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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kaniyum Kiliyum

From Pattampoochi · 1975

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
P. Srinivasan
Details
Pattampoochi1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kaniyum kiliyum saernthaal kadhal uruvaagumWhen the fruit and the parrot meet, love is born.
Female :Ilamai irandum searnthaal idhayam malaraagumWhen two youthful souls unite, the heart blossoms into a flower.
Male :Un nizhal kooda nilvaagum neeyae ulagam anbaeEven your shadow turns into a moon; you are my entire world, my love.
Female
Kaniyum kiliyum saernthaal kadhal uruvaagumWhen the fruit and the parrot meet, love is born.
Male
Semmaantha maarbagam kanduSeeing the radiant, blushing chest,
Nalla themmaangu paaduthadi vanduA bee sings a sweet, rustic song.
Manam thaenaattril aaduthadi indruToday, the mind bathes and dances in a river of honey.
Female
Sulathan-in thottaththu kaattruThe breeze blowing from the Sultan's garden,
Un sonthaththai kooriyathu nettruSpoke of your intimate bond yesterday.
Inba sorkkaththai nee enakku kaattuShow me that paradise of supreme bliss.
Male
Mangi ilam muththeduththuGathering precious, fresh young pearls,
Vannamalar koththeduththuPlucking a cluster of vibrant colorful flowers,
Sangamaththil koodivida ninaithaenI wished to merge with you in a sweet confluence.
Female
Antha chandhiranilae azhaguOh, the radiant beauty of that moon,
Panjanaiyai pottu vaiththuArranging a soft, luxurious bed,
Santhanaththai poosi vida ninaithaenI wished to gently apply fragrant sandalwood paste on you.
Nee nadamaadum kalaikoodamYou are a living, walking gallery of fine art,
Naan un rasigai anbaeAnd I am your ardent admirer, my love.
Male
Kaniyum kiliyum saernthaal kadhal uruvaagumWhen the fruit and the parrot meet, love is born.
Female :Ilamai irandum searnthaal idhayam malaraagumWhen two youthful souls unite, the heart blossoms into a flower.
Female
Kannaana kannanathu azhaguThe endearing beauty of the precious beloved,
Nalla panneeril oorivarum nilavuLike the moon rising, soaked in pure rosewater,
En kannaadi maaligaiyin kadhavuYou are the gateway to my palace of glass.
Male
Moodaamal moodi vaiththa maeniA body kept enticingly veiled yet exposed,
Angu paadaamal paadivarum thaeneeWhere a bee arrives humming without a tune.
Naan unnaalae indru oru nyaaniBecause of you, I have transformed into a enlightened sage today.
Female
Paal vadiyum pachai mugamAn innocent face brimming with youthful purity,
Melirandu sevvidhazhilUpon those two rosy red lips,
Neeyarunthum vannam indru koduppaenI shall offer you the sweet nectar to sip today.
Male
Noolidaiyai paarththirukkumGazing at the slender, thread-like waist,
Aalilaiyin raajiyaththilIn the sovereign kingdom of the banyan leaf,
Naanum oru raajangam amaippaenI too shall establish my own empire.
En maharani yuvaraniMy queen, my royal princess,
Maragatha silaiyae anbae….Oh cherished emerald statue, my love...
Male
Kaniyum kiliyum saernthaal kadhal uruvaagumWhen the fruit and the parrot meet, love is born.
Female :Ilamai irandum searnthaal idhayam malaraagumWhen two youthful souls unite, the heart blossoms into a flower.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Tamil duet from the 1975 film 'Pattampoochi' is a deeply poetic expression of romantic union and passion. The lovers use lush imagery from nature—fruits, parrots, bees, gardens, and moonlight—to describe the blossoming of their love and their physical and emotional attraction toward each other. The song highlights the magical transformation that love brings, turning ordinary existence into a paradise of bliss and elevating the beloved to art and royalty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kaniyum kiliyum saernthaal kadhal uruvaagum

Compares the union of lovers to a parrot alighting on a sweet fruit ('Kani' and 'Kili'), symbolizing natural alignment and sweet desire.

Imagery (Kaatchi Uvamai)

Nalla panneeril oorivarum nilavu

Creates vivid visual sensory imagery by comparing the beloved's radiant face to a moon soaked in refreshing rosewater.

Rhyme (Monai and Edhugai)

Mangi ilam muththeduththu / Vannamalar koththeduththu

Employs classic Tamil poetic rhyming patterns in the second letter ('Mangi' / 'Vannamalar' / 'Sangamaththil') to maintain musicality.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by P. Srinivasan with lyrics by the legendary Tamil poet Pulamaipithan, 'Kaniyum Kiliyum Saernthaal' remains one of the iconic duets rendered by TMS (T. M. Soundararajan) and P. Susheela from the 1970s Tamil cinema era.

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