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Lyrics & meaning

Kannapura Ooratha

From Deviyin Thiruvilayadal · 1982

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Deviyin Thiruvilayadal
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
9 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kaalam kanakkariyaa karpagamae aaththaalae
Aalam amuthaagum amma nee paarththaalae
Ingae amutham vishamaachchu aavin paal kallaachchu
Amutham vishamaachchu aavin paal kallaachchu
Kannapura ooraaththaa
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa
Unnaivida yaaraaththaa
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaa
Kannapura ooraaththaa
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa
Unnaivida yaaraaththaa
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaa
Un thegam kothippaanaal oorellaam vegumadi
Un thegam kothippaanaal oorellaam vegumadi
Santhegam neruppaagi en thegam veguthadi
Santhegam neruppaagi en thegam veguthadi
Makkalellaam kuttram seithaal
Mannavarae kettiduvaar
Mannavarae kuttram seithaal
Magamaayi keladiyo
Mannavarae kuttram seithaal
Magamaayi keladiyo
Kannapura ooraaththaa
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa
Unnaivida yaaraaththaa
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaa
Thaayariyaa soodhumillai
Vaayariyaa sorumillai
Neeyariyaa sethiyillai
Unnai meeri yaedhumillai
Punniyaththai kurudaakki
Paakkurathu niyaayamillai
Punniyaththai kurudaakki
Paakkurathu niyaayamillai
Aayirangan maariyammaa
Attaiyindri vaadiyammaa
Saei izhantha kannoliyai
Seekkiramae thaadiyammaa
Karpudaiya pengalukku
Kaaval nirkkum kaaliyammaa
Korikkaiyai ketta pinnum
Veru enna joliyamma
Korikkaiyai ketta pinnum
Veru enna joliyamma
Kannapura ooraaththaa
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa
Unnaivida yaaraaththaa
Unmaiyenna kooraaththaa…
Kannapura ooraaththaa
Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa
Unnaivida yaaraaththaa
Unmaiyenna kooraaththa…..
Oh timeless Mother, wish-fulfilling tree of grace!
Even deadly poison turns into nectar if you just look, Mother!
Here, nectar has turned to poison, and cow's milk has turned to stone!
Nectar has turned to poison, and cow's milk has turned to stone!
Oh Mother of Kannapuram town!
Open your eyes and look, Mother!
Who else do I have besides you, Mother?
Tell me what the truth is, Mother!
Oh Mother of Kannapuram town!
Open your eyes and look, Mother!
Who else do I have besides you, Mother?
Tell me what the truth is, Mother!
If your body burns with heat, the whole town will scorch!
If your body burns with heat, the whole town will scorch!
Doubt has turned into fire, and my body is burning!
Doubt has turned into fire, and my body is burning!
If the townsfolk commit a crime,
The king will punish them;
If the king himself commits a crime,
Oh great Mother Mahamayi, you must question him!
If the king himself commits a crime,
Oh great Mother Mahamayi, you must question him!
Oh Mother of Kannapuram town!
Open your eyes and look, Mother!
Who else do I have besides you, Mother?
Tell me what the truth is, Mother!
There is no deceit a mother does not know,
Just as there is no food a mouth does not know.
There is no news unknown to you,
Nothing can happen without your will!
Blinding the eyes of virtue,
And watching in silence is not fair!
Blinding the eyes of virtue,
And watching in silence is not fair!
Oh Mariyamma with a thousand eyes,
Come to my aid without delay, Mother!
The eyesight your child has lost,
Restore it quickly, Mother!
For women of devoted virtue,
You are Kali who stands as their protector!
Even after hearing my prayer,
What other work could you have, Mother?
Even after hearing my prayer,
What other work could you have, Mother?
Oh Mother of Kannapuram town!
Open your eyes and look, Mother!
Who else do I have besides you, Mother?
Tell me what the truth is, Mother!
Oh Mother of Kannapuram town!
Open your eyes and look, Mother!
Who else do I have besides you, Mother?
Tell me what the truth is, Mother!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This devotional song from 'Deviyin Thiruvilayadal' (1982) is an impassioned appeal to Goddess Mariyamman of Kannapuram. The devotee laments how moral order in the world has flipped—where goodness and purity have turned into evil and harm. The lyricist raises a powerful social and philosophical question: while ordinary citizens are punished by kings when they err, who will question the king when he commits a crime? Only the supreme Divine Mother can intervene and deliver divine justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Kannapura ooraaththaa / Kann thiranthu paaraaththaa

The lines end with rhythmic, rhyming endings like 'ooraaththaa', 'paaraaththaa', 'yaaraaththaa', and 'kooraaththaa' to create a hypnotic, folk-devotional rhythm.

Metaphor (Uruvagakani)

Santhegam neruppaagi en thegam veguthadi

Doubt is conceptualized as fire burning the devotee's body, emphasizing intense mental anguish.

Contrast / Antithesis

Aalam amuthaagum amma nee paarththaalae / Ingae amutham vishamaachchu

Juxtaposes divine power (turning poison to nectar) with human moral degeneration (nectar turning to poison).

Proverbial Analogy (Uwamai)

Thaayariyaa soodhumillai / Vaayariyaa sorumillai

Uses universal maternal intuition and sensory familiarity to illustrate the Goddess's omniscience.

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Trivia

This song belongs to the classic Tamil folk devotional genre ('Amman Paattu'). Lyricist Vaali expertly blends deep spiritual fervor with subtle political and philosophical commentary on justice, authority, and divine duty.

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