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Rusi Kanda Poonai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Nee Engey

From Rusi Kanda Poonai · 1980

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Rusi Kanda Poonai
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
24 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingae
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingae
Nee irukkum idam enakku theriyaadhae
Neeyae ennidam odi vaa kannaa kannaa
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingae
Unnodu naan vilaiyaadanum
Varuvaayaa kannaa
On pullaanguzhal naan kekkanum
Oodhuvaayaa kannaa
Gokulathula irukka pasukkalellaam kooda
Um pullaangulazha kettuchaamae
Naan kekka koodaadhaa
Sollu haa neeyae sollu ( Dialogue )
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingae
Where are you, Kanna? Come, come here
Where are you, Kanna? Come, come here
I do not know where you are
Run to me yourself, Kanna, Kanna
Where are you, Kanna? Come, come here
I want to play with you
Will you come, Kanna?
I want to hear your flute
Will you play it, Kanna?
In Gokulam, even all the cows
listened to your flute, they say
Can't I listen to it too?
Tell me, ah, you tell me yourself
Where are you, Kanna? Come, come here
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a tender and innocent call addressed to Lord Krishna (or a loved one lovingly addressed as Krishna). The singer expresses a child-like longing to see and play with Krishna, admitting her ignorance of his whereabouts and pleading with him to run to her instead. She expresses a deep yearning to hear him play his divine flute, humorously and emotionally reasoning that if all the cows of Gokulam were blessed to hear his divine music, she too should be allowed that joy.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukkuthodar (Repetition)

Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingae

The doubling of words like 'vaa vaa' (come come) and 'kannaa kannaa' creates a rhythmic emphasis and conveys intense emotional longing.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme / Parallel Structure)

Unnodu naan vilaiyaadanum / On pullaanguzhal naan kekkanum

The matching verbal suffixes '-anum' in 'vilaiyaadanum' (want to play) and 'kekkanum' (want to hear) establish a harmonious poetic rhythm.

Mythological Allusion

Gokulathula irukka pasukkalellaam kooda / Um pullaangulazha kettuchaamae

Reference to Gokulam and the cows listening to Krishna's flute draws upon classic Hindu mythology (Krishna Leela) to deepen the devotional theme.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Rusi Kanda Poonai' (1980) was directed by S.P. Muthuraman with lyrics penned by Panchu Arunachalam. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with S. Janaki providing the expressive, childlike vocals for this tracks.

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