Kanmaniye Pesu
From Kaakki Sattai · 1985
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Kaakki Sattai1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
| Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
| Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..Female :Aahh.. | Cheeks are like fresh roses... Female: Aahh.. |
| Unn kangal iru oodhaappoo…Female :Aah… | Your eyes are two purple flowers... Female: Aah... |
| Idhu poovil pootha poovaiyo.. | Is this a flower that blossomed from another flower? |
| Male | |
| Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
| Male | |
| Andhappuram indhappuramo | Is it the inner palace or this side? |
| Vizhi maiyittu andhi kalai solliththarumo | Will kohl-lined eyes teach the twilight art? |
| Iru kai thottu | Touching with both hands |
| Male | |
| Andhappuram indhappuramo | Is it the inner palace or this side? |
| Vizhi maiyittu andhi kalai solliththarumo | Will kohl-lined eyes teach the twilight art? |
| Iru kai thottu | Touching with both hands |
| Female | |
| Aayiram pon pookkum yendhan dhegam yengumae… | A thousand golden flowers bloom all over my body... |
| Male :Lalalalalaaa… | Male: Lalalalalaaa... |
| Female :Angulam vedaamal inbha gangai pongumae… | Female: Without missing an inch, the river Ganga of joy overflows... |
| Male :Lalalalalaaa | Male: Lalalalalaaa |
| Male | |
| Tholilum yen maarbilum | On my shoulders and on my chest |
| Konjidum yen anjugam | My parrot fondles affectionately |
| Naan nee yedhu hoi hoi.. | Where is 'I' and 'you' anymore? Hoi hoi.. |
| Female | |
| Kanmaniyae pesu..Male : Mmm…. | Speak, my darling... Male: Mmm.... |
| Mounam yenna kooru | Tell me what this silence is about |
| Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..Male :Aahh.. | Cheeks are like fresh roses... Male: Aahh.. |
| Enn kangal iru oodhaappoo…Male :Mmm… | My eyes are two purple flowers... Male: Mmm... |
| Idhu poovil pootha poovaiyae. | This is a flower that blossomed from a flower. |
| Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
| Female | |
| Unnaikodu yennai tharuven | Give yourself to me, I will give myself to you |
| Oru thaalaattil pillai thamizh | In a lullaby, pure sweet Tamil like a child's words |
| Solli tharuven vizhi moodaamal | I will teach you without closing my eyes |
| Female | |
| Unnaikodu yennai tharuven | Give yourself to me, I will give myself to you |
| Oru thaalaattil pillai thamizh | In a lullaby, pure sweet Tamil like a child's words |
| Solli tharuven vizhi moodaamal | I will teach you without closing my eyes |
| Male | |
| Kangalaal yen dhegam yengum kaayam seigirai | With your eyes, you wound my entire body |
| Female :Lalalalalaaa | Female: Lalalalalaaa |
| Male :Kaigalaal yen paadham neevi aara seigirai | Male: With your hands, you stroke my feet and heal them |
| Female :Lalalalalaaa | Female: Lalalalalaaa |
| Female | |
| Vaanaham…ivvaiyaham.. | The sky... this whole world.. |
| Yaavumae yen kaiyaham.. | Everything is right in my hands.. |
| Nee dhaan thandhaai hoo hoo… | You are the one who gave it all, hoo hoo... |
| Male | |
| Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
| Female :Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Female: Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
| Male | |
| Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..Female :Aahh.. | Cheeks are like fresh roses... Female: Aahh.. |
| Unn kangal iru oodhaappoo.. | Your eyes are two purple flowers.. |
| Female | |
| Idhu poovil pootha poovaiyae.. | This is a flower that blossomed from a flower.. |
| Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru | Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about |
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
கன்னங்கள் புது ரோசாப்பூ
ஆஆ
உன் கண்கள்
இரு ஊதாப்பூ பெண் :
ஆஆ
இது பூவில் பூத்த பூவையோ
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Cheeks are like fresh roses... Female: Aahh..
Your eyes are two purple flowers... Female: Aah...
Is this a flower that blossomed from another flower?
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
அந்தப்புறம்
இந்தப்புறமோ விழி
மையிட்டு அந்திக்கலை
சொல்லித் தருமோ
இருகை தொட்டு
Is it the inner palace or this side?
Will kohl-lined eyes teach the twilight art?
Touching with both hands
அந்தப்புறம்
இந்தப்புறமோ விழி
மையிட்டு அந்திக்கலை
சொல்லித் தருமோ
இருகை தொட்டு
Is it the inner palace or this side?
Will kohl-lined eyes teach the twilight art?
Touching with both hands
ஆயிரம் பொன்
பூக்கும் எந்தன் தேகம்
எங்குமே
...........................
அங்குலம் விடாமல்
இன்ப கங்கை பொங்குமே
...........................
A thousand golden flowers bloom all over my body...
Male: Lalalalalaaa...
Female: Without missing an inch, the river Ganga of joy overflows...
Male: Lalalalalaaa
தோளிலும் என்
மார்பிலும் கொஞ்சிடும்
என் அஞ்சுகம் நான் நீ
எது ஹோய் ஹோய்
On my shoulders and on my chest
My parrot fondles affectionately
Where is 'I' and 'you' anymore? Hoi hoi..
கண்மணியே பேசு
ம்ம்ம்
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
கன்னங்கள் புது ரோசாப்பூ
ஆஆ
என் கண்கள் இரு ஊதாப்பூ
ம்ம்ம்
இது பூவில் பூத்த பூவையே
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
Speak, my darling... Male: Mmm....
Tell me what this silence is about
Cheeks are like fresh roses... Male: Aahh..
My eyes are two purple flowers... Male: Mmm...
This is a flower that blossomed from a flower.
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
உன்னைக் கொடு
என்னைத் தருவேன்
ஒரு தாலாட்டில் பிள்ளைத்
தமிழ் சொல்லித் தருவேன்
விழி மூடாமல்
Give yourself to me, I will give myself to you
In a lullaby, pure sweet Tamil like a child's words
I will teach you without closing my eyes
உன்னைக் கொடு
என்னைத் தருவேன்
ஒரு தாலாட்டில் பிள்ளைத்
தமிழ் சொல்லித் தருவேன்
விழி மூடாமல்
Give yourself to me, I will give myself to you
In a lullaby, pure sweet Tamil like a child's words
I will teach you without closing my eyes
கண்களால் என்
தேகம் எங்கும் காயம்
செய்கிறாய்
..........................
கைகளால் என் பாதம்
நீவி ஆறச் செய்கிறாய்
..........................
With your eyes, you wound my entire body
Female: Lalalalalaaa
Male: With your hands, you stroke my feet and heal them
Female: Lalalalalaaa
வானகம் இவ்வையகம்
யாவுமே என் கையகம் நீதான்
தந்தாய் ஹோ ஹோ
The sky... this whole world..
Everything is right in my hands..
You are the one who gave it all, hoo hoo...
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Female: Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
கன்னங்கள்
புது ரோசாப்பூ
ஆஆ
உன் கண்கள்
இரு ஊதாப்பூ
Cheeks are like fresh roses... Female: Aahh..
Your eyes are two purple flowers..
இது பூவில்
பூத்த பூவையே
கண்மணியே பேசு
மௌனம் என்ன கூறு
This is a flower that blossomed from a flower..
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..Female :Aahh..
Cheeks are like fresh roses... Female: Aahh..
Unn kangal iru oodhaappoo…Female :Aah…
Your eyes are two purple flowers... Female: Aah...
Idhu poovil pootha poovaiyo..
Is this a flower that blossomed from another flower?
Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Andhappuram indhappuramo
Is it the inner palace or this side?
Vizhi maiyittu andhi kalai solliththarumo
Will kohl-lined eyes teach the twilight art?
Iru kai thottu
Touching with both hands
Andhappuram indhappuramo
Is it the inner palace or this side?
Vizhi maiyittu andhi kalai solliththarumo
Will kohl-lined eyes teach the twilight art?
Iru kai thottu
Touching with both hands
Aayiram pon pookkum yendhan dhegam yengumae…
A thousand golden flowers bloom all over my body...
Male :Lalalalalaaa…
Male: Lalalalalaaa...
Female :Angulam vedaamal inbha gangai pongumae…
Female: Without missing an inch, the river Ganga of joy overflows...
Male :Lalalalalaaa
Male: Lalalalalaaa
Tholilum yen maarbilum
On my shoulders and on my chest
Konjidum yen anjugam
My parrot fondles affectionately
Naan nee yedhu hoi hoi..
Where is 'I' and 'you' anymore? Hoi hoi..
Kanmaniyae pesu..Male : Mmm….
Speak, my darling... Male: Mmm....
Mounam yenna kooru
Tell me what this silence is about
Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..Male :Aahh..
Cheeks are like fresh roses... Male: Aahh..
Enn kangal iru oodhaappoo…Male :Mmm…
My eyes are two purple flowers... Male: Mmm...
Idhu poovil pootha poovaiyae.
This is a flower that blossomed from a flower.
Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Unnaikodu yennai tharuven
Give yourself to me, I will give myself to you
Oru thaalaattil pillai thamizh
In a lullaby, pure sweet Tamil like a child's words
Solli tharuven vizhi moodaamal
I will teach you without closing my eyes
Unnaikodu yennai tharuven
Give yourself to me, I will give myself to you
Oru thaalaattil pillai thamizh
In a lullaby, pure sweet Tamil like a child's words
Solli tharuven vizhi moodaamal
I will teach you without closing my eyes
Kangalaal yen dhegam yengum kaayam seigirai
With your eyes, you wound my entire body
Female :Lalalalalaaa
Female: Lalalalalaaa
Male :Kaigalaal yen paadham neevi aara seigirai
Male: With your hands, you stroke my feet and heal them
Female :Lalalalalaaa
Female: Lalalalalaaa
Vaanaham…ivvaiyaham..
The sky... this whole world..
Yaavumae yen kaiyaham..
Everything is right in my hands..
Nee dhaan thandhaai hoo hoo…
You are the one who gave it all, hoo hoo...
Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Female :Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Female: Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..Female :Aahh..
Cheeks are like fresh roses... Female: Aahh..
Unn kangal iru oodhaappoo..
Your eyes are two purple flowers..
Idhu poovil pootha poovaiyae..
This is a flower that blossomed from a flower..
Kanmaniyae pesu…mounam yenna kooru
Speak, my darling... tell me what this silence is about
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kanmaniyae Pesu' is a romantic duet expressing intimate love and playful affection between lovers. The song relies heavily on floral imagery—comparing cheeks to fresh roses and eyes to purple blossoms—to celebrate intimacy and physical togetherness. As the lovers converse, they express how their union transcends individuality, melting into oneness where all boundaries vanish. The lyrics capture the warmth of passion, tender care, and the deep emotional bond they share.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Kannangal pudhu rosaappoo..”
Compares soft cheeks directly to fresh roses without explicit comparative words.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Unn kangal iru oodhaappoo…”
Compares eyes directly to purple flowers.
Hyperbole (Adukkuthodar / Udharana Uvamai)
“Aayiram pon pookkum yendhan dhegam yengumae…”
Exaggerates the sensory euphoria of touch as a thousand golden flowers blooming across the body.
Antithesis / Wordplay (Edhirsol / Yugmam)
“Andhappuram indhappuramo”
Contrasts 'Andhappuram' (inner chamber/that side) and 'Indhappuram' (this side) for poetic rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kanmaniyae Pesu' is a hit duet composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the 1985 action film 'Kaakki Sattai', starring Kamal Haasan and Ambika. Sung by SP Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki with lyrics penned by Pulamaipithan, the track remains one of the iconic romantic songs of 80s Tamil cinema.
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