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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kann Kanathathum

From Avan (1953) · 1953

Lyricist
Kambadasan
Singers
A. M. Raja, Jikki
Music director
Shankar Jaikishan
Details
Avan (1953)1953

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mmmmm…mm…Mmmmm…mm…
Male
Kann kaanaathathum manam kandu vidumWhat the eyes cannot see, the heart will discover.
Vaan chanthiran manam varalaachchaeThe heart has come to resemble the moon in the sky.
Female :Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheFemale: The whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Female
Kann kaanaathathum manam kandu vidumWhat the eyes cannot see, the heart will discover.
Vaan chanthiran manam varalaachchaeThe heart has come to resemble the moon in the sky.
Female :Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheFemale: The whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Female
Yaar mugamae thedutho anbin vizhiWhose face do these eyes of love search for?
Yaar mugamae thedutho anbin vizhiWhose face do these eyes of love search for?
Ner kaanavae indru undo vazhiIs there a way today to meet face to face?
Ner kaanavae indru undo vazhiIs there a way today to meet face to face?
Female
Ohho maayakkaaraa en manasoraaOh magician, thief of my heart!
Unnaasaiyil thookkam pocheBecause of my desire for you, my sleep is gone.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Male
Kann kaanaathathum manam kandu vidumWhat the eyes cannot see, the heart will discover.
Vaan chanthiran manam varalaachchaeThe heart has come to resemble the moon in the sky.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Male
Kadhal saram yaen eithanaiyoWhy did you shoot these arrows of love?
Kadhal saram yaen eithanaiyoWhy did you shoot these arrows of love?
Karuththai piththaaga seithanaiyoDid you drive my mind to madness?
Karuththai piththaaga seithanaiyoDid you drive my mind to madness?
Male
Yaeno intha kobam theeraatha thaabamWhy this anger and unquenchable craving?
En vaazhvae maaripochaeMy entire life has transformed.
Udal melum melum thanalaachche…My body burns more and more like hot embers...
Female
Kann kaanaathathum manam kandu vidumWhat the eyes cannot see, the heart will discover.
Vaan chanthiran manam varalaachchaeThe heart has come to resemble the moon in the sky.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Female
Megam nuzhaintha minnal polaeLike lightning piercing through the clouds,
Megam nuzhaintha minnal polaeLike lightning piercing through the clouds,
Mogam kondaayo enthan melaeDid passion take hold of you for me?
Female
Aahaa un perai vaan mazhai thaaraiAh, the pouring rain from the sky
En kaathilae sollalaachcheHas begun to whisper your name into my ears.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Female
Kann kaanaathathum manam kandu vidumWhat the eyes cannot see, the heart will discover.
Vaan chanthiran manam varalaachchaeThe heart has come to resemble the moon in the sky.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.
Udal engum pongum kadalaachcheThe whole body has become an overflowing ocean.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poetic song expresses deep romantic longing, passion, and the intense physical and emotional sensations brought on by love. The lyrics describe how intuition and love allow the heart to perceive what physical eyes cannot yet see. The lover's body is metaphorically compared to an overflowing sea surging with desire and burning like embers in separation. The song captures the bittersweet pain of love's arrow, sleepless nights, and the illusion of hearing the beloved's name in the falling rain, illustrating a mind overtaken by romantic madness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Udal engum pongum kadalaachche

'Udal engum pongum kadalaachche' compares the emotional surge inside the body directly to an overflowing ocean.

Simile (Uvamai)

Megam nuzhaintha minnal polae

'Megam nuzhaintha minnal polae' uses 'polae' (like/as) to compare the sudden onset of passion to lightning slicing through clouds.

Rhyme (Edhukai & Monai)

Ohho maayakkaaraa en manasoraa

'Maayakkaaraa' and 'Manasoraa' feature internal rhythm and rhyming endings, accentuating the playfulness and longing.

Personification

Aahaa un perai vaan mazhai thaarai en kaathilae sollalaachche

'Vaan mazhai thaarai en kaathilae sollalaachche' personifies the rain streams as whispering the lover's name into the ear.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Avan' (1953) is the Tamil dubbed/adapted soundtrack release of Raj Kapoor's iconic Hindi film 'Awaara' (1951). The original timeless music composed by Shankar Jaikishan was retained, with veteran Tamil poet Kambadasan writing Tamil lyrics to match the famous Hindi melodies originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar.

Keep listening

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