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Nerupukkul Eeram album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannil Ondru Kanden

From Nerupukkul Eeram · 1984

Lyricist
Na. Kamarasan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Nerupukkul Eeram
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
23 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
…………….
Kannil ondru kandaen
Kaattril ondru kettaen
Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
Oomai nenjam yaengumpothu nee paadu
Ooril unmai thoongumpothu nee pesu
Kannil ondru kandaen
Kaattril ondru kettaen
Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
Paalum kallaai marum nee thodamalae
Paavam unnai serum nee seiyaamalae
Male :Vaazhkkai ennum aasai thaen palaavilae
Sogam sinthum yaezhai naan idho idho
Nilaa kaalam ingae amaavaasai aagum
Vasanthangal mullaai valargindra kolam
Kaaladevanae idhu unthan needhiyo
Kannil ondru kandaen
Kaattril ondru kettaen
Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
Kodai naalil paadum thaen kuyilgalae
Vaadai kaattril pesum paingiligalae
Male :Pillai ullam enthan nenjil aaduthae
Pesum vaarththai endrum needhi theduthae
Oraey paadhai pogum vidhi podum veedhi
Vazhiyengum sogam varaverppu koorum
Vaanaveedhiyae theeyum aanathae
Kannil ondru kandaen
Kaattril ondru kettaen
Female :Moodupani kaattil aadi varum roja
Male :Oomai nenjam yaengumpothu nee paadu
Female :Ooril unmai thoongumpothu nee pesu
...
I saw something with my eyes
I heard something in the breeze
A rose swaying in the misty forest
Sing when a silent heart yearns
Speak when the truth sleeps in this town
I saw something with my eyes
I heard something in the breeze
A rose swaying in the misty forest
Even milk turns to stone without you touching it
Blame clings to you without you doing any wrong
In the honeyed fruit of life's desires
Here I am, a poor soul shedding sorrow
The moonlit times turn into moonless nights here
Spring seasons grow into thorns, what a cruel plight
O God of Time, is this your justice?
I saw something with my eyes
I heard something in the breeze
A rose swaying in the misty forest
O sweet cuckoos singing on summer days
O green parrots talking in the chilly wind
A childlike heart stirs within my chest
The words I speak always search for justice
Fate lays a road that goes down only one path
Sorrow greets me all along the way
Even the path in the sky has turned to fire
I saw something with my eyes
I heard something in the breeze
A rose swaying in the misty forest
Sing when a silent heart yearns
Speak when the truth sleeps in this town
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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