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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Naalum

From Ilamai Kolam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ilamai Kolam1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa….aa…..aa…..aaa…[Vocalizing melodies]
Aa….aa…..aa…..aaa…[Vocalizing melodies]
Laa….laa….mm..mm[Vocalizing humming]
Female
Kannan naalum podum vedamLord Krishna puts on a disguise every day
Kangal engum pennai thaedumHis eyes search for women everywhere
Gopalanin andha kolangal thaan endrumThose playful disguises of Gopala always
Aanandham aagumBecome a source of joy
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!
Female
Kannan naalum podum vedamLord Krishna puts on a disguise every day
Kangal engum pennai thaedumHis eyes search for women everywhere
Female
Saelai adhai kandaalae pinnodum velaiHis only task is running behind whenever he spots a saree
Maalai adhil pennnendra vevveru maalaiEvery evening brings a different goddess-like woman
Saelai adhai kandaalae pinnodum velaiHis only task is running behind whenever he spots a saree
Maalai adhil pennnendra vevveru maalaiEvery evening brings a different goddess-like woman
Theduvaan sooduvaan kannanaeKrishna will seek them and adorn them with flowers
Dheviyoo aayiram kannanin oorvalamA procession of a thousand goddesses for Krishna
Avan than kaadhal than ennam thaan konduCarrying his love and his own thoughts
VaazhvaanammaHe lives his life, my friend
Female
Kannan naalum podum vedamLord Krishna puts on a disguise every day
Kangal engum pennai thaedumHis eyes search for women everywhere
Gopalanin andha kolangal thaan endrumThose playful disguises of Gopala always
Aanandham aagumBecome a source of joy
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!
Female
Naanum andha gopalanin dhevithaanaeAm I not also a goddess belonging to that Gopala?
Naalum pala kolangal naan kaanuvenaeEvery day, I witness many of his playful forms
Naanum andha gopalanin dhevithaanaeAm I not also a goddess belonging to that Gopala?
Naalum pala kolangal naan kaanuvenaeEvery day, I witness many of his playful forms
Naaloru aasaiyil vaazhgirenI live each day with a new desire
Kannanin geethaiyil naanum orr baagamaeI am also a chapter in Krishna's Gita
Oru ezhezhu jenmathil endraenum naan seruvenAcross forty-nine births, someday I will unite with him
Female
Kannan naalum podum vedamLord Krishna puts on a disguise every day
Kangal engum pennai thaedumHis eyes search for women everywhere
Gopalanin andha kolangal thaan endrumThose playful disguises of Gopala always
Aanandham aagumBecome a source of joy
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!
Heyy krishna jai krishnaHey Krishna, victory to Krishna!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'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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