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Maragatha Veenai (1986) album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanna Vaa Kavithai

From Maragatha Veenai (1986) · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Maragatha Veenai (1986)
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
9 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaa vaa kavithai solven vaa thalaivaa
Anbe vaa azhuthu nindren vaa thunai vaa
Enna sodhanai dheiva vedhanai
Kaana velai kaanavillai naadhanai
Kannaa vaa kavithai solven vaa thalaivaa
Shruthi serum munbe isai paada vanthaen
Vidhi serum munbe vilaiyaada vanthaen
Puraavai pola vaazhnthaval
Nilaavai pola thaeigiraen
Varaatha medai vanthaval
Anaathai pola paadinaen
Ilaiya megam thirumpumaa
Enathu mannil pozhuyumaa
Viraga pookkal arumbumaa
Kannaa vaa kavithai solven vaa thalaivaa
Anbe vaa azhuthu nindren vaa thunai vaa
Kural thanthavanai ival paadugindraal
Varam thanthavanai ival thedugindraal
Vaaraatha koottam vanthathu
Sangeetham seitha velaiyo
Inneram unnai thedinaen
Ennodu enna leelaiyo
Enthan kanneeril neer varum
Endru unthan thaer varum
Inaiya vendum iruvarum
Kannaa vaa kavithai solven vaa thalaivaa
Anbe vaa azhuthu nindren vaa thunai vaa
Enna sodhanai dheiva vedhanai
Kaana velai kaanavillai naadhanai
Kannaa vaa kavithai solven vaa thalaivaa
Come, Kanna, come, my lord, I will recite a poem for you.
Come, my love, I stand here weeping, come be my companion.
What a trial this is, what unbearable pain!
At this hour of music, I cannot find my beloved.
Come, Kanna, come, my lord, I will recite a poem for you...
Even before tuning the pitch, I came to sing.
Even before destiny unfolded, I came out to play.
I, who once lived freely like a dove,
am now fading away like a waning moon.
Stepping onto a stage I never thought I would reach,
I sang all alone like an orphan.
Will that youthful cloud return?
Will it shower rain upon my dry land?
Will the buds of longing ever blossom?
Come, Kanna, come, my lord, I will recite a poem for you.
Come, my love, I stand here weeping, come be my companion.
She sings of the one who gave her this voice.
She searches for the one who blessed her life.
An unexpected crowd has gathered today;
is this the magic worked by music?
At this very moment, I searched for you;
what playful game are you playing with me?
Tears fill my eyes—
when will your chariot finally arrive?
The two of us must unite as one.
Come, Kanna, come, my lord, I will recite a poem for you.
Come, my love, I stand here weeping, come be my companion.
What a trial this is, what unbearable pain!
At this hour of music, I cannot find my beloved.
Come, Kanna, come, my lord, I will recite a poem for you...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a woman's deep anguish, longing, and spiritual devotion toward her beloved lord/partner. Standing on stage in front of a crowd, she feels emotionally abandoned and likens her situation to playing music before tuning the pitch or fate overtaking her life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

“Puraavai pola vaazhnthaval / Nilaavai pola thaeigiraen”

Compares her former peaceful life to a dove ('Puraavai pola') and her current suffering to the waning moon ('Nilaavai pola').

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

“Shruthi serum munbe isai paada vanthaen / Vidhi serum munbe vilaiyaada vanthaen”

Matching second consonants in successive lines (Shruthi / Vidhi, Kural / Varam).

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa)

“Ilaiya megam thirumpumaa / Enathu mannil pozhuyumaa”

Expresses yearning using unanswered questions about rain and blooming flowers as symbols of reunion.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Kannaa Vaa Kavithai Solven' from the movie 'Maragatha Veenai' (1986) was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. Janaki. S. Janaki's expressive vocal performance captures the emotional weight and classical nuances embedded in Vairamuthu's lyrics.

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