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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannana Kanmaniye

From Vetri Mel Vetri · 1989

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Vijay Anand
Details
Vetri Mel Vetri1989

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannaana kanmaniyaePrecious darling of my eyes
Naanum unakkaagaththaanaeAm I not meant only for you?
Kannaana kanmaniyaePrecious darling of my eyes
Naanum unakkaagaththaanaeAm I not meant only for you?
Ponnaana poonguyilae neeyum enakkagaththaanaeGolden cuckoo, aren't you meant only for me?
Male
Ondraaga mudiyaathoCan't we unite as one?
En vaazhkkai unnaalae vidiyaathoWon't my life dawn because of you?
Unnaasai edhirkaalam santhoshamYour desires, future, and happiness
Poovaaga malaraathoWon't they blossom like a flower?
Male
Thanneeril aadum oodangal polaeLike boats tossing in the water
Dhindaadum naaningaeI am struggling here
Manam kondaadum naalaengaeWhere is the day my heart celebrates?
Engae en jeevan nee angaeWhere is my life? You are over there
Female
Kannaana kanmaniyaePrecious darling of my eyes
Naanum unakkaagaththaanaeAm I not meant only for you?
Ponnaana poonguyilae neeyum enakkagaththaanaeGolden cuckoo, aren't you meant only for me?
Male
Karppooram ondru karam meethu nindruA piece of camphor placed upon the hand
Karaiyaamal KaraigiratheFades away without truly dissolving
Idhai ariyaatha ondru vazhi maari sendruUnaware of this, one strays off the path
Alai mothi thavigiratheAnd suffers, tossed about like crashing waves
Manam analaaga kothikkirathaeThe heart boils hot like fire
Female
Paainthodum vellaam theeyaagi ponaalIf the rushing flood turns into fire
Vayal vaazha vazhiyillaiyaeThere is no way for the fields to survive
Antha sumaithaangi kallae sumaiyaagi ponaalIf the stone that supports heavy loads becomes a load itself
Adhu thaanga idamillaiyaeThere is no place to bear that weight
Idhai ariyaathu en pillaiyaeMy child does not understand this truth
Male
Vennilavum veezhmaa sooriyanum theyumaaWill the white moon fall? Will the sun ever diminish?
Vanga kadal kaayumaa intha manam maarumaaWill the Bay of Bengal dry up? Will this heart ever change?
Female :Thanneeril aadum odangal polaeFemale: Like boats tossing in the water
Thindaadum naaningaeI am struggling here
Manam kondaadum naalengaeWhere is the day my heart celebrates?
Engae en jeevan nee angaeWhere is my life? You are over there
Male
Kannaana kanmaniyaePrecious darling of my eyes
Naanum unakkaagaththaanaeAm I not meant only for you?
Ponnaana poonguyilae neeyum enakkagaththaanaeGolden cuckoo, aren't you meant only for me?
Male
Thelivaana unmai oru naalilThe clear truth on one fine day
Ingae veliyaagum neram varumThe time will come for it to be revealed here
Adhu therigindra pothum en vaasal thediWhen that becomes known, seeking my doorstep
Un paatham nadanthu varum andruYour feet will walk to me, and on that day
Un sogam marainthu vidumYour sorrow will completely vanish
Female
Illaatha oorukku pogaatha paathaiOn a non-existent path to a non-existent town
Payanangal povathennaWhy go on such a journey?
En ennangal yaavum thavaraagi ponaalIf all my thoughts turn out to be wrong
Naan saera thayakkamennaWhy should I hesitate to unite with you?
Unnai naan saera thayakkamennaWhy should I hesitate to unite with you?
Male
Saththiyathin vaazhvilaeIn a life built on truth
Thozhvi endrum illaiyaeThere is never any defeat
Vettri mela vettriyaeVictory upon victory
Thedi varum naalaiyaeTomorrow will come seeking you
Female
Thanneeril aadum odangal polaeLike boats tossing in the water
Thindaadum naaningaeI am struggling here
Manam kondaadum naalengaeWhere is the day my heart celebrates?
Engae en jeevan nee angaeWhere is my life? You are over there
Male
Kannaana kanmaniyaePrecious darling of my eyes
Naanum unakkaagaththaanaeAm I not meant only for you?
Ponnaana poonguyilae neeyum enakkagaththaanaeGolden cuckoo, aren't you meant only for me?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This emotional duet expresses deep longing, love, and the pain of separation between two lovers. The male and female protagonists express how their lives feel incomplete without one another, comparing their emotional state to boats struggling against turbulent waters. The lyrics emphasize that true love and truth will ultimately prevail, encouraging hope that misapprehensions will clear and happiness will return.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thanneeril aadum oodangal polae

Compares the restless, struggling state of the mind to boats swaying helplessly in deep water.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Antha sumaithaangi kallae sumaiyaagi ponaal

Refers to a loved one metaphorically as a rest-stone ('sumaithaangi kal') that normally eases burdens, but has now become a burden itself.

Rhetorical Question & Hyperbole

Vennilavum veezhmaa sooriyanum theyumaa

Uses impossible natural phenomena (moon falling, sun diminishing, ocean drying) to rhetorically emphasize that the heart's love will never change.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Karppooram ondru karam meethu nindru / Karaiyaamal Karaigirathe

Repetition of initial consonantal sounds ('Karppooram' / 'Karaiyaamal') enhancing the rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song feature vocals by legendary playback singers K. J. Yesudas and K. S. Chithra, set to music composed by Vijay Anand with lyrics written by the renowned poet Muthulingam for the 1989 movie Vetri Mel Vetri.

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