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Seervarisai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannanai Ninaikkatha

From Seervarisai · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
P. Susheela, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Seervarisai
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
12 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannanai ninaikkaatha naalillaiyae
Kadhalil thudikkaatha naalillaiyae
Unnimpothum urangumpothum
Ennam muzhuthum kannanthaanae
Kannanai ninaikkaatha naalillaiyae
Kadhalil thudikkaatha naalillaiyae
Unnimpothum urangumpothum
Ennam muzhuthum kannanthaanae
Kannaa…..aa…..kannaa….aa….
Male :Kannanthaanae kannanthaanae
Radhavin jaadai rojavin vaadai
Annaththin pedai naan aadum medai
Radhavin jaadai rojavin vaadai
Annaththin pedai naan aadum medai
Senthoora regai minnaamal minnum
Singaara thogai nee enthan kannu
Kannan manivannan thiruvaaimozhi
Unnaal manamengum yamuna nadhi
Male :Kannan manivannan thiruvaaimozhi
Unnaal manamengum yamuna nadhi
Female :Kannaa…..unnai marappenaa
Naan unnai marappenaa
Kannanai ninaikkaatha naalillaiyae
Male :Kadhalil thudikkaatha naalillaiyae
Female :Unnimpothum
Male :Urangumpothum
Female :Ennam muzhuthum kannanthaanae
Venneela kangal ullaaga nindru
Ennodu pesum ullaasam kandu
Venneela kangal ullaaga nindru
Ennodu pesum ullaasam kandu
Naalaaga aaga thaalaathu kannaa
Nee illai endraal naan enna pennaa
Ganga nadhi vanthaal varum margazhi
Un kai adhil en kai adhuthaan vazhi
Female :Ganga nadhi vanthaal varum margazhi
Un kai adhil en kai adhuthaan vazhi
Male :Kanae unnai marappaeno
Naan unnai marappaeno
Jeya kannaa mugunthaa muraarae
Jeya kannaa mugunthaa muraarae
Jeya kannaa mugunthaa muraarae
Jeya kannaa mugunthaa muraarae
There is never a day I do not think of Kannan,
There is never a day my heart does not beat with love.
When I eat and when I sleep,
My every thought is only of Kannan.
There is never a day I do not think of Kannan,
There is never a day my heart does not beat with love.
When I eat and when I sleep,
My every thought is only of Kannan.
Kanna... ah... Kanna... ah...
Male: It is only Kannan, only Kannan!
With the grace of Radha and the fragrance of a rose,
Like a graceful swan, you are the stage where I dance.
With the grace of Radha and the fragrance of a rose,
Like a graceful swan, you are the stage where I dance.
The red mark on your forehead glows without a flash,
My beautiful darling, you are the apple of my eye!
The sweet words spoken by the gem-hued Kannan,
Because of you, my heart flows like the Yamuna river.
Male: The sweet words spoken by the gem-hued Kannan,
Because of you, my heart flows like the Yamuna river.
Female: Kanna... could I ever forget you?
Could I ever forget you?
There is never a day I do not think of Kannan,
Male: There is never a day my heart does not beat with love.
Female: When I eat,
Male: When I sleep,
Female: My every thought is only of Kannan.
Standing deep within your bright eyes,
You speak to me with joyful delight.
Standing deep within your bright eyes,
You speak to me with joyful delight.
As the days go by, sing me a lullaby, Kanna,
Without you, am I even a woman?
When the holy Ganga flows, the cool month of Margazhi arrives,
Placing your hand in mine, that is the way.
Female: When the holy Ganga flows, the cool month of Margazhi arrives,
Placing your hand in mine, that is the way.
Male: My darling, could I ever forget you?
Could I ever forget you?
Victory to Kanna, Mukunda, Murari!
Victory to Kanna, Mukunda, Murari!
Victory to Kanna, Mukunda, Murari!
Victory to Kanna, Mukunda, Murari!
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Chorus

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Kannanai Ninaikkaatha Naalillaiyae' is a classic duet from the 1978 movie Seervarisai, composed by M. S. Viswanathan and written by Kannadasan. The song blends romantic intimacy with spiritual devotion by drawing parallels between human love and the eternal, divine romance of Radha and Krishna. Both lovers express their constant devotion, noting that every moment—whether awake, eating, or sleeping—is consumed by thoughts of each other. Through imagery of holy rivers, peacock feathers, and sacred months, the lyricist frames their devotion as sacred and unending, closing with traditional chants exalting Krishna.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyming)

“Radhavin jaadai rojavin vaadai / Annaththin pedai naan aadum medai”

The second letter 'd' aligns in 'Radhavin' and 'Annaththin', creating a melodious rhythm across consecutive lines.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Radhavin jaadai rojavin vaadai / Annaththin pedai naan aadum medai”

The line ends with matching rhyming sounds 'jaadai' and 'vaadai', as well as 'pedai' and 'medai'.

Uvamaani (Metaphor)

“Unnaal manamengum yamuna nadhi”

The mind flooded with love is directly equated to the sacred Yamuna river.

Moonaai (Initial Alliteration)

“Senthoora regai minnaamal minnum / Singaara thogai nee enthan kannu”

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'S' in 'Senthoora' and 'Singaara'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan frequently utilized Krishna-oriented devotional motifs as metaphors for romantic affection in Tamil cinema. This song seamlessly blends classical devotion with romantic playback music, sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and P. Susheela under the music direction of M. S. Viswanathan.

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