Kandaen Ayya
From Kanniyin Kadhali · 1949
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- K. V. Janaki
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Kanniyin Kadhali1949
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanden aiyaa madhimugam kanden aiyaa | I saw, sir, I saw her moon-like face, I saw, sir |
| Poorana madhimugam kanden aiyaa | I saw her full moon-like face, sir |
| Adhil avamadhippum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa | In it, I saw disrespect mixed as well, sir |
| Adhil avamadhippum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa | In it, I saw disrespect mixed as well, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Female | |
| Kanden aiyaa vizhi sudarai kanden aiyaa | I saw, sir, the spark of her eyes, I saw, sir |
| Sittum vizhi sudarai kanden aiyaa | I saw the spark in her darting eyes, sir |
| Adhil kottum sudu neruppin | In it, the pouring hot fire's |
| Kodumaiyum sernthirukka | cruelty was also attached |
| Kottum sudu neruppin | the pouring hot fire's |
| Kodumaiyum sernthirukka kanden aiyaa | cruelty was also attached, I saw, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Female | |
| Kanden aiyaa idhazh irandai kanden aiyaa | I saw, sir, those two lips, I saw, sir |
| Madhu oorum idhazh irandai kanden aiyaa | I saw those two lips oozing honey, sir |
| Adhilae visha madhuvum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa | In them, I saw poisonous honey mixed as well, sir |
| Adhilae visha madhuvum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa | In them, I saw poisonous honey mixed as well, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Female | |
| Kanden aiyaa avalin alangaaramaana | I saw, sir, her beautiful |
| Nadaiyai kanden aiyaa | walk, I saw, sir |
| Annam pol alangaaramaana nadaiyai kanden aiyaa | I saw her beautiful walk like that of a swan, sir |
| Adhanil agangaaramum kamazhndhirupadhai kanden aiyaa | In it, I saw pride wafting through, sir |
| Adhanil agangaaramum kamazhndhirupadhai kanden aiyaa | In it, I saw pride wafting through, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Female | |
| Ketten aiyaa konjum kuralthanai ketten aiyaa | I heard, sir, her sweet tender voice, I heard, sir |
| Kili pol konjum kuralthanai ketten aiyaa | I heard her sweet tender voice like that of a parrot, sir |
| Panivu konjamum illaadha kuralthanai ketten aiyaa | I heard a voice lacking even a bit of humility, sir |
| Panivu konjamum illaadha kuralthanai ketten aiyaa | I heard a voice lacking even a bit of humility, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
| Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa | I spoke the truth, sir |
கண்டேனைய்யா மதிமுகம் கண்டேனைய்யா
பூரண மதிமுகம் கண்டேனைய்யா
அதில் அவமதிப்பும் கலந்திருக்கக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அவமதிப்பும் கலந்திருக்கக் கண்டேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனய்யா
I saw, sir, I saw her moon-like face, I saw, sir
I saw her full moon-like face, sir
In it, I saw disrespect mixed as well, sir
In it, I saw disrespect mixed as well, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
கண்டேனைய்யா விழிச் சுடரைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
சுட்டும் விழிச் சுடரைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அதில் கொட்டும் சுடு நெருப்பின்
கொடுமையும் சேர்ந்திருக்க
கொட்டும் சுடு நெருப்பின்
கொடுமையும் சேர்ந்திருக்கக் கண்டேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
I saw, sir, the spark of her eyes, I saw, sir
I saw the spark in her darting eyes, sir
In it, the pouring hot fire's
cruelty was also attached
the pouring hot fire's
cruelty was also attached, I saw, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
கண்டேனைய்யா இதழிரண்டைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
மது ஊறும் இதழிரண்டைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அதிலே விஷ மதுவும் கலந்திருக்கக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அதிலே விஷ மதுவும் கலந்திருக்கக் கண்டேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
I saw, sir, those two lips, I saw, sir
I saw those two lips oozing honey, sir
In them, I saw poisonous honey mixed as well, sir
In them, I saw poisonous honey mixed as well, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
கண்டேனைய்யா அவளின் அலங்காரமான
நடையைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அன்னம் போல் அலங்காரமான நடையைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அதனில் அகங்காரமும் கமழ்ந்திருப்பதைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
அதனில் அகங்காரமும் கமழ்ந்திருப்பதைக் கண்டேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
I saw, sir, her beautiful
walk, I saw, sir
I saw her beautiful walk like that of a swan, sir
In it, I saw pride wafting through, sir
In it, I saw pride wafting through, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
கேட்டேனையா கொஞ்சும் குரல்தனைக்
கேட்டேனைய்யா
கிளிபோல் கொஞ்சும் குரல்தனைக் கேட்டேனைய்யா
பணிவு கொஞ்சமுமில்லாத குரல்தனைக் கேட்டேனைய்யா
பணிவு கொஞ்சமுமில்லாத குரல்தனைக் கேட்டேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
நான் உண்மையைச் சொன்னேனைய்யா
I heard, sir, her sweet tender voice, I heard, sir
I heard her sweet tender voice like that of a parrot, sir
I heard a voice lacking even a bit of humility, sir
I heard a voice lacking even a bit of humility, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
I spoke the truth, sir
Kanden aiyaa madhimugam kanden aiyaa
I saw, sir, I saw her moon-like face, I saw, sir
Poorana madhimugam kanden aiyaa
I saw her full moon-like face, sir
Adhil avamadhippum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa
In it, I saw disrespect mixed as well, sir
Adhil avamadhippum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa
In it, I saw disrespect mixed as well, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Kanden aiyaa vizhi sudarai kanden aiyaa
I saw, sir, the spark of her eyes, I saw, sir
Sittum vizhi sudarai kanden aiyaa
I saw the spark in her darting eyes, sir
Adhil kottum sudu neruppin
In it, the pouring hot fire's
Kodumaiyum sernthirukka
cruelty was also attached
Kottum sudu neruppin
the pouring hot fire's
Kodumaiyum sernthirukka kanden aiyaa
cruelty was also attached, I saw, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Kanden aiyaa idhazh irandai kanden aiyaa
I saw, sir, those two lips, I saw, sir
Madhu oorum idhazh irandai kanden aiyaa
I saw those two lips oozing honey, sir
Adhilae visha madhuvum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa
In them, I saw poisonous honey mixed as well, sir
Adhilae visha madhuvum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa
In them, I saw poisonous honey mixed as well, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Kanden aiyaa avalin alangaaramaana
I saw, sir, her beautiful
Nadaiyai kanden aiyaa
walk, I saw, sir
Annam pol alangaaramaana nadaiyai kanden aiyaa
I saw her beautiful walk like that of a swan, sir
Adhanil agangaaramum kamazhndhirupadhai kanden aiyaa
In it, I saw pride wafting through, sir
Adhanil agangaaramum kamazhndhirupadhai kanden aiyaa
In it, I saw pride wafting through, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Ketten aiyaa konjum kuralthanai ketten aiyaa
I heard, sir, her sweet tender voice, I heard, sir
Kili pol konjum kuralthanai ketten aiyaa
I heard her sweet tender voice like that of a parrot, sir
Panivu konjamum illaadha kuralthanai ketten aiyaa
I heard a voice lacking even a bit of humility, sir
Panivu konjamum illaadha kuralthanai ketten aiyaa
I heard a voice lacking even a bit of humility, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa
I spoke the truth, sir
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a structured, candid report delivered to a master or elder ('Aiyaa'), contrasting a woman's physical elegance with her unpleasant character traits. Each stanza highlights a classical poetic ideal—a full-moon face, bright eyes, honeyed lips, a swan-like gait, and a parrot-like sweet voice—only to reveal an underlying defect such as contempt, fiery wrath, toxicity, arrogance, and a total lack of humility. By systematically dismantling standard romantic tropes, the narrator insists that despite her striking charms, her internal nature is full of pride and arrogance. The persistent refrain 'Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa' ('I spoke the truth, sir') underscores the narrator's unvarnished honesty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Annam pol alangaaramaana nadaiyai kanden aiyaa”
Compares traditional female virtues to nature, such as 'Annam pol' (like a swan) and 'Kili pol' (like a parrot).
Oxymoron / Paradox
“Adhilae visha madhuvum kalanthirukka kanden aiyaa”
Pairs sweet honey ('madhu') with lethal poison ('visha madhu') to highlight the deceptive nature of her beauty.
Repetition / Refrain (Anaphora)
“Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa”
The rhythmic line 'Naan unmaiyai sonnen aiyaa' repeats constantly to emphasize truthfulness.
Assonance and Phonetic Contrast (Etukai/Monai)
“Adhanil agangaaramum kamazhndhirupadhai kanden aiyaa”
Contrasts 'alangaaram' (ornament/beauty) with 'agangaaram' (pride/egoism) through clever sound play.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kanniyin Kadhali' (1949) is historical in Tamil cinema as it marked the lyrical debut of Kavignar Kannadasan, who went on to become one of the greatest lyricists in Indian cinema history.
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