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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kanni Ponnu

From Ninaivellam Nithya · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, P. Susheela
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ninaivellam Nithya1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Laa..la laaa naa naa naaa….Vocalizing melody notes.
Nana naa nana naa naaVocalizing melody notes.
Nana naa nana naa naaVocalizing melody notes.
Nana naa …nana naa …nana naa….Vocalizing melody notes.
Female
Kanni ponnu kaimelaOn the young maiden's hands,
Katti vachcha poomaalaiA tied flower garland.
Male :Kanni ponnu kaimelaMale: On the young maiden's hands,
Katti vachcha poomaalaiA tied flower garland.
Female
Yogam varum neram…When the auspicious time arrives...
Chorus :Haah haah haaah…Chorus: Haah haah haaah...
Female :Maalai vandhu serum…Female: The evening flower garland will reach...
Chorus :Haah haah haaah…Chorus: Haah haah haaah...
Male
Yogam varum neram…When the auspicious time arrives...
Maalai vandhu serum…The evening flower garland will reach...
Chorus
Kalyaanam… haah…Wedding... haah...
Kanni ponnu kaimelaOn the young maiden's hands,
Katti vachcha poomaalaiA tied flower garland.
Chorus
…………………………(Instrumental transition)
Male
{Kannukkulla vetkappadum…Shyness hiding inside the eyes...
Female :Adi achchachchovenaFemale: Oh, feeling anxious and startled,
Achcham kondathu…It became filled with fear...
Male
Thooram kandu thaththi chellum…Seeing the distance, it hops away...
Female :Adi dhik dhik dhikkenaFemale: Oh, beating fast with a flutter,
Nenju thudikkithu…} (2)The heart is pounding...
Male
Machaanin kann pesum…The lover's eyes speak...
Mounaththil penn pesumThe woman speaks in silence.
Chorus :Machaanin kann pesum…Chorus: The lover's eyes speak...
Mounaththil penn pesumThe woman speaks in silence.
Female
Poomaalai vaadum munnaeBefore the flower garland fades,
Vaadi munnaeCome forward to me,
Piraikkannae yengaathaeOh crescent-eyed girl, do not yearn!
Male
Kanni ponnu kaimelaOn the young maiden's hands,
Katti vachcha poomaalaiA tied flower garland.
Female
{Poththi vachcha muthucharamThe cherished string of pearls,
Male :Athu baththiram baththiramMale: That is safe and secure,
Medaiyil vandhadhu…Has arrived onto the stage...
Female
Pattuththirai muththam tharumThe silk curtain bestows a kiss,
Male :Muththam thara mutham tharaMale: To give a kiss, to kiss,
Yaarathu kandadhu} (2)Who has witnessed it?
Female
Kittappo mainaavae…Go near, oh my bird,
Thottuppaar mainaavae…Touch and feel, oh my bird...
Chorus :Kittappo mainaavae…Chorus: Go near, oh my bird,
Thottuppaar mainaavae…Touch and feel, oh my bird...
Male
Innaikku thoppukkullaInside the grove today,
Kaaval illaThere is no guard,
Paadikkondae vaa pulla….Come along singing, my girl...
Chorus
Turrrrrr………(Trill sound vocalization)
Female
Kanni ponnu kaimelaOn the young maiden's hands,
Katti vachcha poomaalaiA tied flower garland.
Male
Yogam varum neram…When the auspicious time arrives...
Chorus :Haah haah haaah…Chorus: Haah haah haaah...
Male :Maalai vandhu serum…Male: The garland will arrive...
Chorus :Haah haah haaah…Chorus: Haah haah haaah...
Female
Yogam varum neram…When the auspicious time arrives...
Maalai vandhu serum…The evening flower garland will reach...
Chorus
Kalyaanam… haah…Wedding... haah...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kanni Ponnu Kaimela from the 1982 film Ninaivellam Nithya is a cheerful romantic song centered around the joyful anticipation of marriage. The lyrics portray a young maiden adorning flower garlands, filled with coy shyness and nervous excitement as she looks forward to her wedding day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

Piraikkannae yengaathae

Compares the girl's eyes to a crescent moon ('Pirai') to emphasize her radiant beauty.

Alliteration (மோனை)

Machaanin kann pesum… Mounaththil penn pesum

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound in 'Machaanin' and 'Mounaththil' creates a pleasant poetic rhythm.

Onomatopoeia (இரட்டைக் கிளவி)

Adi dhik dhik dhikkena Nenju thudikkithu…

The phrase 'dhik dhik' phonetically mimics the rapid sound of a fluttering, anxious heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown credits in some song databases, Ninaivellam Nithya (1982) features a soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vairamuthu, starring Karthik and Gigi.

Keep listening

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