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Neethaana Andha Kuyil album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannana Kanna Unnai Male

From Neethaana Andha Kuyil · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Neethaana Andha Kuyil
Movie release year
1986
Lyrics added on
15 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannaana kanna unna
Enna solli thaalaatta
Paarvathi yaarumillae
Paasam vanthu paalootta
Unnai vittu poga matten naanae
Solladha sondham ingae nee thaanae
Kannaana kanna unna
Enna solli thaalaatta
Paarvathi yaarumillae
Paasam vanthu paalootta
Kalyanam aagavillai
Appaninnu sonnaayaa
Appanukku ponnu paarkka
Appan kooda vanthaaya
Kalyanam aagavillai
Appaninnu sonnaayaa
Appanukku ponnu paarkka
Appan kooda vanthaaya
Koban oru kannukullae
Paasam oru kannukullae
Sambandham illaiyinna
Sathisanam nambavillai
Koodiya kootathirukku
Komaliyaai aanenaa
Poonaiyai koottikittu
Ponnu paarkka ponenaa
Kannaana kanna unna
Enna solli thaalaatta
Paarvathi yaarumillae
Paasam vanthu paalootta
Unnai vittu poga matten naanae
Solladha sondham ingae nee thaanae
Chaera chozha pandiyanai
Thondi paarthu sonnenae
Unnai petha appan aatha
Kaana villai senthaenae
Chaera chozha pandiyanai
Thondi paarthu sonnenae
Unnai petha appan aatha
Kaana villai senthaenae
Thangam unnai thatheduthen
Tharaiyilae mutheduthen
Paavi unnai kaanoominnu
Paasathilae thathalichen
Moodi vacha kannukkullae
Muthu muthaa kaneeru
Naanirukka sogam enna
Nandu paiya nallaaru
Anbaana appa unnai enna solli paaratta
Paarvathi thevai illai paiyanukku paalootta
Anaadhai pola vandhen naanae
Appavum ammavum thaan neethaanae
Anbaana appa unnai enna solli paaratta
Paarvathi thevai illai paiyanukku paalootta
My precious child, apple of my eye,
what words shall I sing to lull you to sleep?
There is no mother like Parvati here
to come and feed you milk with love.
I will never leave you and go away,
for you are my unspoken family here.
My precious child, apple of my eye,
what words shall I sing to lull you to sleep?
There is no mother like Parvati here
to come and feed you milk with love.
I am not even married yet,
did you still call me your father?
To look for a bride for this father,
did you come along with your father?
I am not even married yet,
did you still call me your father?
To look for a bride for this father,
did you come along with your father?
With anger in one eye
and affection in the other,
when I said we are not related,
our kinsfolk refused to believe it.
Before the gathered crowd,
did I end up becoming a clown?
Taking a cat along with me,
did I go to view a bride?
My precious child, apple of my eye,
what words shall I sing to lull you to sleep?
There is no mother like Parvati here
to come and feed you milk with love.
I will never leave you and go away,
for you are my unspoken family here.
Across the realms of Chera, Chola, and Pandya,
I searched and dug everywhere,
yet the parents who gave birth to you
could not be found, my sweet honey.
Across the realms of Chera, Chola, and Pandya,
I searched and dug everywhere,
yet the parents who gave birth to you
could not be found, my sweet honey.
My golden one, I took you in,
as if picking up a pearl from the dust.
Thinking I had lost you, my little rascal,
I panicked in distress out of sheer love.
Behind your closed eyes,
tears roll down like pearls.
Why sorrow when I am right here?
Live well and flourish, my little boy!
My loving father, with what words shall I praise you?
This boy needs no mother Parvati to feed him.
I came to you like an orphan,
yet you became both father and mother to me.
My loving father, with what words shall I praise you?
This boy needs no mother Parvati to feed him.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This touching song from 'Neethaana Andha Kuyil' depicts the deep emotional bond between an unmarried man and a young orphan child he has taken under his wing. The guardian lovingly expresses his affection while reflecting on the humorous yet sweet awkwardness of being called 'father' when he is still single and searching for a bride. He describes his futile search for the child's birth parents and how he eventually adopted the child like finding a precious pearl in the dirt. In the final stanza, the child responds with heartfelt gratitude, declaring that he no longer considers himself an orphan because his guardian fills the role of both father and mother. The track highlights themes of unconditional love, non-biological parenthood, and the emotional solace found in unexpected human relationships.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannaana kanna unna / Enna solli thaalaatta

Matching second consonant 'n' sound across adjacent lines ('Kannaana' / 'Enna').

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Thangam unnai thatheduthen / Tharaiyilae mutheduthen

Comparing the child to a pearl found on the floor/ground ('Tharaiyilae mutheduthen').

Simile (Uvamai)

Moodi vacha kannukkullae / Muthu muthaa kaneeru

Comparing teardrops to precious pearls falling from closed eyes ('Muthu muthaa kaneeru').

Alliteration / Monai (First-letter Harmony)

Poonaiyai koottikittu / Ponnu paarkka ponenaa

Repetition of the initial 'P' sound ('Poonaiyai' / 'Ponnu' / 'Paarkka' / 'Ponenaa').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. 'Neethaana Andha Kuyil' (1986) is a Tamil drama directed by R. Sundarrajan starring Raja and Sulakshana, known for its soulful soundtrack reflecting deep interpersonal bonds.

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