Kannanukkum Kalvanukkum
From Thirumal Perumai · 1968
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Chorus
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Thirumal Perumai1968
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha | The stories of him breaking in and stealing |
| Kadhaigal pala kodi | Are many tens of millions. |
| Female | |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha | The stories of him breaking in and stealing |
| Kadhaigal pala kodi | Are many tens of millions. |
| Chorus | |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha | The stories of him breaking in and stealing |
| Kadhaigal pala kodi | Are many tens of millions. |
| Female | |
| Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum | Stealing for a good cause |
| Naanayam thaan thozhi | Is also honesty, my friend. |
| Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum | Stealing for a good cause |
| Naanayam thaan thozhi | Is also honesty, my friend. |
| Adhai naatti vaitha kannanukku | To Lord Krishna who established this principle, |
| Vaazhthuraippom paadi | Let us offer praise by singing. |
| Chorus | |
| Adhai naatti vaitha kannanukku | To Lord Krishna who established this principle, |
| Vaazhthuraippom paadi | Let us offer praise by singing. |
| Female | |
| Dharumam seiyaadhavarin veedugalai | The homes of those who do not practice charity, |
| Naadi naadi | Seeking out, seeking out, |
| Chorus | |
| Naadi naadi | Seeking out, seeking out, |
| Female | |
| Nam thalaivan thiruppanikku | For the sacred service of our leader, |
| Poruleduppom thaedi thaedi | We shall gather wealth by searching, searching, |
| Chorus | |
| Thaedi thaedi | Searching, searching. |
| Female | |
| Dharumam seiyaadhavarin veedugalai | The homes of those who do not practice charity, |
| Naadi naadi | Seeking out, seeking out, |
| Nam thalaivan thiruppanikku | For the sacred service of our leader, |
| Poruleduppom thaedi thaedi | We shall gather wealth by searching, searching. |
| Marmam edhuvumillai manadhu sutham thozhi | There is no secret, our hearts are pure, my friend. |
| Chorus | |
| Marmam edhuvumillai | There is no secret, |
| Manadhu sutham thozhi | Our heart is pure, my friend. |
| Female | |
| Nam manadhukku needhi endraal | If it is righteous to our heart, |
| Manidharukkae needhi | It is justice for humanity. |
| Chorus | |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha | The stories of him breaking in and stealing |
| Kadhaigal pala kodi | Are many tens of millions. |
| Female | |
| Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum | Stealing for a good cause |
| Naanayam thaan thozhi | Is also honesty, my friend. |
| Adhai naatti vaitha kannanukku | To Lord Krishna who established this principle, |
| Vaazhthuraippom paadi | Let us offer praise by singing. |
| Chorus | |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha | The stories of him breaking in and stealing |
| Kadhaigal pala kodi | Are many tens of millions. |
| Chorus | |
| Kannanukkum kalvanukkum | Between Krishna and a thief, |
| Baedhamillai thozhi | There is no difference, my friend. |
| Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha | The stories of him breaking in and stealing |
| Kadhaigal pala kodi | Are many tens of millions. |
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Are many tens of millions.
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Are many tens of millions.
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Are many tens of millions.
நல்லதற்குத் திருடுவதும்
நாணயந்தான் தோழி
நல்லதற்குத் திருடுவதும்
நாணயந்தான் தோழி
அதை நாட்டி வைத்த கண்ணனுக்கு
வாழ்த்துரைப்போம் வாடி
Stealing for a good cause
Is also honesty, my friend.
Stealing for a good cause
Is also honesty, my friend.
To Lord Krishna who established this principle,
Let us offer praise by singing.
அதை நாட்டி வைத்த கண்ணனுக்கு
வாழ்த்துரைப்போம் வாடி
To Lord Krishna who established this principle,
Let us offer praise by singing.
பெண் மற்றும் குழு :
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
The homes of those who do not practice charity,
Seeking out, seeking out,
தர்மம் செய்யாதவரின் வீடுகளை
நாடி நாடி
Seeking out, seeking out,
நாடி நாடி
For the sacred service of our leader,
We shall gather wealth by searching, searching,
நம் தலைவன் திருப்பணிக்குப்
பொருள் எடுப்போம் தேடி தேடி
Searching, searching.
தேடி தேடி
The homes of those who do not practice charity,
Seeking out, seeking out,
For the sacred service of our leader,
We shall gather wealth by searching, searching.
There is no secret, our hearts are pure, my friend.
தர்மம் செய்யாதவரின் வீடுகளை
தேடி தேடி
நம் தலைவன் திருப்பணிக்கு
பொருள் எடுப்போம் தேடி தேடி
மர்மம் எதுவும் இல்லை மனது சுத்தம் தோழி
There is no secret,
Our heart is pure, my friend.
மர்மம் எதுவும் இல்லை
மனது சுத்தம் தோழி
If it is righteous to our heart,
It is justice for humanity.
நம் மனதுக்கு நீதியென்றால்
மனிதருக்கே நீதி
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Are many tens of millions.
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
Stealing for a good cause
Is also honesty, my friend.
To Lord Krishna who established this principle,
Let us offer praise by singing.
நல்லதற்குத் திருடுவதும்
நாணயந்தான் தோழி
அதை நாட்டி வைத்த கண்ணனுக்கு
வாழ்த்துரைப்போம் வாடி
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Are many tens of millions.
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
Between Krishna and a thief,
There is no difference, my friend.
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Are many tens of millions.
கண்ணனுக்கும் கள்வனுக்கும்
பேதமில்லை தோழி
அவன் கன்னம் வைத்து திருடி வந்த
கதைகள் பல கோடி
கைதட்டல்கள்
: .............................
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Kadhaigal pala kodi
Are many tens of millions.
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Kadhaigal pala kodi
Are many tens of millions.
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Kadhaigal pala kodi
Are many tens of millions.
Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum
Stealing for a good cause
Naanayam thaan thozhi
Is also honesty, my friend.
Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum
Stealing for a good cause
Naanayam thaan thozhi
Is also honesty, my friend.
Adhai naatti vaitha kannanukku
To Lord Krishna who established this principle,
Vaazhthuraippom paadi
Let us offer praise by singing.
Adhai naatti vaitha kannanukku
To Lord Krishna who established this principle,
Vaazhthuraippom paadi
Let us offer praise by singing.
Dharumam seiyaadhavarin veedugalai
The homes of those who do not practice charity,
Naadi naadi
Seeking out, seeking out,
Naadi naadi
Seeking out, seeking out,
Nam thalaivan thiruppanikku
For the sacred service of our leader,
Poruleduppom thaedi thaedi
We shall gather wealth by searching, searching,
Thaedi thaedi
Searching, searching.
Dharumam seiyaadhavarin veedugalai
The homes of those who do not practice charity,
Naadi naadi
Seeking out, seeking out,
Nam thalaivan thiruppanikku
For the sacred service of our leader,
Poruleduppom thaedi thaedi
We shall gather wealth by searching, searching.
Marmam edhuvumillai manadhu sutham thozhi
There is no secret, our hearts are pure, my friend.
Marmam edhuvumillai
There is no secret,
Manadhu sutham thozhi
Our heart is pure, my friend.
Nam manadhukku needhi endraal
If it is righteous to our heart,
Manidharukkae needhi
It is justice for humanity.
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Kadhaigal pala kodi
Are many tens of millions.
Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum
Stealing for a good cause
Naanayam thaan thozhi
Is also honesty, my friend.
Adhai naatti vaitha kannanukku
To Lord Krishna who established this principle,
Vaazhthuraippom paadi
Let us offer praise by singing.
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Kadhaigal pala kodi
Are many tens of millions.
Kannanukkum kalvanukkum
Between Krishna and a thief,
Baedhamillai thozhi
There is no difference, my friend.
Avan kannam vaithu thirudi vandha
The stories of him breaking in and stealing
Kadhaigal pala kodi
Are many tens of millions.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the movie Thirumal Perumai compares Lord Krishna to a thief, highlighting the divine paradox of Krishna's butter-stealing past. The lyrics assert that stealing for a righteous and selfless cause—such as taking unused wealth from uncharitable people to serve divine work and humanity—is itself a noble act of honesty. The song emphasizes that purity of intention matters above all; if the heart is pure and the motive serves the greater good, such actions reflect true justice for mankind.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Alliteration)
“Kannanukkum kalvanukkum”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kannanukkum' and 'kalvanukkum'.
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Naadi naadi”
The word 'Naadi' is repeated consecutively to emphasize the active search for uncharitable households.
Paradox / Oxymoron
“Nalladharkku thiruduvadhum Naanayam thaan thozhi”
Equating the act of stealing ('thiruduvadhum') with honesty ('Naanayam'), conveying that noble intent redefines the morality of an action.
Did you know?
Trivia
Thirumal Perumai (1968) is a classic Tamil devotional film directed by A. P. Nagarajan, starring Sivaji Ganesan. The music was composed by K. V. Mahadevan with iconic lyrics penned by Kannadasan.
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