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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanne En Karpagame

From Magarantham · 1981

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Magarantham1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Kali theera vanthuthiththa porpathamaeOh golden feet born to end all my grief,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Female
Karpangkonda mani vayiru sorkkamthaanadaaThe precious womb that bore you is truly heaven, my dear,
Antha sorkkaththile koyil konda sirpam neeyadaaYou are the sacred idol enshrined in that heaven, my dear,
Karpangkonda mani vayiru sorkkamthaanadaaThe precious womb that bore you is truly heaven, my dear,
Antha sorkkaththile koyil konda sirpam neeyadaaYou are the sacred idol enshrined in that heaven, my dear,
Female
Intha sirpaththai seeraatta vantha sevili thaayadaaI am the foster mother who came to cherish this idol, my dear,
Naan sevili thaayadaaYes, I am the foster mother, my dear,
Idhu karpanaiyalla unmai seithithaanadaThis is no mere imagination, it is the absolute truth, my dear,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Kali theera vanthuthiththa porpathamaeOh golden feet born to end all my grief,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Female
Asainthidaamal nimirnthu nirkkum malaiyai paaradaaLook at the mountain standing tall and unshakeable, my dear,
Antha malaiyai pola uyarnthavar un thanthai thaanadaaYour father is as noble and lofty as that mountain, my dear,
Asainthidaamal nimirnthu nirkkum malaiyai paaradaaLook at the mountain standing tall and unshakeable, my dear,
Antha malaiyai pola uyarnthavar un thanthai thaanadaaYour father is as noble and lofty as that mountain, my dear,
Female
Malaiyai sutri thzhuvi nirkkum pasumai paraadaLook at the lush greenery embracing the mountain, my dear,
Malaiyai sutri thzhuvi nirkkum pasumai paraadaLook at the lush greenery embracing the mountain, my dear,
Antha pasumai pondra annai eendra padhumai neeyadaaYou are the doll born to a mother who is like that greenery, my dear,
Thanga padhumai neeyadaaYou are a golden doll, my dear,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Kali theera vanthuthiththa porpathamaeOh golden feet born to end all my grief,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Female
Annai thanthai pondra azhagu solai paaradaaLook at the beautiful orchard formed by your father and mother, my dear,
Antha solai thantha suvai miguntha kaniyum neeyadaaYou are the sweet fruit produced by that orchard, my dear,
Annai thanthai pondra azhagu solai paaradaaLook at the beautiful orchard formed by your father and mother, my dear,
Antha solai thantha suvai miguntha kaniyum neeyadaaYou are the sweet fruit produced by that orchard, my dear,
Female
Intha kaniyai kaakka vantha kaavalkaari naanadaaI am the guardian woman who came to protect this fruit, my dear,
Intha kaniyai kaakka vantha kaavalkaari naanadaaI am the guardian woman who came to protect this fruit, my dear,
Intha kadamai enathu poorva jenmam paakkiyamthanadaaThis duty is the blessing earned from my past life, my dear,
En paakkiyamthanadaaIt is indeed my supreme good fortune, my dear,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes,
Kali theera vanthuthiththa porpathamaeOh golden feet born to end all my grief,
Female
Kannae en karpagamaeOh my apple of the eye, my wish-fulfilling tree,
Kann kanda arputhamaeOh miracle visible right before my eyes

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic lullaby from the movie 'Magarantham' (1981) features a foster mother singing lovingly to a child in her care. She showers the child with affection, comparing the child to a divine sculpture, a golden doll, and a sweet fruit. She praises the child's parents by metaphorically equating the father to an unwavering mountain and the mother to the soothing greenery surrounding it, while describing their union as a beautiful orchard. Throughout the song, the foster mother expresses immense gratitude for her role as the child's protector and caretaker. She views her duty not as a burden or mere duty, but as a heavenly blessing earned through good deeds in her past life (poorva jenmam paakkiyam). The lyrics combine gentle maternal warmth with deep philosophical reflections on destiny and parental devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monal / Emona (Monaikal - Initial Rhyme)

Kannae en karpagamae / Kann kanda arputhamae

Repetition of initial consonant sounds across adjacent words, such as 'Kannae' / 'Karpagamae' / 'Kann' / 'Kali' / 'Karpangkonda'.

Simile (Upamai)

Antha malaiyai pola uyarnthavar un thanthai thaanadaa

Explicit comparisons using 'pola' and 'pondra', comparing the father to a mountain ('malaiyai pola') and the mother to surrounding greenery ('pasumai pondra').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Karpangkonda mani vayiru sorkkamthaanadaa / Antha sorkkaththile koyil konda sirpam neeyadaa

Direct metaphorical identification of the mother's womb as heaven ('sorkkam') and the child as a divine temple sculpture ('koyil konda sirpam') or sweet fruit ('suvai miguntha kani').

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Intha sirpaththai seeraatta vantha sevili thaayadaa

Consistent end rhyming pattern using the affectionate suffix '-adaa' across multiple stanzas (e.g., sirpam neeyadaa, thaayadaa, seithithaanadaa).

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Trivia

Composed by the legendary duo Shankar-Ganesh and penned by A. Maruthakasi, 'Kannae en karpagamae' is a classic Tamil cinematic lullaby sung by P. Susheela. Maruthakasi's lyrics beautifully weave traditional Tamil concepts of maternal love, foster care (sevili thaay), and karmic fortune (poorva jenmam paakkiyam) into a soothing melody.

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