Kannan
From Paramasivan · 2006
- Lyricist
- Kirithaya
- Singers
- Kalyani Menon, Saindhavi, Lakshmi Rangarajan
- Music director
- Vidyasagar
- Details
- Paramasivan2006
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannan mani vannan | Krishna, colored like a precious gem |
| Avan arumai solla povom | We shall speak of his greatness |
| Mannan mazhai vannan | The king, colored like the rainbearing cloud |
| Avan magimai eliya dhaamo | Is his divine glory a simple thing to describe? |
| Aayan alankaaran | The decorated cowherd lord |
| Kadal paayil thuyil aano | Did he sleep on the bed of the ocean? |
| Maayan malar thooyan | The magical one, pure as a flower |
| En isaikkae isai aano | Did he become the music to my music? |
| Female | |
| Kannan mani vannan | Krishna, colored like a precious gem |
| Avan arumai solla povom | We shall speak of his greatness |
| Chorus | |
| Paarkadalil avan irukka | While he resides in the Milky Ocean |
| Paambanaiyaai naan iruppen | I will remain as his serpent bed |
| Female & Chorus : | Female Singer & Chorus: |
| Dwarakkaiyil avan vasikka | When he resides in Dwarka |
| Thulasivanam aagiruppen | I will become the sacred Tulsi forest |
| Female | |
| Geethai inai avan vidhaikka | As he sows the divine truths of the Gita |
| Padhaiyilae vizhundhiruppen | I will lie fallen upon his path |
| Female | |
| Yamunai nadhi theerathilae | On the banks of the Yamuna River |
| Radhaiyena kaathiruppen | I will wait like Radha |
| Female | |
| Vennai thirudum | The one who steals butter |
| Pooviral ennai thazhuva | As his flower-like fingers embrace me |
| Aasaiyil kannam nelira | My cheeks blush and soften with desire |
| Maanavan innal puriya | As the divine human inflicts sweet torment |
| Nadandhadhu kanava nenava | Did what happened occur in a dream or reality? |
| Mayakkathil kidandha naan | I who lay in a trance of bliss |
| Innum enna solla aaaa….aaa…aa…aa… | What more can I say? Ah... |
கண்ணன் மணிவண்ணன்
அவன் அருமை சொல்ல போவோம்
மன்னன் மழை வண்ணன்
அவன் மகிமை எளியதாமோ
ஆயம் அலங்காரன்
கடல் பாயில் துயில் ஆனோ
மாயன் மலர் தூயன்
என் இசைக்கே இசை ஆனோ
Krishna, colored like a precious gem
We shall speak of his greatness
The king, colored like the rainbearing cloud
Is his divine glory a simple thing to describe?
The decorated cowherd lord
Did he sleep on the bed of the ocean?
The magical one, pure as a flower
Did he become the music to my music?
கண்ணன் மணி வண்ணன்
அவன் அருமை சொல்ல போவோம்
Krishna, colored like a precious gem
We shall speak of his greatness
பாற்கடலில் அவன் இருக்க
பாம்பணையாய் நான் இருப்பேன்
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
துவாரகையில் அவன் வாசிக்க
துளசிவனம் ஆகிருப்பேன்
While he resides in the Milky Ocean
I will remain as his serpent bed
Female Singer & Chorus:
When he resides in Dwarka
I will become the sacred Tulsi forest
கீதை இணை அவன் விதைக்க
பாதையிலே விழுந்திருப்பேன்
As he sows the divine truths of the Gita
I will lie fallen upon his path
யமுனை நதி தீரத்திலே
ராதையென காத்திருப்பேன்
On the banks of the Yamuna River
I will wait like Radha
வெண்ணை திருடும்
பூவிரல் என்னை தழுவ
ஆசையில் கன்னம் நெளிர
மாணவன் இன்னல் புரிய
நடந்தது கனவா நினைவா
மயக்கத்தில் கிடந்த நான்
இன்னும் என்ன சொல்ல ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆ....ஆ...
The one who steals butter
As his flower-like fingers embrace me
My cheeks blush and soften with desire
As the divine human inflicts sweet torment
Did what happened occur in a dream or reality?
I who lay in a trance of bliss
What more can I say? Ah...
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
கண்ணன் மணிவண்ணன்
அவன் அருமை சொல்ல போவோம்
மன்னன் மழை வண்ணன்
அவன் மகிமை எளியதாமோ
Kannan mani vannan
Krishna, colored like a precious gem
Avan arumai solla povom
We shall speak of his greatness
Mannan mazhai vannan
The king, colored like the rainbearing cloud
Avan magimai eliya dhaamo
Is his divine glory a simple thing to describe?
Aayan alankaaran
The decorated cowherd lord
Kadal paayil thuyil aano
Did he sleep on the bed of the ocean?
Maayan malar thooyan
The magical one, pure as a flower
En isaikkae isai aano
Did he become the music to my music?
Kannan mani vannan
Krishna, colored like a precious gem
Avan arumai solla povom
We shall speak of his greatness
Paarkadalil avan irukka
While he resides in the Milky Ocean
Paambanaiyaai naan iruppen
I will remain as his serpent bed
Female & Chorus :
Female Singer & Chorus:
Dwarakkaiyil avan vasikka
When he resides in Dwarka
Thulasivanam aagiruppen
I will become the sacred Tulsi forest
Geethai inai avan vidhaikka
As he sows the divine truths of the Gita
Padhaiyilae vizhundhiruppen
I will lie fallen upon his path
Yamunai nadhi theerathilae
On the banks of the Yamuna River
Radhaiyena kaathiruppen
I will wait like Radha
Vennai thirudum
The one who steals butter
Pooviral ennai thazhuva
As his flower-like fingers embrace me
Aasaiyil kannam nelira
My cheeks blush and soften with desire
Maanavan innal puriya
As the divine human inflicts sweet torment
Nadandhadhu kanava nenava
Did what happened occur in a dream or reality?
Mayakkathil kidandha naan
I who lay in a trance of bliss
Innum enna solla aaaa….aaa…aa…aa…
What more can I say? Ah...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deep expression of Madhura Bhakti (devotional love) toward Lord Krishna. The singer praises Krishna's divine form, comparing his dark complexion to precious gems and rain clouds, and marvels at his vast glory. The narrator longs to merge into Krishna's divine play across different realms and epics—wishing to be Adisesha (the serpent bed) in the Milky Ocean, the Tulsi forest in Dwarka, or a fallen leaf on his path as he preaches the Bhagavad Gita. In the second half, the emotion intensifies as the devotee imagines waiting for Krishna on the banks of the Yamuna like Radha. She describes the gentle, ecstatic touch of the lord and wonders whether her experience of his divine presence was a dream or reality, ultimately surrendering to a state of bliss.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Etukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kannan mani vannan / Mannan mazhai vannan”
The second consonant 'nna' is repeated across consecutive lines to create rhythmic symmetry.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Mannan mazhai vannan”
Krishna's skin tone is directly compared to dark rain-bearing clouds ('mazhai vannan') and dark precious gems ('mani vannan').
Monai (Initial alliteration)
“Maayan malar thooyan”
The starting sound 'Ma' is repeated in 'Maayan' and 'malar' for musicality.
Anaphora / Devotional Repetition
“Paambanaiyaai naan iruppen / Thulasivanam aagiruppen”
Repeated structural vows of total devotion ('naan iruppen', 'aagiruppen', 'vizhundhiruppen') emphasizing total surrender.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the movie 'Paramasivan' (2006) is named after Lord Shiva, this particular song composed by Vidyasagar uses classical Vaishnavite devotional poetry tropes (Prabandham-style lyricism) depicting Radha's love for Krishna.
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