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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kann Enbeno En Kanmani

From Sudharsan · 1951

Lyricist
Papanasam Sivan
Singer
Kannamba
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Sudharsan1951

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kann enbaenoo en mani enbaenooShall I call you my eye? Shall I call you my gem?
En kann enbaenoo kannin mani enbaenooShall I call you my eye? Shall I call you the apple of my eye?
Kann enabaenoo en kannin mani enabaenooShall I call you my eye? Shall I call you the apple of my eye?
Karkandenbaeno katti karumbenbaenooShall I call you rock sugar? Shall I call you a block of sugarcane?
Karkandenbaeno katti karumbenbaenooShall I call you rock sugar? Shall I call you a block of sugarcane?
Female
En selvamae ingae odivaaOh my treasure, come running here!
En selvamae inga odivaa vaaOh my treasure, come running here, come!
En selvamae ingae odivaaOh my treasure, come running here!
Female
Ilanagaiyudan en edhirae aadavaaWill you dance before me with a tender smile?
Ilanagaiyudan en edhirae aadavaaWill you dance before me with a tender smile?
Amudhunnavaa amudhunnavaaWill you come partake of nectar? Will you come partake of nectar?
Enakkoru mutham kodukkavaWill you give me a kiss?
AmudhunnavaaWill you come partake of nectar?
Enakkoru mutham kodukkavaaWill you give me a kiss?
Female
Aaraaroo aariraaroo aa aa aa aa aa rooLullaby refrain (Aaraaroo aariraaroo...)
Aaraaroo oo oo oo ooLullaby refrain (Aaraaroo...)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a classic Tamil lullaby expressing a mother's deep affection and adoration for her child. The mother showered her child with loving epithets, comparing the child to her own eyes, the pupil/apple of her eyes, rock candy, sugarcane, and precious treasure. She lovingly invites the smiling child to play and dance in front of her, share sweet nectar, and give her a kiss before lulling the child to sleep with traditional lullaby syllables.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Rupaka)

Karkandenbaeno katti karumbenbaenoo

Directly equating the child to sweet items like 'Karkandu' (rock candy) and 'Katti Karumbu' (sugarcane block) to emphasize sweetness and affection.

Synecdoche / Metaphor

En kann enbaenoo kannin mani enbaenoo

Referring to the child as 'Kannin Mani' (apple/pupil of the eye), depicting the child as indispensably precious to the mother's sight and life.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Karkandenbaeno katti karumbenbaenoo

Use of the initial 'Ka' sound across words ('Karkandenbaeno', 'Katti', 'Karumbenbaenoo') to create rhythm.

Anaphora / Repetition (Ettudhal)

En selvamae ingae odivaa

Repetition of endearing invocations ('En selvamae ingae odivaa') to reinforce maternal fondness and lyrical sweetness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Papanasam Sivan, often hailed as the 'Tamil Tyagayya' of Carnatic music, penned the lyrics for this lullaby in the 1951 film 'Sudharsan'. Sung by the veteran actress-singer P. Kannamba under G. Ramanathan's musical direction, the song remains a quintessential example of traditional Tamil maternal lullabies.

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