Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Subrabatham album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannanai Ninaithaal

From Subrabatham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Vani Jairam, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Subrabatham
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
3 May 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannanai ninaiththaal sonnathu palikkum
Kaalangal thorum ninaiththathu nadakkum
Kaalangal thorum ninaiththathu nadakkum
Kannaa gobala
Radha krishnaa sri deva
Kannaa gobala
Radha krishnaa sri deva
Ponmani vannan sonnathu geedhai
Poomagan maarbinil thavazhnthaval radhai
Poomagan maarbinil thavazhnthaval radhai
Nallavar selvathu avanathu paathai
Naadiya manithan ulagaththil medhai
Kannanai ninaiththaal sonnathu pallikkum
Kaalangal thorum ninaiththathu nadakkum
Kaalangal thorum ninaiththathu nadakkum
Aattrinil pengal selaiyai eduththaan
Adhaiyae draupathi kettathum koduththaan
Kaattrilum isaiyilum kannanin kuralae
Paattinil varuvathu pullaanguzhalae
Kannaa gobala
Radha krishnaa sri deva
Male :Kannaa gobala
Radha krishnaa sri deva
Gopiyar naduvae kannanin naadham
Guruvaayooril kuzhanthaiyin geedham
Guruvaayooril kuzhanthaiyin geedham
Devargal sabhaiyil sri krishna vedham
Thirumalai thanilae thava subrabatham
Both :Thava subrabatham thava subrabatham
If you think of Krishna, what you say will come true
Through all ages, whatever you wish for will happen
Through all ages, whatever you wish for will happen
O Kanna, O Gopala!
Radha Krishna, divine Lord!
O Kanna, O Gopala!
Radha Krishna, divine Lord!
The golden-hued Lord gave us the Bhagavad Gita
Radha is the one who rested upon His chest
Radha is the one who rested upon His chest
The good and noble walk along His path
The person who seeks Him is truly wise in this world
If you think of Krishna, what you say will come true
Through all ages, whatever you wish for will happen
Through all ages, whatever you wish for will happen
He playfully took the women's clothes by the river
Yet He gave endless robes the moment Draupadi prayed for help
In the breeze and in music, it is Krishna's voice alone
And what flows through every song is His flute
O Kanna, O Gopala!
Radha Krishna, divine Lord!
O Kanna, O Gopala!
Radha Krishna, divine Lord!
Among the cowherd girls, it is Krishna's divine melody
In Guruvayur, it is the song of the divine child
In Guruvayur, it is the song of the divine child
In the assembly of the gods, it is the sacred wisdom of Sri Krishna
On the sacred hill of Tirumala, it is the holy morning prayer
The holy morning prayer, the holy morning prayer!
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soul-stirring devotional song from the film Subrabatham praises Lord Krishna, emphasizing that meditating upon Him brings fulfillment, wisdom, and divine blessing. Kannadasan weaves together various aspects of Krishna's avatar—His role as the teacher of the Bhagavad Gita, His sweet bond with Radha, His divine omnipresence as pure music, and His presence across holy shrines like Guruvayur and Tirupati.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaaphora / Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Kannanai ninaiththaal sonnathu palikkum / Kaalangal thorum ninaiththathu nadakkum

Repetition of initial letters/sounds like 'Kannai' and 'Kaalangal' creating a rhythmic, melodic structure.

Paradox / Contrast (Muran)

Aattrinil pengal selaiyai eduththaan / Adhaiyae draupathi kettathum koduththaan

Kannadasan contrasts Krishna's playful act of taking away the Gopis' clothes in the river with His compassionate act of instantly bestowing infinite clothes to protect Draupadi's honor.

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Kaattrilum isaiyilum kannanin kuralae / Paattinil varuvathu pullaanguzhalae

Describing the divine voice of Krishna as identical to the wind, music, and the sacred bamboo flute itself.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyricist Kannadasan, this devotional melody masterfully connects Krishna's famous mythological episodes (Gopika Vastraharanam, Draupadi Vastraharan, Bhagavad Gita) with famous Krishna pilgrimage spots like Guruvayur and Tirumalai in a single compact composition.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Subrabatham

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.