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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannane Mannane

From Thambathyam · 1987

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vijayaramani, Vani Jairam
Music director
Manoj – Gyan
Details
Thambathyam1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Vaa kannaa vaa vaazhkkai neeyallavaaCome Krishna, come, are you not my life itself?
Pantham pogumaa paasamalar vaadumaaWill our bond break? Will the flower of affection wither?
Neeyirunthaal idhu vasanthamaaligaiIf you are here, this home is a Vasantha Maaligai (palace of spring).
Male :Neeyillaiyael idhu viyatnaam veeduMale: If you are not here, this becomes a Vietnam Veedu (house of turmoil).
Female :Ingu unakkuththaan mudhal mariyaathaiFemale: Here, the primary honor is reserved only for you.
Female
Kannanae mannanae en maharajaMy Krishna, my king, my emperor!
Kanmalar vaadinaal un ila rojaIf your tender rose's eye-blossoms wither, her heart aches.
Devanin kovilthaan thiranthida koodumoWill the temple of the Lord open now?
Thirumugam malarnthida tharisanam kidaikkumoWill your divine face blossom and grant us a vision?
Female
Kannanae mannanae en maharajaMy Krishna, my king, my emperor!
Kanmalar vaadinaal un ila rojaIf your tender rose's eye-blossoms wither, her heart aches.
Female
Kuzhanthai pola oru paal manam poo manamA innocent, pure, flower-like heart just like a child's,
Vaaiththavan nee ingu thaanaeYou are the one blessed with it here, aren't you?
Unai naanae arivaenaeI am the one who truly understands you.
Kuzhanthai pola oru paal manam poo manamA innocent, pure, flower-like heart just like a child's,
Vaaiththavan nee ingu thaanaeYou are the one blessed with it here, aren't you?
Unai naanae arivaenaeI am the one who truly understands you.
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa….Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Chorus
Daddyai theduthu pillaigalaeThe children are searching for their daddy,
Thendralai theduthu mullaigalaeThe jasmine blossoms are searching for the gentle breeze.
Female :Paduthiya paadugal pothumen deva nee vaa ingu vaaFemale: Enough of the suffering endured, my lord, come here, please come.
Female
Kannanae mannanae en magarajaMy Krishna, my king, my emperor!
Kannmalar vaadinaal un ila rojaIf your tender rose's eye-blossoms wither, her heart aches.
Female
Kadhavai moodi oru naadagamaadidumPlaying a drama behind closed doors,
Maayangal jaalangal mothumIllusionary tricks and magic collide,
Ilamaathum alai mothumAnd this young woman's feelings surge like waves.
Male :Vayathu yaerivitta mamanai maappillaiMale: For an aging uncle turned bridegroom,
Maanaththai vaanguthal paavamStripping away dignity is a sin!
Enna kobam manasthaabamWhy this anger and discontent?
Female :Aa….aa…aa….aaa….aah….aa…Female: Ah... ah... ah... ah... ah...
Chorus
Vaarungal vaarungal ooo daddyCome, please come, oh daddy!
Paadurom aadurom poraadiWe sing, dance, and strive together.
Female :Kuzhanthaigal aasaiyil kooppidumpothuFemale: When the children call out in deep longing,
Vaa mannavaaCome, my ruler!
Female
Kannanae mannanae en maharajaMy Krishna, my king, my emperor!
Kanmalar vaadinaal un ila rojaIf your tender rose's eye-blossoms wither, her heart aches.
Devanin kovilthaan thiranthida koodumoWill the temple of the Lord open now?
Thirumugam malarnthida tharisanam kidaikkumoWill your divine face blossom and grant us a vision?
Female
Kannanae mannanae en maharajaMy Krishna, my king, my emperor!
Kanmalar vaadinaal un ila rojaIf your tender rose's eye-blossoms wither, her heart aches.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Thambathyam is a soulful yet playful domestic plea where a wife and children lovingly persuade the patriarch to abandon his grievances and return to the warmth of the family. The song uses endearing titles and emotional appeals to express that without his presence, the house loses its joy, while his arrival turns it into a blissful home.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Cinematic Allusion (Silaedai / Intertextuality)

Neeyirunthaal idhu vasanthamaaligai / Male :Neeyillaiyael idhu viyatnaam veedu

Lyricist Vaali ingeniously weaves iconic Tamil film titles like 'Pasamalar', 'Vasantha Maaligai', 'Vietnam Veedu', and 'Mudhal Mariyathai' into the verse to heighten domestic emotional drama.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kanmalar vaadinaal un ila roja

Comparing the eyes to tender blooming flowers ('Kanmalar') and the wife/beloved to a young rose ('ila roja').

Simile (Uvamai)

Kuzhanthai pola oru paal manam poo manam

Comparing the husband's pure, gentle disposition to the innocent heart of a child ('Kuzhanthai pola').

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhugai and Monai)

Kannanae mannanae en maharaja

Rhythmic pairing of 'Kannanae' and 'mannanae' providing internal rhyme and melodic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics by Vaali are famous for seamlessly embedding the names of major Tamil blockbuster films—such as Pasamalar, Vasantha Maaligai, Vietnam Veedu, and Mudhal Mariyathai—directly into the narrative context of a family dispute and reconciliation.

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