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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanne En Kanmaniyae

From Kathavarayan · 1958

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
A. P. Komala, Ghantasala
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Kathavarayan
Movie release year
1958
Lyrics added on
6 Nov 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannae en kannmaniyae
Kali theerkka vantha kula maamaniyae
Karpagamae kannurangaai
Amutha oottrilae kumutha malar polae
Avathariththaai pennae
Engal aaruyirae kannae
Amutha oottrilae kumutha malar polae
Avathariththaai pennae
Engal aaruyirae kannae
Paalvadiyum vathaamae thirushti padum kelaayo
Pattaadaiyudan angu odaamal vaaraayo
Paalodu pazham undu en selvamae paaraayo paaraayo
Paalaivanaththilae jeevanathi pola
Vaazhvinil neethaanae varum kaalaththin komaanae
Paalaivanaththilae jeevanathi pola
Vaazhvinil neethaanae varum kaalaththin komaanae
Vasanthamum thendralum jathi podavae
vandinam aasaiyaai kavi paadavae
Vanna malar aanantha nadamaadavae
Pullimaan pola thulli vilaiyaadum
Poongodiyum neeyae ulagam pugazha vantha thaayae
Pullimaan pola thulli vilaiyaadum
Poongodiyum neeyae ulagam pugazha vantha thaayae
Villaenthum veeranae
Vel vilaiyaattin theeranae
Pollaatha vaalodu poraadum sooranae
Puvanamae pugazhnthidum kaaththaravaayanae
Jaathi illai madha pedham illaiyae…ae…ae…
Jaathi illai madha pedham illaiyae….
Yaedhum kavalai illaiyae
Jaathi illai madha pedham illaiyae….
Yaedhum kavalai illaiyae
Thaarani meedhiyinilae
Thaarani meedhiyinilae
Enakkaarum nigarillaiyae
Thaarani meedhiyinilae
Enakkaarum nigarillaiyae
Illai illai endru solluvaar
Bedham illai illai endru solluvaar
Edhuvum illai illai endru solluvaar
Antha inbang kandaal Vanthu thulluvaar
Ellaam kadanthavar pol villuvaar
Ellaam kadanthavar pol villuvaar
Entha yaengiyum oppukkollvaar
Illai illai endru solluvaar
Bedham illai illai endru solluvaar
My darling, apple of my eye,
The precious gem of our clan, born to banish sorrow,
My wish-fulfilling treasure, go to sleep...
Like a water lily in a spring of nectar,
You were born, my little girl,
Our very life, my precious child...
Like a water lily in a spring of nectar,
You were born, my little girl,
Our very life, my precious child...
With such an innocent face, the evil eye will fall on you—won't you listen?
Won't you come here in your silk clothes, instead of running away?
There are fruits and milk, my treasure, come look and see!
Like a flowing river in a barren desert,
You bring life to us, O prince of the future,
Like a flowing river in a barren desert,
You bring life to us, O prince of the future,
As spring and the gentle breeze dance to the rhythm,
As humming bees sing poems of longing,
As colourful blossoms dance with pure joy,
Leaping and playing like a spotted deer,
You are a gentle flowering vine, born for the world to praise, my dear,
Leaping and playing like a spotted deer,
You are a gentle flowering vine, born for the world to praise, my dear,
O brave warrior holding a bow,
O master of the spear,
O hero who battles with a deadly sword,
O Kathavarayan, praised by the entire world!
There is no caste, there is no religious divide...
There is no caste, there is no religious divide,
There is no worry at all,
There is no caste, there is no religious divide,
There is no worry at all!
In all this wide world,
In all this wide world,
There is no one equal to me!
In all this wide world,
There is no one equal to me!
They will say no, no, it cannot be,
They will claim there are no differences at all,
They will say nothing matters in this world,
Yet once they taste that pleasure, they leap with excitement!
They speak as if they have transcended it all,
They speak as if they have transcended it all,
Even a lone ascetic would have to admit it...
They will say no, no, it cannot be,
They will claim there are no differences at all!
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the folklore-based classic Kathavarayan (1958) blends thematic elements of lullaby, heroic praise, and social commentary. The opening verses lovingly extol a child/beloved as a divine gift, comparing her appearance to a lotus blooming in nectar and a river refreshing a desert. It transitions into praising the brave warrior Kathavarayan, highlighting his mastery over weapons like the bow, spear, and sword.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Amutha oottrilae kumutha malar polae”

Compares the child/beloved to a lotus in a spring of nectar ('Amutha oottrilae kumutha malar polae') and a river in a desert ('Paalaivanaththilae jeevanathi pola').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kali theerkka vantha kula maamaniyae”

Refers to the loved one directly as the wish-fulfilling tree ('Karpagamae') and the royal jewel of the clan ('kula maamaniyae').

Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai & Ethirai)

“Villaenthum veeranae / Vel vilaiyaattin theeranae”

Frequent use of second-letter rhyming (Ethirai) across lines, such as 'Villaenthum' / 'Vel' / 'Pollaatha' / 'Puvanamae'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kathavarayan (1958) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri in lead roles. The music score composed by G. Ramanathan remains one of the highlights of golden-era Tamil cinema, blending Carnatic melodies with popular folk storytelling traditions based on the deity Kathavarayan Swamy.

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