Kanni Manam Kettu Pochu
From Manamagale Vaa · 1988
- Lyricist
- Panchu Arunachalam
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Manamagale Vaa1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Manja thechchu kulikkaiyilae | While rubbing turmeric and taking my bath, |
| Manasu thenju poguthaiyaa | My heart gets worn out with yearning, my dear, |
| Mathilai etti paarppathenna mama | Why are you peeking over the compound wall, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Kalaiyedukka pogumpothu | When I go to weed the fields, |
| Kannukkullae neethaanae | You are the only image inside my eyes, |
| Kathira aruththu adikkumpothu | When harvesting and threshing the grain, |
| Kalaththu mettil neethaanae | It is you I see at the threshing floor, |
| Female | |
| Thendral adichachaa enna suduthu | When the breeze blows, why does it feel hot and burning to me? |
| Unna ninaichchaa thegam keduthu | Thinking of you makes my body frail and restless, |
| Manjalaththaan poosi | Having smeared turmeric on myself, |
| Thannila aadi | And bathed in water, |
| Malligaiyum koondhalilae | I have adorned jasmine blossoms, |
| Soodi vaichchen mama | In my braided hair for you, my beloved uncle, |
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Paayeduththu pottu vachchen | I laid out a sleeping mat, |
| Thookkam illai kannukkul | Yet sleep refuses to enter my eyes, |
| Paal pazhamum sellavillai | Neither milk nor fruit goes down my throat, |
| Neeyum illai pakkaththil | And you too are not by my side, |
| Female | |
| Vaadai paniyil paadhi ilaichchen | In the cold northern wind, I have lost half my weight, |
| Vaadum malaraa naanum kidaikken | I lie here helpless like a wilting flower, |
| En madiyil saainthu en azhagai paarththu | Lean on my lap, gaze into my beauty, |
| Nallathiyum kettathaiyum pesikkuvom mama | And let us talk sweet and sorrowful things together, my beloved uncle, |
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Manja thechchu kulikkaiyilae | While rubbing turmeric and taking my bath, |
| Manasu thenju poguthaiyaa | My heart gets worn out with yearning, my dear, |
| Mathilai etti paarppathenna mama | Why are you peeking over the compound wall, my beloved uncle? |
| Female | |
| Kanni manam kettu pochchu | The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control, |
| Sonnapadi ketkuthilla | It no longer obeys what it is told, |
| Enna podi potteengalo mama | What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle? |
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
மஞ்ச தேச்சு குளிக்கையிலே
மனசு தேஞ்சு போகுதையா
மதிலை எட்டி பார்ப்பதென்ன மாமா....
While rubbing turmeric and taking my bath,
My heart gets worn out with yearning, my dear,
Why are you peeking over the compound wall, my beloved uncle?
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
களையெடுக்க போகும் போது
கண்ணுக்குள்ளே நீதானே
கதிர அறுத்து அடிக்கும் போது
களத்து மேட்டில் நீதானே
When I go to weed the fields,
You are the only image inside my eyes,
When harvesting and threshing the grain,
It is you I see at the threshing floor,
தென்றல் அடிச்சா என்னச் சுடுது
உன்ன நினைச்சா தேகம் கெடுது
மஞ்சளத்தான் பூசி...
தண்ணியில ஆடி..
மல்லிகையும் கூந்தலிலே
சூடி வைச்சேன் மாமா
When the breeze blows, why does it feel hot and burning to me?
Thinking of you makes my body frail and restless,
Having smeared turmeric on myself,
And bathed in water,
I have adorned jasmine blossoms,
In my braided hair for you, my beloved uncle,
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
பாயெடுத்து போட்டு வச்சேன்
தூக்கம் இல்லை கண்ணுக்குள்
பால் பழமும் செல்லவில்லை
நீயும் இல்லை பக்கத்தில்
I laid out a sleeping mat,
Yet sleep refuses to enter my eyes,
Neither milk nor fruit goes down my throat,
And you too are not by my side,
வாடை பனியில் பாதி இளைச்சேன்
வாடும் மலரா நானும் கிடைக்கேன்
என் மடியில் சாய்ந்து என் அழகை பார்த்து..
நல்லதையும் கெட்டதையும் பேசிக்குவோம் மாமா
In the cold northern wind, I have lost half my weight,
I lie here helpless like a wilting flower,
Lean on my lap, gaze into my beauty,
And let us talk sweet and sorrowful things together, my beloved uncle,
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
While rubbing turmeric and taking my bath,
My heart gets worn out with yearning, my dear,
Why are you peeking over the compound wall, my beloved uncle?
மஞ்ச தேச்சு குளிக்கையிலே
மனசு தேஞ்சு போகுதையா
மதிலை எட்டி பார்ப்பதென்ன மாமா....
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
It no longer obeys what it is told,
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
கன்னி மனம் கெட்டுப் போச்சு
சொன்னபடி கேட்குதில்ல
என்ன பொடி போட்டீங்களோ மாமா.....
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Manja thechchu kulikkaiyilae
While rubbing turmeric and taking my bath,
Manasu thenju poguthaiyaa
My heart gets worn out with yearning, my dear,
Mathilai etti paarppathenna mama
Why are you peeking over the compound wall, my beloved uncle?
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Kalaiyedukka pogumpothu
When I go to weed the fields,
Kannukkullae neethaanae
You are the only image inside my eyes,
Kathira aruththu adikkumpothu
When harvesting and threshing the grain,
Kalaththu mettil neethaanae
It is you I see at the threshing floor,
Thendral adichachaa enna suduthu
When the breeze blows, why does it feel hot and burning to me?
Unna ninaichchaa thegam keduthu
Thinking of you makes my body frail and restless,
Manjalaththaan poosi
Having smeared turmeric on myself,
Thannila aadi
And bathed in water,
Malligaiyum koondhalilae
I have adorned jasmine blossoms,
Soodi vaichchen mama
In my braided hair for you, my beloved uncle,
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Paayeduththu pottu vachchen
I laid out a sleeping mat,
Thookkam illai kannukkul
Yet sleep refuses to enter my eyes,
Paal pazhamum sellavillai
Neither milk nor fruit goes down my throat,
Neeyum illai pakkaththil
And you too are not by my side,
Vaadai paniyil paadhi ilaichchen
In the cold northern wind, I have lost half my weight,
Vaadum malaraa naanum kidaikken
I lie here helpless like a wilting flower,
En madiyil saainthu en azhagai paarththu
Lean on my lap, gaze into my beauty,
Nallathiyum kettathaiyum pesikkuvom mama
And let us talk sweet and sorrowful things together, my beloved uncle,
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Manja thechchu kulikkaiyilae
While rubbing turmeric and taking my bath,
Manasu thenju poguthaiyaa
My heart gets worn out with yearning, my dear,
Mathilai etti paarppathenna mama
Why are you peeking over the compound wall, my beloved uncle?
Kanni manam kettu pochchu
The maiden's heart has gone wild and lost control,
Sonnapadi ketkuthilla
It no longer obeys what it is told,
Enna podi potteengalo mama
What love potion did you cast on me, my beloved uncle?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kanni Manam Kettu Pochchu' is a playful and romantic Tamil folk-pop song from the 1988 movie Manamagale Vaa. The song depicts a young village maiden expressing her overwhelming love and desire for her maternal cousin/uncle (a traditional romantic relation in rural Tamil culture). She teasingly accuses him of casting a magical spell or love powder on her because her heart no longer listens to reason and constantly wanders off thinking about him during her daily chores like bathing, weeding crops, and harvesting. In the second stanza, she laments her sleepless nights and loss of appetite due to intense love-sickness during the chilly season. She affectionately invites her beloved to rest in her lap so they can share intimacy and sweet talk. Musically composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung with infectious playful charm by S. Janaki, the track captures the essence of rural Tamil romance using vivid folk imagery crafted by lyricist Panchu Arunachalam.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second letter rhyme)
“Manja thechchu kulikkaiyilae / Manasu thenju poguthaiyaa”
Rhyming of the second consonant in consecutive or alternating lines, characteristic of Tamil prosody (e.g., 'Manja' and 'Manasu').
Monaai (Alliteration)
“Kalaiyedukka pogumpothu / Kannukkullae neethaanae”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across words in a line (e.g., 'Kalaiyedukka' and 'Kannukkullae').
Metaphor / Simile (Uruvagam)
“Vaadum malaraa naanum kidaikken”
Comparing the yearning heroine to a fading, wilting flower suffering in isolation.
Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)
“Thendral adichachaa enna suduthu”
Exaggeration of love-sickness where the cool breeze feels like fire burning her skin.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Manamagale Vaa' (1988) was directed by Panchu Arunachalam himself, starring Prabhu and Radhika. Panchu Arunachalam, who also wrote the lyrics for this song, was instrumental in introducing Ilaiyaraaja to the film industry with 'Annakkili' (1976). S. Janaki's rendition of rural playfulness in this song is celebrated as one of her finest collaborations with Ilaiyaraaja in late 1980s folk music.
Keep listening
More from Manamagale Vaa
Manamagale Vaa
Manamagale Vaa
Manamagale Vaa
Manamagale Vaa