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Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Mana Nilaiyai

From Deivathin Deivam · 1962

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Deivathin Deivam1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannan…Oh Lord Krishna...
Kannan mana nilaiyai thangamae thangamThe state of Krishna's mind, my dear precious friend,
Kandu vara venumadi thangamae thangamGo and find out for me, my dear precious friend.
Kannan mana nilaiyai thangamae thangamThe state of Krishna's mind, my dear precious friend,
Kandu vara venumadi thangamae thangamGo and find out for me, my dear precious friend.
Ennam uraithuvidil ..aa..aa..aa..aa…If he expresses his true intentions... aa..aa..aa..aa...
Ennam uraithuvidil thangamae thangamIf he expresses his true intentions, my dear precious friend,
Pinnar yedhaenilum seivomadi thangamae thangamAfterwards we shall figure out what to do, my dear precious friend.
Pinnar yedhaenilum seivomadi thangamae thangamAfterwards we shall figure out what to do, my dear precious friend.
Aa..aa..aa..aa…aaAa..aa..aa..aa...aa
Kannan mana nilaiyai thangamae thangamThe state of Krishna's mind, my dear precious friend,
Kandu vara venumadi thangamae thangamGo and find out for me, my dear precious friend.
Female
Aattrangarai adhanil munnam oru naal..One day earlier, on the river bank...
Aattrangarai adhanil munnam oru naalOne day earlier, on the river bank,
Enai azhaithu thaniyidathil pesiyadhellamEverything he spoke to me when he called me to a secluded spot,
Thoottri nagar murasu saattruven endruThat I shall expose and proclaim across the town with drums,
Thoottri nagar murasu saattruven endruThat I shall expose and proclaim across the town with drums,
Solli varuvaayadi thangamae thangamGo and tell him this, my dear precious friend.
Aa..aa..aa..aa…aaAa..aa..aa..aa...aa
Kannan mana nilaiyai thangamae thangamThe state of Krishna's mind, my dear precious friend,
Kandu vara venumadi thangamae thangamGo and find out for me, my dear precious friend.
Female
Nera muzhudhinum appaavi thannaiyaeAll the time, this innocent soul,
Nera muzhudhinum appaavi thannaiyaeAll the time, this innocent soul,
Ullam ninainthu maruguthadi thangamae thangamMy heart yearns thinking of him, my dear precious friend.
Theera oru sol indru kettu vandhuvittalIf you return today after hearing a decisive word,
Theera oru sol indru kettu vandhuvittalIf you return today after hearing a decisive word,
Pinbu deivam irukkudhadi thangamae thangamThen God indeed exists, my dear precious friend.
Deivam irukkudhadi thangamae thangamGod indeed exists, my dear precious friend.
Deivam irukkudhadi thangamae thangamGod indeed exists, my dear precious friend.
Aa..aa..aa..aa…aaAa..aa..aa..aa...aa
Kannan mana nilaiyai thangamae thangamThe state of Krishna's mind, my dear precious friend,
Kandu vara venumadi thangamae thangamGo and find out for me, my dear precious friend.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic Bharathiyar poem depicts a young maiden (Gopika/Radha) sending her close confidante ('Thangam') as a messenger to Lord Krishna to discover his true feelings towards her. She instructs her companion to find out what is in Krishna's mind so that she can decide her next course of action. She playfully instructs her friend to warn Krishna that if he remains evasive, she will beat drums across the town and publicize all the intimate promises he made to her in private by the riverbank. Agonizing over her helpless love, she declares that if her messenger brings back a clear, decisive answer today, it will prove beyond doubt that God truly exists.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Refrain / Anaphora (Madakku)

Kannan mana nilaiyai thangamae thangam

The term 'thangamae thangam' (precious like gold) is repeated at the end of nearly every line, a characteristic feature of traditional Tamil 'Kanni' folk song structure.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Aattrangarai adhanil munnam oru naal..

Rhyming of the second letter ('tt') between lines: 'Aattrangarai' and 'Thoottri'.

Hyperbole / Dramatic Irony

Thoottri nagar murasu saattruven endru

The devotee playfully threatens to beat the town drums ('nagar murasu') to expose Krishna's secret romantic whispers.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar, this lyric belongs to his renowned 'Kannan Pattu' series. In the 1962 film 'Deivathin Deivam', veteran composer G. Ramanathan adapted this traditional literary piece into a memorable semi-classical film song rendered by S. Janaki.

Keep listening

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