Kanmani Appu
From Africavil Appu · 1986
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Africavil Appu1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanmani appu…. | Precious child Appu... |
| Un kangalil uppu | There is salt (tears) in your eyes. |
| Aabaththu kalam alaipolae paayum | Times of danger will surge like ocean waves, |
| Vaadaathe manam thaalaathae…. | Do not wither, do not lose heart... |
| Female | |
| Kanmani appu…. | Precious child Appu... |
| Female | |
| Iravu endrum karupputhaan | The night is always dark, |
| Irakkam illaa idhayam pol | Like a heart devoid of mercy. |
| Iravu endrum karupputhaan | The night is always dark, |
| Irakkam illaa idhayam pol | Like a heart devoid of mercy. |
| Vidivelli polae nee vaazhanum | You must shine and live like the morning star. |
| Vazhiyillai endraal irul moodidum | If there is no path forward, darkness will engulf. |
| Thaagam enbaar thaagam theerumthaan | They speak of thirst, but that thirst will surely be quenched. |
| Female | |
| Kanmani appu…. | Precious child Appu... |
| Un kangalil uppu | There is salt (tears) in your eyes. |
| Aabaththu kalam alaipolae paayum | Times of danger will surge like ocean waves, |
| Vaadaathe manam thaalaathae…. | Do not wither, do not lose heart... |
| Female | |
| Kanmani appu…. | Precious child Appu... |
கண்மணி அப்பு.....
உன் கண்களில் உப்பு
ஆபத்து காலம் அலைபோலே பாயும்
வாடாதே மனம் தாளாதே......
Precious child Appu...
There is salt (tears) in your eyes.
Times of danger will surge like ocean waves,
Do not wither, do not lose heart...
கண்மணி அப்பு.....
Precious child Appu...
இரவு என்றும் கறுப்புதான்
இரக்கம் இல்லா இதயம் போல்
இரவு என்றும் கறுப்புதான்
இரக்கம் இல்லா இதயம் போல்
விடிவெள்ளி போலே நீ வாழணும்
வழியில்லை என்றால் இருள் மூடிடும்
தாகம் என்பார் தாகம் தீரும்தான்......
The night is always dark,
Like a heart devoid of mercy.
The night is always dark,
Like a heart devoid of mercy.
You must shine and live like the morning star.
If there is no path forward, darkness will engulf.
They speak of thirst, but that thirst will surely be quenched.
கண்மணி அப்பு.....
உன் கண்களில் உப்பு
ஆபத்து காலம் அலைபோலே பாயும்
வாடாதே மனம் தாளாதே......
Precious child Appu...
There is salt (tears) in your eyes.
Times of danger will surge like ocean waves,
Do not wither, do not lose heart...
கண்மணி அப்பு.....
Precious child Appu...
Kanmani appu….
Precious child Appu...
Un kangalil uppu
There is salt (tears) in your eyes.
Aabaththu kalam alaipolae paayum
Times of danger will surge like ocean waves,
Vaadaathe manam thaalaathae….
Do not wither, do not lose heart...
Kanmani appu….
Precious child Appu...
Iravu endrum karupputhaan
The night is always dark,
Irakkam illaa idhayam pol
Like a heart devoid of mercy.
Iravu endrum karupputhaan
The night is always dark,
Irakkam illaa idhayam pol
Like a heart devoid of mercy.
Vidivelli polae nee vaazhanum
You must shine and live like the morning star.
Vazhiyillai endraal irul moodidum
If there is no path forward, darkness will engulf.
Thaagam enbaar thaagam theerumthaan
They speak of thirst, but that thirst will surely be quenched.
Kanmani appu….
Precious child Appu...
Un kangalil uppu
There is salt (tears) in your eyes.
Aabaththu kalam alaipolae paayum
Times of danger will surge like ocean waves,
Vaadaathe manam thaalaathae….
Do not wither, do not lose heart...
Kanmani appu….
Precious child Appu...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a comforting and motivational lullaby-style address to a young person named Appu. The lyrics acknowledge grief and impending hardship, poetically describing danger surging like unpredictable waves and cruel circumstances as dark as an unfeeling heart. Despite these hardships, the singer urges Appu not to lose hope or give up. The lyricist encourages Appu to rise above adversity like the morning star ('Vidivelli') and reassures them that struggles, much like thirst, are temporary and will eventually be relieved.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Un kangalil uppu”
Salt in the eyes ('Un kangalil uppu') is used as a poetic metaphor for tears of suffering and grief.
Simile (Upamai)
“Aabaththu kalam alaipolae paayum”
Dangerous times are compared to surging waves using the marker 'polae' ('alaipolae').
Simile (Upamai)
“Irakkam illaa idhayam pol”
The darkness of the night is compared to a heart devoid of mercy using 'pol'.
Alliteration (Monaai)
“Iravu endrum karupputhaan / Irakkam illaa idhayam pol”
Repetition of the initial 'I' sound in 'Iravu' and 'Irakkam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics were penned by Na. Kamarasan, one of the pioneering modern poets of the Tamil Puthukkavithai (new poetry) movement who contributed deeply emotional lyrics to 1980s Tamil cinema.
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