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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannathil Kannam

From Watchman Vadivel · 1994

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Deva
Details
Watchman Vadivel1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mmmmm mmmm mmm mmMmmmm mmmm mmm mm
mm….mm….mm….mm….mm….mm....mm....mm....mm....mm....
mmm…..mmm….mm….mm…..mmm.....mmm....mm....mm.....
Male
Kannaththil kannam vaikkaTo place cheek against cheek,
Oththukko oththukkoAgree to it, agree to it!
Female :Kanni poo kanni pogumFemale: The virgin flower's virginity will be lost,
Oththippo oththippoDab it gently, dab it gently!
Male
Indha vaanavil tharaimael thondrumoWill this rainbow appear on the ground?
Female :Undhan vaaliba unarvai thoondumoFemale: Will it spark your youthful feelings?
Male
Penn ellaam pennallaNot every woman is a true woman,
Ingu yaarum illai unnai vellaThere is no one here to conquer you.
Male
Kannaththil kannam vaikkaTo place cheek against cheek,
Oththukko oththukkoAgree to it, agree to it!
Female :Kanni poo kanni pogumFemale: The virgin flower's virginity will be lost,
Oththippo oththippoDab it gently, dab it gently!
Chorus
Aaa…..aaa……aaa…..aa….Aaa.....aaa......aaa.....aa....
Aaa…..aaa……aaa…..aa….Aaa.....aaa......aaa.....aa....
Male
Vaanaththai vittu nilavengu vilagumWhere will the moon move away from the sky?
Vaasaththai vittu malarengu viriyumWhere will a flower blossom away from fragrance?
Unakaaga naan enakaaga neeI am for you, you are for me,
Uyir vaazhum kaalam varayumUntil the end of our living days.
Female
Mogaththai vittu manamengu thiriyumWhere will the mind wander away from desire?
Maegaththai vittu mazhai engu pozhiyumWhere will the rain pour away from clouds?
Kodi pola naan madimeedhu dhaanLike a creeper vine upon your lap,
Vizhum bodhu kaadhal malarumWhen I fall, love blossoms.
Male
Unnai thodum thendral vandhuThe gentle breeze touching you comes
Ennai thodudhuAnd touches me too,
Uchchi mudhal paadham varai mella suduthuGently warming me from head to toe.
Male
Kannaththil kannam vaikkaTo place cheek against cheek,
Oththukko oththukkoAgree to it, agree to it!
Female :Kanni poo kanni pogumFemale: The virgin flower's virginity will be lost,
Oththippo oththippoDab it gently, dab it gently!
Chorus
……………………....................
Female
Aadaikkul vaiththa azhaginai yeduththaenI took out the beauty hidden inside my dress,
Aasaikkul vaiththu unakena koduththaenI kept it in desire and gave it to you.
Idhamaagaththaan padhamaagaththaanPleasantly and gently,
Enai theendu dhaagam thaniyumTouch me so this thirst subsides.
Male
Odaikkul vandha malarinai pariththaenI plucked the flower that came into the stream,
Oosaigal indri mani muthttham padhiththaenI imprinted a gem-like kiss without making a sound.
Pazhachaarayum ilaneerayumFruit juice and tender coconut water,
Parimaara vaendum dhinamumShould be served every single day.
Female
Andhi pagal vandhadhoruDusk and day, there came a certain
Inba mayakkamBlissful intoxication.
Anju viral patta idam mella silirkkumWherever your five fingers touch, a gentle shiver spreads.
Male
Engengae thottaalumWherever you touch,
Ammamamaa urchaagamOh my, intense excitement
Angangae undaagum vaaIs created right there, come!
Male
Kannaththil kannam vaikkaTo place cheek against cheek,
Oththukko oththukkoAgree to it, agree to it!
Female :Kanni poo kanni pogumFemale: The virgin flower's virginity will be lost,
Oththippo oththippoDab it gently, dab it gently!
Male
Indha vaanavil tharaimael thondrumoWill this rainbow appear on the ground?
Female :Undhan vaaliba unarvai thoondumoFemale: Will it spark your youthful feelings?
Male
Penn ellaam pennallaNot every woman is a true woman,
Ingu yaarum illai unnai vellaThere is no one here to conquer you.
Male
Kannaththil kannam vaikkaTo place cheek against cheek,
Oththukko oththukkoAgree to it, agree to it!
Female :Kanni poo kanni pogumFemale: The virgin flower's virginity will be lost,
Oththippo oththippoDab it gently, dab it gently!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Kannaththil kannam vaikka' is a playful romantic duet from the 1994 film Watchman Vadivel. The male lead eagerly requests physical affection, cheek to cheek, while the female lead coyly asks him to slow down, comparing herself to a delicate flower. The song celebrates their deep emotional and physical attachment through rich romantic imagery, comparing their togetherness to inseparable elements of nature like clouds and rain, or flowers and fragrance. As the song unfolds, both partners express the intense warmth, thrill, and bliss of intimacy, describing how simple touches trigger sweet excitement. Lyricist Vaali uses vibrant rhythm and sensual metaphors to evoke the passionate romance shared between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Female :Kanni poo kanni pogum

Comparing a young woman or her purity to a virgin flower ('kanni poo').

Etukai (Second letter rhyming)

Vaanaththai vittu nilavengu vilagum / Vaasaththai vittu malarengu viriyum

The second letters 'na' in Vaanaththai and 'sa' in Vaasaththai create an internal rhyming rhythm across adjacent lines.

Simile (Upamai)

Kodi pola naan madimeedhu dhaan

Explicitly comparing falling into the lover's lap to a creeper vine ('kodi').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Oththukko oththukko / Oththippo oththippo

Rhyming endings 'oththukko' and 'oththippo' give a rhythmic playful cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Watchman Vadivel (1994) is an action-drama film directed by A. Jagannathan starring Sivakumar and Sujatha. Lyricist Vaali utilized his characteristic playful wordplay with rhyming verbs ('oththukko' / 'oththippo') in this track to highlight the lighthearted romantic teasing between the lead characters.

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