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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannan Piranthaan

From Petralthan Pillaiya · 1966

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Petralthan Pillaiya1966

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannan pirandhaanKrishna is born
Engal kannan pirandhaanOur Krishna is born
Pudhu kavidhaigal pirandhadhammaaNew poems are born, oh my!
Mannan pirandhaanThe king is born
Engal mannan pirandhaanOur king is born
Mana kavalaigal marandhadhammaaThe worries of the heart are forgotten, oh my!
Female
Kannan pirandhaanKrishna is born
Engal kannan pirandhaanOur Krishna is born
Pudhu kavidhaigal pirandhadhammaaNew poems are born, oh my!
Mannan pirandhaanThe king is born
Engal mannan pirandhaanOur king is born
Mana kavalaigal marandhadhammaaThe worries of the heart are forgotten, oh my!
Male
Pillai mozhiyoIs it a child's speech?
Adhu killai mozhiyoOr is it a parrot's speech?
Vellai manamoIs it a pure, innocent heart?
Anbai kollaiyidumo 00… hoo ooo ooDoes it rob love away? Oo… hoo ooo oo
Male
Pillai mozhiyoIs it a child's speech?
Adhu killai mozhiyoOr is it a parrot's speech?
Vellai manamoIs it a pure, innocent heart?
Anbai kollaiyidumoDoes it rob love away?
Female
Muthu chirippoIs it a pearl-like smile?
Adhu mullai virippoOr a blossoming jasmine?
Nitham kathum kuyiloIs it a cuckoo singing daily?
Adhu kannan kuraloOr is it Krishna's voice?
Hoo oo hoo oo hoo oo ho oooHoo oo hoo oo hoo oo ho ooo
Hoo oo oo oo ooHoo oo oo oo oo
Female
Muthu chirippoIs it a pearl-like smile?
Adhu mullai virippoOr a blossoming jasmine?
Nitham kathum kuyiloIs it a cuckoo singing daily?
Adhu kannan kuraloOr is it Krishna's voice?
Ennai marandhenI forgot myself
Naan unnai marandhenI forgot you
Indru thannai izhandhenToday I lost myself
Sugam thannil vizhundhenI fell into pure bliss
Male
Kannan karuppoIs Krishna dark-complexioned?
Sudum kangal neruppoAre his fiery eyes a flame?
Enna ninaippoWhat thoughts are these?
Adhu inba thavippoIs it a sweet longing?
Hoo oo hoo oo hoo oo ho oooHoo oo hoo oo hoo oo ho ooo
Hoo oo oo oo ooHoo oo oo oo oo
Male
Kannan karuppoIs Krishna dark-complexioned?
Sudum kangal neruppoAre his fiery eyes a flame?
Enna ninaippoWhat thoughts are these?
Adhu inba thavippoIs it a sweet longing?
Female
{Thotta kuraiyoIs it an incomplete connection from a touch?
Munbu vitta kuraiyoOr an unfinished bond from the past?
Adhu enna thudippoWhat kind of throbbing emotion is this?
Illai enna nadippo} (2)Or what kind of playful performance is this? (2)
Male
Kannai alandhenI measured the depth of the eyes
Adhil ponnai alandhenAnd in them, I measured precious gold
Pillai nenjai alandhenI measured the child's heart
Adhil poovai alandhenAnd in it, I measured gentle flowers
Male
Kannan pirandhaanKrishna is born
Engal kannan pirandhaanOur Krishna is born
Pudhu kavidhaigal pirandhadhammaaNew poems are born, oh my!
Mannan pirandhaanThe king is born
Engal mannan pirandhaanOur king is born
Mana kavalaigal marandhadhammaaThe worries of the heart are forgotten, oh my!
Female
Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa…..aaa….aa…Aa… aa… haa… aa… aaa…..aaa….aa…
Kannil eduthaenI lifted him with my eyes
Nenjai kaiyil koduthaenI placed my heart in his hands
Solla thudithaenI yearned to speak
Adhai solli mudithaenAnd I managed to express it
Solla thudithaenI yearned to speak
Adhai solli mudithaenAnd I managed to express it
Male
Raadhai ninaippaalWherever Radha thinks of him
Angu kannan iruppaanThere Krishna resides
Andha kodhai sirippaalThat maiden smiles
Adhai kandu rasippaanAnd he beholds and delights in it
Adhai kandu rasippaanAnd he beholds and delights in it

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kannan Pirandhaan' is a joyful, devotional celebration of the birth and divine presence of Lord Krishna (or a beloved child likened to Krishna). The lyrics express the boundless joy, poetic inspiration, and relief from worldly worries brought on by the arrival of the divine child. Through vivid imagery comparing the child's voice to a cuckoo, smile to jasmines and pearls, and eyes to gold, the song captures both maternal warmth and transcendental devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyme)

Kannan pirandhaan / Mannan pirandhaan

Rhyming of the second consonant across consecutive lines, such as 'Kannan' and 'Mannan' or 'Pillai' and 'Killai'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Pillai mozhiyo / Adhu killai mozhiyo

Comparing the child's sweet babble to the speech of a parrot ('killai mozhi') and the smile to blooming jasmine ('mullai virippo').

Anaphora

Muthu chirippo / Adhu mullai virippo

Repetition of line structures starting with 'Adhu' and ending with rhetorical questions '-o' to build poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Petralthan Pillaiya' (1966), directed by Krishnan-Panju, features music by M. S. Viswanathan with iconic lyrics by Vaali. The song remains a famous devotional track sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela.

Keep listening

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