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Vaigasi Poranthachu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanne Karisal Mannu

From Vaigasi Poranthachu · 1990

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Swarnalatha
Music director
Deva
Movie name
Vaigasi Poranthachu
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
2 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae
Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Kanneerin thiraikkul kattaaya siraikkul
Pootti adaichchu vachcha paasam idhil
Pottu nadaththi varum sogam oyaatha puyalaalae
Thoongaamal poraadum alai melae
Manam thaangaatha sumaiyudan thallaadi thallaadi
Karaithanai thedutho padagu
Intha kadhaikkuththaan theriyala mudivu
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae
Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro
Ooththu manaleduththu uppu kadal neereduththu
Neeththu vara katti vachcha kottai
Indru kaaththadichchu kalainjuthaan pochchae
Aaththu neer nuraiyaachche
Aval sontham avamaana kadhaiyaachche
Ada saaththi vachcha veettukkullaae yaeththi vachcha vilakkaai
Ullaththukkul soodupatta malare
Idhu ooru sanam thalli vachcha nilavae
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae
Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
My darling, flower of the dry black soil,
Fish that swims in tears every single day,
Across the scorching rocky land, across the desert,
You are a deer searching for water, oh dear,
My darling, flower of the dry black soil,
Fish that swims in tears every single day,
Behind a veil of tears, trapped in a forced prison,
Love remains locked up and hidden away,
Tormented by a sorrow like an endless storm,
Upon the restless, struggling waves,
Swaying and stumbling with a burden too heavy to bear,
Is the boat searching for the shore?
No one knows how this story will end.
My darling, flower of the dry black soil,
Fish that swims in tears every single day,
Across the scorching rocky land, across the desert,
You are a deer searching for water, oh dear,
My darling, flower of the dry black soil,
Fish that swims in tears every single day,
Aaraaro aaraaro, aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro,
Gathering sand from the spring and water from the salty sea,
The castle that was built until yesterday,
Has been blown apart by the wind today and scattered.
It dissolved away like foam on river water,
And her kinship has turned into a tale of shame.
Like a lamp lit inside a locked-up house,
O flower scorched by sorrow deep within,
You are a moon cast aside by the village folk...
My darling, flower of the dry black soil,
Fish that swims in tears every single day,
Across the scorching rocky land, across the desert,
You are a deer searching for water, oh dear,
My darling, flower of the dry black soil,
Fish that swims in tears every single day,
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses deep sorrow and empathy for a woman enduring severe hardship, societal rejection, and heartbreak. Metaphorically described as a flower in scorched soil and a fish swimming in tears, her life is depicted as a struggle against relentless misfortunes. The imagery of a fortress made of fragile sand collapsing in the wind reflects how her dreams and familial bonds dissolved into shame and pain. Despite her purity, like a lamp burning in a locked house or a moon shunned by society, she suffers isolated and unappreciated, searching for comfort in an unforgiving world.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae / Thanneerai thedugindra maanae”

Compares the suffering protagonist directly to a fish swimming in tears and a deer searching for water in a desert.

Simile (Upamai)

“Ada saaththi vachcha veettukkullaae yaeththi vachcha vilakkaai”

Uses the explicit comparison word 'vilakkaai' (like a lamp) to equate her inner light and suffering to a lamp burning unseen inside a locked house.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“Ooththu manaleduththu / Neeththu vara katti vachcha”

The second consonant 'd' (th) repeats across consecutive lines ('Ooththu' / 'Neeththu'), creating rhythmic Tamil poetic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

This iconic track is from the 1990 Tamil movie 'Vaigasi Poranthachu', which marked the musical debut of composer Deva and actor Prashanth. Deva won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director for his work on this film.

Keep listening

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Aadhaaram Yedhum Ilaiye1952
Athma ShanthiGriefLoneliness
Adi Vannathi Poo1993
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En Purushanthan1982
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