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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Nee En

From Ivan · 2002

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Sudha Raghunathan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ivan2002

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naa….nana naa….Naa.... nana naa....
Aah….thadhari naa naAah.... thadhari naa na
Naa….naa…naa…naaaaaaaaaaa….Naa.... naa... naa... naaaaaaaaaaa....
Naaaa….aaa…naaa….naa.naaaNaaaa.... aaa... naaa.... naa.naaa
Male
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Hmmm mmmmHmmm mmmm
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamaeIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamaeIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom
KavimayangumMesmerizing the poets
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamaeIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom
KavimayangumMesmerizing the poets
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamaeIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom
Female
Thaalathil serndhaJoined together in rhythm
Pudhu jeeva raagamae aeh…Oh vibrant new life melody...
Thaalathil serndhaJoined together in rhythm
Pudhu jeeva raagamae aeh…Oh vibrant new life melody...
Thaayana theeyinilaeWithin the sacred motherly fire
Uyir nee ena vilangidumYou shine forth as life itself
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamaeIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom
Female
Sa ni sa ni da ni da maSa ni sa ni da ni da ma
Ga ma da ni sa ni da maGa ma da ni sa ni da ma
Ga ma da ma ga ri ga saGa ma da ma ga ri ga sa
Ma ga ri sa ni da niMa ga ri sa ni da ni
Sa ri ga ma da ni ga ri saSa ri ga ma da ni ga ri sa
Ma ga ri sa sa ga ri saMa ga ri sa sa ga ri sa
Ma ga ri sa niMa ga ri sa ni
Sa ni sa ni da ni da maSa ni sa ni da ni da ma
Ga ma da ni sa ni da maGa ma da ni sa ni da ma
Ga ma da ma ga ri ga saGa ma da ma ga ri ga sa
Ma ga ri sa ni da niMa ga ri sa ni da ni
Sa ri ga ma da ni ga ri saSa ri ga ma da ni ga ri sa
Ni da ma gaNi da ma ga
Ga ma da ma da ni da ni ri saGa ma da ma da ni da ni ri sa
Sa ni ri sa ni da maSa ni ri sa ni da ma
Sa ma ga ri saSa ma ga ri sa
Ri sa ni da maRi sa ni da ma
Ga ma da ni saGa ma da ni sa
Ni sa ni da maNi sa ni da ma
Sa ni da ma ga riSa ni da ma ga ri
Ni da ma ga riNi da ma ga ri
Female
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamae…ehhhIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom...
Female
Poovinil thondraaUnborn from any ordinary flower
Pudhu thamizh thaenae aeh…Oh sweet new nectar of Tamil language...
Poovinil thondraa pudhu thamizh thaenaeOh sweet new nectar of Tamil, unborn from any flower
Pooranam endrae aanadhu en vaazhvaeMy life has reached total fulfillment
En isai maedai unakkena thaanaeMy stage of music exists solely for you
En piRappin palanae eh…Oh the true purpose of my birth...
Un isaiyodu en isai seraAs my music blends with your divine music
Innisaiyil payanae…It becomes a fruitful journey in melody...
Uyirdhanil meidhanilIn the soul and in the physical self
Aadivarum paalnilavu pol valarumIt grows like the dancing, gentle milky moonlight
Female
Thathakida thakha thajumThathakida thakha thajum
Ga ma da ni sa ni da maGa ma da ni sa ni da ma
Thi mi tha ri ki thajumThi mi tha ri ki thajum
Ma ga ri sa ni da paMa ga ri sa ni da pa
Thimi da ma da ni thakajumThimi da ma da ni thakajum
Thakhithajum ma ga ri saThakhithajum ma ga ri sa
Ma ga ri sa niMa ga ri sa ni
Tha tharitha thaka thajumTha tharitha thaka thajum
Ga ma da ni sa ni da maGa ma da ni sa ni da ma
Thimi tharikithajumThimi tharikithajum
Ma ga ri sa ni thakathimiMa ga ri sa ni thakathimi
Ga ma da ni thakajumGa ma da ni thakajum
Thakithajum thadhimi thajOnu thimithiThakithajum thadhimi thajOnu thimithi
Sa ma ga ri sa ni da ma tharingkinathomSa ma ga ri sa ni da ma tharingkinathom
Ni sa ni da ma tharingkinathomNi sa ni da ma tharingkinathom
Thimithakitha thatha thakida tharingkinathomThimithakitha thatha thakida tharingkinathom
Female
Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyamKannan, you are the artistic painting of my musical sound
Kanmalarum vannamaeIn a shade that causes eyes to bloom
KavimayangumMesmerizing the poets
Kannan ….kannan…..kannanKannan... Kannan... Kannan...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from Ivan (2002) is an exquisite classical composition set as an ode to Krishna (Kannan), equating him to the pinnacle of artistic and musical devotion. The singer characterizes Kannan as a living raga merged in rhythmic harmony, a motherly sacred flame, and a unique nectar of Tamil that fills her existence with purpose. She surrenders her entire musical journey to him, describing how blending her music with his creates a divine bliss that expands like moonlight within her body and soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kannan… nee en isai naadha oviyam

Directly compares Kannan to a visual painting created out of sound and musical notes ('Isai naadha oviyam').

Simile (Uvamai)

Aadivarum paalnilavu pol valarum

Compares the blossoming feeling in the body and soul to the gradual expansion of milky moonlight ('paalnilavu pol valarum').

Initial Rhyme (Edhugai / Monai)

Poovinil thondraa pudhu thamizh thaenae

Uses matching initial consonant patterns in adjacent lines such as 'Poovinil' and 'Pooranam'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Vaali and rendered by Swarnalatha, this song stands out for incorporating complex Carnatic swara passages (sargam) and rhythmic konnakol patterns seamlessly into a film soundtrack.

Keep listening

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