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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannamma Kadhal Ennum

From Vanna Vanna Pookkal · 1992

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
Ilayaraja, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Vanna Vanna Pookkal1992

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannamma aaaOh Kannamma...
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiRecite a poem called love,
Un pillai tamizhilIn your sweet, innocent Tamil.
Kannamma aaaOh Kannamma...
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiRecite a poem called love,
Male
Undhan killai mozhiyinilaeIn your parrot-like sweet speech,
Ullam kollai adippathum yenWhy does my heart get stolen?
Thulli thulli varum nadaiyilWith your bouncing, lively walk,
Manam mella thudippathum yenWhy does my heart beat gently?
Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendumI wish to see you, I wish to join you,
Vaaraayo…. vaaraayo…Will you come? Will you come?
Male
Kannamma aaaOh Kannamma...
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiRecite a poem called love,
Un pillai tamizhilIn your sweet, innocent Tamil.
Kannamma aaaOh Kannamma...
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiRecite a poem called love,
Female
Punnai mara thopporamNear the grove of Punnai trees,
Unnai ninainthuThinking of you,
Munnam sonna kuyil paattuThe cuckoo song spoken earlier,
Solli magizhnthenI sang and rejoiced.
Female
Ponni nadhi karaiyoramOn the banks of the river Ponni,
Mannan ninaivilIn thoughts of my beloved king,
Kannimaigal moodaadhuWithout closing my eyelids,
Kanni irunthenI remained as a maiden waiting.
Male
Vennilavin oli kanalaaiThe light of the white moon,
KodhikkudhadiBoils like embers!
Yennam nilai illaamalMy mind feels unstable,
ThavikkudhadiAnd suffers in restless longing!
Female
Undhan chella mozhiyinilaeIn your darling words,
Ullam kollaiyadippathum yenWhy does my heart get stolen?
Thulli thulli varum nadaiyilWith your bouncing, lively walk,
Manam mella thudippathum yenWhy does my heart beat gently?
Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendumI wish to see you, I wish to join you,
Vaaraayo… vaaraayoWill you come? Will you come?
Male
Kannamma aaaOh Kannamma...
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiRecite a poem called love,
Un pillai tamizhilIn your sweet, innocent Tamil.
Kannamma aaaOh Kannamma...
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiRecite a poem called love,
Male
Innum ennai vegu dhooramTake me further away,
Kootti chelladiLead me along,
Pannisaiyil paadangal maatriChanging the lessons in musical melody,
CholladiTeach me,
Male
Kanni unthan mana koondilInto the cage of your youthful heart,
Ennai thalladiPush me in,
Kannasaithu angeyae vaithuWith a glance of your eyes, keep me there,
KolladiAnd slay me!
Female
Mandhirathai maatraamalIf you teach me without altering the sacred chant,
KatrukkoduthaalI will teach you,
Vindhaigalai yeraalamCountless wonders!
Solli tharuvenIn your darling words,
Female
Undhan chella mozhiyinilaeWhy does my heart get stolen?
Ullam kollai adippathum yenWith your bouncing, lively walk,
Thulli thulli varum nadaiyilWhy does my heart beat gently?
Manam mella thudippathum yenI wish to see you, I wish to join you,
Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendumWill you come? Will you come?
Vaaraayo… vaaraayoOh Kannamma...
Male
Kannamma aaaRecite a poem called love,
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiIn your sweet, innocent Tamil.
Un pillai tamizhilOh Kannamma...
Kannamma aaaRecite a poem called love,
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiIn your parrot-like sweet speech,
Male
Undhan killai mozhiyinilaeFemale: Why does my heart get stolen?
Female :Ullam kollai adippathum yenMale: With your bouncing, lively walk,
Male :Thulli thulli varum nadaiyilFemale: Why does my heart beat gently?
Female :Manam mella thudippathum yenMale: I wish to see you, I wish to join you,
Male :Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendumFemale: Will you come? Will you come?
Female :Vaaraayo… vaaraayoOh Kannamma...
Male
Kannamma aaaRecite a poem called love,
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladiIn your sweet, innocent Tamil.
Un pillai tamizhilOh Kannamma...
Kannamma aaaRecite a poem called love.
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic romantic duet celebrates deep affection, comparing the beloved's speech to sweet, innocent Tamil ('pillai tamizh') and parrot-like chatter ('killai mozhi'). The lovers express how thoughts of each other disrupt their sleep and make the gentle moonlight feel as scorching as fire. They long for togetherness, inviting each other to journey deeper into love and share the melody of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi

Comparing love directly to a poem ('Kaadhal ennum kavithai') and comparing moonbeams to burning embers ('Vennilavin oli kanalaai').

Repetition / Reduplication (Adukku Thodar)

Thulli thulli varum nadaiyil

The words 'Thulli thulli' are repeated consecutively to emphasize the bouncing, energetic motion of her walk.

Alliteration (Monaai)

Kannasaithu angeyae vaithu / Kolladi

Repetition of initial consonants or vowels across words, such as 'Kannasaithu' and 'Kolladi'.

Rhyme (Edhugai)

Punnai mara thopporam / Munnam sonna kuyil paattu

Second letter rhyming in consecutive lines, such as 'Punnai' and 'Munnam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kannamma' is an iconic romantic moniker popularized in Tamil poetry by Mahakavi Subramania Bharati. Although the song credits Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja as composer and lyricist in film records, the film Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992), directed by Balu Mahendra, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil.

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