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Poovilangu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannil Etho Minnal

From Poovilangu · 1984

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Poovilangu
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
7 Jul 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannil etho minnal
Adichiruchu
Kaaman veetu
Jannal thiranthiruchu
Dhegam lesa soodachu….
Suttu viral thottuputta
Vervai varum muthu muthaa
Panchum neruppum pathi kollumae
Pakkathil vachaa
Panchum neruppum pathi kollumae
Pakkathil vachaa
Kannil etho minnal
Adichiruchu
Kaaman veetu
Jannal thiranthiruchu
Enna solli vilakku
Enakithu pudhusu
Idaiveli illamae
Thudikkuthu manasu
{Kaanathathai kanda
Udambu noolachu
Iru kannukkulla
Thee vilunthathu polachu} (2)
Innum konjam kitta vantha ennavathu…
Nethi vervai nanaichu
Pottu konjam azhiyum
Kungumathu sevappa
Vetkam pola vazhiyum
{Achchapattu oodi vanthen
Veetukullae
Ada adakaakka sevalum
Vandhathu kootukkullae} (2)
Penmai ingae pottukolla
Thazhpaal illae
Kannil etho minnal
Adichiruchu
Kaaman veetu
Jannal thiranthiruchu
Dhegam lesa soodachu
Suttu viral thottuputta
Vervai varum muthu muthaa
Panchum neruppum pathi kollumae
Pakkathil vachaa
Panchum neruppum pathi kollumae
Pakkathil vachaa
Kannil etho minnal
Adichiruchu
Male :Kaaman veetu
Jannal thiranthiruchu
A flash of lightning
has struck in the eyes
In the house of the god of love,
the window has opened
The body has grown slightly warm...
If just a fingertip touches,
sweat breaks out like pearls
Cotton and fire will catch flame
if kept side by side
Cotton and fire will catch flame
if kept side by side
A flash of lightning
has struck in the eyes
In the house of the god of love,
the window has opened
How can I explain it?
All of this is new to me
Without a single pause,
my heart keeps pounding
Seeing what it has never seen before,
the body has thinned like a thread
Inside both my eyes,
it feels as though fire has fallen
What will happen if you come a little closer?
Drenched by the sweat on my forehead,
the bindi smudges a little
In the deep red of kumkum,
it trickles down like a blush
Overwhelmed by fear, I ran
inside the house
Yet to nestle in, the rooster too
came into the coop!
For womanhood to lock itself in,
there is no latch here
A flash of lightning
has struck in the eyes
In the house of the god of love,
the window has opened
The body has grown slightly warm
If just a fingertip touches,
sweat breaks out like pearls
Cotton and fire will catch flame
if kept side by side
Cotton and fire will catch flame
if kept side by side
A flash of lightning
has struck in the eyes
In the house of the god of love,
the window has opened
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a sensual romantic duet depicting the passionate awakening of desire between two lovers. The lyrics evoke strong visual metaphors of sudden lightning in the eyes, warmth creeping through the body, and the inevitable attraction between lovers described as cotton placed near fire. The female protagonist expresses her hesitation, novelty of emotion, and helplessness against love's overpowering pull, while the male counterpart responds to her romantic surrender.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (உருவகம்)

“Panchum neruppum pathi kollumae”

Comparing the lovers' physical proximity to cotton and fire catching flame ('Panchum neruppum pathi kollumae').

Simile (உவமையணி)

“Vervai varum muthu muthaa”

Comparing beads of sweat to pearls ('muthu muthaa') and red vermilion flowing down like shyness ('Vetkam pola vazhiyum').

Mythological Allusion (புராணக் குறிப்பு)

“Kaaman veetu”

Referencing 'Kaaman' (Kamadeva, the Hindu god of love and desire) to signify romantic longing.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Poovilangu' (1984) marked the silver screen debut of actor Murali. The song 'Kannil Etho Minnal' was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, and sung by Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki.

Keep listening

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