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Isaimozhi
Bombay album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannalane Enadhu Kannai

From Bombay · 1995

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
A. R. Rahman, K. S. Chithra
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Bombay
Movie release year
1995
Lyrics added on
7 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Kannalanae enadhu kannai netrodu kaanavillai
En kangalai parithu kondu en innum pesavillai
Aalaana oru seidhi ariyamalae alaipaayum siru pedhai naano
Un perum en perum theriyamalae ullangal idam maarum yeno
Vaai pesavae vaaipillaiyae vali theera vazhi ennavo } (2)
Undhan kanjaadai vizhundhadhil nenjam nenjam
Tharikettu thalumbudhu nenjam
Endhan nulaadai parandhadhil konjam konjam
Pirai mugam paarthadhu konjam
Ratham kodhikodhikum ulai kodhithidum neerkumizh polae
Sitham thudithudikum puyal edhirthidum oar ilai polae
Panithulidhaan enna seiyumo moongil kaatil thee Vizhumpozhudhu
Moongil kaadenru aayinal maadhu
Kannalanae enadhu kannai netrodu kaanavillai
En kangalai parithukondu en innum pesavillai
Aalaana oru seidhi ariyamalae alaipaayum siru pedhai naano
Un perum en perum theriyamalae ullangal idam maarum yeno
Vaai pesavae vaaipillaiyae vali theera vazhi ennavo
Oru minsaram paarvaiyin vegam vegam
Unnodu naan kandukonden
Oru pennodu thonridum thaabam thaabam
Ennodu naan kandukonden
Ennai marandhuvitten indha ulagathil naanillai naanillai
Unnai izhandhuvitaal endha malarilum thaenillai thaenillai
Idhu kanava illai ninaiva ennai killi unmai thelindhen
Unnai paarthendhan thaaimozhi marandhen
Kannalanae enadhu kannai netrodu kaanavillai
En kangalai parithu kondu en innum pesavillai
Aalaana oru seidhi ariyamalae alaipaayum siru pedhai naano
Un perum en perum theriyamalae ullangal idam maarum yeno
Vaai pesavae vaaipillaiyae vali theera vazhi ennavo
Kannalanae enadhu kannai netrodu kaanavillai
En kangalai parithu kondu en innum pesavillai
Kannalanae …ae
My beloved with captivating eyes, I have lost my eyes since yesterday
Having stolen my eyes away, why haven't you spoken to me yet?
Am I just an innocent girl tossing in turmoil, unaware that I have come of age in love?
Without even knowing each other's names, why are our hearts trading places?
There is no chance to speak, so how will this longing ache heal?
When your subtle glance fell upon me, my heart, oh my heart...
...lost all control and overflowed with emotion
As my cotton veil fluttered away just a little...
...you caught a glimpse of my crescent-like face
My blood boils like water bubbling in a hot pot
My heart trembles wildly like a single leaf braving a storm
What can a tiny dewdrop do when fire falls upon a bamboo forest?
And this girl has become that burning bamboo forest
My beloved with captivating eyes, I have lost my eyes since yesterday
Having stolen my eyes away, why haven't you spoken to me yet?
Am I just an innocent girl tossing in turmoil, unaware that I have come of age in love?
Without even knowing each other's names, why are our hearts trading places?
There is no chance to speak, so how will this longing ache heal?
The lightning speed of an electric gaze...
...is something I discovered in you
The intense longing that awakens in a woman...
...is something I discovered within myself
I have forgotten myself; I no longer exist in this world
If I were to lose you, no flower in this world would hold any nectar
Is this a dream or reality? I pinched myself to know the truth
Looking at you, I forgot my very own mother tongue
My beloved with captivating eyes, I have lost my eyes since yesterday
Having stolen my eyes away, why haven't you spoken to me yet?
Am I just an innocent girl tossing in turmoil, unaware that I have come of age in love?
Without even knowing each other's names, why are our hearts trading places?
There is no chance to speak, so how will this longing ache heal?
My beloved with captivating eyes, I have lost my eyes since yesterday
Having stolen my eyes away, why haven't you spoken to me yet?
O my beloved with captivating eyes...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannalane is a hauntingly romantic track from Mani Ratnam's 1995 film 'Bombay', composed by A.R. Rahman and written by Vairamuthu. Sung rendered by Chithra, the song captures the inner turmoil, awakenings, and overwhelmed passion of Shaila Bano (played by Manisha Koirala) as she falls deeply in love with Shekhar (Arvind Swamy). It explores the suddenness of romantic awakening—where a single glance ignites an unquenchable fire of longing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uragavani)

“Panithulidhaan enna seiyumo moongil kaatil thee Vizhumpozhudhu”

The lyrics compare the heroine's soul to a bamboo forest caught on fire ('moongil kaatil thee'), signifying how consuming love is compared to a fragile dewdrop.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Sitham thudithudikum puyal edhirthidum oar ilai polae”

Compares her agitated mental state to a single leaf resisting a storm ('puyal edhirthidum oar ilai polae') and a bubble in boiling water ('ulai kodhithidum neerkumizh polae').

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Kannalanae enadhu kannai netrodu kaanavillai”

Tamil poetic device where the second letter of consecutive lines rhyme ('Kannalanae' and 'En kangalai').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

“Unnai paarthendhan thaaimozhi marandhen”

Exaggerates the overwhelming feeling of love to the extent of forgetting one's own native language upon looking at the beloved.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu and sung by K.S. Chithra, 'Kannalane' remains one of Indian cinema's most celebrated love ballads. The song incorporates Sufi Qawwali influences blended with Carnatic classical elements, earning widespread critical acclaim across multiple language dubs.

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