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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanni Ponne Kanni Vachen

From Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981 Film) · 1981

Lyricist
Poonguyilan
Singers
Vani Jairam, S. N. Surendar
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981 Film)1981

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kanni ponnae….O virgin girl...
Kanni Vachen kanni vachen thanniyilaeI set a trap, I set a trap in the water
Kolamingu valaiyaachchuThe rangoli design here turned into a net
Kili vanthu vizhunthachchu thannalaeThe parrot came and fell into it on its own
Rasaaththi kolamingu valaiyaachchuO princess, the rangoli design here turned into a net
Kili vanthu vizhunthachchu thannalaeThe parrot came and fell into it on its own
Female
Aasai vachen….I placed my desire...
Aasai vachen aasai vachchen unnaalaeI placed my desire, I placed my desire because of you
Thanni paana thala maleThe water pot is over the head
Thaagamellaam um melaeAll my thirst is for you
Rasaavae thanni paana thala maleO king, the water pot is over the head
Thaagamellaam um melaeAll my thirst is for you
Male
{Thulli thulli vanthu killi killi ennaLeaping and hopping, pinching me tenderly
Alli anaichchida vanthaalaeShe came to scoop me up and embrace me
Thottu thottu enna katti katti konduTouching me again and again, holding me tight
Katti karumbena ninnaalae} (2)She stood like a block of solid sugarcane
Female
Naan thuvachcha sela naan puzhinjaa nee vadiyumIf I squeeze the saree I washed, water drips out
Aththa magan puzhinjaa aththanaiyum thaen vadiyumIf my aunt's son squeezes it, pure honey drips out
Male
Thaen kudichchu thinaruthadiStruggling after drinking honey
Neentha marantha semmeenuThe red fish that forgot how to swim
Thaen kudichchu thinaruthadiStruggling after drinking honey
Neentha marantha semmeenuThe red fish that forgot how to swim
Female
Aasai vachen….I placed my desire...
Aasai vachen aasai vachchen unnaalaeI placed my desire, I placed my desire because of you
Thanni paana thala maleThe water pot is over the head
Thaagamellaam um melae um melaeAll my thirst is on you, on you
Female
Muthu muthu endru niththam nithamCalling out pearls every single day
Ingu thottu kalanthida vanthaanaeHe came here to touch and unite with me
Muthu muthu endru niththam nithamCalling out pearls every single day
Ingu thottu kalanthida vanthaanaeHe came here to touch and unite with me
Akkam pakkam kandu vetkkam vetkam endruLooking around at the surroundings, feeling shy and bashful
Michcham michcham konjam endraenaeI said to save a little bit for later
Male
Paavi maga paathaa paatha edam palaaruWherever this sinful guy looks, it feels like a slap across the cheek
Ennaikku theerum ila vayasu kolaaruWhen will this trouble of youth come to an end?
Female
Panju meththa vaangi vanthuHe will buy a cotton mattress and come
Parisam poda poraaruTo pay the dowry gift for marriage
Panju meththa vaangi vanthuHe will buy a cotton mattress and come
Parisam poda poraaruTo pay the dowry gift for marriage
Male
Kanni ponnae….O virgin girl...
Kanni Vachen kanni vachen thanniyilaeI set a trap, I set a trap in the water
Kolamingu valaiyaachchuThe rangoli design here turned into a net
Kili vanthu vizhunthachchu thannalaeThe parrot came and fell into it on its own
Female
Aasai vachen….I placed my desire...
Aasai vachen aasai vachchen unnaalaeI placed my desire, I placed my desire because of you
Thanni paana thala maleThe water pot is over the head
Thaagamellaam um melae um melaeAll my thirst is on you, on you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This duet song from the 1981 Tamil film 'Nenjile Thunivirunthal' depicts a playful, romantic banter between two lovers sharing their deep affection and desire for each other. Using rich rural imagery like water pots, rangoli patterns, nets, and sugarcane, the couple expresses how hopelessly they have fallen in love and how irresistible their attraction is.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Kanni Vachen kanni vachen thanniyilae

The second consonant 'n' rhymes across 'Kanni' and 'Thanni' in the opening couplets.

Metaphor (Uruvagham)

Katti karumbena ninnaalae

Comparing sweet affection and romance to a solid block of sugarcane ('Katti karumbena').

Anaphora / Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Thulli thulli vanthu killi killi enna

Repetition of words like 'Thulli thulli', 'killi killi', 'Thottu thottu', 'katti katti' for rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Lyrics for this song were penned by poet Poonguyilan. The song uses classical folk rhythms typical of early 80s rural Tamil cinema soundtrack compositions.

Keep listening

More from Nenjile Thunivirunthal (1981 Film)