Kanna Enna Kadhai
From Thottathellam Ponnagum · 1975
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. Vijaya Baskar
- Details
- Thottathellam Ponnagum1975
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanna enna kadhai idhu | Oh Krishna, what story is this? |
| Siru penna unai azhaippadhu | Is a young girl calling out to you? |
| Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu | A fruit comes and falls before the parrot, |
| Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu | This is a novelty unseen through the ages. |
| Female | |
| Kanna enna kadhai idhu | Oh Krishna, what story is this? |
| Siru penna unai azhaippadhu | Is a young girl calling out to you? |
| Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu | A fruit comes and falls before the parrot, |
| Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu | This is a novelty unseen through the ages. |
| Female | |
| {Pattu kunjum katti vitta bambaram ondru | {A spinning top tied with a silk tassel, |
| Panthadikkum nandhavanam | A flower garden playing with a ball, |
| Pennidam undu} (2) | Resides within this woman} (2) |
| Kannil rasam pera nenjil pazham pera | To relish passion in the eyes, to feel fruit in the heart, |
| Pennil sugam pera kannadi edharkku | To find bliss in a woman, why is a mirror needed? |
| Female | |
| Kanna enna kadhai idhu | Oh Krishna, what story is this? |
| Siru penna unai azhaippadhu | Is a young girl calling out to you? |
| Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu | A fruit comes and falls before the parrot, |
| Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu | This is a novelty unseen through the ages. |
| Female | |
| {Andha sugam ennavendru | {What that pleasure is, |
| Solli kodungal | Please teach me, |
| Alli thandai pinni kondu | Entwining like lily stems, |
| Alli edungal} (2) | Gather and embrace me} (2) |
| Aasai thudikkidhu naanam thadukkudhu | Desire throbs, yet modesty stops me, |
| Naana anaippadhu nalla kadhai thaan | Is it proper for me to initiate the embrace? |
| Female | |
| Kanna enna kadhai idhu | Oh Krishna, what story is this? |
| Siru penna unai azhaippadhu | Is a young girl calling out to you? |
| Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu | A fruit comes and falls before the parrot, |
| Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu | This is a novelty unseen through the ages. |
| Female | |
| Mandabathin vaasal varai | Up to the threshold of the wedding hall, |
| Mannan varattum | Let the king come, |
| Mandhirathil ondrirandai | A mantra or two, |
| Solli tharattum | Let him teach me. |
| Koyil thirakkavum malai kidaikkavum | To open the temple, to receive the garland, |
| Poojai nadakkavum achhaaram kodungal | And to perform the ritual, give me the earnest token. |
| Female | |
| Kanna enna kadhai idhu | Oh Krishna, what story is this? |
| Siru penna unai azhaippadhu | Is a young girl calling out to you? |
| Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu | A fruit comes and falls before the parrot, |
| Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu | This is a novelty unseen through the ages. |
கண்ணா என்ன கதை இது
சிறு பெண்ணா உனை அழைப்பது
ஒரு கனி வந்து கிளியிடம் விழுகின்றது
காலங்கள் காணாத புதுமை இது...
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Is a young girl calling out to you?
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
கண்ணா என்ன கதை இது
சிறு பெண்ணா உனை அழைப்பது
ஒரு கனி வந்து கிளியிடம் விழுகின்றது
காலங்கள் காணாத புதுமை இது...
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Is a young girl calling out to you?
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
{பட்டு குஞ்சம் கட்டி விட்ட பம்பரம் ஒன்று
பந்தடிக்கும் நந்தவனம் பெண்ணிடம் உண்டு} (2)
கண்ணில் ரசம் பெற நெஞ்சில் பழம் பெற
பெண்ணில் சுகம் பெற கண்ணாடி எதற்கு
{A spinning top tied with a silk tassel,
A flower garden playing with a ball,
Resides within this woman} (2)
To relish passion in the eyes, to feel fruit in the heart,
To find bliss in a woman, why is a mirror needed?
கண்ணா என்ன கதை இது
சிறு பெண்ணா உனை அழைப்பது
ஒரு கனி வந்து கிளியிடம் விழுகின்றது
காலங்கள் காணாத புதுமை இது...
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Is a young girl calling out to you?
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
{அந்த சுகம் என்னவென்று சொல்லிக் கொடுங்கள்
அல்லித் தண்டை பின்னிக் கொண்டு அள்ளி எடுங்கள்} (2)
ஆசை துடிக்குது நாணம் தடுக்குது
நானா அணைப்பது நல்ல கதைதான்
{What that pleasure is,
Please teach me,
Entwining like lily stems,
Gather and embrace me} (2)
Desire throbs, yet modesty stops me,
Is it proper for me to initiate the embrace?
கண்ணா என்ன கதை இது
சிறு பெண்ணா உனை அழைப்பது
ஒரு கனி வந்து கிளியிடம் விழுகின்றது
காலங்கள் காணாத புதுமை இது...
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Is a young girl calling out to you?
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
மண்டபத்தின் வாசல் வரை மன்னன் வரட்டும்
மந்திரத்தில் ஒன்றிரெண்டை சொல்லித் தரட்டும்
கோயில் திறக்கவும் மாலை கிடைக்கவும்
பூஜை நடக்கவும் அச்சாரம் கொடுங்கள்...
Up to the threshold of the wedding hall,
Let the king come,
A mantra or two,
Let him teach me.
To open the temple, to receive the garland,
And to perform the ritual, give me the earnest token.
கண்ணா என்ன கதை இது
சிறு பெண்ணா உனை அழைப்பது
ஒரு கனி வந்து கிளியிடம் விழுகின்றது
காலங்கள் காணாத புதுமை இது...
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Is a young girl calling out to you?
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
Kanna enna kadhai idhu
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Siru penna unai azhaippadhu
Is a young girl calling out to you?
Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
Kanna enna kadhai idhu
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Siru penna unai azhaippadhu
Is a young girl calling out to you?
Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
{Pattu kunjum katti vitta bambaram ondru
{A spinning top tied with a silk tassel,
Panthadikkum nandhavanam
A flower garden playing with a ball,
Pennidam undu} (2)
Resides within this woman} (2)
Kannil rasam pera nenjil pazham pera
To relish passion in the eyes, to feel fruit in the heart,
Pennil sugam pera kannadi edharkku
To find bliss in a woman, why is a mirror needed?
Kanna enna kadhai idhu
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Siru penna unai azhaippadhu
Is a young girl calling out to you?
Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
{Andha sugam ennavendru
{What that pleasure is,
Solli kodungal
Please teach me,
Alli thandai pinni kondu
Entwining like lily stems,
Alli edungal} (2)
Gather and embrace me} (2)
Aasai thudikkidhu naanam thadukkudhu
Desire throbs, yet modesty stops me,
Naana anaippadhu nalla kadhai thaan
Is it proper for me to initiate the embrace?
Kanna enna kadhai idhu
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Siru penna unai azhaippadhu
Is a young girl calling out to you?
Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
Mandabathin vaasal varai
Up to the threshold of the wedding hall,
Mannan varattum
Let the king come,
Mandhirathil ondrirandai
A mantra or two,
Solli tharattum
Let him teach me.
Koyil thirakkavum malai kidaikkavum
To open the temple, to receive the garland,
Poojai nadakkavum achhaaram kodungal
And to perform the ritual, give me the earnest token.
Kanna enna kadhai idhu
Oh Krishna, what story is this?
Siru penna unai azhaippadhu
Is a young girl calling out to you?
Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu
A fruit comes and falls before the parrot,
Kaalangal kaanadha pudhumai idhu
This is a novelty unseen through the ages.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a playful, sensual, and poetic romantic monologue where a young woman speaks to her lover, addressing him playfully as 'Kanna' (Krishna). She reflects on the unprecedented joy of love where the fruit of romance comes seeking the parrot on its own accord. She describes her beauty, playful youth, and awakening desires while highlighting the classic tension between her overwhelming love and traditional shyness. As the song progresses, she delicately hints at marital union and intimate togetherness, asking him to guide her through the steps of love like a king entering the marriage hall. With vivid imagery of flowers, mirrors, and sacred rituals, Kannadasan weaves a masterclass in classic Tamil romantic poetry that balances coy modesty with sensual anticipation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu”
The imagery of a fruit falling before a parrot ('Oru kani vandhu kiliyidam vizhugindrathu') serves as a metaphor for opportunity and romantic delight seeking the lover directly.
Monaivazhi / Alliteration
“Aasai thudikkidhu naanam thadukkudhu”
Repetition of the initial 'Aa' sound creates a pleasing rhythmic flow reflecting conflicting emotions.
Edhugai / Second Letter Rhyme
“Mandabathin vaasal varai / Mandhirathil ondrirandai”
Rhyming of the second consonants ('n') in 'Mandabathin' and 'Mandhirathil'.
Simile / Analogy
“Alli thandai pinni kondu”
Comparing physical embrace to the delicate intertwining of lily stems ('Alli thandai pinni kondu').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by K. Vijaya Baskar for the 1975 Tamil film 'Thottathellam Ponnagum', this song stands out for P. Susheela's delicate vocal expression and Kannadasan's signature sensuous yet dignified lyricism.
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