Kannil Ondru Kanden
From Nerupukkul Eeram · 1984
- Lyricist
- Na. Kamarasan
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nerupukkul Eeram1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ……………. | |
| Male | |
| Kannil ondru kandaen | I saw something in your eyes, |
| Kaattril ondru kettaen | I heard something in the wind, |
| Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja | A rose dancing in the misty forest. |
| Oomai nenjam yaengumpothu nee paadu | Sing when the mute heart yearns, |
| Ooril unmai thoongumpothu nee pesu | Speak when truth sleeps in the town. |
| Male | |
| Kannil ondru kandaen | I saw something in your eyes, |
| Kaattril ondru kettaen | I heard something in the wind, |
| Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja | A rose dancing in the misty forest. |
| Female | |
| Paalum kallaai marum nee thodamalae | Even milk turns to stone without you touching it, |
| Paavam unnai serum nee seiyaamalae | Sin attaches to you without you committing it. |
| Male :Vaazhkkai ennum aasai thaen palaavilae | In the jackfruit of life filled with sweet honey of desire, |
| Sogam sinthum yaezhai naan idho idho | Here I am, a poor soul spilling sorrow. |
| Female | |
| Nilaa kaalam ingae amaavaasai aagum | Here, the moonlit period turns into a dark new moon night, |
| Vasanthangal mullaai valargindra kolam | A state where springs bloom into sharp thorns. |
| Kaaladevanae idhu unthan needhiyo | O God of Time, is this your justice? |
| Female | |
| Kannil ondru kandaen | I saw something in your eyes, |
| Kaattril ondru kettaen | I heard something in the wind, |
| Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja | A rose dancing in the misty forest. |
| Female | |
| Kodai naalil paadum thaen kuyilgalae | O sweet cuckoos singing on summer days, |
| Vaadai kaattril pesum paingiligalae | O green parrots talking in the chilly wind, |
| Male :Pillai ullam enthan nenjil aaduthae | A child-like innocent heart sways in my chest, |
| Pesum vaarththai endrum needhi theduthae | The spoken word forever searches for justice. |
| Female | |
| Oraey paadhai pogum vidhi podum veedhi | It is a single path on a street laid out by destiny, |
| Vazhiyengum sogam varaverppu koorum | Sorrow welcomes you all along the journey. |
| Vaanaveedhiyae theeyum aanathae | Even the path in the sky has turned into fire. |
| Male | |
| Kannil ondru kandaen | I saw something in your eyes, |
| Kaattril ondru kettaen | I heard something in the wind, |
| Female :Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja | A rose dancing in the misty forest. |
| Male :Oomai nenjam yaengumpothu nee paadu | Sing when the mute heart yearns, |
| Female :Ooril unmai thoongumpothu nee pesu | Speak when truth sleeps in the town. |
..............................
கண்ணில் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
காற்றில் ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
மூடுபனி காட்டில் ஆடி வரும் ரோஜா
ஊமை நெஞ்சம் ஏங்கும்போது நீ பாடு
ஊரில் உண்மை தூங்கும்போது நீ பேசு
I saw something in your eyes,
I heard something in the wind,
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
Sing when the mute heart yearns,
Speak when truth sleeps in the town.
கண்ணில் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
காற்றில் ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
மூடுபனி காட்டில் ஆடி வரும் ரோஜா
I saw something in your eyes,
I heard something in the wind,
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
பாலும் கள்ளாய் மாறும் நீ தொடாமலே
பாவம் உன்னை சேரும் நீ செய்யாமலே
வாழ்க்கை என்னும் ஆசை தேன் பலாவிலே
சோகம் சிந்தும் ஏழை நான் இதோ இதோ
Even milk turns to stone without you touching it,
Sin attaches to you without you committing it.
In the jackfruit of life filled with sweet honey of desire,
Here I am, a poor soul spilling sorrow.
நிலாக் காலம் இங்கே அமாவாசை ஆகும்
வசந்தங்கள் முள்ளாய் வளர்கின்ற கோலம்
காலதேவனே இது உந்தன் நீதியோ
Here, the moonlit period turns into a dark new moon night,
A state where springs bloom into sharp thorns.
O God of Time, is this your justice?
கண்ணில் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
காற்றில் ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
மூடுபனி காட்டில் ஆடி வரும் ரோஜா
I saw something in your eyes,
I heard something in the wind,
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
கோடை நாளில் பாடும் தேன் குயில்களே
வாடைக் காற்றில் பேசும் பைங்கிளிகளே
பிள்ளை உள்ளம் எந்தன் நெஞ்சில் ஆடுதே
பேசும் வார்த்தை என்றும் நீதி தேடுதே
O sweet cuckoos singing on summer days,
O green parrots talking in the chilly wind,
A child-like innocent heart sways in my chest,
The spoken word forever searches for justice.
ஒரே பாதை போகும் விதி போடும் வீதி
வழியெங்கும் சோகம் வரவேற்பு கூறும்
வானவீதியே தீயும் ஆனதே...
It is a single path on a street laid out by destiny,
Sorrow welcomes you all along the journey.
Even the path in the sky has turned into fire.
கண்ணில் ஒன்று கண்டேன்
காற்றில் ஒன்று கேட்டேன்
மூடுபனி காட்டில் ஆடி வரும் ரோஜா
ஊமை நெஞ்சம் ஏங்கும்போது நீ பாடு
ஊரில் உண்மை தூங்கும்போது நீ பேசு
I saw something in your eyes,
I heard something in the wind,
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
Sing when the mute heart yearns,
Speak when truth sleeps in the town.
...........................
…………….
Kannil ondru kandaen
I saw something in your eyes,
Kaattril ondru kettaen
I heard something in the wind,
Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
Oomai nenjam yaengumpothu nee paadu
Sing when the mute heart yearns,
Ooril unmai thoongumpothu nee pesu
Speak when truth sleeps in the town.
Kannil ondru kandaen
I saw something in your eyes,
Kaattril ondru kettaen
I heard something in the wind,
Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
Paalum kallaai marum nee thodamalae
Even milk turns to stone without you touching it,
Paavam unnai serum nee seiyaamalae
Sin attaches to you without you committing it.
Male :Vaazhkkai ennum aasai thaen palaavilae
In the jackfruit of life filled with sweet honey of desire,
Sogam sinthum yaezhai naan idho idho
Here I am, a poor soul spilling sorrow.
Nilaa kaalam ingae amaavaasai aagum
Here, the moonlit period turns into a dark new moon night,
Vasanthangal mullaai valargindra kolam
A state where springs bloom into sharp thorns.
Kaaladevanae idhu unthan needhiyo
O God of Time, is this your justice?
Kannil ondru kandaen
I saw something in your eyes,
Kaattril ondru kettaen
I heard something in the wind,
Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
Kodai naalil paadum thaen kuyilgalae
O sweet cuckoos singing on summer days,
Vaadai kaattril pesum paingiligalae
O green parrots talking in the chilly wind,
Male :Pillai ullam enthan nenjil aaduthae
A child-like innocent heart sways in my chest,
Pesum vaarththai endrum needhi theduthae
The spoken word forever searches for justice.
Oraey paadhai pogum vidhi podum veedhi
It is a single path on a street laid out by destiny,
Vazhiyengum sogam varaverppu koorum
Sorrow welcomes you all along the journey.
Vaanaveedhiyae theeyum aanathae
Even the path in the sky has turned into fire.
Kannil ondru kandaen
I saw something in your eyes,
Kaattril ondru kettaen
I heard something in the wind,
Female :Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
A rose dancing in the misty forest.
Male :Oomai nenjam yaengumpothu nee paadu
Sing when the mute heart yearns,
Female :Ooril unmai thoongumpothu nee pesu
Speak when truth sleeps in the town.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kannil Ondru Kandaen from the movie Nerupukkul Eeram (1984) is a deeply expressive and tragic composition by Ilayaraja. Written by Na. Kamarasan, the lyrics express the pain of suffering undeserved injustice and coping with the cruel twists of fate. Through metaphors of misty forests, roses, milk turning to stone, and springs turning into thorns, the song articulates a sense of helplessness and emotional agony. Despite the overwhelming sorrow, the song carries a poignant message of voice and resistance—encouraging one to speak out when truth remains dormant and to sing when the silent heart yearns. The male and female vocals blend to present both a personal mourning of destiny and a philosophical inquiry into justice.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Assonance / Rhyme)
“Kannil ondru kandaen / Kaattril ondru kettaen”
Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines ('Kannil' and 'Kaattril').
Etukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Paalum kallaai marum nee thodamalae / Paavam unnai serum nee seiyaamalae”
Matching the second consonant sound across lines ('Paalum' and 'Paavam').
Metaphor (Uruvagaim)
“Vaazhkkai ennum aasai thaen palaavilae”
Comparing life and desire to a honeyed jackfruit, emphasizing sweet expectations turning sour.
Contrast / Antithesis
“Vasanthangal mullaai valargindra kolam”
Juxtaposing spring (Vasanthangal) blooming into thorns (mullaai) to show tragic transformation.
Did you know?
Trivia
Nerupukkul Eeram (1984) featured music composed by Maestro Ilayaraja with lyrics penned by Na. Kamarasan, known for his modern surrealist style of poetry in Tamil cinema. The song stands out for Malaysia Vasudevan and S. Janaki's soul-stirring vocal rendition.
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