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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanavugale Oorkolam Enge

From Samanthi Poo · 1980

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Malaysia Vasudevan
Details
Samanthi Poo1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanavugalae oorkolam engaeWhere is the procession of dreams?
Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingaeHere is the melody searching for poetry.
Paadidum ullam ondruThere is a singing heart,
Kaana vendum inbam indruWishing to experience joy today.
Female
Kanavugalae oorkolam engaeWhere is the procession of dreams?
Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingaeHere is the melody searching for poetry.
Paadidum ullam ondruThere is a singing heart,
Kaana vendum inbam indruWishing to experience joy today.
Female
Thendral kaatrilae ival saedhi ponadhuHer message went away on the gentle breeze.
Saerum paadhaiyil sila naeram aanadhuIt took some time on the path to reach.
Thendral kaatrilae ival saedhi ponadhuHer message went away on the gentle breeze.
Saerum paadhaiyil sila naeram aanadhuIt took some time on the path to reach.
Thirumbum pozhudhil andha dhaevanin ninaivuUpon turning back, the memory of that god-like beloved
Sakkaiyaagi thaan vaattudhaeCrushes and torments her like pulp,
Ival mogathai meettudhaeStirring up her deep desire.
Female
Kanavugalae oorkolam engaeWhere is the procession of dreams?
Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingaeHere is the melody searching for poetry.
Female
Ennam yaavilum oru dhaagam koodudhaeA thirst grows in every thought of hers.
Yaengum podhilae ival dhaegam vaadudhaeAs she yearns, her body fades away.
Thavikkum vayadhu thaniyaadhadhu ninaivuAt this restless age, memories do not subside;
Kan moodaamal thaan thoongumoWill she sleep without even closing her eyes?
Kana naeram yugam aagumoWill a fraction of a second turn into an eon?
Female
Kanavugalae oorkolam engaeWhere is the procession of dreams?
Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingaeHere is the melody searching for poetry.
Paadidum ullam ondruThere is a singing heart,
Kaana vendum inbam indruWishing to experience joy today.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song beautifully articulates the deep anguish and romantic yearning of a young woman longing for her lover. She compares her yearning soul to a musical melody searching for poetry, wondering where her peaceful dreams have gone. Her heart aches with anticipation as she sends her thoughts through the breeze, finding that even a brief moment of separation feels like an entire era.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kanavugalae oorkolam engae / Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingae

The lines end with rhyming sounds 'engae' and 'ingae' creating a pleasing auditory rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingae

The singer's restless heart and emotion are metaphorically described as a musical melody (raagam) in search of its complementary poetic lyric (kavidhai).

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Kana naeram yugam aagumo

The extreme agony of separation is exaggerated by asking if a momentary split second could stretch into a whole eon (yugam).

Monai (Initial Rhyme/Alliteration)

Kanavugalae oorkolam engae / Kavidhaiyai thaedum raagam ingae

The initial 'K' sound is repeated in 'Kanavugalae' and 'Kavidhaiyai', creating poetic harmony across consecutive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyricist Vaali uses classic Sangam-inspired metaphors of 'Viraha' (pain of separation), such as comparing the slow crawl of time during loneliness to an entire 'Yugam' (eon).

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