Kannil Paarvai
From Naan Kadavul · 2009
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Shreya Ghoshal
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Naan Kadavul2009
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannil paarvai pona podhum | Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone, |
| Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum | Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes. |
| Kannilladha perai kandaal | When seeing people who lack sight, |
| Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum | Even dreams step back and avoid them. |
| Kanaavil kooda inbam | Even in dreams, happiness... |
| Vaaramal indha janmam | ...does not arrive in this lifetime. |
| Oh deivamae idhu sammadhamo… | Oh God, is this acceptable to you? |
| Female | |
| Kannil paarvai pona podhum | Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone, |
| Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum | Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes. |
| Kannilladha perai kandaal | When seeing people who lack sight, |
| Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum | Even dreams step back and avoid them. |
| Female | |
| Yaarkkum poloru annai thandhai | A mother and father like everyone else, |
| Enakkum irundhadhu undu | I too once had. |
| Yaarkkum poloru dhegam… thaagam | A body and thirst like everyone else, |
| Enakkum valarndhathu ingu | Grew inside me here as well. |
| Female | |
| Yaarkum polae | Just like anyone else, |
| Vizhigal irundhum | Despite having eyes, |
| Ulagamo irulil | My world remains in total darkness. |
| Oliyai polae orr thunai | A companion who came like a light, |
| Vandhu sendra thunbam yaarkkum undo…. | Does anyone else have the sorrow of losing such a guide? |
| Female | |
| Kannil paarvai pona podhum | Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone, |
| Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum | Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes. |
| Kannilladha perai kandaal | When seeing people who lack sight, |
| Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum | Even dreams step back and avoid them. |
| Female | |
| Veedhi endroru veedum undu | There is a home called the street, |
| Enakadhu sondham indru | Which belongs to me today. |
| Vaanam endroru koorai undu | There is a roof called the sky, |
| Vizhigalum ariyaadhu | Which my sightless eyes cannot even see. |
| Female | |
| Veliyilla solaikkaaga | For a garden that has no fence, |
| Vandhadhorr kaaval | A guard arrived. |
| Kangal konda theivavumum | Even the God who possesses eyes, |
| Kaavalan kondu sendradheno… | Why did the protector take them away? |
| Female | |
| Kannil paarvai pona podhum | Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone, |
| Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum | Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes. |
| Kannilladha perai kandaal | When seeing people who lack sight, |
| Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum | Even dreams step back and avoid them. |
| Kanaavil kooda inbam | Even in dreams, happiness... |
| Vaaramal indha janmam | ...does not arrive in this lifetime. |
| Oh deivamae idhu sammadhamo… | Oh God, is this acceptable to you? |
| Female | |
| Kannil paarvai pona podhum | Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone, |
| Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum | Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes. |
| Kannilladha perai kandaal | When seeing people who lack sight, |
| Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum | Even dreams step back and avoid them. |
கண்ணில் பார்வை போன போதும்
கண்ணில் ஈரம் ததும்பும் ததும்பும்
கண்ணில்லாத பேரை கண்டால்
கனாக்கள் ஒதுங்கும் ஒதுங்கும்
கனாவில் கூட இன்பம்
வாராமல் இந்த ஜென்மம்
ஓ தெய்வமே இது சம்மதமோ
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
When seeing people who lack sight,
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Even in dreams, happiness...
...does not arrive in this lifetime.
Oh God, is this acceptable to you?
கண்ணில் பார்வை போன போதும்
கண்ணில் ஈரம் ததும்பும் ததும்பும்
கண்ணில்லாத பேரை கண்டால்
கனாக்கள் ஒதுங்கும் ஒதுங்கும்
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
When seeing people who lack sight,
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
யார்க்கும் போலொரு அன்னை தந்தை
எனக்கும் இருந்தது உண்டு
யார்க்கும் போலொரு தேகம் தாகம்
எனக்கும் வளர்ந்தது இங்கு
A mother and father like everyone else,
I too once had.
A body and thirst like everyone else,
Grew inside me here as well.
யார்க்கும் போலே விழிகள் இருந்தும்
உலகமோ இருளில்
ஒளியைப்போலே ஒரு துணை
வந்து சென்ற துன்பம் யார்க்கும் உன்டோ...
Just like anyone else,
Despite having eyes,
My world remains in total darkness.
A companion who came like a light,
Does anyone else have the sorrow of losing such a guide?
கண்ணில் பார்வை போன போதும்
கண்ணில் ஈரம் ததும்பும் ததும்பும்
கண்ணில்லாத பேரை கண்டால்
கனாக்கள் ஒதுங்கும் ஒதுங்கும்
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
When seeing people who lack sight,
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
வீதியென்றொரு வீடும் உண்டு
எனக்கது சொந்தம் என்று
வானம் என்றொரு கூரை உண்டு
விழிகளும் அறியாது
There is a home called the street,
Which belongs to me today.
There is a roof called the sky,
Which my sightless eyes cannot even see.
வேலியில்லா சோலைக்காக
வந்ததோர் காவல்
கண்கள் கொண்ட தெய்வமும்
காவலன் கொண்டு சென்றதேனோ...
For a garden that has no fence,
A guard arrived.
Even the God who possesses eyes,
Why did the protector take them away?
கண்ணில் பார்வை போன போதும்
கண்ணில் ஈரம் ததும்பும் ததும்பும்
கண்ணில்லாத பேரை கண்டால்
கனாக்கள் ஒதுங்கும் ஒதுங்கும்
கனாவில் கூட இன்பம்
வாராமல் இந்த ஜென்மம்
ஓ தெய்வமே இது சம்மதமோ
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
When seeing people who lack sight,
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Even in dreams, happiness...
...does not arrive in this lifetime.
Oh God, is this acceptable to you?
கண்ணில் பார்வை போன போதும்
கண்ணில் ஈரம் ததும்பும் ததும்பும்
கண்ணில்லாத பேரை கண்டால்
கனாக்கள் ஒதுங்கும் ஒதுங்கும்
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
When seeing people who lack sight,
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Kannil paarvai pona podhum
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
Kannilladha perai kandaal
When seeing people who lack sight,
Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Kanaavil kooda inbam
Even in dreams, happiness...
Vaaramal indha janmam
...does not arrive in this lifetime.
Oh deivamae idhu sammadhamo…
Oh God, is this acceptable to you?
Kannil paarvai pona podhum
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
Kannilladha perai kandaal
When seeing people who lack sight,
Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Yaarkkum poloru annai thandhai
A mother and father like everyone else,
Enakkum irundhadhu undu
I too once had.
Yaarkkum poloru dhegam… thaagam
A body and thirst like everyone else,
Enakkum valarndhathu ingu
Grew inside me here as well.
Yaarkum polae
Just like anyone else,
Vizhigal irundhum
Despite having eyes,
Ulagamo irulil
My world remains in total darkness.
Oliyai polae orr thunai
A companion who came like a light,
Vandhu sendra thunbam yaarkkum undo….
Does anyone else have the sorrow of losing such a guide?
Kannil paarvai pona podhum
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
Kannilladha perai kandaal
When seeing people who lack sight,
Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Veedhi endroru veedum undu
There is a home called the street,
Enakadhu sondham indru
Which belongs to me today.
Vaanam endroru koorai undu
There is a roof called the sky,
Vizhigalum ariyaadhu
Which my sightless eyes cannot even see.
Veliyilla solaikkaaga
For a garden that has no fence,
Vandhadhorr kaaval
A guard arrived.
Kangal konda theivavumum
Even the God who possesses eyes,
Kaavalan kondu sendradheno…
Why did the protector take them away?
Kannil paarvai pona podhum
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
Kannilladha perai kandaal
When seeing people who lack sight,
Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Kanaavil kooda inbam
Even in dreams, happiness...
Vaaramal indha janmam
...does not arrive in this lifetime.
Oh deivamae idhu sammadhamo…
Oh God, is this acceptable to you?
Kannil paarvai pona podhum
Even though the eyesight in the eyes is gone,
Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum
Moisture still overflows and spills in the eyes.
Kannilladha perai kandaal
When seeing people who lack sight,
Kanaakkal odhungum odhungum
Even dreams step back and avoid them.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kannil Paarvai from Bala's movie Naan Kadavul is a heart-wrenching song describing the plight of visually impaired individuals caught in the brutal world of organized begging. The lyrics reflect their acute physical darkness, emotional abandonment, and longing for basic human dignity. Vaali's evocative words highlight that despite having standard human feelings, parental roots, and physical needs like anyone else, their lives are reduced to enduring unending misery where even dreams refuse to offer comfort. The song poses deep philosophical questions to God, challenging the unfairness of destiny and divine silent approval of such extreme human suffering. The street becomes their home and the sky their roof, embodying ultimate helplessness and vulnerability.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukkuthodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Kannil eeram thadhumbum thadhumbum”
The words 'thadhumbum' and 'odhungum' are repeated sequentially to emphasize overflowing emotion and the lingering avoidance of dreams.
Metaphor (Uvameya)
“Veedhi endroru veedum undu”
Comparing the public street to a home ('veedhi endroru veedum') and the sky to a roof ('vaanam endroru koorai') illustrates extreme homelessness and exposure to nature.
Monaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kannilladha perai kandaal”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' in 'Kannil', 'Kannilladha', and 'Kanaakkal' creates a rhythmic acoustic harmony.
Rhetorical Question
“Oh deivamae idhu sammadhamo…”
The singer directly questions God ('Oh deivamae idhu sammadhamo'), demanding an answer for why such cruelty is sanctioned.
Did you know?
Trivia
Naan Kadavul (2009), directed by Bala, features a score composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by legendary poet Vaali. This specific track depicts visually impaired beggars who are exploited by a ruthless begging ring in Tamil Nadu and Kasi. The haunting vocal performance and realistic picturization contributed heavily to the movie winning the National Film Award for Best Direction.
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