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Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Thorakanum

From Mundhanai Mudichu · 1983

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Mundhanai Mudichu1983

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aareero..aareero..Aareero.. aareero..
Female
Aareero..aaraaro..aariraaro..Aareero.. aaraaro.. aariraaro..
Female
Kanna thorakkanum saamiOpen your eyes, my lord
Kaiya pudikkanum saamiHold my hand, my lord
Kanna thorakkanum saamiOpen your eyes, my lord
Kaiya pudikkanum saamiHold my hand, my lord
Idhu vaanam paakkura boomiThis is dry land looking up at the sky for rain
Vandhu sernthu vilachala kaamiCome join me and yield a bountiful harvest
Female
Kanna thorakkanum saamiOpen your eyes, my lord
Kaiya pudikkanum saamiHold my hand, my lord
Kanna thorakkanum saamiOpen your eyes, my lord
Kaiya pudikkanum saamiHold my hand, my lord
Female
Vaalibam vaadumae vaadaiyum koodumaeYouth is wilting and the chilly wind is blowing
Female
Saamiya kudinaa sangadam odumaeIf I embrace my lord, all my sorrow will flee
Female
Vaalibam vaadumae vaadaiyum koodumaeYouth is wilting and the chilly wind is blowing
Saamiya kudinaa sangadam odumaeIf I embrace my lord, all my sorrow will flee
Thayakkam aagaathu thaamadham koodaathuHesitation will not do, delay is not allowed
Dhegamthaan vaaduthu vaangalenMy body is yearning, please come to me
Arul tharum thirukkadalaeO sacred ocean of grace
Arikkuthu en udalaeMy body is itching with passion
Mogam theera motcham thaaraayoWill you grant me salvation by fulfilling my desire?
Male
Venaandi aambalai paavam..I do not want the sin of wronging a righteous man..
Female :HaaFemale: Ah
Male :Vaangaadha ennoda saabam..Male: Do not invite my curse..
Male
Hey venaandi aambalai paavamHey, I do not want the sin of wronging a righteous man
Female :HaanFemale: Ah
Male :Vaangaadha ennoda saabam..Male: Do not invite my curse..
Kalaiyaadhu en thavam adiyaeMy austerity will not be broken, girl
Erangaadhu paai mara kodiyaeThe flag on the sailboat mast will not lower
Male
Hey venaandi aambalai paavamHey, I do not want the sin of wronging a righteous man
Female :Haan haan ahFemale: Ah ah ah
Male :Vaangaadha ennoda saabam..Male: Do not invite my curse..
Female
HaeiiiHey!
Female
Metha naan poduren pithanae odivaaI am preparing the bed, mad lover, run to me
Female
Muthamae maalaiyaai mothamaa sooda vaaCome wear kisses like a garland all over
Female
Metha naan poduren pithanae odivaaI am preparing the bed, mad lover, run to me
Muthamae maalaiyaai mothamaa sooda vaaCome wear kisses like a garland all over
Male :Hey.. bakthi maaraadhu bajanaiyum nikkaadhuMale: Hey.. my devotion will not change, my devotional singing will not stop
En dhegam theendaathae mayilaeDo not touch my body, peacock
Female
Pudichathu pudichathu thaanWhat I resolved, I stick to firmly
Hey ey ey eyHey ey ey ey
Purinjikka en gunamdhaanUnderstand my firm character
Male
Paadhai maari poga maattendiI will not stray from my path, girl
Female
Kanna thorakkanum saami..Open your eyes, my lord..
Male :HaiyyoMale: Oh dear
Female :Kaiya pudikkanum saamiFemale: Hold my hand, my lord
Male
Adi..venaandi aambalai paavam..Listen girl.. I do not want the sin of wronging a righteous man..
Female :HaaFemale: Ah
Vaangaadha ennoda saabamDo not invite my curse
Female
Idhu vaanam paakkura boomiThis is dry land looking up at the sky for rain
Vanthu sernthu vilachala kaamiCome join me and yield a bountiful harvest
Kanna thorakkanum saami..Male :HaiyyoOpen your eyes, my lord.. Male: Oh dear
Female :Kaiya pudikkanum saamiFemale: Hold my hand, my lord
Male :EmmaaMale: Oh woman
Female :Kanna thorakkanum saami..Female: Open your eyes, my lord..
Male :MmmhumMale: Mmm-hum
Female :Kaiya pudikkanum saami..Female: Hold my hand, my lord..
Male :AiyyoMale: Oh dear!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This humorous duet from the 1983 film Mundhanai Mudichu portrays a clever, playful battle of wits between a young wife attempting to seduce her husband and the husband stubbornly maintaining a facade of stoic, ascetic celibacy. The song opens with traditional lullaby chants before shifting into seductive pleas where the wife compares herself to drought-stricken farmland awaiting rain, urging her husband to abandon hesitation and fulfill their marital romance. In response, the husband comedicly warns her about breaking a devout man's penance (thavam) and threatening her with a pious man's curse. Combining sacred devotional terminology with playful sensual metaphors, the song showcases Gangai Amaran's witty lyrical style, set to Ilaiyaraaja's vibrant folk arrangement.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Idhu vaanam paakkura boomi

Comparing the wife's longing body to drought-stricken land waiting for rain from the sky ('Idhu vaanam paakkura boomi, vandhu sernthu vilachala kaami').

Second-Letter Rhyme (Etukai)

Vaalibam vaadumae vaadaiyum koodumae

Traditional Tamil poetic rhyming where the second letter matches across adjacent lines ('Vaalibam' / 'Saamiya', 'Thayakkam' / 'Dhegamthaan').

Irony & Paradox

Mogam theera motcham thaaraayo

Juxtaposition of ascetic, spiritual terms ('thavam', 'motcham', 'bakthi', 'bajanai') with explicit physical romance ('metha', 'muthamae', 'udalae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Gangai Amaran, this comedic track from Mundhanai Mudichu (1983) was sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki. In the film, the scene features Parimala (Urvashi) attempting to break the fake vow of celibacy taken by Vaidhyanathan (K. Bhagyaraj) through a mix of seduction and mock-devotion.

Keep listening

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