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Vanna Vanna Pookkal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannamma Kadhal Ennum

From Vanna Vanna Pookkal · 1992

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
Ilayaraja, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Vanna Vanna Pookkal
Movie release year
1992
Lyrics added on
30 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Un pillai tamizhil
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Undhan killai mozhiyinilae
Ullam kollai adippathum yen
Thulli thulli varum nadaiyil
Manam mella thudippathum yen
Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendum
Vaaraayo…. vaaraayo…
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Un pillai tamizhil
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Punnai mara thopporam
Unnai ninainthu
Munnam sonna kuyil paattu
Solli magizhnthen
Ponni nadhi karaiyoram
Mannan ninaivil
Kannimaigal moodaadhu
Kanni irunthen
Vennilavin oli kanalaai
Kodhikkudhadi
Yennam nilai illaamal
Thavikkudhadi
Undhan chella mozhiyinilae
Ullam kollaiyadippathum yen
Thulli thulli varum nadaiyil
Manam mella thudippathum yen
Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendum
Vaaraayo… vaaraayo
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Un pillai tamizhil
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Innum ennai vegu dhooram
Kootti chelladi
Pannisaiyil paadangal maatri
Cholladi
Kanni unthan mana koondil
Ennai thalladi
Kannasaithu angeyae vaithu
Kolladi
Mandhirathai maatraamal
Katrukkoduthaal
Vindhaigalai yeraalam
Solli tharuven
Undhan chella mozhiyinilae
Ullam kollai adippathum yen
Thulli thulli varum nadaiyil
Manam mella thudippathum yen
Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendum
Vaaraayo… vaaraayo
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Un pillai tamizhil
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Undhan killai mozhiyinilae
Female :Ullam kollai adippathum yen
Male :Thulli thulli varum nadaiyil
Female :Manam mella thudippathum yen
Male :Unnai kaana vendum kooda vendum
Female :Vaaraayo… vaaraayo
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Un pillai tamizhil
Kannamma aaa
Kaadhal ennum kavithai solladi
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear,
in your sweet, childlike Tamil.
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear.
With your sweet, parrot-like speech,
why do you steal my heart away?
With your bouncy, light-footed walk,
why does my heart flutter so softly?
I long to see you, I long to be with you;
won't you come? Won't you come?
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear,
in your sweet, childlike Tamil.
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear.
Beside the grove of punnai trees,
thinking only of you,
I sang the cuckoo's melody
and rejoiced with joy.
By the banks of the Ponni river (Cauvery),
lost in thoughts of my king,
without ever closing my eyes,
I stayed awake waiting.
The white moonlight boils like hot embers,
scorching me with longing!
My mind finds no rest
and struggles in yearning!
With your endearing, sweet words,
why do you steal my heart away?
With your bouncy, light-footed walk,
why does my heart flutter so softly?
I long to see you, I long to be with you;
won't you come? Won't you come?
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear,
in your sweet, childlike Tamil.
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear.
Take me along with you,
much farther away, my love!
Change the musical tunes
and teach me fresh lessons in melody!
Push me right inside
the cage of your heart!
Keep me there with a glance of your eyes,
and slay me with love!
If you teach me the secret spell
without missing a single word,
I will show and teach you
countless wonders in return!
With your endearing, sweet words,
why do you steal my heart away?
With your bouncy, light-footed walk,
why does my heart flutter so softly?
I long to see you, I long to be with you;
won't you come? Won't you come?
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear,
in your sweet, childlike Tamil.
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear.
With your sweet, parrot-like speech...
Female: Why do you steal my heart away?
Male: With your bouncy, light-footed walk...
Female: Why does my heart flutter so softly?
Male: I long to see you, I long to be with you!
Female: Won't you come? Won't you come?
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear,
in your sweet, childlike Tamil.
Kannamma, ah...
Recite the poem called love, my dear.
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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