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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kandane Kandane Kaatil

From Kanni Theevu · 1981

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kanni Theevu1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing melody...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing melody...
Female
Kandenae kandenaeI saw it, I saw it!
Kaattil engum kaadhal pongumEverywhere in the forest, love overflows
Geetham vandhadhuA song has arrived.
Kandenae kandenaeI saw it, I saw it!
Kaattil engum kaadhal pongumEverywhere in the forest, love overflows
Geetham vandhadhuA song has arrived.
Inbam nooru… haa haa haaA hundred pleasures... ha ha ha
Dhaegam engum mogam vandhadhuPassion has taken over the entire body.
Female
Kandenae kandenaeI saw it, I saw it!
Kaattil engum kaadhal pongumEverywhere in the forest, love overflows
Geetham vandhadhuA song has arrived.
Female
Paalaadai neerukkumTo the cream-like water
Poovaadai kaatrukkumAnd to the flower-scented breeze
Aanandham enna maeniyai theenduvadhennaWhat joy it is, how it touches the body!
Thaenaadum poovukkul thaanaadum vandukkuFor the beetle dancing inside the honeyed flower
Thaevaigal enna kaadhalai thoonduvadhennaWhat are its needs, how it rouses love!
Kaalangal odudhammaa oru yaekkatthil vaadudhammaaTime is flying away, wilting in a yearning...
Oonjalai polavae…. aadum ullamLike a swing, the heart sways...
Angum ingum aadi paadi odumIt dances, sings, and runs here and there.
Male
Kandenae kandenaeI saw it, I saw it!
Kaattil engum kaadhal pongumEverywhere in the forest, love overflows
Geetham vandhadhuA song has arrived.
Inbam nooru… haa haa haaA hundred pleasures... ha ha ha
Dhaegam engum mogam vandhadhuPassion has taken over the entire body.
Male
Kandenae kandenaeI saw it, I saw it!
Kaattil engum kaadhal pongumEverywhere in the forest, love overflows
Geetham vandhadhuA song has arrived.
Male
Muthaana paattukku ponnaana raagangalGolden melodies for a pearl-like song
Naan kondu vandhen thaalangal serthida vandhenI have brought them, I came to add rhythm.
Ullaadum ennangal kondaadum sinnangalThoughts dancing inside, symbols celebrating
Naan solla vandhen kaaviyam pol unnai kandenI came to say, I saw you like an epic poem.
Poonguyil paadi vara thoranam aadi varaAs the sweet cuckoo sings and decorations sway
Megangal kooda vara oorvalam pogalaamAs clouds join us, let us go on a procession.
Poonthalir maeniyai kaanum kangalThe eyes that look upon the flower-tender body
Angum ingum jaadai solli paesumSpeak in gestures back and forth.
Female
Kandenae kandenaeI saw it, I saw it!
Male :Kaattil engumMale: Everywhere in the forest
Female :Kaadhal pongum geetham vandhadhuFemale: A song overflowing with love has arrived.
Male
Inbam nooru…A hundred pleasures...
Female
Haa haa haaHa ha ha
Dhaegam engum mogam vandhadhuPassion has taken over the entire body.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kandenae Kandenae is a joyous romantic duet expressing the ecstasy of falling in love amid nature's beauty. The lyrics weave vivid nature imagery—such as scented breezes, honeyed flowers, and singing cuckoos—to mirror the emotional and physical passion awakening between the lovers. The heart's excitement is compared to a swaying swing as the song celebrates deep affection, musical harmony, and shared longing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Oonjalai polavae…. aadum ullam

Compares the restless, swinging movement of the heart directly to a swing (oonjalai polavae aadum ullam).

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Paalaadai neerukkum / Poovaadai kaatrukkum

Rhyming of the second consonant 'la' in consecutive line openings ('Paalaadai' and 'Poovaadai').

Simile (Uvamai)

Naan solla vandhen kaaviyam pol unnai kanden

Compares seeing the beloved to discovering a grand epic poem (kaaviyam pol unnai kanden).

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Kandenae Kandenae' from Kanni Theevu (1981) was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Panchu Arunachalam. The movie starred Jaishankar, Radhika, and Seema in lead roles.

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