Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanni Penne Oh Kanni Penne

From Nalvaravu · 1964

Lyricist
V. Lakshmanan
Singers
P. Susheela, P. B. Sreenivas
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Movie name
Nalvaravu
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
8 Jun 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanni pennae…
Kanni pennae… oo kanni pennae
Kobam yen ammma thaabam yen ammma
Un kann irandum thaamarai pol
Sivathathaen summaa sivanthathaen summa
Kanni pennae…
Punngaiyai moodi veitha kaaranam ennae
Punngaiyai moodi veitha kaaranam ennae
Idhazh minnukindra pal varisai
Thoranam engae… thoranam engae
Paarthu pesammma paadi aadammaa
Paasam vaithu aasaiyodu
Paarvai thannai veesammma
Kanni pennae…
Sithirakkaara oo sithirakkaara
Kaadhal thaan idhoo jaalam yen aiyaaa
Kaadhal thaan idhoo jaalam yen aiyaaa
Un sithathilae pen manathai
Varaindhu paaraiyaaa… varaindhu paaraiyaa
Sithirakkaara …aa…
Kanni ennai kaakka veitha kaaranam ennae
Vara sonna neram marandhu pona
Karanam ennae
Kanni ennai kaakka veitha kaaranam ennae
Vara sonna neram marandhu pona
Karanam ennae …kaaranam ennae
Kaanum bodhilae kaattum aasaiyae
Kaanal neeril thondri maari
Kalaivadhu thaan yen aiyaaa
Sithirakkaara …aa…
Young girl...
Young girl, oh young girl!
Why this anger, my dear? Why this distress?
Why have your two lotus-like eyes
Turned red for no reason? Why are they red?
Young girl...
What is the reason you hide your smile?
What is the reason you hide your smile?
The shining row of teeth on your lips—
Where is that festive garland? Where is it?
Look at me and speak, sing and dance,
With fond affection and longing,
Cast your sweet gaze on me...
Young girl...
O painter, oh painter!
Love is right here, so why play tricks?
Love is right here, so why play tricks?
In your mind, try picturing a woman's heart,
Try painting it and see! Try painting it and see!
O painter... ah...
Why did you make this young girl wait?
Forgetting the time you asked me to come,
What was the reason? What was the reason?
Why did you make this young girl wait?
Forgetting the time you asked me to come,
What was the reason? What was the reason?
The love and desire you show only when we meet,
Why does it rise like water in a mirage,
Only to shift and fade away?
O painter... ah...
Male
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a charming, playful romantic duet between lovers. The male protagonist gently teases his beloved, asking why she appears angry and upset, comparing her reddened eyes to lotus flowers and her smile to a sparkling festive decorative arch (thoranam). He coaxes her to leave her anger behind, sing, dance, and shower him with love. In turn, the female protagonist lovingly scolds him, addressing him as a 'painter'. She questions his tardiness and asks why he made her wait despite setting a time. She metaphorically compares his fleeting affection to a desert mirage that appears and disappears, challenging him to truly capture and understand a woman's heart in his art.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Un kann irandum thaamarai pol

Compares the beloved's eyes directly to red lotus flowers using 'pol' (like).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Idhazh minnukindra pal varisai Thoranam engae

Metaphorically equates a row of sparkling white teeth seen between the lips to a decorative festive garland or festoon (thoranam).

Metaphor / Imagery

Kaanal neeril thondri maari Kalaivadhu thaan yen aiyaaa

Uses the image of a mirage (kaanal neer) to represent transient, illusory feelings that appear only to vanish.

Initial Rhyme / Alliteration (Monai)

Paasam vaithu aasaiyodu Paarvai thannai veesammma

Repetition of consonant sounds 'P' across adjacent words ('Paasam', 'Paarvai').

Did you know?

Trivia

Nalvaravu (1964) featured music by the veteran composer T. Chalapathi Rao, who was well-known for his compositions across both Tamil and Telugu cinema. The duet showcases the classic singing partnership of P. B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela, written by lyricist V. Lakshmanan.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Nalvaravu

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.