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Lyrics & meaning

Kaniyaa Kanniyaa Vaazhvil

From Karpukkarasi · 1957

Lyricist
Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, Jikki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Karpukkarasi1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kaniyaa kanniyaaIs it a fruit, or is it a maiden?
Vaazhvilinbam sollavaaShall I tell you the joy of life?
Kadhal pesum theethillaathaSpeaking of love, without any evil,
Kanniyamutham unnavaaShall I partake in the nectar of maidenhood?
Female
Kaniyaa kanniyaaIs it a fruit, or is it a maiden?
Vaazhvilinbam sollavaaShall I tell you the joy of life?
Kadhal pesum theethillaathaSpeaking of love, without any evil,
Kanniyamutham unnavaaShall I partake in the nectar of maidenhood?
Male
Kanithaan kannithaanIt is indeed a fruit, it is indeed a maiden,
Suvaiyil ellaam ondruthaanIn taste, everything is one and the same!
Kanithaan kannithaanIt is indeed a fruit, it is indeed a maiden,
Suvaiyil ellaam ondruthaanIn taste, everything is one and the same!
Kadhalodu kaniyum saerththuCombining love along with the fruit,
Kalanthu ondraai unnalaamBlending them together, we can relish!
Kadhalodu kaniyum saerththuCombining love along with the fruit,
Kalanthu ondraai unnalaamBlending them together, we can relish!
Female
Innumenna arugil vanthu pesavaaWhat more, shall I come closer and speak?
Innumenna arugil vanthu pesavaaWhat more, shall I come closer and speak?
Nenjil izhaiyum kadhal mozhi eduththu veesavaaShall I shower words of love woven in my heart?
Male
Solliyendrum therivathillai manmatha kalaiyae neeOh master of the art of love, it cannot be explained merely in words!
Solliyendrum therivathillai manmatha kalaiyae neeOh master of the art of love, it cannot be explained merely in words!
Dhoora nindra pothum inbam kaniyum vaazhvilaeEven standing at a distance, sweet bliss ripens in life!
Dhoora nindra pothum inbam kaniyum vaazhvilaeEven standing at a distance, sweet bliss ripens in life!
Female
Paruvakaala vasanatham indru paazhpadalaamaaShould the spring of youth be ruined today?
Paruvakaala vasanatham indru paazhpadalaamaaShould the spring of youth be ruined today?
Verum paarvaiyaalae mattum kadhal sugame peralaamaaCan one obtain the joy of love through mere glances alone?
Verum paarvaiyaalae mattum kadhal sugame peralaamaaCan one obtain the joy of love through mere glances alone?
Male
Inikkum iravil uravu neram vaazhvilaeIn life, during the time of intimacy in sweet nights,
Inikkum iravil uravu neram vaazhvilaeIn life, during the time of intimacy in sweet nights,
Penn kaniyai kandu sugamae peruvean nerilaeBeholding this maiden-fruit, I shall experience joy directly!
Female
Sonna sollai unmaiyendru nampalaagumaaCan I believe your spoken words as the truth?
Male :Naan solvathai sonna pinnum kelvi vendumaaMale: Even after I say what I mean, is a question necessary?
Female :Uravae thondrumaaFemale: Will a true bond bloom?
Male :Indriravae kaanalaamMale: We shall see tonight itself!
Female :Uravae thondrumaaFemale: Will a true bond bloom?
Male :Indriravae kaanalaamMale: We shall see tonight itself!
Female
Kaniyaa kanniyaaIs it a fruit, or is it a maiden?
Vaazhvilinbam sollavaaShall I tell you the joy of life?
Kadhal pesum theethillaathaSpeaking of love, without any evil,
Kanniyamutham unnavaaShall I partake in the nectar of maidenhood?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kaniyaa Kanniyaa from the 1957 Tamil film Karpukkarasi is a classic romantic duet composed by G. Ramanathan, rendered by T. M. Soundararajan and Jikki, with lyrics by Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram. The song features a playful exchange between lovers who compare youthful maidenhood to a sweet, ripe fruit. The lover expresses his desire to taste the pure nectar of romance, while the lady teasingly questions whether true love can be sustained through mere glances and distant admiration. As the dialogue progresses, the hero reassures her of his sincerity and the sweet joy that awaits their union. Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram's masterful lyricism cleverly blends innocence, poetic wordplay, and romantic fervor, resulting in an enduring classic of 1950s Tamil cinema.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Pun / Homophonic Wordplay (Siledai)

Kaniyaa kanniyaa

The lyrics play on the phonetic similarity between 'Kani' (fruit) and 'Kanni' (maiden/virgin), blending both concepts into a romantic metaphor.

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Penn kaniyai kandu sugamae peruvean nerilae

Describing the youthful maiden directly as a fruit ('Penn kani') and love's innocence as nectar ('Kanniyamutham').

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Kadhal pesum theethillaatha / Kanniyamutham unnavaa

Repetition of initial consonant sounds like 'Ka' across consecutive words and lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Vaazhvilinbam sollavaa / Kanniyamutham unnavaa

Rhyming ending syllables across lines such as 'sollavaa' and 'unnavaa'.

Did you know?

Trivia

In Karpukkarasi (1957), starring Gemini Ganesan and Savitri, lyricist Pattukkottai Kalyanasundaram demonstrated his versatile range. Known primarily for his social-reformist songs, here he crafted a romantic track rich in literary imagery and playful wordplay between 'Kani' and 'Kanni', set to a vibrant melody by G. Ramanathan.

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