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Kaveriyin Kanavan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kanni Vayadhu

From Kaveriyin Kanavan · 1959

Lyricist
P. K. Muthusami
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Kaveriyin Kanavan
Movie release year
1959
Lyrics added on
30 Dec 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanni vayadhu ilam paruvathilae
Kanavan endra uruvathilae
Yaaroo enakku maalaiyittaar
Avar oorper theriyaamal pirindhu vittar
Kanni vayadhu ilam paruvathilae
Kanavan endra uruvathilae
Yaaroo enakku maalaiyittaar
Avar oorper theriyaamal pirindhu vittar
Thaali kattiya naal mudhalaai
Thalaivarin nizhalaiyum kandathillai
Thaali kattiya naal mudhalaai
Thalaivarin nizhalaiyum kandathillai
Aazhi soozhndha ulagathilae
Ennai avathikku aalaakki pirindhuvittar
Aazhi soozhndha ulagathilae
Ennai avathikku aalaakki pirindhuvittar
Kanni vayadhu ilam paruvathilae
Kanavan endra uruvathilae
Yaaroo enakku maalaiyittaar
Avar oorper theriyaamal pirindhu vittar
Idhayamilladhavar seyalaale
Illara padagum kavizhndhadhada
Idhayamilladhavar seyalaale
Illara padagum kavizhndhadhada
Sidhariya naangal idhuvaraiyil
Thirumbavum ondraai seravillai
Sidhariya naangal idhuvaraiyil
Thirumbavum ondraai seravillai
Kanni vayadhu ilam paruvathilae
Kanavan endra uruvathilae
Yaaroo enakku maalaiyittaar
Avar oorper theriyaamal pirindhu vittar
In my tender days of youth,
in the guise of a husband,
someone placed a wedding garland on me,
and left without me knowing his name or town.
In my tender days of youth,
in the guise of a husband,
someone placed a wedding garland on me,
and left without me knowing his name or town.
From the day he tied the thaali (sacred wedding thread),
I have not even seen my husband's shadow.
From the day he tied the thaali (sacred wedding thread),
I have not even seen my husband's shadow.
In this world surrounded by the sea,
he left me behind to suffer in distress.
In this world surrounded by the sea,
he left me behind to suffer in distress.
In my tender days of youth,
in the guise of a husband,
someone placed a wedding garland on me,
and left without me knowing his name or town.
Because of the deeds of unkind people,
the boat of our married life capsized.
Because of the deeds of unkind people,
the boat of our married life capsized.
We were torn apart, and till this day,
we have not come together again.
We were torn apart, and till this day,
we have not come together again.
In my tender days of youth,
in the guise of a husband,
someone placed a wedding garland on me,
and left without me knowing his name or town.
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This sorrowful track conveys the deep grief and anguish of a young woman who was married off in her youth to a man whose identity and background remained unknown to her. Immediately following the ceremony, her husband abandoned her, leaving her to endure a life of isolation and suffering without even having seen his shadow since the day of their wedding.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Illara padagum kavizhndhadhada

The line compares domestic/married life to a boat ('Illara padagu') that has capsized, symbolizing a wrecked marriage.

Initial Rhyme / Monai

Thaali kattiya naal mudhalaai / Thalaivarin nizhalaiyum kandathillai

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Th' in consecutive lines ('Thaali' and 'Thalaivarin').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Thalaivarin nizhalaiyum kandathillai

Expressing extreme abandonment by stating she has not even seen her husband's shadow since their wedding day.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kaveriyin Kanavan' (1959) featured timeless music by K. V. Mahadevan. This track, sung by P. Susheela with lyrics by P. K. Muthusami, showcases classic mid-20th-century Tamil cinema melancholic melody tropes.

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