oho ho… hoMmm... mmm... oho ho... ho
Male
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Chorus
……………………..
Male
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Kaadhal dhevanin thoodhargalaeO messengers of the God of Love!
En kanmaniyai ingu vara chollungalTell my beloved to come here,
Konjam vara chollungalTell her to come for a moment.
Female
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Kaadhal dhevanin thoodhargalaeO messengers of the God of Love!
En kaadhalanai ingu vara vidungalAllow my lover to come here,
Konjam vara vidungalAllow him to come for a moment.
Female
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Chorus
…………………………
Male
Nagakkuri varaigindra sithiramoIs it a portrait drawn by fingernails?
Angu naanangal thoorigai vannangaloAre shynesses the paint colours on the paintbrush there?
Nagakkuri varaigindra sithiramoIs it a portrait drawn by fingernails?
Angu naanangal thoorigai vannangaloAre shynesses the paint colours on the paintbrush there?
Mugam endru adharkkoru thalai nagaroIs her face the capital city for that beauty?
Kaigal moodiya kottai kadhavugaloAre her embracing arms the closed fortress doors?
Female
Idhazh endra malar mattum viriyattumaeLet only the flower called lips blossom,
Adhil idhayathin vandugal parakkattumaeLet the bees of the heart fly into it!
Idhazh endra malar mattum viriyattumaeLet only the flower called lips blossom,
Adhil idhayathin vandugal parakkattumaeLet the bees of the heart fly into it!
Kai valai vilangugal norungattumaeLet the bangles on the wrists shatter like shackles,
Angu kaadhalin siragugal uyarattumaeLet the wings of love soar high there!
Angu kaadhalin siragugal uyarattumaeLet the wings of love soar high there!
Female
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Chorus
………………………………
Female
Nilavendra dheebam olirattumaeLet the lamp called the moon shine brightly,
Adhil nithirai iravugal eriyattumaeLet the sleepy nights burn away in its glow!
Kaadhalil kavidhaigal valarattumaeLet poems flourish in love,
Oru kaaviyam thottilil thavazhattumaeLet a majestic epic crawl in the cradle!
Oru kaaviyam thottilil thavazhattumaeLet a majestic epic crawl in the cradle!
Male
Kanavugalae aayiram kanavugalaeDreams, a thousand dreams!
Female
Kaadhal dhevanin thoodhargalaeO messengers of the God of Love!
Male
En kanmaniyai ingu vara chollungalTell my beloved to come here,
Female
Konjam vara vidungalAllow them to come for a moment.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a romantic duet that expresses the deep longing, intimacy, and poetic anticipation of two lovers. Addressing their dreams as divine messengers of the God of Love, both partners urge these dreams to bring their loved one closer. The lyrics vividly describe romantic intimacy through rich imagery, equating nail marks to fine art, shyness to paintbrush strokes, and lips to blossoming flowers awaiting the heart's touch.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kaadhal dhevanin thoodhargalae

Dreams are directly personified and metaphorically called 'Thoodhargal' (messengers) sent by the God of Love.

Visual Imagery & Metaphor

Angu naanangal thoorigai vannangalo

Shyness is compared to the paint on a brush ('Thoorigai vannangal') painting romantic art on the body.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Idhazh endra malar mattum viriyattumae / Adhil idhayathin vandugal parakkattumae

The lips are metaphors for a blooming flower ('Idhazh endra malar') and desires are compared to bees ('idhayathin vandugal').

Poetic Euphemism (Idakkardakkal)

Oru kaaviyam thottilil thavazhattumae

A newborn child is poetically referred to as a grand epic ('kaaviyam') crawling in a cradle.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song belongs to the 1976 M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) film 'Needhikku Thalaivanangu'. Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela, the song stands out for lyricist Na. Kamarasan's modern, highly metaphorical imagery which was considered fresh and distinct for Tamil cinema during the 1970s.

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