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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannaiah Nee

From Kaliyuga Kannan · 1974

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Kaliyuga Kannan
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
30 Sept 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa
Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa
Chellapillai suttipillai neethaanaiyaa
Unnai konjum annai indru naanthaanaiyyaa
Naanthanaiyyaa inba naalthanaiyaa
Nanthalaala…..nanthalaala…..nanthalaala…..
Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa
Chellapillai suttipillai neethaanaiyaa
Neethaanaiyaa….
Pennoruthi pettreduththaal
Innoruththi paal koduthaal
Mattroruthi manivaayil
Maththeduththu unai adiththaal
Gobiyar seitha thavam
Kodhai naan seithathillai
Gobiyar seitha thavam
Kodhai naan seithathillai
Unnidaththil bakthi andri
Ennidaththil yaedhumillai
Nanthalaala…..nanthalaala…..nanthalaala…..
Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa
Chellapillai suttipillai neethaanaiyaa
Neethaanaiyaa….
Vanna mayil iragaanaal
Kannan mudi mael iruppen
Venguzhal endraanaal
Viralgalil kudiyirupean
Aalilai pol piranthaal
Azhaganai sumathirupen
Yaezhai endru piranthu vittaen
Enna solli unai azhaippaen
Nanthalaala…..nanthalaala…..nanthalaala…..
Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa
Chellapillai suttipillai neethaanaiyaa
Neethaanaiyaa….
Female :Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa
Chellapillai suttipillai neethaanaiyaa
Neethaanaiyaa….
O Kanna, you are my own Kanna!
O Kanna, you are my own Kanna!
You are my darling child, my mischievous little boy!
Today, I am the mother who lovingly holds you close!
Yes, it is me, and this is truly a day of joy!
Nandalala... Nandalala... Nandalala...
O Kanna, you are my own Kanna!
You are my darling child, my mischievous little boy!
Yes, it is you...
One woman gave birth to you,
Another nursed you with milk,
And another, seeing your butter-smeared mouth,
Struck you with a churning rod!
The deep penance that the Gopi girls did,
I, a simple woman, have never performed.
The deep penance that the Gopi girls did,
I, a simple woman, have never performed.
Other than my love and devotion to you,
I have nothing else to offer.
Nandalala... Nandalala... Nandalala...
O Kanna, you are my own Kanna!
You are my darling child, my mischievous little boy!
Yes, it is you...
If only I were a colourful peacock feather,
I would rest upon Krishna's crown.
If only I were a bamboo flute,
I would live within his fingers.
If I were born as a floating banyan leaf,
I would cradle that beautiful Lord.
Yet I was born as a simple, poor girl,
How can I dare to call out to you?
Nandalala... Nandalala... Nandalala...
O Kanna, you are my own Kanna!
You are my darling child, my mischievous little boy!
Yes, it is you...
O Kanna, you are my own Kanna!
You are my darling child, my mischievous little boy!
Yes, it is you...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soul-stirring devotional track from Kaliyuga Kannan (1974) expresses deep Vatsalya Bhava (maternal love) and pure devotion toward Lord Krishna. The lyricist Vaali blends affection with humility, describing the singer's wish to shower maternal care upon Lord Krishna while referencing classical mythological anecdotes—such as Devaki giving birth, Yashoda raising him, and the Gopis' legendary devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Sledai / Pun

Kannaiyaa nee enthan kannaiyyaa

Play on the word 'Kannaiyaa', referring simultaneously to 'Lord Krishna' (Kannan) and 'my eyes' (Kannai).

Emoni / Second Letter Rhyme (Edukai)

Pennoruthi pettreduththaal

Matching second consonants in consecutive lines: 'Pennoruthi', 'Innoruththi', 'Mattroruthi'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Vanna mayil iragaanaal... Venguzhal endraanaal... Aalilai pol piranthaal

The singer imagines herself transforming into intimate objects of Lord Krishna: a peacock feather on his crown, a bamboo flute between his fingers, and a banyan leaf bearing infant Krishna.

Anaphora / Repetition

Gobiyar seitha thavam / Kodhai naan seithathillai

Repetition of the line emphasizing the unique spiritual penance of the Gopis compared to the narrator.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by V. Kumar with soul-stirring rendition by P. Susheela, this song beautifully references the 'Aalilai Krishna' iconography—the image of infant Krishna floating safely on a banyan leaf during the cosmic dissolution (Pralaya).

Keep listening

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