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Neerum Neruppum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanni Oruthi

From Neerum Neruppum · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
P. Susheela, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Neerum Neruppum
Movie release year
1971
Lyrics added on
12 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanni oruthi madiyil
Kaalai oruvan mayangi
Kadhai kadhaiyaai solla vandhaan
Kanni oruthi madiyil
Kaalai oruvan mayangi
Kadhai kadhaiyaai solla vandhaan
Kaalai pozhudhum vidiya
Kaadhal muzhudhum mudiya
Suvai suvaiyaai alli thandhaal aa… aa…
Kanni oruthi madiyil
Kaalai oruvan mayangi
Kadhai kadhaiyaai solla vandhaan
Aa…aa…
Solli solli mudithu vittaan
Adhai sollum varai thudikka vittaan
Solli solli mudithu vittaan
Adhai sollum varai thudikka vittaan
Penmai ennum poovum konjam
Menmai maari pogum vannam
Penmai ennum poovum konjam
Menmai maari pogum vannam
Sevvilani chaareduthu koduthaalo
Thannai oru thennai yena ninaithaalo ho
Sevvilani chaareduthu koduthaalo
Thannai oru thennai yena ninaithaalo
Idhazhgalai idhazh kondu maraithaalo
Eerettu vayadhinil malarndhaalo
Thaenaruvi chaaralena ninaithaano
Thottu thottu pattudalai nanaithaano
Thaenaruvi chaaralena ninaithaano
Thottu thottu pattudalai nanaithaano
Kadalinil padagena midhandhaano
Kaalathai kaadhalil marandhaano
Aa…haa kanni oruthi madiyil
Kaalai oruvan mayangi
Kadhai kadhaiyaai solla vandhaan
Aa…aa…
Kothu malar poonghuzhalai
Methai polae
Kondu vandha vanji magal nenjin melae
Kothu malar poonghuzhalai
Methai polae
Kondu vandha vanji magal nenjin melae
Mani vizhi mayangida kidandhaano
Maeniyai kai kondu alandhaano
Moongilai kaadirukkum idam paarthu
Mellidaiyai allugira karan saerththu
Moongilai kaadirukkum idam paarthu
Mellidaiyai allugira karan saerththu
Kalaigalai pazhagida thunindhaano
Kaaviya poo magal thuvandaalo
Aa…aa
Kaalai pozhudhum vidiya
Kaadhal muzhudhum mudiya
Suvai suvaiyaai alli thandhaal
In a young woman's lap,
a young man fell entranced,
and came to tell story after story.
In a young woman's lap,
a young man fell entranced,
and came to tell story after story.
As the morning dawned,
and their love was fulfilled,
she showered him with sweet delights, ah... ah...
In a young woman's lap,
a young man fell entranced,
and came to tell story after story.
Ah... ah...
He poured out all his words,
and kept her yearning until he finished.
He poured out all his words,
and kept her yearning until he finished.
So that the flower of her womanhood
would gently yield its softness,
So that the flower of her womanhood
would gently yield its softness,
did she offer the sweet nectar of tender coconut?
Did she think of herself as a coconut palm? Oh,
did she offer the sweet nectar of tender coconut?
Did she think of herself as a coconut palm?
Did she cover his lips with her own?
Did she fully bloom at sweet sixteen?
Did he think of her as the spray of a honeyed waterfall?
Touching her again and again, did he drench her silky body?
Did he think of her as the spray of a honeyed waterfall?
Touching her again and again, did he drench her silky body?
Did he float like a boat upon the sea?
Did he forget all time in love?
Ah... ha, in a young woman's lap,
a young man fell entranced,
and came to tell story after story.
Ah... ah...
With clusters of flowers in her hair,
soft like a bed,
upon the chest of that slender beauty,
With clusters of flowers in her hair,
soft like a bed,
upon the chest of that slender beauty,
did he lie enraptured, with dreamy eyes?
Did he caress every curve of her body with his hands?
Looking upon her smooth, bamboo-like form,
wrapping his arms around her slender waist,
Looking upon her smooth, bamboo-like form,
wrapping his arms around her slender waist,
did he dare to master the arts of love?
Did that poetic, flower-like woman softly yield?
Ah... ah,
as the morning dawned,
and their love was fulfilled,
she showered him with sweet delights.
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Kanni Oruthi Madiyil' from the 1971 movie 'Neerum Neruppum' is a sensual romantic duet that vividly describes intimacy between two lovers spending the night together. The lyrics allegorically capture the ecstasy, warmth, and tender playful affection shared between the hero and heroine until daybreak.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kanni oruthi madiyil

Matching second consonants across lines like 'Kanni' and 'Madiyil' / 'Solli' and 'Adhai'.

Moonaai (First-letter Alliteration)

Kanni oruthi madiyil / Kaalai oruvan mayangi

Alliteration of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kanni' and 'Kaalai'.

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Penmai ennum poovum konjam

Comparing womanhood directly to a flower ('Penmai ennum poovum').

Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)

Solli solli mudithu vittaan

Repetition of words like 'solli solli' and 'thottu thottu' to emphasize continuous action and affection.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by K. V. Mahadevan for M. G. Ramachandran's swashbuckling film 'Neerum Neruppum' (1971), directed by P. Neelakantan. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela with lyrics by Vaali, the song remains a classic example of poetic romance in Tamil cinema.

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