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Veettu Mappillai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Pesum Kanna

From Veettu Mappillai · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, Jikki
Music director
A. M. Raja
Movie name
Veettu Mappillai
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
2 Oct 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaa pesum kannaa
Un Punnagai ondre ponnagai endraayo
Kannaa adhai ennidam thanthaayo
Kannaa pesum kannaa
Un Punnagai ondre ponnagai endraayo
Kannaa adhai ennidam thanthaayo
Thanga kili konjum vizhi
Sollum mozhi vannam
Thanga tamil sollum porul
Thullum kavi vannam
Pattu thalir konjum poongkannam
Thaen kinnam ennai
Mayakkida vaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….
Kannaa pesum kannaa
Un Punnagai ondre ponnagai endraayo
Kannaa adhai ennidam thanthaayo
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro….
…………………..
Annaikku un mel anbu
Pettra thanthaikku pon mel anbu
Annaikku un mel anbu
Pettra thanthaikku pon mel anbu
Ennai sumanthaval ennaththilae
Nee unnai ninaiththida sollu
Kuttram ninaikkaiyil suttram illai
Than kannai thudaiththida sollu
Aval kannai thudaiththida sollu
Kannaa pesum kannaa
Un Punnagai ondre ponnagai endraayo
Kannaa adhai ennidam thanthaayo
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro….
Selvangal ellaam angae
Nalla ullangal ellaam ingae
Selvangal ellaam angae
Nalla ullangal ellaam ingae
Sonthangal vanthunnai santhikkum velai
Nernthidum paar athai kannaa
Kaalam ninaikkindra neraththilae
Vanthu saernthidum yaaraiyum onnaa
Ingu saernthidum yaaraiyum onnaa
Kannaa pesum kannaa
Un Punnagai ondre ponnagai endraayo
Kannaa adhai ennidam thanthaayo
Thanga kili konjum vizhi
Sollum mozhi vannam
Thanga tamil sollum porul
Thullum kavi vannam
Pattu thalir konjum poongkannam
Thaen kinnam ennai
Mayakkida vaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa….
Konji azhaiththida unnai
En kooda piranthaval illai
Alli anaiththida unnai
En annaiyum thanthaiyum illai
Muththu sirippinai thoothuvidu
Intha seithiyai koorida sellu
Pillai mazhalaiyil vaai thiranthu
Un paattanai kooppidu inge….
Un paattanai kooppidu inge….
Kanna, my sweet talking child,
Did you say your smile alone is golden treasure?
Kanna, did you give it all to me?
Kanna, my sweet talking child,
Did you say your smile alone is golden treasure?
Kanna, did you give it all to me?
Like a golden parrot with sweet endearing eyes,
The colorful beauty of the words you speak,
Like the meaning in precious golden Tamil,
Like the playful rhythm of lively poetry,
Tender silk cheeks soft as fresh blossoms,
A cup of sweet honey,
Come to enchant me... ah...
Kanna, my sweet talking child,
Did you say your smile alone is golden treasure?
Kanna, did you give it all to me?
Aararo, aararo, aararo, aararo...
...
A mother's heart is full of love for you,
But your father cares only for gold.
A mother's heart is full of love for you,
But your father cares only for gold.
In the thoughts of the mother who carried me,
Tell her to hold you in her heart,
"If you keep counting faults, no family remains,"
Tell her to wipe her eyes,
Tell her to wipe away her tears.
Kanna, my sweet talking child,
Did you say your smile alone is golden treasure?
Kanna, did you give it all to me?
Aararo, aararo, aararo, aararo...
All the wealth and riches are over there,
But all the good hearts are right here.
All the wealth and riches are over there,
But all the good hearts are right here.
The moment when your loved ones come to meet you
Will surely happen, watch and see, Kanna!
When the right time arrives,
It will bring everyone together as one,
It will unite everyone here as one!
Kanna, my sweet talking child,
Did you say your smile alone is golden treasure?
Kanna, did you give it all to me?
Like a golden parrot with sweet endearing eyes,
The colorful beauty of the words you speak,
Like the meaning in precious golden Tamil,
Like the playful rhythm of lively poetry,
Tender silk cheeks soft as fresh blossoms,
A cup of sweet honey,
Come to enchant me... ah...
To baby you and call you close,
My sister is not here with me,
To lift you up and hold you in her arms,
My mother and father are not here.
Send your pearl-like smile as a messenger,
Go and take this message to them:
Open your lips with your sweet baby babble,
And call your grandfather here...
Call your grandfather here...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannaa Pesum Kannaa is a soulful lullaby from the 1973 film Veettu Mappillai, composed by A. M. Raja and written by Vaali. Sung beautifully by P. Susheela and Jikki, the song captures a mother's tender affection for her child, comparing the child's innocent smile to golden jewelry, sweet honey, and classical Tamil poetry. Beneath the sweet lullaby lies a poignant commentary on family dynamics and material greed. The lyrics highlight how wealth splits relationships while noble hearts remain bonded by genuine love. The speaker urges the innocent child to act as a peacemaker, using baby babble and a heartwarming smile to invite family elders back and heal long-standing estrangements.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

“Un Punnagai ondre ponnagai endraayo”

Comparing a smile to gold ('punnagai ondre ponnagai') and cheeks to a sweet honey cup ('thaen kinnam').

Wordplay / Contrast

“Pettra thanthaikku pon mel anbu”

Contrasting 'pon' (gold/material wealth) with 'anbu' (pure love) to highlight moral priorities.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Thanga kili konjum vizhi”

Rhyming second letters in consecutive lines ('Thanga kili' and 'Thanga tamil').

Monai (First-letter Alliteration)

“Kuttram ninaikkaiyil suttram illai”

Alliteration of the initial letter 'ku' and 'su' sound pattern in proverb-like phrasing.

Did you know?

Trivia

Veettu Mappillai (1973) featured music composed by legendary playback singer and composer A. M. Raja. This track stands out for featuring a rare duet between two iconic veteran female singers of South Indian cinema, P. Susheela and Jikki. Lyricist Vaali adeptly incorporated profound social commentary on wealth vs. familial affection within the framework of a gentle lullaby.

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