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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanney Naan Un Kannadi

From Paava Kadhaigal · 2020

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Not Known
Music director
Karthick
Details
Paava Kadhaigal2020

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanney naan un kannaadiMy dear, I am your mirror
Unna kaattura kannaadiA mirror that reflects you
Santhosam en santhosamHappiness, my happiness
Enga veesuna thaayeee…..Where did it blow away to, my child?
Female
Kanney naan un kannaadiMy dear, I am your mirror
Nee mayyai theettura kannaadiThe mirror in which you apply your kohl
Kanneera un kanneeraTears, your tears
Enna pannuven thaayee…..What shall I do about them, my child?
Female
Marukkaa pooththida sirippa paaththidaTo bloom once more, to see your smile again
Kizhakkum kaangala kanney….Even the eastern horizon is not visible, my dear
Idunju nee azha udanju naan vizhaAs you cry broken down, I crumble and fall
Tharaiyum kaangala kanney….Even the ground beneath is not visible, my dear
Female
Kanney naan un kannaadiMy dear, I am your mirror
Unna kaattura kannaadiA mirror that reflects you
Santhosam en santhosamHappiness, my happiness
Enga veesuna thaayeee…..Where did it blow away to, my child?
Female
Kanney azhugaiya thingaatheyMy dear, do not feed upon your grief
Neeyum theekkura thingaatheyDo not consume that which burns you inside
Kaayaththa intha kaayaththaThis wound, oh this painful wound
Eththaal theeppaen thaayee…..How will I ever heal it, my child?
Female
Kaaththa kaathula sollaathaDo not whisper it to the passing wind
Kaayam aachunu sollaathaDo not let it be known that you are hurt
Oorellaam ingu pollaathaAll across this town, evil minds abound
Peiga vaaluthu thaayee…..Wicked demons dwell here, my child
Female
Orunaal maaridum ranamum aaridumOne day things will change, and the wound will heal
Marakka paaradi pennae….Try to move past it and forget, my daughter
Enaiya theththavey valiya kaangalaWhile I find no way to heal my own grief
Unaiya theththuran kanney….I try to comfort and strengthen you, my dear

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a parent's immense grief and unconditional empathy towards a suffering daughter. By referring to themselves as her 'mirror', the narrator highlights how deeply intertwined their emotions are—when the daughter cries, the parent crumbles inside. The lyrics paint a dark picture of societal cruelty, warning the daughter to hide her trauma because the surrounding world is filled with heartless people ('demons'). Despite feeling completely helpless and unable to heal their own pain, the parent tries to stay strong to offer solace, hope, and emotional comfort to the child, holding onto the faith that time will eventually heal the deep psychological wounds.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kanney naan un kannaadi

The line compares the parent to a mirror ('kannaadi'), signifying that the parent reflects the child's emotions, pain, and beauty directly.

Epizeuxis / Repetition

Kaayaththa intha kaayaththa

The duplication of 'kaayaththa' emphasizes the agonizing severity of the emotional trauma and wound.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Kaaththa kaathula sollaatha / Kaayam aachunu sollaatha

The second letter consonant 'th' matches across lines ('Kaaththa', 'Kaayam', 'Oorellaam'), creating traditional Tamil poetic rhythm.

Hyperbole

Kizhakkum kaangala kanney…. / Tharaiyum kaangala kanney….

Describing the loss of sight of the east and the ground visually conveys total disorientation brought on by overwhelming grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features in the Netflix Tamil anthology film 'Paava Kadhaigal' (2020), specifically in Gautham Vasudev Menon's segment 'Vaanmagal'. Composed by Justin Prabhakaran with lyrics penned by Yugabharathi, the song captures the agonizing emotional trauma faced by a family dealing with a severe societal crime committed against a young girl.

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