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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannana Kanna Unnai Female

From Neethaana Andha Kuyil · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Neethaana Andha Kuyil1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannaana kanna unnaOh my beloved child, dear as my eyes,
Enna solli thaalaattaHow shall I sing you a lullaby?
Kanneeru vechirukkenI have saved only my tears,
Kannae unna neeraattaMy darling, to bathe you with.
Ammannu sonnaal enna thaenaeWhat if you call me mother, sweet child?
Ippodhu appa ingu naan thaanaeRight now, I am the father here as well.
Female
Kannaana kanna unnaOh my beloved child, dear as my eyes,
Enna solli thaalaattaHow shall I sing you a lullaby?
Kanneeru vechirukkenI have saved only my tears,
Kannae unna neeraattaMy darling, to bathe you with.
Female
Ellamae sondham thaaneEveryone here is family,
Yaarukaaga vaadhadaFor whom should I argue and fight?
Vittu pona kandhalukuFor the rag that has torn apart,
Endha thaiyal naan podaWhich stitch can I possibly put?
Female
Ellamae sondham thaaneEveryone here is family,
Yaarukaaga vaadhadaFor whom should I argue and fight?
Vittu pona kandhalukuFor the rag that has torn apart,
Endha thaiyal naan podaWhich stitch can I possibly put?
Female
Vittu thandhu vaadhadavaaShould I step back and concede?
Sothukaaga poradavaaShould I fight for property?
Thaali illa ponnu kattaTo bind a woman who has no sacred thread,
Thaali picha nana ketkavaShould I beg for the alms of a Mangalsutra?
Angaala ammanukku ponga vechu theeradhuEven offering ritual rice to goddess Angaala Amman will not ease this grief;
Mangaatha kaneerukku maada kulam thaangaathuNo temple pond can hold this unceasing stream of tears.
Female
Kannaana kanna unnaOh my beloved child, dear as my eyes,
Enna solli thaalaattaHow shall I sing you a lullaby?
Kanneeru vechirukkenI have saved only my tears,
Kannae unna neeraattaMy darling, to bathe you with.
Ammannu sonnaal enna thaenaeWhat if you call me mother, sweet child?
Ippodhu appa ingu naan thaanaeRight now, I am the father here as well.
Female
Aathadi indha sondhamOh goodness, this relationship,
Vandhadhellam yaaralaWhom did all this trouble come because of?
Paavi maga nenjukullaeInside this sinful woman's heart,
Paal surakkum unnaalaMilk flows only because of you.
Female
Aathadi indha sondhamOh goodness, this relationship,
Vandhadhellam yaaralaWhom did all this trouble come because of?
Paavi maga nenjukullaeInside this sinful woman's heart,
Paal surakkum unnaalaMilk flows only because of you.
Female
Thaedi vantha paadhagathiThe sinner woman who came seeking,
Kaiyil enna pattakathiWhat broadsword does she hold in her hand?
Nyaaya padi paakka ponaIf judged according to justice,
Naanum inga yaaru katchiWhose side am I really on here?
En kadha solla pona raamayanam podhadhuIf I begin to narrate my tale, even the Ramayana would not suffice;
Kannagi seethaikkellam indha gadhi neraadhuEven legendary heroines like Kannagi and Sita never suffered such a fate.
Female
Kannaana kanna unnaOh my beloved child, dear as my eyes,
Enna solli thaalaattaHow shall I sing you a lullaby?
Kanneeru vechirukkenI have saved only my tears,
Kannae unna neeraattaMy darling, to bathe you with.
Ammannu sonnaal enna thaenaeWhat if you call me mother, sweet child?
Ippodhu appa ingu naan thaanaeRight now, I am the father here as well.
Female
Kannaana kanna unnaOh my beloved child, dear as my eyes,
Enna solli thaalaattaHow shall I sing you a lullaby?
Kanneeru vechirukkenI have saved only my tears,
Kannae unna neeraattaMy darling, to bathe you with.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant lullaby from the 1986 movie 'Neethaana Andha Kuyil' captures a mother's profound sorrow and unwavering love while comforting her child. Caught in a web of betrayal, social injustice, and fractured family bonds, she laments that she has no earthly comforts or answers to give her infant—only her tears to bathe the child with. Forced by circumstances, she steps up to fulfill the responsibilities of both mother and father.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Kanneeru vechirukken / Kannae unna neeraatta

Tears are metaphorically presented as water meant for bathing the child, emphasizing total grief and lack of physical resources.

Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)

Vittu pona kandhaluku / Endha thaiyal naan poda

The speaker asks an open question about how to mend broken relationships, comparing them to a torn, ruined cloth that cannot be stitched back.

Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

Kannagi seethaikkellam indha gadhi neraadhu

Direct reference to epic tragic heroines Kannagi and Sita, highlighting that the speaker's suffering surpasses even famous mythological heartbreaks.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

En kadha solla pona raamayanam podhadhu

Exaggerating the depth of her sorrow by stating her story is longer than the epic Ramayana.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Neethaana Andha Kuyil' features classic compositions by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with emotionally resonant lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song highlights the signature 1980s Tamil film narrative device of tragic lullabies (Thaalaattu), where maternal warmth is contrasted against heavy melodrama and social hardship.

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