Kanna Unakku
From Poo Pootha Nandavanam · 1988
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Poo Pootha Nandavanam1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu | Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have |
| Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu | Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes |
| Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan | If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child |
| Ingu naanum pillathaan | Here, I too am a child |
| Female | |
| Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu | Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have |
| Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu | Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes |
| Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan | If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child |
| Ingu naanum pillathaan | Here, I too am a child |
| Female | |
| : Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu | Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have |
| Female | |
| Aaru kaanji pogalaam aasai kaanji pogumaa | A river may dry up, but can desire ever dry up? |
| Kannukulla unna vachchu kaaval kolla vanthaen | I came to guard and protect you inside my eyes |
| Katti vachcha poovil ellaam unnazhaga kandenae | In all the woven flowers, I saw your beauty |
| Panju meththa noguminnu nenjilittu nee thoonga | Fearing a cotton bed might hurt you, sleep on my chest |
| Paavamenna naanum senjen thagathurai nee yaenga | What sin did I commit for you, my beloved master, to pine? |
| Female | |
| Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu | Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have |
| Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu | Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes |
| Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan | If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child |
| Ingu naanum pillathaan | Here, I too am a child |
| Female | |
| Tholai oonjalaakkinaen | I made my shoulders a swing for you |
| Naalum paattu paadinaen | I sang songs for you every single day |
| Kaaththu vanthu enna thottaa | If the breeze comes and touches me |
| Um manasu thaangaatahe | Your heart cannot tolerate it |
| Kaiyanaikkavillaiyinnaa | If I do not hold you in my arms |
| Kannu rendum thoongaathae | Both your eyes will not sleep |
| Antha nenjil paaramenna | What is the burden in that heart of yours? |
| Vazhnthathellaam thaayaaga | Having lived all along caring for you like a mother |
| Mannanukku vaattam enna | Why is my king feeling sorrowful? |
| Em manasu theeyaaga | While my own heart catches fire |
| Female | |
| Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu | Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have |
| Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu | Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes |
| Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan | If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child |
| Ingu naanum pillathaan | Here, I too am a child |
| Female | |
| Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu | Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have |
| Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu….. | Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes... |
கண்ணா உனக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்லிவிடு
கண்ணீர் எதுக்கு ஒன் விழியில் தள்ளிவிடு
நெஞ்சிலிட்டு கொஞ்சி சிரிச்சா நீயும் பிள்ளதான்
இங்கு நானும் பிள்ளதான்
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Here, I too am a child
கண்ணா உனக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்லிவிடு
கண்ணீர் எதுக்கு ஒன் விழியில் தள்ளிவிடு
நெஞ்சிலிட்டு கொஞ்சி சிரிச்சா நீயும் பிள்ளதான்
இங்கு நானும் பிள்ளதான்
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Here, I too am a child
கண்ணா உனக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்லிவிடு
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
ஆறு காஞ்சி போகலாம் ஆசை காஞ்சி போகுமா
கண்ணுக்குள்ள உன்ன வச்சு காவல் கொள்ள
வந்தேனே
கட்டி வச்ச பூவில் எல்லாம் உன்னழக கண்டேனே
பஞ்சு மெத்த நோகுமின்னு நெஞ்சிலிட்டு நீ தூங்க
பாவமென்ன நானும் செஞ்சேன் தங்கதுரை நீ ஏங்க
A river may dry up, but can desire ever dry up?
I came to guard and protect you inside my eyes
In all the woven flowers, I saw your beauty
Fearing a cotton bed might hurt you, sleep on my chest
What sin did I commit for you, my beloved master, to pine?
கண்ணா உனக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்லிவிடு
கண்ணீர் எதுக்கு ஒன் விழியில் தள்ளிவிடு
நெஞ்சிலிட்டு கொஞ்சி சிரிச்சா நீயும் பிள்ளதான்
இங்கு நானும் பிள்ளதான்
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Here, I too am a child
தோளை ஊஞ்சலாக்கினேன்
நாளும் பாட்டு பாடினேன்
காத்து வந்து என்ன தொட்டா
உம் மனசு தாங்காதே
கையணைக்கவில்லையின்னா
கண்ணு ரெண்டும் தூங்காதே
அந்த நெஞ்சில் பாரமென்ன
வாழ்ந்ததெல்லாம் தாயாக
மன்னனுக்கு வாட்டம் என்ன
எம் மனசு தீயாக
I made my shoulders a swing for you
I sang songs for you every single day
If the breeze comes and touches me
Your heart cannot tolerate it
If I do not hold you in my arms
Both your eyes will not sleep
What is the burden in that heart of yours?
Having lived all along caring for you like a mother
Why is my king feeling sorrowful?
While my own heart catches fire
கண்ணா உனக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்லிவிடு
கண்ணீர் எதுக்கு ஒன் விழியில் தள்ளிவிடு
நெஞ்சிலிட்டு கொஞ்சி சிரிச்சா நீயும் பிள்ளதான்
இங்கு நானும் பிள்ளதான்
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Here, I too am a child
கண்ணா உனக்கு என்ன குறை சொல்லிவிடு
கண்ணீர் எதுக்கு ஒன் விழியில் தள்ளிவிடு....
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes...
Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Ingu naanum pillathaan
Here, I too am a child
Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Ingu naanum pillathaan
Here, I too am a child
: Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Aaru kaanji pogalaam aasai kaanji pogumaa
A river may dry up, but can desire ever dry up?
Kannukulla unna vachchu kaaval kolla vanthaen
I came to guard and protect you inside my eyes
Katti vachcha poovil ellaam unnazhaga kandenae
In all the woven flowers, I saw your beauty
Panju meththa noguminnu nenjilittu nee thoonga
Fearing a cotton bed might hurt you, sleep on my chest
Paavamenna naanum senjen thagathurai nee yaenga
What sin did I commit for you, my beloved master, to pine?
Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Ingu naanum pillathaan
Here, I too am a child
Tholai oonjalaakkinaen
I made my shoulders a swing for you
Naalum paattu paadinaen
I sang songs for you every single day
Kaaththu vanthu enna thottaa
If the breeze comes and touches me
Um manasu thaangaatahe
Your heart cannot tolerate it
Kaiyanaikkavillaiyinnaa
If I do not hold you in my arms
Kannu rendum thoongaathae
Both your eyes will not sleep
Antha nenjil paaramenna
What is the burden in that heart of yours?
Vazhnthathellaam thaayaaga
Having lived all along caring for you like a mother
Mannanukku vaattam enna
Why is my king feeling sorrowful?
Em manasu theeyaaga
While my own heart catches fire
Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes
Nenjilittu konji sirichchaa neeyum pillathaan
If held to the chest, fondled, and smiling, you too are a child
Ingu naanum pillathaan
Here, I too am a child
Kannaa unakku enna kurai solli vidu
Oh Kannaa, tell me what grievance you have
Kanneer edhukku on vizhiyil thallividu…..
Why tears? Wipe them away from your eyes...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This emotional song portrays a deep, tender bond of comfort and maternal affection towards a loved one referred to as 'Kannaa' or 'Mannan'. The speaker consoles her beloved, asking why he harbors sorrow or tears, reminding him that when held close and comforted, anyone becomes an innocent child at heart.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question / வினா அணி
“Aaru kaanji pogalaam aasai kaanji pogumaa”
The line asks whether love/desire can ever dry up even if a river does, emphasizing the eternal nature of devotion.
Metaphor / உருவக அணி
“Tholai oonjalaakkinaen”
The singer metaphorically converts her shoulder into a cradle or swing to soothe her beloved.
Monai (Initial Alliteration) / மோனை
“Kannukulla unna vachchu kaaval kolla vanthaen”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words creates a rhythmic and melodic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1988 Tamil film 'Poo Pootha Nandavanam', this song is noted for Pulamaipithan's moving lyrics that blend romantic devotion with maternal tenderness.
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