Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanneeril Moolgum Odam

From Mythili Ennai Kaathali · 1986

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
T. Rajendar
Details
Mythili Ennai Kaathali1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanneeril moozhgum odam naanaeI am a boat drowning in tears
Karai serkka vendum endraen neeyaeI asked you to be the one to guide me to the shore
Female
Kanneeril moozhgum odam naanaeI am a boat drowning in tears
Karai serkka vendum endraen neeyaeI asked you to be the one to guide me to the shore
Ennai nee veruththaal ennaagum endruThink about what will happen if you despise me
Ninaiththuthaan paaru nenjaththai keluJust think about it and ask your own heart
Mullil aadum paravai naanthaanae paravai naanaeI am indeed a bird dancing among thorns, yes I am a bird
Female
Kanneeril moozhgum odam naanaeI am a boat drowning in tears
Karai serkka vendum endraen neeyaeI asked you to be the one to guide me to the shore
Male
Aaa….aaa…aa….aa….aaa…..aa….Aaa... aaa... aa... aa... aaa... aa...
Ammaavaasai iravinilae nilavathu udhippathillaiThe moon does not rise on a new moon night
Azhagattra en mugaththai androruththi yaerkkavillaiBack then, a woman rejected me because my face lacked beauty
Female :Azhagai vaiththu kadhalikka avalai pola palar unduFemale: There are many like her who love based on beauty
Anbai vaiththu kadhalikka ennai pola silar unduThere are a few like me who love based on true affection
Male
Palaivanaththil solai eddharkkuWhy do you need an oasis in a desert?
Female :Kaalai manathil sogam edharkkuFemale: Why is there sadness in your mind in the morning?
Male
Thirinthitta paal kudaththil vennai athai thedaathaeDo not search for butter in a pot of curded milk
Female :Oru thalai raagaththilae kaalanthannai kazhikkaathaeFemale: Do not spend your life in a one-sided love melody
Male :Azhagiya mayilae ennai nerungaathae nerungaathaeMale: Beautiful peacock, do not come near me, do not come near me
Male
Udhirnthitta natchaththiram naanaeI am a fallen star
Un vaanam azhappathu veenaeIt is futile for your sky to call me
Male
Kaambai vittu poo udhirnthaalOnce a flower falls from its stem
Meendum angae poopathillaiIt never blossoms there again
Kaadhaliththu tholviyendraalIf love ends in failure
Meendum angae kadhal illaiThere is no love there ever again
Female
Kaalai unnai kaambu endraalIf I call you, the hero, a stem
Pen avalai poo enbenI would call that woman a flower
Kaambil aval pookkavillaiShe did not bloom on your stem
Kadhal aval yaerkkavillaiShe did not accept your love
Male
Ninaiththathu naan ninaiththathuthaanWhat I thought is what I firmly hold
Female :Maranthu vittaal maattram varumFemale: If you forget, change will come
Male
Ninaiththathai marppatharkkuTo forget what was once thought
Female :Nenjaththukku theriyaathaeFemale: The heart does not know how to
Female
Kangalai moodikkonduBy closing your eyes
Iruttendru sollaathaeDo not say that it is dark all around
Mullil aadum paravai naanthaanae paravai naanaeI am indeed a bird dancing among thorns, yes I am a bird
Male
Udhirnthitta natchaththiram naanaeI am a fallen star
Un vaanam azhappathu veenaeIt is futile for your sky to call me
Tharai meedhu odam odaathu maanaeA boat cannot run on land, my dear
Nadhi meedhu therum pogaathu thaeneA chariot cannot move on a river, my sweet one
Maanae thenae ennai nerungaathae nerungaathaeMy dear, sweet one, do not come near me, do not come near me
Male
Udhirnthitta natchaththiram naanaeI am a fallen star
Un vaanam azhaippathu veenaeIt is futile for your sky to call me
Tharai meedhu odam odaathu maanaeA boat cannot run on land, my dear
Nadhi meedhu therum pogaathu thaenaeA chariot cannot move on a river, my sweet one
Maanae thaenae ennai nerungaathae nerungaathaeMy dear, sweet one, do not come near me, do not come near me
Male
Udhirnthitta natchaththiram naanaeI am a fallen star
Un vaanam azhaippathu veenaeIt is futile for your sky to call me

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This iconic Tamil song from Mythili Ennai Kaathali depicts a poignant dialogue between a heartbroken male protagonist and a compassionate woman who tries to heal his emotional scars. The protagonist compares himself to a fallen star and a drowning boat, deeply traumatized by a past rejection due to his appearance, and insists that he cannot love again. The female voice attempts to persuade him that true love looks beyond physical appearance to genuine affection, urging him not to shut out new possibilities of happiness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Kanneeril moozhgum odam naanae

Compares the protagonist's sorrowful existence to a boat sinking in a sea of tears.

Symbolism

Udhirnthitta natchaththiram naanae

Uses a fallen star to represent loss of hope and a broken spirit.

Rhyme and Parallelism (Edhugai / Monai)

Tharai meedhu odam odaathu maanae / Nadhi meedhu therum pogaathu thaene

Utilizes impossible natural combinations (boat on land, chariot on river) to symbolize emotional incompatibility.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written, composed, and directed by multi-talented filmmaker T. Rajendar, the song features his signature rhythmic, rhyming lyrics. Sung beautifully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and S. Janaki, the track became a huge emotional anthem for heartbreak in 1980s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

More from Mythili Ennai Kaathali