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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Nee Engey

From Rusi Kanda Poonai · 1980

Lyricist
Panchu Arunachalam
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Rusi Kanda Poonai1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingaeKrishna, where are you? Come, come here.
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingaeKrishna, where are you? Come, come here.
Nee irukkum idam enakku theriyaadhaeI do not know the place where you reside.
Neeyae ennidam odi vaa kannaa kannaaYou yourself come running to me, Krishna, Krishna.
Female
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingaeKrishna, where are you? Come, come here.
Female
Unnodu naan vilaiyaadanumI want to play with you.
Varuvaayaa kannaaWill you come, Krishna?
On pullaanguzhal naan kekkanumI want to listen to your flute.
Oodhuvaayaa kannaaWill you play it, Krishna?
Female
Gokulathula irukka pasukkalellaam koodaEven all the cows residing in Gokulam...
Um pullaangulazha kettuchaamae...are said to have heard your flute music.
Naan kekka koodaadhaaAm I not allowed to listen to it as well?
Sollu haa neeyae sollu ( Dialogue )Tell me, ah, you tell me yourself.
Female
Kannaa nee engae vaa vaa nee ingaeKrishna, where are you? Come, come here.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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