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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannal Pesum Pennae

From Mozhi · 2007

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Mozhi2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannal pesum pennae enai mannippayaGirl who speaks with her eyes, will you forgive me?
Kavithai tamilil ketten enai mannippayaI asked for a poem in Tamil, will you forgive me?
Salavai seitha nilavae enai mannippayaOh pristine bleached moon, will you forgive me?
Siru thavarai thavari seithen enai mannippayaI accidentally made a small mistake, will you forgive me?
Enathu korikkai nee keladi keladiListen to my request, oh girl!
Unathu kobangalum yenadiWhy this anger of yours, my girl?
Unathu sillendra kannil paradi paradiLook into your cool eyes and see,
Enathu sabangalai theradiResolve my curse, my girl!
Male
Kannal pesum pennae enai mannippayaGirl who speaks with her eyes, will you forgive me?
Oru kavithai tamilil ketten enai mannippayaI asked for a poem in Tamil, will you forgive me?
Male
Nila pesuvathu illaiThe moon does not speak,
Athu oru kurai illaye ahhAnd that is not a flaw!
Kurai azhagendru kondalIf imperfection is considered beauty,
Vazhkkaiyil enghum pizhai illayaeThen there are no errors anywhere in life!
Pennae arinthu kondenOh girl, I have understood now,
Iyalbae azhagu endrenI realized that natural simplicity is true beauty.
Poovai varainthu athilaeAfter drawing a flower,
Meesai varaiya mattenI won't draw a mustache on top of it!
Male
Mounam pesum pothuWhen silence speaks,
Satham ketkamattenI will not demand sound.
Moondram piraiyin ullaeWithin the crescent moon of the third day,
Nilavai thedamatenI won't search for a full moon.
Vazhvo thuvarkkuthadiLife tastes astringent now,
Vayaso kasakkuthadiYouth feels bitter and painful,
Seikayilae enai mannithu sabam theeradiForgive my actions and lift this curse from me!
Male
{Oh i am sorry i am sorry i am sorry{Oh I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry,
Oh hoo i am sorry i am sorry i am sorry} (2)Oh hoo I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry} (x2)
Male
Kannal pesum pennae enai mannippayaGirl who speaks with her eyes, will you forgive me?
Oru kavithai tamilil ketten enai mannippayaI asked for a poem in Tamil, will you forgive me?
Male
Enghae, kurunagai enghaeWhere is it? Where is your gentle smile?
Kurumbugal enghae kooradi ohWhere are your playful antics? Tell me!
Kannil kadal konda kannilIn those eyes that hold an ocean,
Puyal chinnam yetho theriyuthadiI see signs of a gathering storm!
Chella konjal vendamI don't need affectionate coaxing,
Chinna sinugal pothumA small pout is enough!
Parthu pazhaga vendamWe don't need a deep familiarity,
Pathi sirrippu pothumHalf a smile is enough!
Male
Kaara paarvai vendamI don't want harsh stares,
Orapparvai pothumA side-glance is enough!
Vaasal thirakka vendamYou don't need to open the front door,
Jannal mattum pothumJust opening the window is enough!
Vazhkkai kadakkuthadiLife is passing by, my girl,
Naatkkal naraikkuthadiThe days are growing gray with age,
Iru kannal en vazhvai nee eram seyyadiMoisten my life with your two eyes!
Male
{Oh i am sorry i am sorry i am sorry{Oh I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry,
Oh hoo i am sorry i am sorry i am sorry} (2)Oh hoo I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry} (x2)
Male
Kannal pesum pennae enai mannippayaGirl who speaks with her eyes, will you forgive me?
Oru kavithai tamilil ketten enai mannippayaI asked for a poem in Tamil, will you forgive me?
Salavai seitha nilavae enai mannippayaOh pristine bleached moon, will you forgive me?
Siru thavarai thavari seithen enai mannippayaI accidentally made a small mistake, will you forgive me?
Enathu korikkai nee keladi keladiListen to my request, oh girl!
Unathu kobangalum yenadiWhy this anger of yours, my girl?
Unathu sillendra kannil paradi paradiLook into your cool eyes and see,
Enathu sabangalai theradiResolve my curse, my girl!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a heartfelt musical apology sung by the protagonist (Karthik) to the female lead (Archana). Having unawarely hurt her feelings by asking her to speak Tamil, he realizes his error upon discovering that she is speech- and hearing-impaired. Through poetic metaphors, he expresses deep remorse, acknowledging that her silence is as pure and beautiful as the moon, needing no external embellishments.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagatai)

Salavai seitha nilavae enai mannippaya

Comparing the heroine's silent presence to a bleached, pure moon ('Salavai seitha nilavae').

Hyperbole & Imagery

Kannil kadal konda kannil / Puyal chinnam yetho theriyuthadi

Describing her expressive eyes as containing an entire ocean capable of brewing a storm.

Contrast / Anthesis (Ethir-inai)

Vaasal thirakka vendam / Jannal mattum pothum

Contrasting extreme expectations (opening the door) with simple acceptance (just opening a window).

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Vazhvo thuvarkkuthadi / Vayaso kasakkuthadi

Matching second consonants across lines ('thuvarkkuthadi' / 'kasakkuthadi').

Did you know?

Trivia

In the film Mozhi (2007), directed by Radha Mohan with music by Vidyasagar, the character Archana (played by Jyothika) is deaf and mute. The song 'Kannal Pesum Pennae', rendered powerfully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam with lyrics by Vairamuthu, serves as the narrative catalyst where Karthik (Prithviraj) realizes his mistake and seeks her forgiveness.

Keep listening

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