Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaana Poomaganae

From Thanneer Thanneer · 1981

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Thanneer Thanneer1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannaana poomaganaePrecious flower-like son, dear to my eyes
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Kannaana poomaganaePrecious flower-like son, dear to my eyes
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Aaththaa azhudha kanneerThe tears shed by your mother
Aaraaga perugi vandhuSwelling and overflowing into a river
Thottil nanaikkum varaiUntil it drenches your cradle
Un thookkam kalaikkum varaiUntil it disturbs your sleep
Kannaana poomaganaePrecious flower-like son, dear to my eyes
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Female
Ululu raari raari raari raari rooLullaby refrain (Ululu raari raari raari raari roo)
Ululu raari raari raari raari rooLullaby refrain (Ululu raari raari raari raari roo)
Aariroo aarirroooLullaby refrain (Aariroo aarirrooo)
Female
Ooththu malai thanneeraeFresh spring mountain water
En ullangkai sakkaraiyaeSugar in the palm of my hand
Ooththu malai thanneeraeFresh spring mountain water
En ullangkai sakkaraiyaeSugar in the palm of my hand
Nee naan peththa thangaradhamYou are the golden chariot I gave birth to
Iduppil ulla nandhavanamA flower garden carried on my hip
Nee naan peththa thangaradhamYou are the golden chariot I gave birth to
Iduppil ulla nandhavanamA flower garden carried on my hip
Female
Kaayappatta maaman indruYour wounded uncle today
Kannurakkam kollavillaHas lost his restful sleep
Sogappatta makkalukkuFor the sorrowful people
Soru thanni sellavillaNeither food nor water goes down
Yegappatta megam unduThere are abundant clouds above
Mazhai pozhiya ullamillaeYet they lack the heart to pour rain
Female
Kannaana poomaganaePrecious flower-like son, dear to my eyes
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Female
Ululu raari raari raari raari rooLullaby refrain (Ululu raari raari raari raari roo)
Ululu raari raari raari raari rooLullaby refrain (Ululu raari raari raari raari roo)
Aariroo aarirroooLullaby refrain (Aariroo aarirrooo)
Female
Kaal mulacha malligaiyaeJasmine flower that grew feet and walks
Naan kandedutha rosaavaeA rose flower that I discovered
Kaal mulacha malligaiyaeJasmine flower that grew feet and walks
Naan kandedutha rosaavaeA rose flower that I discovered
Nee thaen vacha aththi pazhamYou are a honey-filled fig fruit
Mutham tharum muthu saramA string of pearls giving kisses
Female
Thanni thandha megamindruThe cloud that gave water today
Raththa thuli sindhudhadaaSheds drops of blood instead
Kaaththirundha paanaikkullaeInside the waiting empty pot
Kanneer thuli ponguthadaaTears are overflowing
Veettu vilakkerivadharkkuTo light the house lamp
Kanneer….. ennai illaiyadaaThere are tears, but no oil, my child
Female
Kannaana poomaganaePrecious flower-like son, dear to my eyes
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Aaththaa azhudha kanneerThe tears shed by your mother
Aaraaga perugi vandhuSwelling and overflowing into a river
Thottil nanaikkum varaiUntil it drenches your cradle
Un thookkam kalaikkum varaiUntil it disturbs your sleep
Kannaana poomaganaePrecious flower-like son, dear to my eyes
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Kannurangu sooriyanaeSleep, my shining sun
Female
Aari raari raari raar rooLullaby refrain (Aari raari raari raar roo)
Aari raari raari raar rooLullaby refrain (Aari raari raari raar roo)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant lullaby from the movie Thanneer Thanneer (1981) contrasts the gentle, tender love of a mother for her infant child with the stark, tragic reality of severe drought and social neglect facing their village. While pouring endearments on her child—calling him spring water, a walking jasmine flower, and a golden chariot—the mother mourns the widespread hardship where villagers lack basic food and drinking water, and rain clouds fail to burst.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Nee naan peththa thangaradham

Compares the child affectionately to various cherished objects, such as a golden chariot, spring water, and a flower garden.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Aaththaa azhudha kanneer Aaraaga perugi vandhu

Exaggerates the mother's grief by picturing her tears swelling into a full river capable of drenching the baby's cradle.

Personification / Visual Imagery

Kaal mulacha malligaiyae

Depicts jasmine flowers growing feet and walking, personifying the innocent steps of the child.

Irony and Contrast

Veettu vilakkerivadharkku Kanneer….. ennai illaiyadaa

Contrasts the extreme absence of oil/water with an abundance of tears, highlighting the despair of the villagers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Thanneer Thanneer (1981) was directed by legendary filmmaker K. Balachander, based on Komal Swaminathan's acclaimed play highlighting rural water crisis and bureaucratic apathy. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with deep, socially conscious lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

Keep listening

More from Thanneer Thanneer