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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannil Unnai

From Kanave Kalaiyadhe · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. S. Chithra, Chorus
Music director
Deva
Details
Kanave Kalaiyadhe1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Kannapiraan en kannil irukkaAs Lord Krishna resides in my eyes,
Kanavae kalaiyadhaeOh dream, do not dissolve.
Nandhakumaran nenjil irukkaAs the son of Nanda stays in my heart,
Kanavae kalaiyadhaeOh dream, do not dissolve.
Kannan varum varai kaathirupaalUntil Krishna arrives, she will wait,
Indha kanmani raadhaiThis precious Radha.
Kannan varuvaanKrishna will come,
Kaadhinil solvaan kaadhalin geethaiAnd whisper the song of love into the ears.
Female
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanaeOh Lord Krishna,
Kangalukku nandri sonnenI thanked my eyes,
Kanni ilamaanaeOh young tender deer.
Female
Gangai karai kaatrai keluAsk the breeze on the banks of the Ganges,
Kanna perumaanaeOh Lord Krishna,
Kaadhal seidha kaalamellamAll the time spent making love,
Kaadhil koorum thaanaeIt will whisper in the ear.
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanaeOh Lord Krishna,
Female
Solladi nee priya snehidiyaeTell me, dear close friend,
Intha manam enum malarvanamThis flower garden called the heart,
Thulir vidum thinam thinamSprouts fresh leaves every day,
Avan ingu varuvaanaWill he come here?
Female
Iniyum oru arimugamaDoes it need an introduction again?
Iruvarumae pudhu mugamaAre both of them new faces?
Avan ingu varuvaanaWill he come here?
Thozhi adaikkalam tharuvaanaFriend, will he give shelter?
Female
Neecham poovai eera kaatruThe damp breeze touching the flowers,
Koocham theera koodidum iravinilIn the night where we unite, overcoming shyness,
Avan ingu varuvaanaWill he come here?
Female
Kannaa… mazhai vannaaOh Krishna... rain-cloud colored one,
Kannaa mazhai vannaa enaCalling 'Oh Krishna, rain-cloud colored one',
Semmaankuyil pol koovugindrenI call out like a brown cuckoo.
Female
Kannil unnai…In my eyes, you...
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanaeOh Lord Krishna,
Kangalukku nandri sonnenI thanked my eyes,
Kanni ilamaanaeOh young tender deer.
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanae….Oh Lord Krishna...
Chorus
…………………...
Female
Thottakurai munbuWhat was left incomplete in the past,
Vittakurai indruWhat was left unfinished today,
Thodangida thodangidaAs it begins and begins,
Thodarnthinda thodarnthindaAs it continues and continues,
Pudhu sugam arumbathoDoes a new joy blossom?
Female
Puyal adithaa nilavanaiyumDoes a storm extinguish the moon?
Mazhai adithaa malai karaiyumDoes rain dissolve a mountain?
Unakidhu theriyathaDo you not know this?
Kanna uravugal thirumbathaOh Krishna, won't relationships return?
Female
Mannil kaadhal maainthathendruThat love has perished on earth,
Paarthathillai boomiyil adharkkoruWe have never seen, and on this earth,
Kal arai kidaiyadhuThere is no tomb for love.
Female
Unnai …ingu ennaiYou... here me,
Unnai ingu ennaiYou here me,
Endrum ondraai serthaJoined as one forever,
Kaadhal vaazhgaLong live love!
Female
Kannil unnai…In my eyes, you...
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanaeOh Lord Krishna,
Kangalukku nandri sonnenI thanked my eyes,
Kanni ilamaanaeOh young tender deer.
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanae….Oh Lord Krishna...
Female
Piravi unakkaaga edutha kiliThe parrot who took birth for you,
Manadhai unakaaga kodutha kiliThe parrot who gave her heart to you,
Iniyum thaniyaga thavithapadiTo suffer alone like this anymore,
Irukka vidalamo thalaivan madiShould the beloved's lap allow it?
Male
Kannil unnai kandu kondenI have found you in my eyes,
Kanna perumaanaeOh Lord Krishna,
Kangalukku nandri sonnenI thanked my eyes,
Kanni ilamaanaeOh young tender deer.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful song depicts a deep, devotional, and romantic yearning modeled after the eternal bond of Radha and Lord Krishna. The protagonist experiences intense longing, finding solace in dreams and visioning her beloved everywhere. She questions whether her love will return to fulfill incomplete desires, emphasizing that true love is immortal and free from destruction.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mondhai / Emona (Tamil Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thottakurai munbu / Vittakurai indru

Repetition of second letter and initial consonantal sounds in line beginnings like 'Kannapiraan' / 'Nandhakumaran' and 'Thottakurai' / 'Vittakurai'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Intha manam enum malarvanam

Comparing the human mind/heart directly to a blooming flower garden ('Manam enum malarvanam').

Simile (Uvamaani)

Semmaankuyil pol koovugindren

Comparing her calling out for Krishna to the call of a cuckoo bird ('Semmaankuyil pol').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the 1999 movie 'Kanave Kalaiyadhae' features music composed by Deva with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The composition heavily draws from classical devotional motifs blending traditional Bhakti poetry tropes (Krishna-Radha) with contemporary film melody structure.

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