Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Rani Lalithangi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaale Mannaadhi Mannarum

From Rani Lalithangi · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singer
M. L. Vasanthakumari
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Rani Lalithangi
Movie release year
1957
Lyrics added on
3 Dec 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaalae
Kannaale mannaathi mannarum
Thannaalae mayanguvaar
Enathu kannaale mannaathi mannarum
Thannaalae mayanguvaar
Enathu kannaale
Kannaana kadhalar kooda
Aa…aa…aa…aa…aa…aah…aa…aaahhh
Kannaana kadhalar kooda inbanilai
Kaanama yaenguvaargal azhagi
En kannaalae mannaathi mannarum
Thannaalae mayanguvaar…..
Maalaiyilae malar thoovi vilaiyaadum velaiyilae
Maalaiyilae malar thoovi vilaiyaadum velaiyilae
Manam polae anuraaga leelaiyilae
Manam polae anuraaga leelaiyilae
Ulam magizhvom vaazhvilae
Vaalaenthum veerarumkooda
Vaalaenthum veerarumkooda
Thannai maranthu thaalam poda
Vaalaenthum veerarumkooda
Vaalaenthum veerarumkooda
Thannai maranthu thaalam poda
Azhagi en kannaalae
…………….
Kannaalae mannaathi mannarum
Thannaalae mayanguvaar
Enthu kannaalae….
With my eyes,
with just a glance, even the greatest of kings
will fall under my spell.
With my eyes, even the greatest of kings
will fall under my spell...
With my very eyes...
Even beloved sweethearts,
Aah... aah... aah... aah...
even beloved sweethearts, without finding
that state of bliss, will yearn; for this beauty,
with my eyes, even the greatest of kings
will fall under my spell...
In the evening, as flowers are showered in play,
in the evening, as flowers are showered in play,
in playful games of love to our hearts' desire,
in playful games of love to our hearts' desire,
our hearts will rejoice in this life.
Even warriors bearing swords,
even warriors bearing swords,
will lose themselves and dance to the beat,
even warriors bearing swords,
even warriors bearing swords,
will lose themselves and dance to the beat,
of this beauty—with my eyes,
...
with just a glance, even the greatest of kings
will fall under my spell...
With my very eyes...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic dance track from 'Rani Lalithangi' (1957), composed by G. Ramanathan and sung brilliantly by Carnatic icon M. L. Vasanthakumari, expresses the alluring power and hypnotic charm of a woman's gaze. The dancer boasts that her mesmerizing eyes can entrance even mighty emperors and fierce sword-wielding warriors, causing them to forget their status and yield to the rhythms of love and music. The song celebrates life and artistic beauty, portraying a joyful evening filled with scattered flowers and romantic bliss. It highlights how art, charm, and musical grace can disarm the strongest of men, transforming fierce conquerors into spellbound admirers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Kannaale / Mannaathi / Thannaalae

The second letter 'nn' (ண்) creates a harmonious rhyming effect across consecutive lines.

Moni (Alliteration)

Maalaiyilae malar thoovi vilaiyaadum velaiyilae

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound creates rhythmic sweetness in the line.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Vaalaenthum veerarumkooda Thannai maranthu thaalam poda

Describing fierce, sword-wielding warriors completely forgetting their combat duties to tap their feet to dance rhythm emphasizes the intoxicating effect of the performance.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features Carnatic classical giant M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV) rendering a light-classical dance song set in a captivating melody by G. Ramanathan. MLV's effortless vocal gymnastics and intricate sangatis turned this track into one of the most celebrated classical dance songs of 1950s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Rani Lalithangi

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.