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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanne Navamaniye

From En Bommakutty Ammavukku · 1988

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Bommakutty Ammavukku1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Aayiram pichi poovumEven if a thousand jasmine flowers
Arumbarumbaa poothaalumBloom in full buds
Vaasam ulla pichi enakkuA fragrant jasmine for me
Vaaikaadhu yekkaalumWill never be destined forever
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Male
Onnu rendu pethirundhaaIf I had one or two children
Dhukkam adhu thonaadhuThis sorrow wouldn't be felt
Unnai naanum vittadhanaalSince I lost you
Kannu rendum thoongaadhuBoth my eyes cannot sleep
Aadaadha oonjalgalaiUnswung swings
Aada vaitha vannam mayilWere made to swing by the colorful peacock
Paadaadha sondhangalaiUnsung relationships
Paada vaitha chinna kuyilWere made to sing by the little cuckoo
Male
Engirukku en uyiraeWhere are you, my life?
Ennai vittu nee thaniyaaAre you alone leaving me behind?
Vandhu vidu kan maniyaeCome back, my precious eye
Enakkum ingu orr thunaiyaaTo be my companion here
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Aayiram pichi poovumEven if a thousand jasmine flowers
Arumbarumbaa poothaalumBloom in full buds
Vaasam ulla pichi enakkuA fragrant jasmine for me
Vaaikaadhu yekkaalumWill never be destined forever
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Male
Thavam irundhu petra kiliLike a parrot obtained through penance
Thavikka vittu ponadhu polThat left me struggling in pain
Thunaiyaaga vandha kiliThe parrot that came as my companion
Thaniyaaga poi vidumoWill it leave me and go alone?
Aadaadha oonjalgalaiUnswung swings
Aada vaitha vanna mayilWere made to swing by the colorful peacock
Paadaadha sondhangalaiUnsung relationships
Paada vaitha chinna kuyilWere made to sing by the little cuckoo
Male
Ennai vittu thannan thaniLeaving me all alone
Vaazhndhidumo vaazhndhidumoWill it live on, will it live on?
En uyirum ennai vittuMy life force, leaving me
Poi vidumo poi vidumoWill it depart, will it depart?
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Aayiram pichi poovumEven if a thousand jasmine flowers
Arumbarumbaa poothaalumBloom in full buds
Vaasam ulla pichi enakkuA fragrant jasmine for me
Vaaikaadhu yekkaalumWill never be destined forever
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Male
Thavamaa thavam irundhuDoing severe penance and austerity
Thunaiyaaga vandha kiliThe parrot that became my companion
Thaviyaa thavikka vittuSuffering in pain continuously
Thaniyaaga sendradhennaWhy did it go away alone?
Ooraarin kannu padaUnder the gaze of the townspeople
Oorgolam ponadhammaaIt went in a procession, my dear
Yaroda kannu pattuCaught by whose evil eye
Aathodu ponadhammaaDid it go away with the river?
Male
Kaiyila thaan vechirundhaaIf held in my hands
Thavari adhu poguminnuFearing it might slip away
Madiyila naan vechirundhenI kept her in my lap
Madiyuminnu nenaikkaliyaeI never thought she would perish on my lap
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?
Aayiram pichi poovumEven if a thousand jasmine flowers
Arumbarumbaa poothaalumBloom in full buds
Vaasam ulla pichi enakkuA fragrant jasmine for me
Vaaikaadhu yekkaalumWill never be destined forever
Male
Kannae navamaniyaeOh my darling, my precious gem
Unna kaanaamal kan urangumoWill my eyes sleep without seeing you?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Kannae Navamaniyae' is a deeply emotional lullaby and lamentation expressing the unbearable pain of a grieving parent who has lost their beloved child. The parent compares the child to a rare precious gem, a colorful peacock that brought joy to silent swings, and a sweet cuckoo that gave voice to cold relationships. The song captures the tragic essence of longing, sleep deprived nights, and disbelief at destiny taking away the one soul obtained after immense prayer and penance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Kannae navamaniyae

The child is metaphorically referred to as 'Navamani' (nine precious gems), 'vannam mayil' (colorful peacock), and 'chinna kuyil' (little cuckoo).

Anaphora / Alliteration (Monai)

Thavamaa thavam irundhu / Thunaiyaaga vandha kili

Repetition of initial consonant sounds and words like 'Thavam', 'Thavikka', and 'Thaniyaaga' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic sorrow.

Rhetorical Question

Unna kaanaamal kan urangumo

The speaker asks questions out of despair rather than seeking an answer, heightening the emotional grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

En Bommakutty Ammavukku (1988) was directed by Fazil and is the Tamil remake of his critically acclaimed Malayalam film 'Ennte Sooryaputhrikku' / 'Nokkethadhoovathu Kannum Nattu'. The music and lyrics for this poignant soundtrack were composed by Ilaiyaraaja, depicting intense parental love and loss.

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