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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Enge Kannan Enge

From Madhura Geetham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Madhura Geetham1977

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannan engae kanann engaeWhere is Kannan? Where is Kannan?
Raadhai manam yengudhammaRadha's heart is longing!
Kannan engae kanann engaeWhere is Kannan? Where is Kannan?
Raadhai manam yengudhammaRadha's heart is longing!
Male
Kaadhal dhevi neeyae raadhaYou are the goddess of love, Radha.
Kanum inbam neeyae radhaYou are the joy I behold, Radha.
Vannam kaattum malarae thaeneOh colorful flower, oh sweet honey!
Unnai paaduven ..unnai paaduvenI will sing of you... I will sing of you.
Female
Venugaanam neeyae kannaYou are the melody of the flute, Kanna.
Veru gaanam ariyaen kannaI know no other song, Kanna.
Mauna raagam yaavum undhanEvery silent melody of mine is your...
Madhuar geethamae ..hoo hoo madhura geethamaeSweet song... oh, sweet song!
Male
Lalalalala….La la la la la....
Kannae unnai thazhuvum velaiMy darling, when I embrace you,
Kaigal thaanae kaadhal maalaiMy hands automatically become a garland of love.
Mangai unnai ennum bodhaeYoung lady, the moment I think of you,
Mayakkam thondruthae haa ..aa.aa..aaAn enchanting trance comes over me, ah...
Mayakkam thondruthae ho ho ho hooAn enchanting trance comes over me, ho ho ho...
Female
Paarvai ingu thaalam podumHere, my gaze keeps the rhythm,
Paruvam getham paadumMy youth sings a melody.
Isaiyil indri idhaiyam magizhumWithout music, the heart rejoices today,
Madhuar geethamae .. ho madhura geethamaeSweet song... oh, sweet song!
Female
Kannan engae kanann engeWhere is Kannan? Where is Kannan?
Raadhai manam yengudhammaRadha's heart is longing!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Madhura Geetham is a soulful romantic duet that uses the eternal love story of Krishna (Kannan) and Radha as a metaphor for deep devotion and romance. Radha yearns for Krishna, while Krishna praises Radha as the epitome of beauty and love. The lovers describe how every thought, glance, and touch between them transforms into a sweet melody ('Madhura Geetham') that fills their hearts with joy and bliss. The song captures the intoxicated state of mind brought on by true love. Through evocative musical metaphors—flute music, silent raagas, rhythmic glances, and lyrical youth—Kannadasan elevates human romantic longing into a divine musical experience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Rupakam (Metaphor)

Venugaanam neeyae kanna

Directly comparing the lover to the melody of Krishna's flute ('Venugaanam') and Radha to the 'goddess of love' ('Kaadhal dhevi').

Moonaal / Alliteration

Paarvai ingu thaalam podum / Paruvam getham paadum

Repetition of initial consonant sounds ('P' sound in Paarvai and Paruvam) creating a musical rhythm in the verse.

Imagery & Personification

Paarvai ingu thaalam podum / Paruvam getham paadum

Attributes human musical actions to abstract concepts like gaze ('paarvai') keeping rhythm and youth ('paruvam') singing a melody.

Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)

Kannan engae kanann engae

Repetition of the line 'Kannan engae kanann engae' emphasizes Radha's intense yearning and restless search for Krishna.

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Trivia

Madhura Geetham (1977) features music composed by Chandrabose, a prolific yet often underappreciated composer in Tamil cinema during the late 1970s and 1980s. Lyricist Kannadasan skillfully blends classical Radha-Krishna bhakti imagery with accessible, contemporary romantic lyrics, performed brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela.

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