Kanmani Kanmani Kaniye
From Karuppu Panam · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Karuppu Panam1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanmani kanmani kaniyae | Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit! |
| Sirumani | Little gem, |
| Ponmani ponmani poovae | Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower! |
| Maanggani | Mango fruit, |
| Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae | You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural! |
| Intha moovulagum unakappaalae | This entire three-fold world is secondary to you! |
| Female | |
| Kanmani kanmani kaniyae | Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit! |
| Sirumani | Little gem, |
| Ponmani ponmani poovae | Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower! |
| Maanggani | Mango fruit, |
| Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae | You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural! |
| Intha moovulagum unakappaalae | This entire three-fold world is secondary to you! |
| Female | |
| Thaen tharum malarae | Oh flower that yields sweet honey, |
| Thirunaal silaiyae | Oh divine statue of auspicious days, |
| Vaan tharum mazhaiyae | Oh rain showered from the heavens, |
| Valarum piraiyae | Oh waxing crescent moon, |
| Female | |
| Kaaviya kalaiyae | Oh art of epic poetry, |
| Kaaviri karaiyae | Oh bank of the holy Kaveri river, |
| Kaaviya kalaiyae kaaviri karaiyae | Oh art of epic poetry, oh bank of the holy Kaveri river, |
| Dheebathin oliyae deivathin nizhalae | Oh light of the lamp, oh shadow of the divine, |
| Udalum uyrium neeyae amma | You are my body and my soul, my dear, |
| Naan unakkae ulagil vaazhven amma | I shall live in this world only for you, my dear, |
| Female | |
| Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae | You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural! |
| Intha moovulagum unakappaalae | This entire three-fold world is secondary to you! |
| Female | |
| Kanmani kanmani kaniyae | Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit! |
| Sirumani | Little gem, |
| Ponmani ponmani poovae | Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower! |
| Maanggani | Mango fruit, |
| Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae | You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural! |
| Intha moovulagum unakappaalae | This entire three-fold world is secondary to you! |
| Female | |
| Kovil vaasal gopura kalasam | Oh golden finial atop the temple tower gate, |
| Konjum thendral mangala geetham | Oh caressing breeze, oh auspicious melody, |
| Thangathil vairam sangoli naadham | Oh diamond set in gold, oh resonant sound of the holy conch, |
| Thangathil vairam sangoli naadham | Oh diamond set in gold, oh resonant sound of the holy conch, |
| Un pugazh paadum innisai ketten | I heard the sweet music singing your glory, |
| Ennai unakkae thanthen amma | I have surrendered myself entirely to you, my dear, |
| Naan endrum unakkae vaazhven amma | I will forever live only for you, my dear, |
| Female | |
| Kanmani kanmani kaniyae | Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit! |
| Sirumani | Little gem, |
| Ponmani ponmani poovae | Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower! |
| Maanggani | Mango fruit, |
| Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae | You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural! |
| Intha moovulagum unakappaalae | This entire three-fold world is secondary to you! |
கண்மணி கண்மணி கனியே
சிறுமணி
பொன்மணி பொன்மணி பூவே
மாங்கனி
முத்தமிழ் முக்கனி முப்பாலே
இந்த மூவுலகம் உனக்கப்பாலே
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Little gem,
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Mango fruit,
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
கண்மணி கண்மணி கனியே
சிறுமணி
பொன்மணி பொன்மணி பூவே
மாங்கனி
முத்தமிழ் முக்கனி முப்பாலே
இந்த மூவுலகம் உனக்கப்பாலே
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Little gem,
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Mango fruit,
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
தேன் தரும் மலரே
திருநாள் சிலையே
வான் தரும் மழையே
வளரும் பிறையே
Oh flower that yields sweet honey,
Oh divine statue of auspicious days,
Oh rain showered from the heavens,
Oh waxing crescent moon,
காவியக் கலையே
காவிரிக் கரையே
காவியக் கலையே
காவிரிக் கரையே
Oh art of epic poetry,
Oh bank of the holy Kaveri river,
Oh art of epic poetry, oh bank of the holy Kaveri river,
Oh light of the lamp, oh shadow of the divine,
You are my body and my soul, my dear,
I shall live in this world only for you, my dear,
தீபத்தின் ஒளியே தெய்வத்தின் நிழலே
உடலும் உயிரும் நீயே அம்மா
நான் உனக்கே உலகில் வாழ்வேன் அம்மா
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
முத்தமிழ் முக்கனி முப்பாலே
இந்த மூவுலகம் உனக்கப்பாலே
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Little gem,
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Mango fruit,
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
கண்மணி கண்மணி கனியே
சிறுமணி
பொன்மணி பொன்மணி பூவே
மாங்கனி
முத்தமிழ் முக்கனி முப்பாலே
இந்த மூவுலகம் உனக்கப்பாலே
Oh golden finial atop the temple tower gate,
Oh caressing breeze, oh auspicious melody,
Oh diamond set in gold, oh resonant sound of the holy conch,
Oh diamond set in gold, oh resonant sound of the holy conch,
I heard the sweet music singing your glory,
I have surrendered myself entirely to you, my dear,
I will forever live only for you, my dear,
கோவில் வாசல் கோபுர கலசம்
கொஞ்சும் தென்றல் மங்கள கீதம்
தங்கத்தில் வைரம் சங்கொலி நாதம்
தங்கத்தில் வைரம் சங்கொலி நாதம்
உன் புகழ் பாடும் இன்னிசை கேட்டேன்
என்னை உனக்கே தந்தேன் அம்மா
நான் என்றும் உனக்கே வாழ்வேன் அம்மா
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Little gem,
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Mango fruit,
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
கண்மணி கண்மணி கனியே
சிறுமணி
பொன்மணி பொன்மணி பூவே
மாங்கனி
முத்தமிழ் முக்கனி முப்பாலே
இந்த மூவுலகம் உனக்கப்பாலே
Kanmani kanmani kaniyae
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Sirumani
Little gem,
Ponmani ponmani poovae
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Maanggani
Mango fruit,
Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
Intha moovulagum unakappaalae
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
Kanmani kanmani kaniyae
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Sirumani
Little gem,
Ponmani ponmani poovae
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Maanggani
Mango fruit,
Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
Intha moovulagum unakappaalae
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
Thaen tharum malarae
Oh flower that yields sweet honey,
Thirunaal silaiyae
Oh divine statue of auspicious days,
Vaan tharum mazhaiyae
Oh rain showered from the heavens,
Valarum piraiyae
Oh waxing crescent moon,
Kaaviya kalaiyae
Oh art of epic poetry,
Kaaviri karaiyae
Oh bank of the holy Kaveri river,
Kaaviya kalaiyae kaaviri karaiyae
Oh art of epic poetry, oh bank of the holy Kaveri river,
Dheebathin oliyae deivathin nizhalae
Oh light of the lamp, oh shadow of the divine,
Udalum uyrium neeyae amma
You are my body and my soul, my dear,
Naan unakkae ulagil vaazhven amma
I shall live in this world only for you, my dear,
Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
Intha moovulagum unakappaalae
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
Kanmani kanmani kaniyae
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Sirumani
Little gem,
Ponmani ponmani poovae
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Maanggani
Mango fruit,
Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
Intha moovulagum unakappaalae
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
Kovil vaasal gopura kalasam
Oh golden finial atop the temple tower gate,
Konjum thendral mangala geetham
Oh caressing breeze, oh auspicious melody,
Thangathil vairam sangoli naadham
Oh diamond set in gold, oh resonant sound of the holy conch,
Thangathil vairam sangoli naadham
Oh diamond set in gold, oh resonant sound of the holy conch,
Un pugazh paadum innisai ketten
I heard the sweet music singing your glory,
Ennai unakkae thanthen amma
I have surrendered myself entirely to you, my dear,
Naan endrum unakkae vaazhven amma
I will forever live only for you, my dear,
Kanmani kanmani kaniyae
Oh apple of my eye, precious fruit!
Sirumani
Little gem,
Ponmani ponmani poovae
Golden gem, golden gem, sweet flower!
Maanggani
Mango fruit,
Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae
You are the three Tamil arts, the three sweet fruits, and the three virtues of Thirukkural!
Intha moovulagum unakappaalae
This entire three-fold world is secondary to you!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply affectionate lullaby and ode expressing unyielding, tender love toward a beloved child or cherished person. Lyricist Kannadasan utilizes rich Tamil cultural imagery, elevating the subject of affection to the highest sacred and aesthetic standards of Tamil heritage.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Kanmani kanmani kaniyae”
The deliberate repetition of words like 'Kanmani kanmani' and 'Ponmani ponmani' creates a rhythmic, affectionate lullaby effect.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Muththamizh mukkani muppaalae”
Directly equating the beloved to classical Tamil concepts: Muththamizh (Iyal, Isai, Naadagam), Mukkani (Maa, Palaa, Vazhai), and Muppaal (Aram, Porul, Inbam).
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Thaen tharum malarae”
Uniform rhyming endings with the sound '-ae' across multiple lines ('malarae', 'silaiyae', 'mazhaiyae', 'piraiyae') enhancing poetic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is famous for effortlessly weaving classic Tamil triadic concepts (Muththamizh - Prose/Music/Drama, Mukkani - Mango/Jackfruit/Banana, and Muppaal - Virtues/Wealth/Love from Thirukkural) into a commercial lullaby, showcasing Kannadasan's mastery over classical Tamil tropes.
Keep listening
More from Karuppu Panam
Karuppu Panam
Karuppu Panam
Karuppu Panam
Karuppu Panam
Karuppu Panam
Karuppu Panam