Kanneerthan Kaanikkaiya
From Maappillai 1952 Film · 1952
- Lyricist
- Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
- Singer
- P. Leela
- Music directors
- N. S. Balakrishnan, T. R. Pappa
- Details
- Maappillai 1952 Film1952
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae | Are tears my only offering, O Lord? |
| Pennaaga pirandha al ennaalum ulagilae | For a person born as a woman in this world forever? |
| Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae | Are tears my only offering, O Lord? |
| Female | |
| Polladha sadhiyoo ellaam | Are all these wicked conspiracies, |
| En thalai vidhiyoo | Or is it my preordained fate? |
| Manamilladha malar pol mapaaviyaanaenae | I have become a sinner, like a flower devoid of fragrance. |
| Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae | Are tears my only offering, O Lord? |
| Female | |
| Paazhaanadhae endhan | Ruined and gone to waste... |
| Vaazh naal ellam thunbamae | ...my entire lifetime is filled with sorrow. |
| Edhirpaaraamal paal manam maaradha sei thanai | Unexpectedly, the innocent, pure child... |
| Veenaaga yen pirithaar | ...why did they separate from me in vain? |
| Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae | Are tears my only offering, O Lord? |
கண்ணீர்தான் காணிக்கையா தெய்வமே
பெண்ணாகப் பிறந்தாள் எந்நாளும் உலகில்
கண்ணீர்தான் காணிக்கையா தெய்வமே
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
For a person born as a woman in this world forever?
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
பொல்லாத சதியோ எல்லாம்
என் தலைவிதியோ
மணமில்லாத மலர்போல் மாபாவியானேனே
கண்ணீர்தான் காணிக்கையா தெய்வமே
Are all these wicked conspiracies,
Or is it my preordained fate?
I have become a sinner, like a flower devoid of fragrance.
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
பாழானதே எந்தன் வாழ் நாளெல்லாம் துன்பமே
எதிர்பாராமல் பால் மனம் மாறாத சேய் தனை
வீணாக ஏன் பிரித்தார்
கண்ணீர்தான் காணிக்கையா தெய்வமே
Ruined and gone to waste...
...my entire lifetime is filled with sorrow.
Unexpectedly, the innocent, pure child...
...why did they separate from me in vain?
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
Pennaaga pirandha al ennaalum ulagilae
For a person born as a woman in this world forever?
Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
Polladha sadhiyoo ellaam
Are all these wicked conspiracies,
En thalai vidhiyoo
Or is it my preordained fate?
Manamilladha malar pol mapaaviyaanaenae
I have become a sinner, like a flower devoid of fragrance.
Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
Paazhaanadhae endhan
Ruined and gone to waste...
Vaazh naal ellam thunbamae
...my entire lifetime is filled with sorrow.
Edhirpaaraamal paal manam maaradha sei thanai
Unexpectedly, the innocent, pure child...
Veenaaga yen pirithaar
...why did they separate from me in vain?
Kanneerthaan kaanikkaiyaa deivamae
Are tears my only offering, O Lord?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This melancholic song portrays a woman lamenting her tragic plight and questioning God about her endless suffering. She compares herself to a scentless flower—a life stripped of its joy and purpose—and wonders if her sorrow is the result of cruel conspiracies or preordained fate. The pain deepens as she mourns the unexpected separation from her innocent child, leaving her with nothing but tears as an offering to the Almighty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Manamilladha malar pol mapaaviyaanaenae”
Compares a joyless, tragic life to a scentless flower ('malar pol').
Rhyme (Iyaibu)
“Polladha sadhiyoo ellaam / En thalai vidhiyoo”
Uses rhyming line endings ('sadhiyoo' and 'vidhiyoo') to emphasize the conflict between conspiracy and fate.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Edhirpaaraamal paal manam maaradha sei thanai”
Employs 'paal manam' (milky heart) as a metaphor for the untainted innocence of a child.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Maappillai' (1952) featured memorable music composed by T. R. Pappa and N. S. Balakrishnan, with lyrics written by Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass. The song was rendered by legendary playback singer P. Leela, known for her emotional depth in classical and pathos songs.
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