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Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Manam Allavo

From Vasantha Raagam · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Vasantha Raagam1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannaa…kannaa…kannaaaaa…Krishna... Krishna... Krishna...
Kannan manam ennavo kandu vaa thendralae…Oh gentle breeze, go and find out what is in Krishna's heart...
Female
Gangai karai allavo kaadhalin mandramae…Isn't the bank of the Ganges river the sacred assembly of love?
Female
Andha meeraavaippol yenginenI longed just like Meera did,
Dhinam vaadaamal naan vaadinen…Every day, I withered without truly fading...
Meeraavaippol yenginenI longed just like Meera did,
Dhinam vaadaamal naan vaadinen…Every day, I withered without truly fading...
Female
Kannan manam ennavo kandu vaa thendralae…Oh gentle breeze, go and find out what is in Krishna's heart...
Gangai karai allavo kaadhalin mandramae…Isn't the bank of the Ganges river the sacred assembly of love?
Female
Gaanathil…kuzhal naadhathilIn divine music... in the melodious sound of the flute,
Oru kandharva logathil enaikkondu serppaanHe will transport me into a heavenly celestial realm.
Monathil…andhi nerathilIn silence... during the dusk hour,
Avan munnooru muthangal ondraaga ketpaanHe will ask for three hundred kisses all at once.
Kaarkoondhal dhaan neevuvaan…He will stroke my dark, long hair...
Adhil kalyaana sugam theduvaanAnd seek marital bliss within it.
Andha kanathil en udhattilAt that very moment, from my lips,
Than udhattaal mutheduppaanHe will harvest pearls using his own lips.
Vaanam endhan kaalil vandhuWon't the sky come down near my feet
Kolam podaadho…To draw decorative patterns?
Female
Kannan manam ennavo kandu vaa thendralae…Oh gentle breeze, go and find out what is in Krishna's heart...
Gangai karai allavo kaadhalin mandramae…Isn't the bank of the Ganges river the sacred assembly of love?
Female
Mogathil… vizhi orathilIn passion... with a side-glance from his eyes,
Kannan paarthaalum en nenjil pasiyaari pogumEven if Krishna just looks, the hunger in my heart is appeased.
Kaamathil…naduchaamathilIn deep longing... during midnight,
Imai moodaadha en kannil nadhi odi paayumA river flows rapidly through my unblinking eyes.
Mai kooda karaigindradhae…Even the kohl in my eyes is melting...
Indru panneerum sudugindradhae…Today, even fragrant rosewater feels hot on my skin...
Andhi iruttil en vizhikkulIn the dusk's darkness, within my gaze,
Nindriruppaan kanmanikkul…He stands right inside the pupil of my eye...
Ingum angum engumHere, there, and everywhere,
Kaadhalil kannan kolangal..It is Krishna's artistic patterns of love..
Female
Kannan manam ennavo kandu vaa thendralae…Oh gentle breeze, go and find out what is in Krishna's heart...
Gangai karai allavo kaadhalin mandramae…Isn't the bank of the Ganges river the sacred assembly of love?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic song expresses the deep devotional love (Bhakti and Shringara Rasa) of a woman yearning for her beloved Krishna, comparing her longing to that of Saint Meera. She addresses the gentle breeze (thendral) as a messenger to discover Krishna's thoughts, lost in thoughts of his flute music, intimate affection, and eternal presence within her heart and eyes.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Andha meeraavaippol yenginen

The heroine compares her deep spiritual and romantic yearning directly to Saint Meera ('Andha meeraavaippol yenginen').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Than udhattaal mutheduppaan

Kissing lips is metaphorically described as harvesting pearls ('mutheduppaan').

Oxymoron / Paradox

Indru panneerum sudugindradhae…

Cooling rosewater (panneer) feeling hot ('sudugindradhae') highlights the burning sensation of separation (Viraha Taapam).

Personification

Kannan manam ennavo kandu vaa thendralae…

The gentle breeze ('thendralae') is personified as a messenger sent to read Krishna's heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Vasantha Raagam' (1986) featured music composed by M. S. Viswanathan and starred Vijayakanth and Sudha Chandran. The lyrics penned by Vaali beautifully evoke classical Tamil literary tropes where the breeze serves as a romantic messenger (Thendral Vidu Thoodhu).

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