Kannan Pirantha Velaiyilae
From Puguntha Veedu · 1972
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Puguntha Veedu1972
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannan pirantha velaiyilae | At the time Krishna was born, |
| Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae | Devaki was held in captivity. |
| Aval annan polae unnaamal | Like her brother who abstained from food, |
| Annan polae unnaamal | Abstaining from food like her brother, |
| Kaaval nindraan vaasalilae | He stood guard at the entrance. |
| Thaayo siraiyinilae….yae…. | The mother was in prison... |
| Thanthaiyo veliyinilae….yae | While the father was outside... |
| Female | |
| Kannan pirantha velaiyilae | At the time Krishna was born, |
| Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae | Devaki was held in captivity. |
| Female | |
| Neeyum antha kannanai pola | Will you, like Krishna, |
| Geedhai solvaayo | Recite the sacred Gita? |
| Neeyum antha kannanai pola | Will you, like Krishna, |
| Geedhai solvaayo | Recite the sacred Gita? |
| Un thaayum thanathu thunaiyai | Will you guide a path for your mother |
| Serum paathai solvaayaa | To unite with her companion? |
| Female | |
| Aandavan illaa aalayaththil | In a temple devoid of God, |
| Naan aadidum vanna deepamadaa | I am a flickering colorful lamp, my child. |
| Aandavan illaa aalayaththil | In a temple devoid of God, |
| Naan aadidum vanna deepamadaa | I am a flickering colorful lamp, my child. |
| Yaarai sollo aavathenna | What is the point of blaming anyone? |
| Un annai seitha paavamadaa | It is the sin committed by your mother, my child. |
| Annai seitha paavamadaa | The sin committed by your mother, my child. |
| Female | |
| Kannan pirantha velaiyilae | At the time Krishna was born, |
| Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae | Devaki was held in captivity. |
| Female | |
| Ooraar ketka vidukathai pottaal | She posed a riddle for the townspeople to hear, |
| Unthan annaiyadaa….aa… | That was your mother, my child... |
| Ooraar ketka vidukathai pottaal | She posed a riddle for the townspeople to hear, |
| Unthan annaiyadaa…. | That was your mother... |
| Aval vazhve indru vidukadhaiyaanaal | If her life itself has become a riddle today, |
| Vidaiyenna solvathadaa | What answer can anyone give, my child? |
| Vidaiyenna solvathadaa | What answer can anyone give, my child? |
| Female | |
| Irukarai inaippathu nadhiyaagum | A river connects two opposite banks, |
| Engal iruvarai piriththathu vithiyaagum | But fate is what separated the two of us. |
| Nadhi vazhiponaal karaiyundu | If one follows a river, there is a shore, |
| Naam vithi vazhi ponaal yaarundu | If we follow fate, who is there for us? |
| Vithi vazhi ponaal yaarundu | If we follow fate, who is there for us? |
| Female | |
| Kannan pirantha velaiyilae | At the time Krishna was born, |
| Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae | Devaki was held in captivity. |
| Aval annan polae unnaamal | Like her brother who abstained from food, |
| Kaaval nindraan vaasalilae | He stood guard at the entrance. |
| Thaayo siraiyinilae….yae…. | The mother was in prison... |
| Thanthaiyo veliyinilae….yae | While the father was outside... |
கண்ணன் பிறந்த வேளையிலே
அந்த தேவகி இருந்தாள் காவலிலே
அவள் அண்ணன் போலே உண்ணாமல்
அண்ணன் போலே உண்ணாமல்
காவல் நின்றான் வாசலிலே
தாயோ சிறையினிலே....ஏ......
தந்தையோ வெளியினிலே....ஏ.....
At the time Krishna was born,
Devaki was held in captivity.
Like her brother who abstained from food,
Abstaining from food like her brother,
He stood guard at the entrance.
The mother was in prison...
While the father was outside...
கண்ணன் பிறந்த வேளையிலே
அந்த தேவகி இருந்தாள் காவலிலே
At the time Krishna was born,
Devaki was held in captivity.
நீயும் அந்த கண்ணனைப்போல
கீதை சொல்வாயோ
நீயும் அந்த கண்ணனைப்போல
கீதை சொல்வாயோ
உன் தாயும் தனது துணையை
சேரும் பாதை சொல்வாயோ
Will you, like Krishna,
Recite the sacred Gita?
Will you, like Krishna,
Recite the sacred Gita?
Will you guide a path for your mother
To unite with her companion?
ஆண்டவன் இல்லா ஆலயத்தில்
நான் ஆடிடும் வண்ண தீபமடா
ஆண்டவன் இல்லா ஆலயத்தில்
நான் ஆடிடும் வண்ண தீபமடா
யாரை சொல்லி ஆவதென்ன
உன் அன்னை செய்த பாவமடா
அன்னை செய்த பாவமடா........
In a temple devoid of God,
I am a flickering colorful lamp, my child.
In a temple devoid of God,
I am a flickering colorful lamp, my child.
What is the point of blaming anyone?
It is the sin committed by your mother, my child.
The sin committed by your mother, my child.
கண்ணன் பிறந்த வேளையிலே
அந்த தேவகி இருந்தாள் காவலிலே
At the time Krishna was born,
Devaki was held in captivity.
ஊரார் கேட்க விடுகதை போட்டாள்
உந்தன் அன்னையடா...ஆ.....
ஊரார் கேட்க விடுகதை போட்டாள்
உந்தன் அன்னையடா
அவள் வாழ்வே இன்று விடுகதையானால்
விடையென்ன சொல்வதடா
விடையென்ன சொல்வதடா
She posed a riddle for the townspeople to hear,
That was your mother, my child...
She posed a riddle for the townspeople to hear,
That was your mother...
If her life itself has become a riddle today,
What answer can anyone give, my child?
What answer can anyone give, my child?
இருகரை இணைப்பது நதியாகும்
எங்கள் இருவரை பிரித்தது விதியாகும்
நதி வழிப்போனால் கரையுண்டு
நாம் விதி வழிப்போனால் யாருண்டு
விதி வழிப்போனால் யாருண்டு......
A river connects two opposite banks,
But fate is what separated the two of us.
If one follows a river, there is a shore,
If we follow fate, who is there for us?
If we follow fate, who is there for us?
கண்ணன் பிறந்த வேளையிலே
அந்த தேவகி இருந்தாள் காவலிலே
அவள் அண்ணன் போலே உண்ணாமல்
காவல் நின்றான் வாசலிலே
தாயோ சிறையினிலே....ஏ....
தந்தையோ வெளியினிலே.....ஏ......
At the time Krishna was born,
Devaki was held in captivity.
Like her brother who abstained from food,
He stood guard at the entrance.
The mother was in prison...
While the father was outside...
Kannan pirantha velaiyilae
At the time Krishna was born,
Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae
Devaki was held in captivity.
Aval annan polae unnaamal
Like her brother who abstained from food,
Annan polae unnaamal
Abstaining from food like her brother,
Kaaval nindraan vaasalilae
He stood guard at the entrance.
Thaayo siraiyinilae….yae….
The mother was in prison...
Thanthaiyo veliyinilae….yae
While the father was outside...
Kannan pirantha velaiyilae
At the time Krishna was born,
Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae
Devaki was held in captivity.
Neeyum antha kannanai pola
Will you, like Krishna,
Geedhai solvaayo
Recite the sacred Gita?
Neeyum antha kannanai pola
Will you, like Krishna,
Geedhai solvaayo
Recite the sacred Gita?
Un thaayum thanathu thunaiyai
Will you guide a path for your mother
Serum paathai solvaayaa
To unite with her companion?
Aandavan illaa aalayaththil
In a temple devoid of God,
Naan aadidum vanna deepamadaa
I am a flickering colorful lamp, my child.
Aandavan illaa aalayaththil
In a temple devoid of God,
Naan aadidum vanna deepamadaa
I am a flickering colorful lamp, my child.
Yaarai sollo aavathenna
What is the point of blaming anyone?
Un annai seitha paavamadaa
It is the sin committed by your mother, my child.
Annai seitha paavamadaa
The sin committed by your mother, my child.
Kannan pirantha velaiyilae
At the time Krishna was born,
Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae
Devaki was held in captivity.
Ooraar ketka vidukathai pottaal
She posed a riddle for the townspeople to hear,
Unthan annaiyadaa….aa…
That was your mother, my child...
Ooraar ketka vidukathai pottaal
She posed a riddle for the townspeople to hear,
Unthan annaiyadaa….
That was your mother...
Aval vazhve indru vidukadhaiyaanaal
If her life itself has become a riddle today,
Vidaiyenna solvathadaa
What answer can anyone give, my child?
Vidaiyenna solvathadaa
What answer can anyone give, my child?
Irukarai inaippathu nadhiyaagum
A river connects two opposite banks,
Engal iruvarai piriththathu vithiyaagum
But fate is what separated the two of us.
Nadhi vazhiponaal karaiyundu
If one follows a river, there is a shore,
Naam vithi vazhi ponaal yaarundu
If we follow fate, who is there for us?
Vithi vazhi ponaal yaarundu
If we follow fate, who is there for us?
Kannan pirantha velaiyilae
At the time Krishna was born,
Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae
Devaki was held in captivity.
Aval annan polae unnaamal
Like her brother who abstained from food,
Kaaval nindraan vaasalilae
He stood guard at the entrance.
Thaayo siraiyinilae….yae….
The mother was in prison...
Thanthaiyo veliyinilae….yae
While the father was outside...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kannan Pirantha Velaiyilae' from Puguntha Veedu (1972) is a deeply poignant maternal lament sung by a mother addressing her child. Drawing a strong parallel to Hindu mythology—specifically the birth of Lord Krishna to Devaki while imprisoned and separated from Vasudeva—the song conveys the mother's isolation, sorrow, and tragic circumstances. She compares her existence to a solitary lamp burning in a godless temple and questions the twists of destiny that separated her from her husband. Through lyricist Vaali's metaphorical style, the song explores themes of suffering, fate, and tragic helplessness. While natural elements like rivers connect distant shores, fate has divided her family, leaving her life an unsolved riddle. P. Susheela's soul-stirring vocal performance and Shankar-Ganesh's classic composition elevate this song into an enduring masterpiece of emotional Tamil cinema music.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)
“Kannan pirantha velaiyilae / Antha devagi irunthaal kaavalilae”
The entire opening stanza uses the mythological story of Devaki's imprisonment at Krishna's birth as an allegory for the protagonist's own entrapment and separation from her husband.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Aandavan illaa aalayaththil / Naan aadidum vanna deepamadaa”
The singer compares her life to a bright lamp flickering inside a temple that lacks a deity, symbolizing empty devotion and purposeless sorrow.
Antithesis / Contrast (Eduroopaani)
“Irukarai inaippathu nadhiyaagum / Engal iruvarai piriththathu vithiyaagum”
Contrasts the unifying nature of a river connecting two banks with the destructive nature of fate separating two individuals.
Rhetorical Question & Wordplay (Vidukadhai)
“Aval vazhve indru vidukadhaiyaanaal / Vidaiyenna solvathadaa”
Extends the metaphor of 'vidukadhai' (riddle), comparing her past actions of posing riddles to her present tragic state where her life itself has become an unsolved riddle.
Did you know?
Trivia
Puguntha Veedu (1972), directed by F. N. Dass, featured a stellar cast including A. V. M. Rajan, Savitri, Lakshmi, and R. Muthuraman. The soundtrack composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh remains memorable, with 'Kannan Pirantha Velaiyilae' standing out as one of P. Susheela's finest dramatic vocal performances written by Vaali.
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