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Periya Idathu Penn album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannenna Kannenna

From Periya Idathu Penn · 1963

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Periya Idathu Penn
Movie release year
1963
Lyrics added on
28 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Pattanam paartha
Maapilaiyai paarka
Vandha kilipillae
{ Pattikaata
Paarthu paarthu
Nenapadhenna manasilae } (2)
Kilipille kilipille kilipille
{ Kannenna
Kannenna kalangudhu
Ponnenna ponnenna mayankudhu
Ennenna
Ennenna ninaikudhu
Ennangal engengae parakudhu } (2)
{ Pattanam paartha
Maapilaiyai paarka
Vandha kilipillae } (2)
{ Pattikaata
Paarthu paarthu
Nenapadhenna manasilae } (2)
Kilipille kilipille kilipille
Kannenna
Kannenna kalangudhu
Ponnenna ponnenna mayankudhu
Ennenna
Ennenna ninaikudhu
Ennangal engengae parakudhu
Kungumathai sumandhu
Kondu kulungi varum singaari
Gundu malli poovai kondu
Kozhanji varum oiyaari
Oh hoi kungumathai
Sumandhu kondu kulungi
Varum singaari gundu malli
Poovai kondu kozhanji varum oiyaari
Katti mugam
Kondavalae kaadhal
Pesa vandhavalae
Aa haa katti mugam
Kondavalae kaadhal
Pesa vandhavalae
Etti etti
Ninnu ninnu
Thavipadhenna irutilae
Pattikaata
Paarthu paarthu
Nenapadhenna manasilae
Kilipille kilipille kilipille
Kannenna
Kannenna kalangudhu
Ponnenna ponnenna mayankudhu
Ennenna
Ennenna ninaikudhu
Ennangal engengae parakudhu
{ Aatrangarai orathilae
Andru vandha uruvamaa
Azhagazhaga aadai katti
Pazhaga vandha paruvama } (2)
{ Netriravu
Vandhavana neranja
Inbam thandhavana } (2)
Avana ivan enavae
Asaivadhenna vizhiyilae
Angum ingum paarthu
Paarthu nenapadhenna
Manasilae kilipille kilipille kilipille
Kannenna
Kannenna kalangudhu
Ponnenna ponnenna mayankudhu
Ennenna
Ennenna ninaikudhu
Ennangal engengae parakudhu
You came to see a groom
who has seen the city,
O sweet parrot of a girl!
Yet, looking at this rustic village
again and again,
what are you wondering in your heart?
O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot!
Why are your eyes,
why are your eyes so troubled?
Why is your golden self feeling so dazed?
What all,
what all are you thinking?
Where all are your thoughts flying?
You came to see a groom
who has seen the city,
O sweet parrot of a girl!
Yet, looking at this rustic village
again and again,
what are you wondering in your heart?
O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot!
Why are your eyes,
why are your eyes so troubled?
Why is your golden self feeling so dazed?
What all,
what all are you thinking?
Where all are your thoughts flying?
Wearing the red kumkum mark,
you stylish beauty swaying as you walk,
wearing round jasmine flowers in your hair,
you charming girl showing off with grace!
Oh, wearing the red kumkum mark,
you stylish beauty swaying as you walk,
with round jasmine flowers,
showing off with grace, you charming girl!
O girl with a lovely face,
who came here
to speak of love!
Ah, girl with a lovely face,
who came here
to speak of love!
Standing far away,
hesitating again and again,
why are you fretting in the dark?
Looking at this rustic village
again and again,
what are you wondering in your heart?
O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot!
Why are your eyes,
why are your eyes so troubled?
Why is your golden self feeling so dazed?
What all,
what all are you thinking?
Where all are your thoughts flying?
By the edge of the riverbank,
is it the same figure who came that day?
Dressed up so handsomely,
is it that youth who came to get close to you?
Is it the one who came
last night and gave you
boundless joy?
Wondering 'Is it that man or this man?',
why are your eyes darting in doubt?
Looking here and there,
looking around, what are you thinking
in your heart, O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot, O sweet parrot?
Why are your eyes,
why are your eyes so troubled?
Why is your golden self feeling so dazed?
What all,
what all are you thinking?
Where all are your thoughts flying?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful and romantic song features teaseful banter directed at a young woman (addressed tenderly as a 'little parrot') who has returned to the countryside or met a groom from the city. She appears confused, bashful, and overcome with conflicting romantic feelings. Her eyes tear up, her mind wanders back to sweet nocturnal memories and riverbank encounters, and she hesitates nervously between distant shyness and love. Kannadasan uses vivid imagery of traditional female adornments—vermilion (kumkum) and round jasmine flowers—contrasted against rustic settings like riverbanks and night meetings. The song captures the tender emotional state of a young bride-to-be whose heart is fluttering with love, doubt, and yearning.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Adukku Thodar (Reduplication / Repetition)

“Paarthu paarthu”

Emphasis through repeated words like 'Paarthu paarthu' (looking again and again), 'Etti etti' (standing far off), and 'Kilipille kilipille'.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Kannenna / Ponnenna ponnenna mayankudhu”

Rhyming of the second consonant across consecutive lines: 'Kannenna', 'Ponnenna', 'Ennenna'.

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Endearment)

“Vandha kilipillae”

Addressing the heroine lovingly as 'Kilipillae' (little parrot girl), symbolizing innocence and charm.

Moonaal / Alliteration

“Kungumathai sumandhu / Kondu kulungi varum singaari”

Matching initial consonant sounds such as 'Kungumathai' and 'Kondu', or 'Pattanam' and 'Pattikaata'.

Did you know?

Trivia

From the hit 1963 Tamil film 'Periya Idathu Penn' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The film's iconic music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics written by Kannadasan.

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From the same album

More songs from Periya Idathu Penn

View album
Kannenna Kannenna Kalangudhu1963
Periya Idathu PennPlayful
Ragasiyam Parama Ragasiyam1963
Periya Idathu PennIntimate
Thulli Odum Kaalgal1963
Periya Idathu PennRomantic
Andru Vandhadhum Sad1963
Periya Idathu PennMelancholic
Paarappa Pazhaniappa1963
Periya Idathu PennHumorous
Kattodu Kuzhal Aada1963
Periya Idathu PennCelebratory

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