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Manathil Urudhi Vendum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaa Varuvaayaa

From Manathil Urudhi Vendum · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
K. S. Chitra, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Manathil Urudhi Vendum
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
17 May 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………..
Kannaa varuvaayaa
Kannaa varuvaayaa meeraa ketkiraal
Mannan varum paathai mangai paarkkiraal
Maalai malar cholai nadhiyoram nadanthu
Kannaa varuvaayaa meeraa ketkiraal
Chorus :Kannaa…..kannaa….kannaa…..kannaa….
Aa….neela vaanum nilavum neerum
Neeyena kaangiraen
Female :Unnumpothum urangumpothum
Un mugam paarkkiraen
Kannan vanthu neenthidaathu
Kaainthu pogum parkadal
Female :Unnai ingu aadai pola
Yaettrukollum poovudal
Verillaiyae birunthaavanam
Female :Vidinthaalum nam aalinganam
Male :Sorkkam idhuvo….
Meera varuvaalaa kannan ketkiraan
Maalai malar cholai nadhiyoram nadanthu
Meera varuvaalaa kannan ketkiraan
Malligai panjanai ittu
Melliya sittridai thottu
Mogam theerkkavaa….
Malligai panjanai ittu
Melliya sittridai thottu
Mogam theerkkavaa….
Manmatha manthiram solli
Vanthanal sundharavalli raagam serkkavaa
Manmatha manthiram solli
Vanthanal sundharavalli raagam serkkavaa
Kodi idai odivathan munnam
Madiyinil eduththidavaa
Female :Malarvizhi mayangidum vannam
Madhurasam koduththidavaa
Iravu muzhuthum uravu mazhayilae
Female :Iruvar udalum nanaiyum pozhuthilae
Male :Oruvar kavithai oruvar vizhiyilae
Kannaa varuvaayaa……
Kannaa varuvaayaa meeraa ketkiraal
Male :Meeraa varuvaalaa kannan ketkiraan
Female :Maalai malar cholai nadhiyoram nadanthu
Male :Meeraa varuvaalaa kannan ketkiraan
Kannaa…..kannaa….kannaa…..kannaa….
...
O Krishna, will you come?
O Krishna, will you come? asks Meera,
watching the path where her king will arrive.
Walking along the riverbank through the evening flower garden,
O Krishna, will you come? asks Meera.
Krishna... Krishna... Krishna... Krishna...
Ah... in the blue sky, the moon, and the waters,
I see only you.
While eating and while sleeping,
I see only your face.
Without Krishna swimming in it,
the ocean of milk would dry away.
Like a garment draping over you,
this delicate body embraces you.
There is no other Brindavan but this.
Even as dawn breaks, in our embrace,
is this what heaven is...?
Will Meera come? Krishna asks,
walking along the riverbank through the evening flower garden,
Will Meera come? Krishna asks.
Spreading a bed of fresh jasmine,
and gently touching your slender waist,
shall I quench our longing...?
Spreading a bed of fresh jasmine,
and gently touching your slender waist,
shall I quench our longing...?
Chanting the spell of the love god,
the lovely one has arrived—shall I join her melody?
Chanting the spell of the love god,
the lovely one has arrived—shall I join her melody?
Before your vine-like waist bends too far,
shall I lift you onto my lap?
To make your flower-like eyes swoon with pleasure,
shall I offer you sweet nectar?
All through the night, in the rain of intimacy,
as both our bodies are drenched,
each of us finds poetry in the other's eyes.
O Krishna, will you come...?
O Krishna, will you come? asks Meera,
Will Meera come? Krishna asks,
walking along the riverbank through the evening flower garden,
Will Meera come? Krishna asks.
Krishna... Krishna... Krishna... Krishna...
Chorus
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song from 'Manathil Urudhi Vendum' frames romantic devotion through the divine archetype of Lord Krishna and Meera. The heroine expresses her deep longing, seeing Krishna in every element of nature—the sky, moon, and water—and feeling that her life is incomplete without his presence. In response, Krishna expresses reciprocal adoration, weaving romantic imagery of soft jasmine beds, poetic embraces, and sweet togetherness. Vaali's lyrics elevate earthly love to a transcendent, spiritual level, while Ilaiyaraaja's composition and the vocal harmony between K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra create a timeless atmosphere of devotional romance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Allegory / உருவகம்

“Kannaa varuvaayaa meeraa ketkiraal”

Human romantic yearning is allegorized through the divine love of Krishna and Meera.

Monai / Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (மோனை)

“Malligai panjanai ittu / Melliya sittridai thottu / Mogam theerkkavaa….”

The line repeats the initial 'Ma' sound ('Malligai', 'Melliya', 'Mogam') creating melodic rhythm.

Metaphor / உருவகம்

“Yaettrukollum poovudal”

Describing the body as 'Poovudal' (flower body) and eyes as 'Malarvizhi' (flower eyes) compares delicate physical features to soft blossoms.

Imagery / காட்சியணி

“Maalai malar cholai nadhiyoram nadanthu”

Evokes a picturesque sensory scene of walking through an evening garden filled with flowers alongside a riverbank.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja for K. Balachander's 1987 film 'Manathil Urudhi Vendum', this song is renowned for its seamless blend of Carnatic classical nuances with contemporary orchestration. The duet sung by K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra remains one of the most iconic Tamil film duets centered on the theme of Krishna-Meera romance.

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