Kannaana Thaai Naadae
From Kanavu · 1954
- Lyricist
- A. Maruthakasi
- Singer
- M. L. Vasanthakumari
- Music directors
- G. Ramanathan, V. Dakshinamurthy
- Details
- Kanavu1954
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannaana thaai naadae | Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes! |
| Kaveri paayum thirunaadae | Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows! |
| Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae | A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty! |
| Female | |
| Kannaana thaai naadae | Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes! |
| Female | |
| Singaara kaaikari thottam | A charming and beautiful vegetable garden, |
| Idhai seeraaga kaaththidil joraaga kaaiththidum | If nurtured properly, it yields abundantly and grandly, |
| Maaraatha ananntha moottum | Igniting an unceasing sense of deep joy! |
| Kannaana thaai naadae | Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes! |
| Female | |
| Pudhu vagai poonjsedi koottam | A cluster of novel flowering plants, |
| Ivai pookkaathu enpathaalae | Just because they haven't bloomed yet, |
| Valarkkaatha pergalum undoo | Are there people who would refrain from growing them? |
| Ezhil vadivaaga thoondridum ilai meethu kangalai | Upon the beautifully shaped leaves that emerge, |
| Vaikkaatha pergalum undo | Are there people who wouldn't set their gaze on them? |
| Female | |
| Kannaana thaai naadae | Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes! |
| Kaveri paayum thirunaadae | Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows! |
| Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae | A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty! |
| Female | |
| Vinnilae kann simittum meengal koottam | A host of stars twinkling in the night sky, |
| Mannilae udhirnthathu pol kaanum poonthoottam | The flower garden looks as if those stars fell upon the earth! |
| Female | |
| Manammigu malligai mullai | Fragrant jasmine and wild night-jasmine, |
| Idhil mayangaatha perillai | There is no one who is not enchanted by these! |
| Idhai andraadam kaalai maalai | Caring for this every single day, morning and evening, |
| En kann pola pottriyae neeroottrik kaappathu | Cherishing it like my eyes, watering and protecting it, |
| Ondrae naan inburum velai | Is the single duty in which I find true delight! |
| Female | |
| Kannaana thaai naadae | Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes! |
| Kaveri paayum thirunaadae | Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows! |
| Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae | A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty! |
கண்ணான தாய் நாடே
காவேரி பாயும் திருநாடே
கலை எழில் மேவும் வளர் நாடே
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows!
A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty!
கண்ணான தாய் நாடே.....
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
சிங்கார காய்கறித் தோட்டம்
இதை சீராக காத்திடில் ஜோராகக் காய்த்திடும்
மாறாத ஆனந்த மூட்டும்
கண்ணான தாய் நாடே....
A charming and beautiful vegetable garden,
If nurtured properly, it yields abundantly and grandly,
Igniting an unceasing sense of deep joy!
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
புது வகை பூஞ்செடிக் கூட்டம்
இவை பூக்காது என்பதாலே
வளர்க்காத பேர்களும் உண்டோ
எழில் வடிவாக தோன்றிடும் இலை மீது கண்களை
வைக்காத பேர்களும் உண்டோ...
A cluster of novel flowering plants,
Just because they haven't bloomed yet,
Are there people who would refrain from growing them?
Upon the beautifully shaped leaves that emerge,
Are there people who wouldn't set their gaze on them?
கண்ணான தாய் நாடே
காவேரி பாயும் திருநாடே
கலை எழில் மேவும் வளர் நாடே
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows!
A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty!
விண்ணிலே கண் சிமிட்டும் மீன்கள் கூட்டம்
மண்ணிலே உதிர்ந்தது போல் காணும் பூந்தோட்டம்
A host of stars twinkling in the night sky,
The flower garden looks as if those stars fell upon the earth!
மணம்மிகு மல்லிகை முல்லை
இதில் மயங்காத பேரில்லை
இதை அன்றாடம் காலை மாலை
என் கண் போல போற்றியே நீரூற்றிக் காப்பது
ஒன்றே நான் இன்புறும் வேலை...
Fragrant jasmine and wild night-jasmine,
There is no one who is not enchanted by these!
Caring for this every single day, morning and evening,
Cherishing it like my eyes, watering and protecting it,
Is the single duty in which I find true delight!
கண்ணான தாய் நாடே
காவேரி பாயும் திருநாடே
கலை எழில் மேவும் வளர் நாடே
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows!
A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty!
Kannaana thaai naadae
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Kaveri paayum thirunaadae
Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows!
Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae
A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty!
Kannaana thaai naadae
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Singaara kaaikari thottam
A charming and beautiful vegetable garden,
Idhai seeraaga kaaththidil joraaga kaaiththidum
If nurtured properly, it yields abundantly and grandly,
Maaraatha ananntha moottum
Igniting an unceasing sense of deep joy!
Kannaana thaai naadae
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Pudhu vagai poonjsedi koottam
A cluster of novel flowering plants,
Ivai pookkaathu enpathaalae
Just because they haven't bloomed yet,
Valarkkaatha pergalum undoo
Are there people who would refrain from growing them?
Ezhil vadivaaga thoondridum ilai meethu kangalai
Upon the beautifully shaped leaves that emerge,
Vaikkaatha pergalum undo
Are there people who wouldn't set their gaze on them?
Kannaana thaai naadae
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Kaveri paayum thirunaadae
Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows!
Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae
A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty!
Vinnilae kann simittum meengal koottam
A host of stars twinkling in the night sky,
Mannilae udhirnthathu pol kaanum poonthoottam
The flower garden looks as if those stars fell upon the earth!
Manammigu malligai mullai
Fragrant jasmine and wild night-jasmine,
Idhil mayangaatha perillai
There is no one who is not enchanted by these!
Idhai andraadam kaalai maalai
Caring for this every single day, morning and evening,
En kann pola pottriyae neeroottrik kaappathu
Cherishing it like my eyes, watering and protecting it,
Ondrae naan inburum velai
Is the single duty in which I find true delight!
Kannaana thaai naadae
Oh motherland, precious as my own eyes!
Kaveri paayum thirunaadae
Sacred land where the holy river Kaveri flows!
Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae
A flourishing land filled with artistic beauty!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kannaana Thaai Naadae' is a soulful ode to the fertile motherland nourished by the sacred Kaveri river. It celebrates the country's natural beauty, rich agriculture, and artistic heritage. Through lush imagery of blooming gardens and bountiful vegetation, the song highlights the joy of caring for nature, drawing a parallel between devotion to the land and love for one's motherland. The lyricist conveys that tending to gardens daily, watering them, and watching them bloom brings supreme happiness. The flowers on earth are poetically likened to stars that have descended from the sky, making the motherland a living paradise that captivates every observer.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Kannaana thaai naadae”
Compares the motherland directly to one's precious eyes ('Kannaana thaai naadae') to show ultimate value and devotion.
Simile (Uwamai)
“Mannilae udhirnthathu pol kaanum poonthoottam”
Compares the vibrant flower garden on earth to stars that have fallen down from the sky ('udhirnthathu pol').
Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Moonaai)
“Kannaana thaai naadae / Kaveri paayum thirunaadae / Kalai ezhil mevum valar naadae”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines ('Kannaana', 'Kaveri', 'Kalai').
Rhetoric Question (Vinaaiyani)
“Valarkkaatha pergalum undoo”
Uses rhetorical questions ('pergalum undoo', 'pergalum undo') to emphasize that everyone naturally admires and tends to nature's beauty.
Did you know?
Trivia
This song from the 1954 film 'Kanavu' was composed jointly by music maestros V. Dakshinamoorthi and G. Ramanathan. Rendered by Carnatic music legend M. L. Vasanthakumari (MLV), the lyrics written by A. Maruthakasi capture the patriotic and agricultural pride characteristic of mid-20th-century Tamil cinema.
Keep listening
More from Kanavu
Kanavu
Kanavu
Kanavu
Kanavu