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Isaimozhi
Ilamai Kolam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Naalum

From Ilamai Kolam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ilamai Kolam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
31 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aa….aa…..aa…..aaa…
Aa….aa…..aa…..aaa…
Laa….laa….mm..mm
Kannan naalum podum vedam
Kangal engum pennai thaedum
Gopalanin andha kolangal thaan endrum
Aanandham aagum
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Kannan naalum podum vedam
Kangal engum pennai thaedum
Saelai adhai kandaalae pinnodum velai
Maalai adhil pennnendra vevveru maalai
Saelai adhai kandaalae pinnodum velai
Maalai adhil pennnendra vevveru maalai
Theduvaan sooduvaan kannanae
Dheviyoo aayiram kannanin oorvalam
Avan than kaadhal than ennam thaan kondu
Vaazhvaanamma
Kannan naalum podum vedam
Kangal engum pennai thaedum
Gopalanin andha kolangal thaan endrum
Aanandham aagum
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Naanum andha gopalanin dhevithaanae
Naalum pala kolangal naan kaanuvenae
Naanum andha gopalanin dhevithaanae
Naalum pala kolangal naan kaanuvenae
Naaloru aasaiyil vaazhgiren
Kannanin geethaiyil naanum orr baagamae
Oru ezhezhu jenmathil endraenum naan seruven
Kannan naalum podum vedam
Kangal engum pennai thaedum
Gopalanin andha kolangal thaan endrum
Aanandham aagum
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Heyy krishna jai krishna
Aa... aa... aa... aaaa...
Aa... aa... aa... aaaa...
La... la... mm... mm...
Every day, the roles that Krishna plays,
his eyes looking everywhere for a woman.
Those playful forms of Gopalan (Krishna)
bring nothing but pure joy.
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
Every day, the roles that Krishna plays,
his eyes looking everywhere for a woman.
The moment he spots a saree, his only job is to chase after it.
Garlands—each woman is a different garland to him.
The moment he spots a saree, his only job is to chase after it.
Garlands—each woman is a different garland to him.
Krishna will seek them out and wear them with pride.
A thousand beloveds in Krishna's grand procession;
with love always filling his thoughts,
he lives his life, my friend.
Every day, the roles that Krishna plays,
his eyes looking everywhere for a woman.
Those playful forms of Gopalan (Krishna)
bring nothing but pure joy.
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
I too am one of that Gopalan's beloveds,
and every day, I see his many changing forms.
I too am one of that Gopalan's beloveds,
and every day, I see his many changing forms.
I live each day with a new desire,
for I too am a part of Krishna's Gita (sacred song).
Sometime across all seven lifetimes, I will surely unite with him.
Every day, the roles that Krishna plays,
his eyes looking everywhere for a woman.
Those playful forms of Gopalan (Krishna)
bring nothing but pure joy.
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
Hey Krishna, Jai Krishna!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kannan Naalum Podum Vedam' is a playful and devotional Tamil song from the 1980 film Ilamai Kolam, penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan. The lyrics draw a poetic parallel between a lover's romantic pursuits and Lord Krishna's divine mischievousness (Thiruvilaiyaadal) with the Gopis. The song playfully describes Krishna's constant quest for love, framing his playful nature as a source of eternal happiness for those around him. In the second half, the female protagonist expresses her deep spiritual and romantic connection to her beloved, viewing herself as one of Krishna's divine consorts. She sees her devotion as an immutable part of Krishna's Gita and expresses unwavering faith that she is spiritually bound to unite with him across countless lifetimes. Kannadasan masterfully blends classical Vaishnavite mythology with modern romantic sensibilities.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kannan naalum podum vedam / Kangal engum pennai thaedum”

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound at the start of adjacent lines ('Kannan' and 'Kangal').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Saelai adhai kandaalae pinnodum velai / Maalai adhil pennnendra vevveru maalai”

Matching second consonants 'la' in 'Saelai' and 'Maalai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kannanin geethaiyil naanum orr baagamae”

The singer metaphorically equates her own presence in his life as a chapter/part of Krishna's sacred Gita ('geethaiyil naanum orr baagamae').

Did you know?

Trivia

Ilamai Kolam (1980) features music composed by the duo Hari-Lakshman. Kannadasan's lyrics in this song showcase his famous motif of referencing Lord Krishna's mischievous playfulness (Leela) to mirror contemporary romantic dynamics, a recurring theme across many of his iconic film songs.

Keep listening

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From the same album

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