Kanne Karisal Mannu
From Vaigasi Poranthachu · 1990
- Lyricist
- Kalidasan
- Singers
- K. J. Yesudas, Swarnalatha
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Vaigasi Poranthachu1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannae karisal mannu poovae | Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil! |
| Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae | Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears! |
| Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae | Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert, |
| Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae | Oh deer endlessly searching for water! |
| Male | |
| Kannae karisal mannu poovae | Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil! |
| Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae | Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears! |
| Male | |
| Kanneerin thiraikkul kattaaya siraikkul | Behind the veil of tears, inside a forced prison, |
| Pootti adaichchu vachcha paasam idhil | The affection that was locked away within this, |
| Pottu nadaththi varum sogam oyaatha puyalaalae | The sorrow brought forth by an unceasing storm, |
| Thoongaamal poraadum alai melae | Riding above sleepless, turbulent waves, |
| Male | |
| Manam thaangaatha sumaiyudan thallaadi thallaadi | Staggering heavily with a burden the heart cannot bear, |
| Karaithanai thedutho padagu | Is the fragile boat searching for a distant shore? |
| Intha kadhaikkuththaan theriyala mudivu | For this tragic tale, no ending is in sight. |
| Male | |
| Kannae karisal mannu poovae | Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil! |
| Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae | Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears! |
| Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae | Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert, |
| Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae | Oh deer endlessly searching for water! |
| Male | |
| Kannae karisal mannu poovae | Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil! |
| Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae | Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears! |
| Female | |
| Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro | Lullaby... Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro |
| Male | |
| Ooththu manaleduththu uppu kadal neereduththu | Taking sand from a spring and water from a salty sea, |
| Neeththu vara katti vachcha kottai | The grand fortress built to endure for generations, |
| Indru kaaththadichchu kalainjuthaan pochchae | Has blown away and scattered in the wind today! |
| Male | |
| Aaththu neer nuraiyaachche | The flowing river water has turned into mere foam, |
| Aval sontham avamaana kadhaiyaachche | Her cherished family bonds became a tale of humiliation. |
| Ada saaththi vachcha veettukkullaae yaeththi vachcha vilakkaai | Oh, like a lamp lit inside a locked up house, |
| Ullaththukkul soodupatta malare | Oh tender flower scorched deep within the soul! |
| Idhu ooru sanam thalli vachcha nilavae | She is the moon cast out and shunned by her own village. |
| Male | |
| Kannae karisal mannu poovae | Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil! |
| Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae | Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears! |
| Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae | Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert, |
| Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae | Oh deer endlessly searching for water! |
| Male | |
| Kannae karisal mannu poovae | Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil! |
| Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae | Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears! |
கண்ணே கரிசல் மண்ணுப் பூவே
தினம் கண்ணீரில் நீந்துகின்ற மீனே
சுடும் பாறை நிலத்திலே பாலைவனத்திலே
தண்ணீரைத் தேடுகின்ற மானே மானே
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert,
Oh deer endlessly searching for water!
கண்ணே கரிசல் மண்ணுப் பூவே
தினம் கண்ணீரில் நீந்துகின்ற மீனே
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
கண்ணீரின் திரைக்குள் கட்டாய சிறைக்குள்
பூட்டி அடைச்சு வச்ச பாசம் இதில்
போட்டு நடத்தி வரும் சோகம் ஓயாத புயலாலே
தூங்காமல் போராடும் அலை மேலே
Behind the veil of tears, inside a forced prison,
The affection that was locked away within this,
The sorrow brought forth by an unceasing storm,
Riding above sleepless, turbulent waves,
மனம் தாங்காத சுமையுடன் தள்ளாடி தள்ளாடி
கரைதனை தேடுதோ படகு
இந்தக் கதைக்குத்தான் தெரியல முடிவு
Staggering heavily with a burden the heart cannot bear,
Is the fragile boat searching for a distant shore?
For this tragic tale, no ending is in sight.
கண்ணே கரிசல் மண்ணுப் பூவே
தினம் கண்ணீரில் நீந்துகின்ற மீனே
சுடும் பாறை நிலத்திலே பாலைவனத்திலே
தண்ணீரைத் தேடுகின்ற மானே மானே
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert,
Oh deer endlessly searching for water!
கண்ணே கரிசல் மண்ணுப் பூவே
தினம் கண்ணீரில் நீந்துகின்ற மீனே
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆராரோ ஆராரோ
Lullaby... Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro
ஊத்து மணலெடுத்து உப்புக் கடல் நீரெடுத்து
நேத்து வரக் கட்டி வச்ச கோட்டை
இன்று காத்தடிச்சு கலைஞ்சுதான் போச்சே
Taking sand from a spring and water from a salty sea,
The grand fortress built to endure for generations,
Has blown away and scattered in the wind today!
ஆத்து நீர் நுரையாச்சே
அவள் சொந்தம் அவமான கதையாச்சே
அட சாத்தி வச்ச வீட்டுக்குள்ளே ஏத்தி வச்ச விளக்காய்
உள்ளத்துக்குள் சூடுபட்ட மலரே
இது ஊரு சனம் தள்ளி வச்ச நிலவே...
The flowing river water has turned into mere foam,
Her cherished family bonds became a tale of humiliation.
Oh, like a lamp lit inside a locked up house,
Oh tender flower scorched deep within the soul!
She is the moon cast out and shunned by her own village.
கண்ணே கரிசல் மண்ணுப் பூவே
தினம் கண்ணீரில் நீந்துகின்ற மீனே
சுடும் பாறை நிலத்திலே பாலைவனத்திலே
தண்ணீரைத் தேடுகின்ற மானே மானே
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert,
Oh deer endlessly searching for water!
கண்ணே கரிசல் மண்ணுப் பூவே
தினம் கண்ணீரில் நீந்துகின்ற மீனே
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae
Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert,
Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae
Oh deer endlessly searching for water!
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Kanneerin thiraikkul kattaaya siraikkul
Behind the veil of tears, inside a forced prison,
Pootti adaichchu vachcha paasam idhil
The affection that was locked away within this,
Pottu nadaththi varum sogam oyaatha puyalaalae
The sorrow brought forth by an unceasing storm,
Thoongaamal poraadum alai melae
Riding above sleepless, turbulent waves,
Manam thaangaatha sumaiyudan thallaadi thallaadi
Staggering heavily with a burden the heart cannot bear,
Karaithanai thedutho padagu
Is the fragile boat searching for a distant shore?
Intha kadhaikkuththaan theriyala mudivu
For this tragic tale, no ending is in sight.
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae
Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert,
Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae
Oh deer endlessly searching for water!
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro
Lullaby... Aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro aaraaro
Ooththu manaleduththu uppu kadal neereduththu
Taking sand from a spring and water from a salty sea,
Neeththu vara katti vachcha kottai
The grand fortress built to endure for generations,
Indru kaaththadichchu kalainjuthaan pochchae
Has blown away and scattered in the wind today!
Aaththu neer nuraiyaachche
The flowing river water has turned into mere foam,
Aval sontham avamaana kadhaiyaachche
Her cherished family bonds became a tale of humiliation.
Ada saaththi vachcha veettukkullaae yaeththi vachcha vilakkaai
Oh, like a lamp lit inside a locked up house,
Ullaththukkul soodupatta malare
Oh tender flower scorched deep within the soul!
Idhu ooru sanam thalli vachcha nilavae
She is the moon cast out and shunned by her own village.
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Sudum paarai nilaththilae paalaivanaththilae
Upon the scorching rocky ground, in the barren desert,
Thanneerai thedugindra maanae maanae
Oh deer endlessly searching for water!
Kannae karisal mannu poovae
Oh dear one, flower born of the dry black soil!
Dhinam kanneeril neenthugindra meenae
Oh fish swimming daily in a sea of tears!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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