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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Un Leela Vinodham

From Nallathoru Kudumbam · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nallathoru Kudumbam1979

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannaa ….aaa….Krishna... ah...
Kannaa …kannaaKrishna... Krishna...
Male
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.
Aalukku konjam kaadhalil panguA small share of love for everyone,
Naan tharalaamaa yaenadi vambuShall I give? Why cause a dispute, dear?
Ammaa thaangaadhammaa hoi hoi hoiOh dear, I cannot bear it, hoi hoi hoi!
Male
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.
Male
Irandu kattum samsaariA family man caught in a dilemma,
Oru sanniyaasi aavaanammaaWill end up becoming an ascetic, oh lady.
Ezhu ettu vandhaakkaaIf seven or eight women come along,
Adhu nammaalae aagaadhammaThat is something beyond our capacity, oh lady.
Summaa thottu paathaalum naeram podhumaaEven if just casually touching, will there be enough time?
Thottu kondae ponaalum kaadhalaagumaaIf one keeps touching, will it ever turn into genuine love?
Magaraasi nallaa illaeThe fortunate lady isn't doing well,
Chorus
Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaaRhythmic refrain (Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaa)
Male
Unna paathaa ponnaa illaeLooking at you, you aren't gold either,
Chorus
Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaaRhythmic refrain (Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaa)
Male
Indhiran illae chandhiran illae naan hoi hoi hoiI am neither Indra nor Chandra, hoi hoi hoi!
Male
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.
Male
Azhagu konjum pen endruThinking she is a woman overflowing with beauty,
Oru pen paarthu kondaenammaaI looked at a lady, my dear.
Avalai thaedi vandhaenaeI came in search of her,
Ingu naan maatti kondaenammaaAnd now I am caught in a trap here, my dear.
Kaadhal endraal eppodhum penmai ondru thaanWhen it comes to love, womanhood is always singular,
Ponnu ondru saerndhaalae inbam undammaaOnly when one woman joins is there true bliss, my dear!
Aval endhan thanga kattiShe is my gold nugget,
Chorus
Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaaRhythmic refrain (Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaa)
Male
Avalae en inba kattiShe alone is my block of happiness,
Chorus
Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaaRhythmic refrain (Thandhana thaanaa thandhana thaanaa)
Male
Kunguma pottu mangala penningae hoi hoi hoiOh auspicious woman adorned with the vermilion mark, hoi hoi hoi!
Male
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.
Female
Pudhiya pennai kandaalaeWhenever you spot a new woman,
Dhinam pinnaalae odum kannaaYou run behind her every single day, Krishna!
Kodhai ennai theendaadhuA chaste woman like Kodhai will not touch me,
Idhu nee thaedum kaadhal pennaaIs this the loving woman you are looking for?
Seedhai ennai thottaakkaa raamanaaganumIf Sita touches me, one must become Rama,
Dhaevi ennai thottaakkaa dhaevanaaganumIf the Goddess touches me, one must become a God,
Oru veedu onnae onnuOnly one single home,
Male
Nalladhu kannae nalladhu kannaeThat is good, my dear, that is good,
Female
Orae oru ponnae ponnuOnly one single woman,
Male
Nallaa chonnae nallaa chonnaeWell said, my dear, well said,
Female
En kitta mattum sondham irundhaa vaa hoi hoi hoiCome to me only if there is exclusive belonging, hoi hoi hoi!
Female
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.
Male
Aalukku konjam kaadhalil panguA small share of love for everyone,
Naan tharalaamaa yaenadi vambuShall I give? Why cause a dispute, dear?
Ammaa thaangaadhammaa hoi hoi hoiOh dear, I cannot bear it, hoi hoi hoi!
Male
Kannaa un leelaavinodhamKrishna, your playful antics,
Ingu ponnaaga uruvaachae paavamHave taken the form of gold and turned into a sin here.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

In 'Kannaa un leelaavinodham', the lyrics draw a playful comparison between Lord Krishna's legendary romantic antics ('leelas') and the real-world complications of love and relationships. The song humorous contrast between a man's extravagant desires and the realities of domestic fidelity. Through quick-witted exchanges, it highlights that true happiness in life comes not from seeking multiple companions or living like an all-powerful deity, but from single-minded devotion to one's life partner. Kannadasan uses mythological references to mythological figures like Lord Rama, Sita, Indra, and Chandra to establish ethical boundaries of romantic devotion. He emphasizes that love requires complete fidelity, where having one home and one devoted life partner brings actual peace and divine harmony, mocking the endless search for temporary romantic thrill.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Aval endhan thanga katti

Describing the woman directly as a gold nugget ('Thanga katti') and a block of joy ('Inba katti').

Monaai (Alliteration)

Thottu kondae ponaalum kaadhalaagumaa

Repetition of the initial consonants 'Tho' in adjacent words.

Iyaibu (Rhyming Ends)

Oru sanniyaasi aavaanammaa

Matching end sounds with 'aavanammaa' and 'aagaadhamma'.

Mythological Allusions

Seedhai ennai thottaakkaa raamanaaganum

Referencing epic deities and ideals such as Rama and Sita to illustrate modern standards of marital fidelity.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Nallathoru Kudumbam' (1979) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Vanisri, with music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics penned by Kannadasan. The track uniquely incorporates rhythmic folk refrains like 'Thandhana thaanaa' alongside philosophical yet playful lyrics about morality and marriage.

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