Kannamma Kannamma Kaathirundhen
From Namma Ooru Nayagan · 1988
- Lyricist
- Rajesh Khanna
- Singer
- Rajkumar Bharathi
- Music director
- Rajesh Khanna
- Details
- Namma Ooru Nayagan1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama | Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma |
| Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma | Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear |
| Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta | As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes |
| Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta | As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes |
| Male | |
| Vizhinoga kaathirundhen velli nila kaanalaiyae | I waited until my eyes pained, but I could not see the silver moon |
| Vazhiyoram kaathirunthen vaira nilaa kaanalaiyae | I waited along the roadside, but I could not see the diamond moon |
| Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama | Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma |
| Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma | Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear |
| Male | |
| Paathaiyilae kedantha mullu kuthiyum thaan valikalaiyae | Even when the thorn on the path pricked me, it did not hurt at all |
| Pacha thanni kooda innum thondaiyathaan nanaikalaiyae | Even plain water has not wet my throat yet |
| Sevapperi kannu rendum kerangi ippo thavikkudhamma | Both my eyes have turned red and are now dizzy and suffering, my dear |
| On nenappa ullam ingae thavam kedanthu thudikuthamma | With thoughts of you, my heart lies here doing penance and throbbing |
| Male | |
| Sindhum kanneer boomiyilae sindhu kavi paaduthadi | The tears I shed fall on the earth like a Sindhu poem |
| Sinthaiyilae on nenappu siragadichuu parakkuthadi | In my mind, your memory spreads its wings and flies away |
| Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama | Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma |
| Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma | Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear |
| Male | |
| Thudupizhandha padaga pola thavikkudhamma en idhayam | Like an oarless boat, my heart suffers helplessly, my dear |
| Thuru pidicha en vaazhvil vandhidumoo orr udhayam | Will a new dawn ever arise in my rusted life? |
| Kudathilitta vilakaaga aagivitta kaadhal kadhai | Our love story has become like a lamp hidden inside a pot |
| Kinattru thavala pola irukkuthadi en nelama | My condition has become like that of a frog trapped inside a well |
| Male | |
| Kottuthadi nenjil ratham konjamthadi undhan mutham | Blood drips inside my heart, while your kiss remains so meager |
| Naan ettu thikkum potta satham kekealaya unakku mattum | Did only you fail to hear the loud cry I made across all eight directions? |
| Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama | Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma |
| Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma | Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear |
| Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta | As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes |
| Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta | As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes |
| Male | |
| Vizhinoga kaathirundhen velli nila kaanalaiyae | I waited until my eyes pained, but I could not see the silver moon |
| Vizhiyoram kaathirunthen vaira nilaa kaanalaiyae | I waited along the roadside, but I could not see the diamond moon |
| Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama | Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma |
| Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma | Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear |
கண்ணம்மா கண்ணம்மா காத்திருந்தேன் கண்ணம்மா
உன்ன காணாம காணாம நோகுது என் விழியம்மா
கண்ணீரு சொட்ட சொட்ட கண் பார்த்தேன் கொட்ட கொட்ட
கண்ணீரு சொட்ட சொட்ட கண் பார்த்தேன் கொட்ட கொட்ட
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
விழி நோக காத்திருந்தேன் வெள்ளி நிலா காணலையே
வழியோரம் காத்திருந்தேன் வைர நிலா காணலையே
கண்ணம்மா கண்ணம்மா காத்திருந்தேன் கண்ணம்மா
உன்ன காணாம காணாம நோகுது என் விழியம்மா
I waited until my eyes pained, but I could not see the silver moon
I waited along the roadside, but I could not see the diamond moon
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
பாதையில கெடந்த முள்ளு குத்தியும்தான் வலிக்கலையே
பச்சத் தண்ணி கூட இன்னும் தொண்டையத்தான் நனைக்கலையே
செவப்பேறி கண்ணு ரெண்டும் கெறங்கி இப்போ தவிக்குதம்மா
ஒன் நெனப்பா உள்ளம் இங்கே தவம் கெடந்து துடிக்குதம்மா
Even when the thorn on the path pricked me, it did not hurt at all
Even plain water has not wet my throat yet
Both my eyes have turned red and are now dizzy and suffering, my dear
With thoughts of you, my heart lies here doing penance and throbbing
சிந்தும் கண்ணீர் பூமியிலே சிந்து கவி பாடுதடி
சிந்தையிலே ஒன் நெனப்பு சிறகடிச்சு பறக்குதடி
கண்ணம்மா கண்ணம்மா காத்திருந்தேன் கண்ணம்மா
உன்ன காணாம காணாம நோகுது என் விழியம்மா
The tears I shed fall on the earth like a Sindhu poem
In my mind, your memory spreads its wings and flies away
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
துடுப்பிழந்த படகப் போல தவிக்குதம்மா என் இதயம்
துருப் பிடிச்ச என் வாழ்வில் வந்திடுமோ ஓர் உதயம்
குடத்திலிட்ட விளக்காக ஆகிவிட்ட காதல் கதை
கிணற்று தவளப் போல இருக்குதடி என் நெலம
Like an oarless boat, my heart suffers helplessly, my dear
Will a new dawn ever arise in my rusted life?
Our love story has become like a lamp hidden inside a pot
My condition has become like that of a frog trapped inside a well
கொட்டுதடி நெஞ்சில் ரத்தம் கொஞ்சந்தாடி உந்தன் முத்தம்
நான் எட்டுத் திக்கும் போட்ட சத்தம் கேக்கலயா உனக்கு மட்டும்
கண்ணம்மா கண்ணம்மா காத்திருந்தேன் கண்ணம்மா
உன்ன காணாம காணாம நோகுது என் விழியம்மா
Blood drips inside my heart, while your kiss remains so meager
Did only you fail to hear the loud cry I made across all eight directions?
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
கண்ணீரு சொட்ட சொட்ட கண் பார்த்தேன் கொட்ட கொட்ட
கண்ணீரு சொட்ட சொட்ட கண் பார்த்தேன் கொட்ட கொட்ட
I waited until my eyes pained, but I could not see the silver moon
I waited along the roadside, but I could not see the diamond moon
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
விழி நோக காத்திருந்தேன் வெள்ளி நிலா காணலையே
வழியோரம் காத்திருந்தேன் வைர நிலா காணலையே
கண்ணம்மா கண்ணம்மா காத்திருந்தேன் கண்ணம்மா
உன்ன காணாம காணாம நோகுது என் விழியம்மா....
Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
Vizhinoga kaathirundhen velli nila kaanalaiyae
I waited until my eyes pained, but I could not see the silver moon
Vazhiyoram kaathirunthen vaira nilaa kaanalaiyae
I waited along the roadside, but I could not see the diamond moon
Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
Paathaiyilae kedantha mullu kuthiyum thaan valikalaiyae
Even when the thorn on the path pricked me, it did not hurt at all
Pacha thanni kooda innum thondaiyathaan nanaikalaiyae
Even plain water has not wet my throat yet
Sevapperi kannu rendum kerangi ippo thavikkudhamma
Both my eyes have turned red and are now dizzy and suffering, my dear
On nenappa ullam ingae thavam kedanthu thudikuthamma
With thoughts of you, my heart lies here doing penance and throbbing
Sindhum kanneer boomiyilae sindhu kavi paaduthadi
The tears I shed fall on the earth like a Sindhu poem
Sinthaiyilae on nenappu siragadichuu parakkuthadi
In my mind, your memory spreads its wings and flies away
Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
Thudupizhandha padaga pola thavikkudhamma en idhayam
Like an oarless boat, my heart suffers helplessly, my dear
Thuru pidicha en vaazhvil vandhidumoo orr udhayam
Will a new dawn ever arise in my rusted life?
Kudathilitta vilakaaga aagivitta kaadhal kadhai
Our love story has become like a lamp hidden inside a pot
Kinattru thavala pola irukkuthadi en nelama
My condition has become like that of a frog trapped inside a well
Kottuthadi nenjil ratham konjamthadi undhan mutham
Blood drips inside my heart, while your kiss remains so meager
Naan ettu thikkum potta satham kekealaya unakku mattum
Did only you fail to hear the loud cry I made across all eight directions?
Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
Kaneeru sotta sotta kann paarthen kotta kotta
As tears dripped continuously, I stared intently with wide eyes
Vizhinoga kaathirundhen velli nila kaanalaiyae
I waited until my eyes pained, but I could not see the silver moon
Vizhiyoram kaathirunthen vaira nilaa kaanalaiyae
I waited along the roadside, but I could not see the diamond moon
Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama
Kannamma, Kannamma, I have been waiting for you, Kannamma
Unna kaanama kaanama nogudhu en vizhiyamma
Without seeing you, without seeing you, my eyes ache, my dear
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This soulful track captures the intense emotional suffering and yearning of a lover waiting desperately for his beloved, Kannamma. He describes how his prolonged wait has rendered him indifferent to physical pain, such as thorns pricking his feet or extreme thirst, as the agony in his heart far surpasses any bodily pain. He visualizes his tears as poetry and his thoughts of her as birds soaring high, while contrastingly feeling stranded and helpless in his personal reality. Using traditional Tamil metaphors and proverbs—such as a boat without oars, a hidden lamp inside a pot, and a frog trapped in a well—the protagonist highlights his isolation and sense of despair. He questions why his cries of pain, echoed to all directions, have reached everyone except the person he loves most, longing for a ray of hope to revive his darkened existence.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Vizhinoga kaathirundhen velli nila kaanalaiyae”
Refers to the beloved as 'velli nila' (silver moon) and 'vaira nilaa' (diamond moon), representing her brightness and precious beauty in his dark world.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Thudupizhandha padaga pola thavikkudhamma en idhayam”
Compares his restless, drifting heart to an oarless boat ('thudupizhandha padagu') lost in deep water.
Proverbial Imagery (Pazhamozhi Uvamai)
“Kudathilitta vilakaaga aagivitta kaadhal kadhai”
Uses classical Tamil proverbs ('Kudathilitta vilakku' and 'Kinattru thavala') to symbolize suppressed love and trapped, helpless living conditions.
Alliteration (Monai)
“Kannama kannama kaathirundhen kannama”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across words ('Kannama', 'kaathirundhen') creates a rhythmic, melodic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Rajkumar Bharathi, who rendered this deeply emotional track, is the great-grandson of the legendary Tamil poet Subramania Bharati (Mahakavi Bharathiyar), whose famous muse in many classic romantic poems was also named 'Kannamma'.
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