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Oru Thaai Makkal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Enthan Kaadhalan

From Oru Thaai Makkal · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Oru Thaai Makkal
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
15 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannan endhan kaadhalan
Kannil aadum maayavan
Ennai serndhavan
Kanavil ennai serndhavan
Kannan endhan kaadhalan
Kannil aadum maayavan
Ennai serndhavan
Kanavil ennai serndhavan
Kaadhal dhevan kovilil
Maalai maattrinaal
Kaadhal dhevan kovilil
Maalai maattrinaal
Kannirandil aasai ennum
Dheepam yaettrinaal
Raadhai endhan kaadhali
Thaththi chellum vanna paingili
Oonjalaadinaal manadhil oonjalaadinaal
Vizhigal kettu vaangi varum
Idhayam allavo
Vizhigal kaettu vaangi varum
Idhayam allavo
Adhu thaenodai kandu neeraada
Innum podhaadhu endru poraada
Neela vanna poonguzhal
Mugathai moodudhae
Neela vanna poonguzhal
Mugathai moodudhae
Naanam vandhu pona pinbu
Sugathai thaedudhae
Kannan endhan kaadhalan
Kannil aadum maayavan
Ennai serndhavan
Kanavil ennai serndhavan
Kodiyil pootha jaadhi mullai
Madiyil poothadho
Kodiyil pootha jaadhi mullai
Madiyil poothadho
Malar kothaada nagai muthaada
Indha vandaada manam thindaada
Aa… kannam ennum thaamarai
Sivandhu pogalaam
Kannam ennum thaamarai
Sivandhu pogalaam
Siragillaamal idhaya vaanil
Parandhu pogalaam
Raadhai endhan kaadhali
Thaththi chellum vanna paingili
Oonjalaadinaal manadhil oonjalaadinaal
Aa… kannan endhan kaadhalan
Kannil aadum maayavan
Ennai serndhavan
Kanavil ennai serndhavan
Kannan is my lover,
the magical enchanter dancing in my eyes.
He became mine...
he became mine in my dreams.
Kannan is my lover,
the magical enchanter dancing in my eyes.
He became mine...
he became mine in my dreams.
In the temple of the god of love,
she exchanged wedding garlands.
In the temple of the god of love,
she exchanged wedding garlands.
In both her eyes,
she lit the lamp of desire.
Radha is my beloved,
a colorful green parrot hopping along.
She swung back and forth, she swung in my heart.
Isn't it a heart that the eyes
ask for and win over?
Isn't it a heart that the eyes
ask for and win over?
Finding a stream of honey to bathe in,
it yearns for more, saying it is not enough.
Her dark, flower-decked hair
covers her face.
Her dark, flower-decked hair
covers her face.
Once shyness comes and goes,
it searches for sweet pleasure.
Kannan is my lover,
the magical enchanter dancing in my eyes.
He became mine...
he became mine in my dreams.
Did the jasmine blooming on the vine
blossom in my lap?
Did the jasmine blooming on the vine
blossom in my lap?
As flower clusters sway and pearl-like smiles shine,
this honeybee flutters, and the heart trembles.
Ah... the lotus of the cheek
may blush red.
Ah... the lotus of the cheek
may blush red.
Without wings, in the sky of the heart,
one can fly away.
Radha is my beloved,
a colorful green parrot hopping along.
She swung back and forth, she swung in my heart.
Ah... Kannan is my lover,
the magical enchanter dancing in my eyes.
He became mine...
he became mine in my dreams.
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannan Endhan Kaadhalan is a classic romantic duet from the 1971 Tamil film 'Oru Thaai Makkal', penned by lyricist Vaali. The song draws upon the mythological allegory of Radha and Lord Krishna to portray the deep, blissful love between the lead couple. The female lead envisions her beloved Krishna uniting with her in dreams and lighting the lamp of desire in her eyes, while the male lead compares his ladylove to a hopping parrot and blooming jasmine that sways his heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal / Initial Rhyme (Monai)

“Kannan endhan kaadhalan / Kannil aadum maayavan”

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound across consecutive lines establishing rhythm.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Kodiyil pootha jaadhi mullai / Madiyil poothadho”

Rhyming of the second letter 'di' in 'Kodiyil' and 'Madiyil'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Kannam ennum thaamarai Sivandhu pogalaam”

Directly equating cheeks to a blooming lotus ('Kannam ennum thaamarai') and desire to a lit lamp ('aasai ennum dheepam').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Malar kothaada nagai muthaada / Indha vandaada manam thindaada”

Matching end sounds with '-aada' creating internal poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the song context lists details as unknown, this popular track from 'Oru Thaai Makkal' (1971 starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa) was composed by M. S. Viswanathan and sung by T. M. Soundararajan alongside P. Susheela.

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