Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannamma Kanavillaiya

From Vishwa Thulasi · 2004

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music directors
M. S. Vishwanathan, Ilayaraja
Details
Vishwa Thulasi2004

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics↻ English translation
Male
Kannammaa… kanavillaiyaa…Oh Kannamma... is it not a dream?
Kan thanil sugam illaiyaaIs there no comfort in your eyes?
Ennammaa pozhudhillaiyaaWhat is it, dear, is there no time?
Manam thanil endhan thollaiyaa…Am I a trouble/distress within your mind?
Male
Kannammaa… kanavillaiyaa…Oh Kannamma... is it not a dream?
Kan thanil sugam illaiyaaIs there no comfort in your eyes?
Ennammaa pozhudhillaiyaaWhat is it, dear, is there no time?
Manam thanil endhan thollaiyaa…Am I a trouble/distress within your mind?
Male
Sollammaa vaasal vara vazhi illaiyaaTell me dear, is there no way to reach the doorstep?
Vaazhvinil vasantham thara mozhi illaiyaaAre there no words to bring spring into life?
Sollammaa vaasal vara vazhi illaiyaaTell me dear, is there no way to reach the doorstep?
Vaazhvinil vasantham thara mozhi illaiyaaAre there no words to bring spring into life?
Male
Kannammaa… kanavillaiyaa…Oh Kannamma... is it not a dream?
Kan thanil sugam illaiyaaIs there no comfort in your eyes?
Ennammaa pozhudhillaiyaaWhat is it, dear, is there no time?
Manam thanil endhan thollaiyaa…Am I a trouble/distress within your mind?
Male
Un kural naan ketkalaiyaa..ketkalaiyaaDid I not hear your voice... hear it?
Illai kuyil kooda koovalaiyaa aa…Or did even the cuckoo bird stop singing?
Un kural naan ketkalaiyaaDid I not hear your voice?
Illai kuyil kooda koovalaiyaa…aa…Or did even the cuckoo bird stop singing?
Male
Un mugam paarkkalaiyaaDid I not see your face?
Illai jaadhi poo pookkalaiyaa aa…Or did the jasmine flowers fail to bloom?
Un mugam paarkkalaiyaaDid I not see your face?
Illai jaadhi poo pookkalaiyaa…Or did the jasmine flowers fail to bloom?
Male
Un paadham padhiyalaiyaaDid your footsteps not imprint?
Illai mannil yaarum varaiyalaiyaaOr did no one draw on the earth?
Un paasam podhalaiyaaWas your affection not enough?
Illai puvi kooda sutralaiyaaOr did the earth stop spinning?
Illai puvi kooda sutralaiyaaOr did the earth stop spinning?
Male
Edhuvumae puriyalaiyaaDo I not understand anything?
Illai ennai thaan puriyalaiyaaOr is it me that you do not understand?
Puriyalaiyaa puriyalaiyaaIs it not understood? Is it not understood?
Ennidam theriyalaiyaaIs it not known to me?
Ilai ennidam naan theriyalaiyaaOr do I not even know myself?
Ennidam naan theriyalaiyaaDo I not know myself?
Male
Kannammaa… kanavillaiyaa…Oh Kannamma... is it not a dream?
Kan thanil sugam illaiyaaIs there no comfort in your eyes?
Ennammaa pozhudhillaiyaaWhat is it, dear, is there no time?
Manam thanil endhan thollaiyaa…Am I a trouble/distress within your mind?
Male
Unn ullil naan inikkalaiyaaWas I not sweet inside your heart?
Illai inippilum rusikkalaiyaaa aa…Or could you not taste the sweetness?
Unn ullil naan inikkalaiyaaWas I not sweet inside your heart?
Illai inippilum rusikkalaiyaaOr could you not taste the sweetness?
Male
Un kannil naan sirikkalaiyaaDid I not smile in your eyes?
Illai uyirilae kalakkalaiyaa aa…Or did I not blend into your soul?
Un kannil naan sirikkalaiyaaDid I not smile in your eyes?
Illai uyirilae kalakkalaiyaaOr did I not blend into your soul?
Male
Un kanavil naan kaanalaiyaaWas I not seen in your dreams?
Illai ninaivilum naan illaiyaaOr am I not present even in your thoughts?
Un manadhil naan thunai illaiyaaAm I not a companion in your heart?
Illai thunai thaeda thunivillaiyaaOr do you lack the courage to seek a companion?
Male
Edhuvumae puriyalaiyaaDo I not understand anything?
Illai ennai thaan puriyalaiyaaOr is it me that you do not understand?
Puriyalaiyaa puriyalaiyaaIs it not understood? Is it not understood?
Ennidam theriyalaiyaaIs it not known to me?
Ilai ennidam naan theriyalaiyaaOr do I not even know myself?
Ennidam naan theriyalaiyaaDo I not know myself?
Male
Kannammaa… kanavillaiyaa…Oh Kannamma... is it not a dream?
Kan thanil sugam illaiyaaIs there no comfort in your eyes?
Ennammaa pozhudhillaiyaaWhat is it, dear, is there no time?
Manam thanil endhan thollaiyaa…Am I a trouble/distress within your mind?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses profound yearning, confusion, and despair in love. The protagonist addresses 'Kannamma', questioning whether their shared bond has turned into a distant dream or illusion. Through a series of rhetorical questions, the speaker wonders if the natural world itself has stalled—whether cuckoos have stopped singing and jasmines have ceased blooming—simply because the warmth and presence of love seem missing. The lyrics reflect deep introspection and heartbreak, as the protagonist struggles to comprehend the emotional distance and whether they still hold a place in their beloved's heart and soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rhetorical Question (Vinava Vina)

“Kannammaa... kanavillaiyaa... Kan thanil sugam illaiyaa”

Almost every line ends with the interrogative suffix 'illaiyaa' (is it not?), expressing self-doubt, longing, and emotional anguish.

Repetend / Monorhyme (Iyaipu)

“Un mugam paarkkalaiyaa / Illai jaadhi poo pookkalaiyaa”

The deliberate repetition of the ending sound 'illaiyaa' across consecutive lines builds a rhythmic cadence and emphasizes constant questioning.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“Illai puvi kooda sutralaiyaa”

Nature's phenomena—the cuckoo's call, jasmine blooming, and the earth spinning—are used metaphorically to reflect the internal emotional state of the lover.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film Vishwa Thulasi (2004) is historic for its soundtrack as it brought together two legends of Tamil film music—M. S. Viswanathan (MSV) and Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja—who jointly composed the music for the film, creating an iconic collaboration.

Keep listening

More from Vishwa Thulasi