- Lyricist
- Pattukkottai Kalyanasundram
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, Jikki
- Music director
- G. Ramanathan
- Movie name
- Karpukkarasi
- Movie release year
- 1957
- Lyrics added on
- 27 Nov 2025
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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