Kannanukku Thottil
From Kamatchiyin Karunai · 1978
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, P. Susheela
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Kamatchiyin Karunai1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannanukku thottil kattum | Tying a cradle for Little Krishna |
| Kann irandil jeevanadhi | A river of life flows in both eyes |
| Mannan mugam malar thottam | The king's face is a flower garden |
| Manadhukullae thaerottam | A chariot procession moves within the heart |
| Female | |
| Unmai nenjin vilaiyattai | The playful feelings of a truthful heart |
| Oomai nenjam thaan ariyum | Only a silent heart can truly know |
| Rathapaasam alai veesi | The waves of blood affection surge high |
| Thottu thottu vilaiyaadum | Touching gently again and again as they play |
| Male | |
| Neeyum naanum thuruvam pol | Like opposite poles, you and I |
| Aana kadhai yaar arivaar | Who knows the story of how we became so? |
| Neeyum naanum thuruvam pol | Like opposite poles, you and I |
| Aana kadhai yaar arivaar | Who knows the story of how we became so? |
| Thaai maaman paadugiraan | The maternal uncle sings a lullaby |
| Ivano thaai mugathai thedugiraan | Yet he searches for his mother's face |
| Thaai maaman paadugiraan | The maternal uncle sings a lullaby |
| Ivano thaai mugathai thedugiraan | Yet he searches for his mother's face |
| Female | |
| Kannanukku thottil kattum | Tying a cradle for Little Krishna |
| Kann irandil jeevanadhi | A river of life flows in both eyes |
| Mannan mugam malar thottam | The king's face is a flower garden |
| Manadhukullae thaerottam | A chariot procession moves within the heart |
| Male | |
| Vaazhaiyadi vaazhaiyena vandha | Flowing continuously like banana plant shoots |
| Ilam pirai nilavae | O crescent moon! |
| Gokulathin poo mugamae | O flower face of Gokulam! |
| Konji varum kula kodiyae | O tender vine of our lineage that comes fondling! |
| Female | |
| Annan thangai uravinge | Here is the bond between brother and sister |
| Annai thandha uyir ingae | Here is the life given by the mother |
| Annan thangai uravinge | Here is the bond between brother and sister |
| Annai thandha uyir ingae | Here is the life given by the mother |
| Kannum kannum piriyaamal | Without two eyes ever separating |
| Engal kannan vandhu pirandhaanoo | Did our little Krishna come and take birth? |
| Kannum kannum piriyaamal | Without two eyes ever separating |
| Engal kannan vandhu pirandhaanoo | Did our little Krishna come and take birth? |
| Male | |
| Kannanukku thottil kattum | Tying a cradle for Little Krishna |
| Kann irandil jeevanadhi | A river of life flows in both eyes |
| Mannan mugam malar thottam | The king's face is a flower garden |
| Manadhukullae thaerottam | A chariot procession moves within the heart |
| Female | |
| Kannanukku thottil kattum | Tying a cradle for Little Krishna |
| Kann irandil jeevanadhi | A river of life flows in both eyes |
| Mannan mugam malar thottam | The king's face is a flower garden |
| Manadhukullae thaerottam | A chariot procession moves within the heart |
கண்ணனுக்கு தொட்டில் கட்டும்
கண்ணிரெண்டில் ஜீவநதி
மன்னன் முகம் மலர்த்தோட்டம்
மனதுக்குள்ளே தேரோட்டம்
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
A river of life flows in both eyes
The king's face is a flower garden
A chariot procession moves within the heart
உண்மை நெஞ்சின் விளையாட்டை
ஊமை நெஞ்சம் தான் அறியும்
ரத்தபாசம் அலை வீசி
தொட்டு தொட்டு விளையாடும்
The playful feelings of a truthful heart
Only a silent heart can truly know
The waves of blood affection surge high
Touching gently again and again as they play
நீயும் நானும் துருவம் போல்
ஆனக் கதை யார் அறிவார்
நீயும் நானும் துருவம் போல்
ஆனக் கதை யார் அறிவார்
தாய் மாமன் பாடுகிறான்
இவனோ தாய் முகத்தை தேடுகிறான்
தாய் மாமன் பாடுகிறான்
இவனோ தாய் முகத்தை தேடுகிறான்
Like opposite poles, you and I
Who knows the story of how we became so?
Like opposite poles, you and I
Who knows the story of how we became so?
The maternal uncle sings a lullaby
Yet he searches for his mother's face
The maternal uncle sings a lullaby
Yet he searches for his mother's face
கண்ணனுக்கு தொட்டில் கட்டும்
கண்ணிரெண்டில் ஜீவநதி
மன்னன் முகம் மலர்த்தோட்டம்
மனதுக்குள்ளே தேரோட்டம்
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
A river of life flows in both eyes
The king's face is a flower garden
A chariot procession moves within the heart
வாழையடி வாழையென வந்த
இளம் பிறை நிலவே
கோகுலத்தின் பூ முகமே
கொஞ்சி வரும் குலக் கொடியே
Flowing continuously like banana plant shoots
O crescent moon!
O flower face of Gokulam!
O tender vine of our lineage that comes fondling!
அண்ணன் தங்கை உறவிங்கே
அன்னை தந்த உயிர் இங்கே
அண்ணன் தங்கை உறவிங்கே
அன்னை தந்த உயிர் இங்கே
கண்ணும் கண்ணும் பிரியாமல்
எங்கள் கண்ணன் வந்து பிறந்தானோ.
கண்ணும் கண்ணும் பிரியாமல்
எங்கள் கண்ணன் வந்து பிறந்தானோ...
Here is the bond between brother and sister
Here is the life given by the mother
Here is the bond between brother and sister
Here is the life given by the mother
Without two eyes ever separating
Did our little Krishna come and take birth?
Without two eyes ever separating
Did our little Krishna come and take birth?
கண்ணனுக்கு தொட்டில் கட்டும்
கண்ணிரெண்டில் ஜீவநதி
மன்னன் முகம் மலர்த்தோட்டம்
மனதுக்குள்ளே தேரோட்டம்
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
A river of life flows in both eyes
The king's face is a flower garden
A chariot procession moves within the heart
கண்ணனுக்கு தொட்டில் கட்டும்
கண்ணிரெண்டில் ஜீவநதி
மன்னன் முகம் மலர்த்தோட்டம்
மனதுக்குள்ளே தேரோட்டம்
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
A river of life flows in both eyes
The king's face is a flower garden
A chariot procession moves within the heart
Kannanukku thottil kattum
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
Kann irandil jeevanadhi
A river of life flows in both eyes
Mannan mugam malar thottam
The king's face is a flower garden
Manadhukullae thaerottam
A chariot procession moves within the heart
Unmai nenjin vilaiyattai
The playful feelings of a truthful heart
Oomai nenjam thaan ariyum
Only a silent heart can truly know
Rathapaasam alai veesi
The waves of blood affection surge high
Thottu thottu vilaiyaadum
Touching gently again and again as they play
Neeyum naanum thuruvam pol
Like opposite poles, you and I
Aana kadhai yaar arivaar
Who knows the story of how we became so?
Neeyum naanum thuruvam pol
Like opposite poles, you and I
Aana kadhai yaar arivaar
Who knows the story of how we became so?
Thaai maaman paadugiraan
The maternal uncle sings a lullaby
Ivano thaai mugathai thedugiraan
Yet he searches for his mother's face
Thaai maaman paadugiraan
The maternal uncle sings a lullaby
Ivano thaai mugathai thedugiraan
Yet he searches for his mother's face
Kannanukku thottil kattum
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
Kann irandil jeevanadhi
A river of life flows in both eyes
Mannan mugam malar thottam
The king's face is a flower garden
Manadhukullae thaerottam
A chariot procession moves within the heart
Vaazhaiyadi vaazhaiyena vandha
Flowing continuously like banana plant shoots
Ilam pirai nilavae
O crescent moon!
Gokulathin poo mugamae
O flower face of Gokulam!
Konji varum kula kodiyae
O tender vine of our lineage that comes fondling!
Annan thangai uravinge
Here is the bond between brother and sister
Annai thandha uyir ingae
Here is the life given by the mother
Annan thangai uravinge
Here is the bond between brother and sister
Annai thandha uyir ingae
Here is the life given by the mother
Kannum kannum piriyaamal
Without two eyes ever separating
Engal kannan vandhu pirandhaanoo
Did our little Krishna come and take birth?
Kannum kannum piriyaamal
Without two eyes ever separating
Engal kannan vandhu pirandhaanoo
Did our little Krishna come and take birth?
Kannanukku thottil kattum
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
Kann irandil jeevanadhi
A river of life flows in both eyes
Mannan mugam malar thottam
The king's face is a flower garden
Manadhukullae thaerottam
A chariot procession moves within the heart
Kannanukku thottil kattum
Tying a cradle for Little Krishna
Kann irandil jeevanadhi
A river of life flows in both eyes
Mannan mugam malar thottam
The king's face is a flower garden
Manadhukullae thaerottam
A chariot procession moves within the heart
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kannanukku Thottil Kattum' from Kamatchiyin Karunai (1978) is a deeply emotional lullaby celebrating family ties, sibling bond, and unconditional love. The lyrics compare the newborn child to Lord Krishna, describing the pure affection (Rathapaasam) overflowing in the eyes of the family members while putting the baby to sleep in a cradle. Lyricist Na. Kamarasan uses poetic metaphors comparing lineage to banana plant shoots ('Vaazhaiyadi vaazhai') and family bonds to an unseverable connection given by the mother. Despite life's challenges or physical distances metaphorically described as opposite poles, the love between brother, sister, and child remains eternal and holy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Uruvagam (Metaphor)
“Kann irandil jeevanadhi / Mannan mugam malar thottam”
Compares the child's eyes to a living river ('jeevanadhi') and the face to a blooming garden ('malar thottam').
Uvamai (Simile)
“Neeyum naanum thuruvam pol”
Uses 'pol' (like) to compare two people to distant geographical/magnetic poles.
Adukku Thodar (Repetition)
“Thottu thottu vilaiyaadum”
The word 'thottu' is repeated for emotional emphasis on tender touch.
Traditional Idiom / Metaphor
“Vaazhaiyadi vaazhaiyena vandha”
'Vaazhaiyadi vaazhai' is a traditional Tamil idiom comparing generational continuation to banana plants where new shoots constantly grow from the root.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kamatchiyin Karunai' (1978) features music composed by the iconic duo Sankar-Ganesh. The lyricist Na. Kamarasan was a pioneer of the 'Pudhu Kavidhai' (New Poetry) movement in modern Tamil literature, known for bringing rich poetic metaphors into mainstream Tamil cinema songs.
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