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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannane Kannane Un Radhai

From Dharmam · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Usha Khanna
Details
Dharmam1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa…aa….aa….Aaa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa….aa…aa….aa….Aaa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...aa...
Female
Kannaa kannaa kannaa kannaaKrishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna
Kannaa kannaa kannaa kannaa…..Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna...
Kannaa kannaa kannaa kannaa…..Krishna, Krishna, Krishna, Krishna...
Female
Kannanae kannaneOh Krishna, my beloved Krishna
Un radhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Radha?
Kaalaiyum maalaiyumMorning and evening
Un geedhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Bhagavad Gita?
Ilamaiyin azhagiya raagamA beautiful melody of youth
Inainthathu adharkoru thaalamA rhythm has joined along with it
Female
Aadalum paadalum seraathoWon't the dance and song come together?
Aanantha keerththanam aagaathoWon't it become a blissful hymn?
Thaagamum mogamum theeraathoWon't the thirst and passion be quenched?
Neramum kaalamum vaaraathoWon't the right time and moment arrive?
Female
Kannanae kannaneOh Krishna, my beloved Krishna
Un radhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Radha?
Kaalaiyum maalaiyumMorning and evening
Un geedhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Bhagavad Gita?
Female
Naanthaan ennodu nenjam unnoduI am with myself, but my heart is with you
Vaazhum naalellaam varuven pinnoduAll the days I live, I will follow behind you
Neeyindri paai pottu thoongaathu penmaiWithout you, womanhood cannot rest or sleep
Poongaattrum analaachchu poiyalla unmaiEven the cool gentle breeze has turned into fire, it's not a lie, it's the truth
Female
Nee varum varaikkum aayidum mayakkamUntil you arrive, a deep trance overcomes me
Adhuthaan vaalipa yaekkamThat is the true longing of youth
Female
Kannanae kannaneOh Krishna, my beloved Krishna
Un radhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Radha?
Kaalaiyum maalaiyumMorning and evening
Un geedhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Bhagavad Gita?
Female
Kaalgal kondaadum salangai oosaigalsensitivity and sound of the anklets celebrated by the feet
Kadhil sollaatho manathin aasaigalWon't they whisper the desires of the heart into your ears?
Melaadai kaaththaada maanondru thullaAs my upper garment flutters in the breeze, a deer-like maiden leaps
Vaaraayo neeyingu kaiyodu allaWon't you come here to embrace me in your arms?
Abhinayam kaattum azhagiya thottramA beautiful form showing graceful expressions
Vizhiyaal kaaviyam theettumPainting a poetic epic through the eyes
Female
Kannanae kannaneOh Krishna, my beloved Krishna
Un radhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Radha?
Kaalaiyum maalaiyumMorning and evening
Un geedhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Bhagavad Gita?
Ilamaiyin azhagiya raagamA beautiful melody of youth
Inainthathu adharkoru thaalamA rhythm has joined along with it
Female
Aadalum paadalum seraathoWon't the dance and song come together?
Aanantha keerththanam aagaathoWon't it become a blissful hymn?
Thaagamum mogamum theeraathoWon't the thirst and passion be quenched?
Neramum kaalamum vaaraathoWon't the right time and moment arrive?
Female
Kannanae kannaneOh Krishna, my beloved Krishna
Un radhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Radha?
Kaalaiyum maalaiyumMorning and evening
Un geedhai naanthaanaeAm I not your Bhagavad Gita?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This evocative romantic song expresses a heroine's intense devotion and romantic longing for her beloved, addressing him as Lord Krishna ('Kannaan'). She equates herself to Radha and compares her eternal devotion to the sacred Bhagavad Gita, portraying love as both spiritual worship and youthful passion. She expresses how her heart belongs entirely to him, how sleepless her nights are in his absence, and how even a gentle breeze feels burning hot without his presence. Through dance, music, and expressive beauty, she calls out to her lover to join her in fulfilling their divine and romantic union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Un radhai naanthaanae / Un geedhai naanthaanae

The song metaphorically equates the heroine to Radha and her devotion to Krishna's Gita ('Un radhai naanthaanae', 'Un geedhai naanthaanae').

Emonai (Initial Rhyme)

Ilamaiyin azhagiya raagam / Inainthathu adharkoru thaalam

Repetition of initial consonant/vowel sounds in consecutive lines ('Ilamaiyin' and 'Inainthathu').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Aadalum paadalum seraatho / Aanantha keerththanam aagaatho

Use of rhyming line endings across multiple lines ('seraatho', 'aagaatho', 'theeraatho', 'vaaraatho').

Oxymoron / Hyperbole

Poongaattrum analaachchu poiyalla unmai

Describing the cool gentle wind as burning fire to highlight the painful warmth of separation ('Poongaattrum analaachchu').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Dharmam' (1986) is an action drama film starring Sathyaraj and Saritha, directed by R. Sundarrajan. The lyrics penned by legendary poet Vaali draw heavily upon mythological motifs of Krishna and Radha to convey romantic longing through classical dance and music themes.

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