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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaalam

From Inji Idupazhagi · 2015

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
Damini, Palak Muchhal, Mohana Bhogaraju
Music director
M. M. Keeravani
Details
Inji Idupazhagi2015

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannaalam kannaalamWedding, wedding!
Melam kottattumLet the drums beat loud,
Nammooru naadhasvaramMay our town's Nadaswaram music
Megam muttattumReach up and touch the clouds!
Female
Kannaalam kannaalamWedding, wedding!
Vannam yerattumLet colors brighten the scene,
Ponnoda manja kannamMay the bride's golden yellow cheeks
Chevappaa maarattumTurn into a lovely shade of red!
Female
Pippeeppee ketti melamPippeeppee, let the auspicious wedding music
Chatham koodattumIncrease its grand volume!
Maappilla kaalu thaanaaLet the groom's feet automatically
Aattam podattumStart dancing in joy!
Chorus
Kannaalam kannaalamWedding, wedding!
Melam kottattumLet the drums beat loud,
Nammooru naadhasvaramMay our town's Nadaswaram music
Megam muttattumReach up and touch the clouds!
Female
Endhan kai meedhuUpon my hands,
Marudhaani polLike henna staining,
Nenjil unai thaanaeIn my heart, you alone
Naan choodinen….I have adorned...
Female
Kaadhal peigindraIn the pouring rain
VannangalilOf love's vibrant colors,
Endhan udai maaraAs my attire changed,
Naan aadinenI danced with delight!
Female
Kaatril ketkaadha paadalgalSongs unheard in the gentle breeze,
KetkindrenI am hearing now,
Kangal imaikkindra osaikkulWithin the sound of fluttering eyelashes,
Naan kaangidrenI am seeing visions!
Kanaa… orae kanaa…A dream... one single dream...
Naalelaam adhae kanaaAll day long, the exact same dream!
Chorus
Kannaalam kannaalamWedding, wedding!
Neiyi manakkumSmelling rich with ghee,
Pandhikku mundhikkidaTo rush and get ahead in the feast row,
Naaku nenaikkumMy tongue waters with longing!
Chorus
Kannaalam kannaalamWedding, wedding!
Vaasam koodattumLet the fragrance intensify!
Thakkolam yelam kiraambuStar anise, cardamom, and cloves,
Mookka thaakkattumLet their aroma strike the nose!
Female
Karpooram pola nenjuLike camphor igniting,
PathikidattumLet the heart catch fire with joy!
Sandhosam ooru pooraaLet happiness across the whole town
ThothikidattumSpread and catch on endlessly!
Chorus
Kannaalam kannaalamWedding, wedding!
Neiyi manakkumSmelling rich with ghee,
Pandhikku mundhikkidaTo rush and get ahead in the feast row,
Naaku nenaikkumMy tongue waters with longing!
Female
Naavai cheendaadhaIn a taste that hasn't yet
Chuvai ondrilaeTeased the tongue,
Undhan per chollaJust uttering your name,
NaavoorgirenMy mouth begins to water!
Female
Thaenil thindaadumLike a honeybee struggling in distress
VandaagavaeTrapped within sweet honey,
Unnil naan veezhndhuFalling into you,
KondaadinenI celebrated my love!
Female
Naasi pesaadha vaasangalScents that the nose hasn't spoken of,
UnnaalaeBecause of you,
Endhan moochaaga aavaayaaWill you become my very breath?
Naan ketkkiren…I am asking you...
Vinaa… orae vinaa…A question... one single question...
Unnilum adhae vinaa..Is that same question within you too?
Female
Maappila idhayamThe groom's heart
Chorus :ThudidhudikkumBeats fast and throbs!
Female :Raathiri kettuAsking for the night,
Chorus :AdampudikkumIt acts stubbonly!
Female :Ponniva pogira vegathaSeeing the speed at which the bride walks by,
Paathu kattilukippa juram adikkumThe bed itself suffers a fever now!
Chorus :Kattilukippa juram adikkumThe bed itself suffers a fever now!
Female
Thaappaa pottu poottumbodhu…When locking up with the latch...
Chorus :Thaappaa pottu poottumbodhu…When locking up with the latch...
Maappila manasu padabadakkumThe groom's heart flutters with excitement!
Chorus
Avan veeran poladhaan nadichiduvaanHe will pretend to be a brave hero,
Iva koocham vandhadhaa nadichiduvaaShe will pretend to feel shy and bashful,
Avan thottu pesavae thudichiduvaanHe will yearn to touch her and talk,
Iva mutham vechae mudichiduvaaShe will finish it all with a kiss!
Avan veeran poladhaan nadichiduvaanHe will pretend to be a brave hero,
Iva koocham vandhadhaa nadichiduvaaShe will pretend to feel shy and bashful,
Female
Theendal orr theendalA touch, just one touch,
Nee theendavaeAs you touch me,
Penmai naan inguI attained my true womanhood
Kondenadaa….Right here, my dear!
Female
Menmai en menmaiMy softness, what my delicacy really is,
Ennendru neeFind it out and tell me,
Kandu chol endruSo I stood waiting, my dear!
Nindrenadaa!…To my lips asking what a kiss is,
Female
Mutham ennendru ketkumJoining your lips with mine, the day you answer
En idhazhoduIs the true celebration day, my dear...
Undhan idhazh cherthu nee chollumFestival... my personal festival...
Naal thaanadaa…The grand festival of falling in love!
Vizhaa… endhan vizhaa…,
Kaadhalil vizhum vizhaa…..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kannaalam Kannaalam' is a joyful, celebratory song centered around wedding festivities, grand feast preparations, romantic anticipation, and playful banter between the bride and groom. It captures the atmosphere of traditional South Indian weddings complete with the vibrant sounds of Nadaswaram, Melam drums, aromatic food spiced with ghee and cloves, and the colourful rituals of henna staining and bright attire.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannaalam kannaalam / Vannam yerattum

Matching second consonants across lines, e.g., 'Kannaalam' and 'Vannam' or 'Melam' and 'Megam'.

Simile (Upamai)

Karpooram pola nenju pathikidattum

Comparing heart ignition to burning camphor ('Karpooram pola nenju pathikidattum').

Hyperbole (Uvarchithi)

Paathu kattilukippa juram adikkum

Exaggerating the bride's grace making the bed catch a fever ('Paathu kattilukippa juram adikkum').

Onomatopoeia

Pippeeppee ketti melam

Imitating instrument sounds like 'Pippeeppee' for traditional wind instruments.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maragathamani (MM Keeravani) for the movie 'Inji Idupazhagi' (Size Zero in Telugu, 2015), sung by Niranjana Ramanan and Nivas, with lyrics penned by Madhan Karky.

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