Kannadi Amma
From Paadha Poojai · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Jai Vijaya
- Details
- Paadha Poojai1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae | Your heart is like a mirror, my dear. |
| Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum | When I look into it, it reflects my own face. |
| Deiveega pantham nam uravu | Our relationship is a divine bond. |
| Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu | It is a moon that never wanes. |
| Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu | It is a moon that never wanes. |
| Female | |
| Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae | Your heart is like a mirror, my dear. |
| Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum | When I look into it, it reflects my own face. |
| Deiveega pantham nam uravu | Our relationship is a divine bond. |
| Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu | It is a moon that never wanes. |
| Female | |
| Sivantha nilanththin niram | The color of the red earth |
| Vaan pozhintha mazhaikkum | And the rain poured by the sky, |
| Irandum kalantha nilai | The state where both blend into one, |
| Naam piranthu valantha kalai | Is the art through which we were born and raised. |
| Thangam pol oru ullam vairam pol | A heart like gold, and like a diamond, |
| Adhu nee en kannae oho….oo….oo… | That is you, my dear... oho... oo... oo... |
| Female | |
| Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae | Your heart is like a mirror, my dear. |
| Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum | When I look into it, it reflects my own face. |
| Deiveega pantham nam uravu | Our relationship is a divine bond. |
| Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu…..mhmmm…. | It is a moon that never wanes... mhmmm... |
| Female | |
| Irunthu padaikkum virunthu | The feast prepared and served sitting together, |
| Unkku thaen allavaa | Isn't it like honey to you? |
| Female :Arinthu inikkum virunthu | Female: The feast that tastes sweet upon knowing it, |
| Enakku neeyalavaa | Isn't that you to me? |
| Female | |
| Irunthu padaikkum virunthu | The feast prepared and served sitting together, |
| Unkku thaen allavaa | Isn't it like honey to you? |
| Female :Arinthu inikkum virunthu | Female: The feast that tastes sweet upon knowing it, |
| Enakku neeyalavaa | Isn't that you to me? |
| Female | |
| Nenjam kinnamallavaa | Isn't the heart like a bowl? |
| Paasam annamallavaa | Isn't affection like food? |
| Paalum thaenum allavaa | Aren't they like milk and honey? |
| Enthan kannae oho…. | My dear, oho... |
| Female | |
| Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae | Your heart is like a mirror, my dear. |
| Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum | When I look into it, it reflects my own face. |
| Deiveega pantham nam uravu | Our relationship is a divine bond. |
| Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu…..mhmmm…. | It is a moon that never wanes... mhmmm... |
| Female | |
| Namakku iraivan kodutha | The good fortunes given to us by God, |
| Nalangal thaayalavaa | Are they not our mother? |
| Female :Anaiththu valarththa thagappan | Female: The father who embraced and raised us, |
| Gunathil seyallavaa | Isn't his virtue reflected in the child? |
| Female | |
| Namakku iraivan kodutha | The good fortunes given to us by God, |
| Nalangal thaayalavaa | Are they not our mother? |
| Female :Anaiththu valarththa thagappan | Female: The father who embraced and raised us, |
| Gunathil seyallavaa | Isn't his virtue reflected in the child? |
| Female | |
| Illam koyil allavaa | Isn't the home like a temple? |
| Deivam kaavalalvaa | Isn't God the guardian? |
| Anbu dheepamallavaa | Isn't love like the sacred lamp? |
| Enthan kannae oho….oo…. | My dear, oho... oo... |
கண்ணாடி அம்மா உன் இதயம் என் கண்ணே!
நான் அதைப் பார்த்தால் என் முகம் காட்டும்
தெய்வீக பந்தம் நம் உறவு
எந்நாளும் தேயாத நிலவு
எந்நாளும் தேயாத நிலவு
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Our relationship is a divine bond.
It is a moon that never wanes.
It is a moon that never wanes.
கண்ணாடி அம்மா உன் இதயம் என் கண்ணே
நான் அதைப் பார்த்தால் என் முகம் காட்டும்
தெய்வீக பந்தம் நம் உறவு
எந்நாளும் தேயாத நிலவு
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Our relationship is a divine bond.
It is a moon that never wanes.
சிவந்த நிலத்தின் நிறம்
வான் பொழிந்த மழைக்கும் வரும்
இரண்டும் கலந்த நிலை
நாம் பிறந்து வளர்ந்த கலை
தங்கம் போல் ஒரு உள்ளம் வைரம் போல்
அது நீ என் கண்ணே ஓஹோ......ஒ.....ஒ.....ஒ...
The color of the red earth
And the rain poured by the sky,
The state where both blend into one,
Is the art through which we were born and raised.
A heart like gold, and like a diamond,
That is you, my dear... oho... oo... oo...
கண்ணாடி அம்மா உன் இதயம் என் கண்ணே
நான் அதைப் பார்த்தால் என் முகம் காட்டும்
தெய்வீக பந்தம் நம் உறவு
எந்நாளும் தேயாத நிலவு....ம்ஹ்ம்ம்....
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Our relationship is a divine bond.
It is a moon that never wanes... mhmmm...
இருந்து படைக்கும் விருந்து
உனக்குத் தேன் அல்லவா
அறிந்து இனிக்கும் விருந்து
எனக்கு நீயல்லவா
The feast prepared and served sitting together,
Isn't it like honey to you?
Female: The feast that tastes sweet upon knowing it,
Isn't that you to me?
இருந்து படைக்கும் விருந்து
உனக்குத் தேன் அல்லவா
அறிந்து இனிக்கும் விருந்து
எனக்கு நீயல்லவா
The feast prepared and served sitting together,
Isn't it like honey to you?
Female: The feast that tastes sweet upon knowing it,
Isn't that you to me?
நெஞ்சம் கிண்ணமல்லவா
பாசம் அன்னமல்லவா
பாலும் தேனும் அல்லவா
எந்தன் கண்ணே ஓஹோ.......
Isn't the heart like a bowl?
Isn't affection like food?
Aren't they like milk and honey?
My dear, oho...
கண்ணாடி அம்மா உன் இதயம் என் கண்ணே
நான் அதைப் பார்த்தால் என் முகம் காட்டும்
தெய்வீக பந்தம் நம் உறவு
எந்நாளும் தேயாத நிலவு....ம்ஹ்ம்ம்....
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Our relationship is a divine bond.
It is a moon that never wanes... mhmmm...
நமக்கு இறைவன் கொடுத்த
நலங்கள் தாயல்லவா
அனைத்து வளர்த்த தகப்பன்
குணத்தில் சேயல்லவா
The good fortunes given to us by God,
Are they not our mother?
Female: The father who embraced and raised us,
Isn't his virtue reflected in the child?
நமக்கு இறைவன் கொடுத்த
நலங்கள் தாயல்லவா
அனைத்து வளர்த்த தகப்பன்
குணத்தில் சேயல்லவா
The good fortunes given to us by God,
Are they not our mother?
Female: The father who embraced and raised us,
Isn't his virtue reflected in the child?
இல்லம் கோயில் அல்லவா
தெய்வம் காவலல்லவா
அன்பு தீபமல்லவா
எந்தன் கண்ணே ஓஹோ...ஒ.....
Isn't the home like a temple?
Isn't God the guardian?
Isn't love like the sacred lamp?
My dear, oho... oo...
கண்ணாடி அம்மா உன் இதயம் என் கண்ணே
நான் அதைப் பார்த்தால் என் முகம் காட்டும்
தெய்வீக பந்தம் நம் உறவு
எந்நாளும் தேயாத நிலவு....ம்ஹ்ம்ம்....
Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Deiveega pantham nam uravu
Our relationship is a divine bond.
Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu
It is a moon that never wanes.
Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu
It is a moon that never wanes.
Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Deiveega pantham nam uravu
Our relationship is a divine bond.
Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu
It is a moon that never wanes.
Sivantha nilanththin niram
The color of the red earth
Vaan pozhintha mazhaikkum
And the rain poured by the sky,
Irandum kalantha nilai
The state where both blend into one,
Naam piranthu valantha kalai
Is the art through which we were born and raised.
Thangam pol oru ullam vairam pol
A heart like gold, and like a diamond,
Adhu nee en kannae oho….oo….oo…
That is you, my dear... oho... oo... oo...
Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Deiveega pantham nam uravu
Our relationship is a divine bond.
Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu…..mhmmm….
It is a moon that never wanes... mhmmm...
Irunthu padaikkum virunthu
The feast prepared and served sitting together,
Unkku thaen allavaa
Isn't it like honey to you?
Female :Arinthu inikkum virunthu
Female: The feast that tastes sweet upon knowing it,
Enakku neeyalavaa
Isn't that you to me?
Irunthu padaikkum virunthu
The feast prepared and served sitting together,
Unkku thaen allavaa
Isn't it like honey to you?
Female :Arinthu inikkum virunthu
Female: The feast that tastes sweet upon knowing it,
Enakku neeyalavaa
Isn't that you to me?
Nenjam kinnamallavaa
Isn't the heart like a bowl?
Paasam annamallavaa
Isn't affection like food?
Paalum thaenum allavaa
Aren't they like milk and honey?
Enthan kannae oho….
My dear, oho...
Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae
Your heart is like a mirror, my dear.
Naan adhai paarththaal en mugam kaattum
When I look into it, it reflects my own face.
Deiveega pantham nam uravu
Our relationship is a divine bond.
Ennaalum theyaatha nilavu…..mhmmm….
It is a moon that never wanes... mhmmm...
Namakku iraivan kodutha
The good fortunes given to us by God,
Nalangal thaayalavaa
Are they not our mother?
Female :Anaiththu valarththa thagappan
Female: The father who embraced and raised us,
Gunathil seyallavaa
Isn't his virtue reflected in the child?
Namakku iraivan kodutha
The good fortunes given to us by God,
Nalangal thaayalavaa
Are they not our mother?
Female :Anaiththu valarththa thagappan
Female: The father who embraced and raised us,
Gunathil seyallavaa
Isn't his virtue reflected in the child?
Illam koyil allavaa
Isn't the home like a temple?
Deivam kaavalalvaa
Isn't God the guardian?
Anbu dheepamallavaa
Isn't love like the sacred lamp?
Enthan kannae oho….oo….
My dear, oho... oo...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kannadi Amma Un Idhayam' from the 1974 film Paadha Poojai is a soulful female duet celebrating familial devotion, divine love, and pure character. Sung by P. Susheela and Vani Jairam, the song draws a tender parallel between a loved one's heart and a clear mirror that transparently reflects true selflessness and affection. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully incorporates ancient Sangam literary imagery to illustrate how lives blend inextricably together like rain mixing with red soil. The song further elevates family virtues, characterizing the mother as a divine blessing, the father's nobility as the foundation of character, and the loving home as a temple protected by God.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Sangam Imagery / Simile (Upamai)
“Sivantha nilanththin niram Vaan pozhintha mazhaikkum Irandum kalantha nilai”
Lines 10-12 reference the famous Sangam Kuruntokai metaphor (Sembulam pealneer) where red earth and rain blend indistinguishably, symbolizing unified souls and lives.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Kannadi amma un idhayam en kannae”
Directly compares the heart to a mirror ('Kannadi'), the relationship to an undiminishing moon ('theyaatha nilavu'), and the home to a temple ('Illam koyil').
Rhyme (Ethirai)
“Illam koyil allavaa / Deivam kaavalalvaa”
The second letter matching pattern seen in Tamil poetry, such as 'Sivantha' and 'Irandum' or 'Illam' and 'Deivam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The line 'Sivantha nilanththin niram...' is a direct poetic homage by Kannadasan to Verse 40 of Kuruntokai ('Yayum yayum yaragiyaro'), one of the most famous classical Tamil love poems. The music for Paadha Poojai was composed by the duo Jai Vijaya.
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