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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanni Pen Kannukkulle

From Oorum Uravum · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Shailaja
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Oorum Uravum1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kanni penn kannukkullaeInside the young maiden's eyes
Sorkkam vanthu neeraadum paarungalLook, heaven comes to bathe
Paadangal kattru konduLearn your lessons
Paavai ennai katti kondu aadungalEmbrace me, the maiden, and dance
Female
Ungal munnaal pudhiya jodhiA new light shines before you
Innum neengal pazhaiya jaadhiYet you remain tied to old conventions
Kannil undu kadhal saedhiThere is a message of love in the eyes
Ungal maattaram entha thaedhiOn which date will your transformation happen?
Female
Kanni penn kannukkullaeInside the young maiden's eyes
Sorkkam vanthu neeraadum paarungalLook, heaven comes to bathe
Paadangal kattru konduLearn your lessons
Paavai ennai katti kondu aadungalEmbrace me, the maiden, and dance
Female
Ulagam theriyavillaiyaeYou do not know the ways of the world
Viral suvaikkum pillaiyaeOh child sucking your finger
Neendha marantha meenaeOh fish that forgot how to swim
Katti podu itta kodu kadanthu vaa vaaCross over the boundary line set to restrict you, come come
Idhazhil thaen allavaa….Is there not honey on the lips...
Female
Ulagam theriyavillaiyaeYou do not know the ways of the world
Viral suvaikkum pillaiyaeOh child sucking your finger
Neendha marantha meenaeOh fish that forgot how to swim
Katti podu itta kodu kadanthu vaa vaaCross over the boundary line set to restrict you, come come
Idhazhil thaen allavaa….Is there not honey on the lips...
Idhazhil thaen allavaa….Is there not honey on the lips...
Male
Kaiodu sarakkirukku adi ammaaluI have spirits in hand, oh Ammaalu
Needhaandi arakkirukku adoi doiYou yourself are an intoxicating spirit, oh dear
Kolli malai thaenae kummiyadippanaeOh honey of Kolli Hills, I shall perform the Kummi dance
Puliyaattam aaduvaenae…yaehae hae…I shall perform the Tiger Dance... yeah
Kolli malai thaenae kummiyadippanaeOh honey of Kolli Hills, I shall perform the Kummi dance
Puliyaattam aaduvaenae…aahaahaahI shall perform the Tiger Dance... aahaahaah
Male
Kaiodu sarakkirukku adi ammaaluI have spirits in hand, oh Ammaalu
Needhaandi arakkirukku haei….You yourself are an intoxicating spirit, hey...
Male
Haan….sundhara kiliyae aah santhana kuyilaeAh... beautiful parrot, ah sandal cuckoo
Thaavani mayilae thaamarai magalaePeacock in half-saree, daughter of the lotus
Maangani suaiyae maadhvan nagaiyaeTaste of sweet mango, smile of Madhava
Unnaattam adaveduththuTaking steps like your dance style
Adi ennaipola vaippaayo adiyeduththu…ae…Will you take dance steps like me...
Male
Naan mattum nenaichchaa nee kaththu koduththaaIf I decide and if you teach me
Aattam kandu unthan aattamSeeing your magnificent dance
Aattamthaan kaanaatho….Wouldn't your dance be a spectacle...
Male
Kaiodu sarakkirukku adi ammaaluI have spirits in hand, oh Ammaalu
Needhaandi arakkirukku haei….You yourself are an intoxicating spirit, hey...
Male
………………….(Musical Interlude)
Male
Hae….maaligai mayilaeHey... peacock of the palace
Aah maargazhi veyilaeAh... warm sunshine of Margazhi winter
Aasaigal enakku aairam irukkuI have a thousand desires within me
Maaruthal enakku aaruthal unakkuChange for me, comfort for you
Male
Maelnaattu dhurai magalaeOh daughter of Western royalty
Ini ennai kanduSeeing me from now on
Vaai moodum madamagalae haeiOh maiden who closes her mouth in quietness, hey
Malligai vanamae manmathan kulamaeGarden of jasmine, lineage of Cupid
Pattikkaadu ennum naavai kattihthaan podammaa haanTie up the tongue that calls me a village bumpkin, dear
Female
Aiyaavukku sarakkirukkuSir has got the high spirit
Adha kanduthaan ammaalukkarakirukkuSeeing that, Ammaalu gets dazed
Male :Sinthi vizhumthaenaeMale: Oh honey spilling over
Female :Vanthu vizhunthaenaeFemale: I came and fell into your arms
Male :Thanthaenae ennaththaanaeMale: I surrendered myself completely
Female :Aamaamaama thanthanae ennaththaanaeFemale: Yes, yes, I surrendered myself completely
Both :Aamaamaama thanthanae ennaththaanaeBoth: Yes, yes, I surrendered myself completely
Aamaamaama thanthanae ennaththaanaeYes, yes, I surrendered myself completely

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This lively duet from Oorum Uravum (1982) features a playfulness between a refined maiden and a rustic rural lover. The song combines poetic romance with folk energy, juxtaposing traditional village dance motifs with romantic banter. The lead singer invites the partner to cross social boundaries and embrace love freely, using vivid nature imagery such as parrots, peacocks, lotus, and winter sun.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sundhara kiliyae aah santhana kuyilae

Comparing the maiden to natural beauties like 'santhana kuyil' (sandalwood cuckoo) and 'thaavani mayil' (peacock in half-saree).

Alliteration (Monai)

Maaligai mayilae / Maargazhi veyilae

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'M' across lines creates rhythmic harmony.

Rhyme (Edhukai)

Aasaigal enakku aairam irukku / Maaruthal enakku aaruthal unakku

Matching second-letter rhythm in 'Maaligai' and 'Maargazhi' enhancing musical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oorum Uravum' (1982) features lyrics by Vairamuthu, blending folk rhythm (Puliyaattam, Kummi) with contemporary romantic themes early in his distinguished lyricist career.

Keep listening

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