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Sarangathara album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaal Nallaa

From Sarangathara · 1958

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singers
A. P. Komala, P. Bhanumathi
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Sarangathara
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
10 Jan 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Kanimozhiye unakkaana jodiyai
Kanimozhiye unakkaana jodiyai
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Karumbhu pechukkaaran
Kandhaaram vendra veeran
Ivan karumbhu pechukkaaran
Kandhaaram vendra veeran
Kaamboja naattai aalum
Kalikaala manmadhan
Kaamboja naattai aalum
Kalikaala manmadhan
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Ahaa
Sithirathai paarthaale
Sirikkathaan thonudhadi
Sithaana kuttiyai pol
Dhega valam kaanuthadi
Azhagaesan kannu rendum
Aandhai kangal than
Andha sandham ellaamae
Vanji unnai pol thaan
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Kanimozhiye unakkaana jodiyai
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Vanga nattu thangam
Sangeetha raaja singam
Ivan vanga nattu thangam
Sangeetha raaja singam
Vaadatha mullai unnai
Manam seiya yettravan
Vaadatha mullai unnai
Manam seiya yettravan
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Kalli
Indha singathai paarthaale
Thigil undaagudhadi
Oru singaari aanudaiyil
Iruppadhai pol thonudhadi
Sirikkindra kalli un
Singam thannai paaru
Arumbhavum illai
Azhagaana mesaiyae
Arumbhavum illai
Azhagaana mesaiyae
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Un ennam enna kooru
Kanimozhiye unakkaana jodiyai
Kannaal nallaa paaru
Arumbhu meesaikkaaran
Anjaadha sutha veeran
Arumbhu meesaikkaaran
Anjaadha sutha veeran
Hasithinapuri yuvaraajan
Saarangan Enum maaran
Hasithinapuri yuvaraajan
Saarangan Enum maaran
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
Sweet-voiced girl, look at this match for you,
sweet-voiced girl, look at this match for you!
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
He speaks words as sweet as sugarcane,
a warrior who conquered Gandhara,
he speaks words as sweet as sugarcane,
a warrior who conquered Gandhara,
the ruler of the Kambhoja kingdom,
the god of love for our modern times!
The ruler of the Kambhoja kingdom,
the god of love for our modern times!
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
Aha!
Just looking at this portrait
makes me burst out laughing, girl!
Like a tiny, scrawny pup,
his build looks so frail!
Both eyes of this handsome prince
look just like owl eyes,
and all that beauty of his
suits someone just like you, girl!
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
Sweet-voiced girl, look at this match for you,
look closely with your eyes!
He is the gold of Bengal,
a royal lion of music,
he is the gold of Bengal,
a royal lion of music!
For you, an unfading jasmine,
he is the perfect match to marry.
For you, an unfading jasmine,
he is the perfect match to marry.
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
You sly girl!
Just looking at this lion
fills me with dread, girl!
He looks like a dressed-up woman
disguised in a man's clothes!
You laughing tease,
take a look at your lion!
Not even a whisper has sprouted
of a handsome mustache!
Not even a whisper has sprouted
of a handsome mustache!
Look closely with your eyes,
and tell me what you think.
Sweet-voiced girl, look at this match for you,
look closely with your eyes!
A prince with a budding mustache,
a truly fearless warrior,
a prince with a budding mustache,
a truly fearless warrior,
the crown prince of Hastinapur,
a god of love named Sarangan!
The crown prince of Hastinapur,
a god of love named Sarangan!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannaal nallaa paaru from the 1958 Tamil film Sarangathara is a playful and lighthearted musical banter between princess Chitrangi and her maid as they review portraits of royal suitors. One companion highlights the accomplishments, valor, and royal charm of princes from Gandhara, Kamboja, Vanga, and Hastinapur, while the other playfully mocks the images, comparing their eyes to owls or teasing the lack of a full mustache, until Sarangadhara himself is presented as the ideal match.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Karumbhu pechukkaaran / Kandhaaram vendra veeran”

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ka' across consecutive words and lines for lyrical rhythm.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Vanga nattu thangam / Sangeetha raaja singam”

Matching of the second consonant sound 'nga' across rhyming lines.

Simile (Upama)

“Azhagaesan kannu rendum / Aandhai kangal than”

Comparison of the eyes in the portrait to owl eyes using 'than'.

Metaphor (Rupaka)

“Kalikaala manmadhan”

Comparing the prince directly to the god of love (Manmatha) of the present age.

Did you know?

Trivia

Sarangathara (1958) starred Sivaji Ganesan and P. Bhanumathi. Legendary composer G. Ramanathan composed the score, and Bhanumathi herself sang this track along with A. P. Komala, showcasing her comic timing and classical vocal agility.

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