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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Vaa Kanna Vaa

From Vengaiyin Mainthan · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Vengaiyin Mainthan
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
22 Feb 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Engaeyo nee irunthaal idhayam punnaagum
Paattai kettu mugaththai kaattu
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Engaeyo nee irunthaal idhayam punnaagum
Paattai kettu mugaththai kaattu
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Munnerum paathaiyilae
Mullirukkum anjaathae
Sooriyanai moodi vaikka
Megangalaal aagaathae
Munnerum paathaiyilae
Mullirukkum anjaathae
Sooriyanai moodi vaikka
Megangalaal aagaathae
Sundeligal suththi ninnu
Singaththathaan enna pannum
Sundeligal suththi ninnu
Singaththathaan enna pannum
Ilanthalirae nee ezhunthu nillu
Edhu varattum nee edhirththu nillu
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Thanneeru illaama
Thaththalikkum veraattam
Ennai vittu nee ponaa
Eththanaiyo poraattam
Thanneeru illaama
Thaththalikkum veraattam
Ennai vittu nee ponaa
Eththanaiyo poraattam
Ennaalum intha manam
Kannaa un nanthavanam
Ennaalum intha manam
Kannaa un nanthavanam
Nee sirichchaa naan sirichchiruppaen
Nee pirinjaa naan thudichchiruppaen
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Engaeyo nee irunthaal idhayam punnaagum
Paattai kettu mugaththai kaattu
Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa
Kaalam muzhuthum onnaa vaa
Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa
Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa
Come, my beloved, come,
come be with me for a lifetime.
Come, my king, come,
O bright moon walking upon this earth!
If you are somewhere far away, my heart will deeply ache.
Hear my song and show your face...
Come, my beloved, come,
come be with me for a lifetime.
Come, my king, come,
O bright moon walking upon this earth!
If you are somewhere far away, my heart will deeply ache.
Hear my song and show your face...
Come, my beloved, come,
come be with me for a lifetime.
Come, my king, come,
O bright moon walking upon this earth!
On the path you walk forward,
there will be thorns, do not be afraid.
To cover and hide the sun,
clouds do not have the power.
On the path you walk forward,
there will be thorns, do not be afraid.
To cover and hide the sun,
clouds do not have the power.
Even if little mice surround it,
what harm can they do to a lion?
Even if little mice surround it,
what harm can they do to a lion?
O tender young shoot, rise and stand strong!
Whatever may come, stand and face it boldly...
Come, my beloved, come,
come be with me for a lifetime.
Come, my king, come,
O bright moon walking upon this earth!
Without any water,
like a root struggling to survive,
if you leave me and go away,
there will be endless struggles.
Without any water,
like a root struggling to survive,
if you leave me and go away,
there will be endless struggles.
Forever and ever, this heart of mine
is your flower garden, my beloved.
Forever and ever, this heart of mine
is your flower garden, my beloved.
If you smile, I will be smiling,
if you part from me, my heart will suffer in pain.
Come, my beloved, come,
come be with me for a lifetime.
Come, my king, come,
O bright moon walking upon this earth!
If you are somewhere far away, my heart will deeply ache.
Hear my song and show your face...
Come, my beloved, come,
come be with me for a lifetime.
Come, my king, come,
O bright moon walking upon this earth!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song 'Kannaa Vaa' from the 1984 movie Vengaiyin Mainthan, composed by Shankar Ganesh and written by Pulamaipithan, is a deeply emotional call of affection and encouragement. The singer calls out affectionately to her beloved ('Kannaa'), urging him to stay united with her throughout life and comparing him to a glowing moon walking on earth. She expresses how her heart wounds when he is far away, pleading with him to reveal himself upon hearing her melody. In the stanzas, the lyrics provide uplifting motivation alongside devotion. The speaker encourages the beloved to face life's obstacles without fear, comparing obstacles to clouds trying to hide the sun or small mice standing against a lion. She emphasizes her deep emotional bond, explaining that without him she feels like a plant root deprived of water, and reaffirms that her happiness and grief are entirely linked to his.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monoreyme / Epinome (Anaphora)

“Kannaa vaa kannaa vaa / Mannaa vaa mannaa vaa”

Repetition of 'Kannaa vaa' and 'Mannaa vaa' at line endings across the refrain creates a rhythmic and melodic chant.

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagaththiram)

“Mannil thavazhum vennilavaa”

Comparing the beloved to 'vennilavu' (white moon on earth) and 'nanthavanam' (flower garden) to convey beauty and tranquility.

Analogy / Imagery

“Sooriyanai moodi vaikka Megangalaal aagaathae”

Using nature imagery such as clouds covering the sun or mice surrounding a lion to symbolize weakness confronting strength.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vengaiyin Mainthan' features music by Shankar Ganesh, who were extremely prolific in Tamil cinema during the late 70s and 80s. The song is sung by legendary playback singer P. Susheela, bringing out deep emotional warmth and classical nuance typical of her iconic 80s melodies.

Keep listening

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From the same album

More songs from Vengaiyin Mainthan

View album
Mama Kaiya Pudi Mama1984
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Kanna Vaa Kanna Vaa (Sad)1984
Vengaiyin MainthanTender

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