Kannilae Enna Undu
From Aval Oru Thodarkathai · 1974
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- S. Janaki
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Aval Oru Thodarkathai1974
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannilae enna undu | What is in the eyes? |
| Kangal thaan ariyum | Only the eyes know. |
| Kannilae enna undu | What is in the eyes? |
| Kangal thaan ariyum | Only the eyes know. |
| Female | |
| Kallilae eeram undu | There is moisture even in stone, |
| Kangalaa ariyum | Can eyes perceive it? |
| En manam ennavendru | What my mind is like, |
| Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum | Who else knows except me? |
| Female | |
| Kannilae enna undu | What is in the eyes? |
| Kangal thaan ariyum | Only the eyes know. |
| Kallilae eeram undu | There is moisture even in stone, |
| Kangalaa ariyum | Can eyes perceive it? |
| Female | |
| {Neruppendru sonnaal | If you call it fire, |
| Neerilum anaiyum | It gets extinguished even in water. |
| Neer endru sonnaal | If you call it water, |
| Neruppilum vegum} (2) | It burns even in fire. |
| Female | |
| Naan konda neruppu | The fire I hold, |
| Anaikkindra neruppu | Is a fire that quenches. |
| Naan konda neruppu | The fire I hold, |
| Anaikkindra neruppu | Is a fire that quenches. |
| Yaar anaippaaro iraivanin poruppu | Who quenches it is God's responsibility. |
| En manam ennavendru | What my mind is like, |
| Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum | Who else knows except me? |
| Female | |
| Kannilae enna undu | What is in the eyes? |
| Kangal thaan ariyum | Only the eyes know. |
| Kallilae eeram undu | There is moisture even in stone, |
| Kangalaa ariyum | Can eyes perceive it? |
| Female | |
| Selaikkul aadum | Dancing inside the saree, |
| Mangayin maeni | Is a woman's body; |
| Maenikkul aadum | Dancing within the body, |
| Manam enum gnyaani | Is the sage called the mind. |
| Female | |
| Gnyaaniyin manamum | Even the mind of a sage, |
| Aasayil thaeni | Is a bee intoxicated with desire. |
| Gnyaaniyin manamum | Even the mind of a sage, |
| Aasayil thaeni | Is a bee intoxicated with desire. |
| Naan oru raani pengalil gnyaani | I am a queen, a sage among women. |
| En manam ennavendru | What my mind is like, |
| Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum | Who else knows except me? |
| Female | |
| Kodaiyil oru naal | On a day in summer, |
| Mazhai vara koodum | Rain may fall. |
| Koil silaikkum | Even to a temple idol, |
| Uyir vara koodum | Life may come. |
| Female | |
| {Kaalangalaalae | Through the passage of time, |
| Kaariyam pirakkum} (2) | Purposeful action is born. |
| Kaariyam pirandhaal | Once action is born, |
| Kaaranam vilangum | The underlying cause will become clear. |
| En manam ennavendru | What my mind is like, |
| Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum | Who else knows except me? |
| Female | |
| Kannilae enna undu | What is in the eyes? |
| Kangal thaan ariyum | Only the eyes know. |
| Kannilae enna undu | What is in the eyes? |
| Kangal thaan ariyum | Only the eyes know. |
கண்ணிலே என்ன உண்டு
கண்கள் தான் அறியும்
கண்ணிலே என்ன உண்டு
கண்கள் தான் அறியும்
What is in the eyes?
Only the eyes know.
What is in the eyes?
Only the eyes know.
கல்லிலே ஈரம் உண்டு
கண்களா அறியும்
கல்லிலே ஈரம் உண்டு
கண்களா அறியும்
என் மனம் என்னவென்று
என்னை அன்றி யாருக்கு தெரியும்
There is moisture even in stone,
Can eyes perceive it?
What my mind is like,
Who else knows except me?
கண்ணிலே என்ன உண்டு
கண்கள் தான் அறியும்
கல்லிலே ஈரம் உண்டு
கண்களா அறியும்
What is in the eyes?
Only the eyes know.
There is moisture even in stone,
Can eyes perceive it?
{நெருப்பென்று சொன்னால்
நீரிலும் அணையும்
நீர் என்று சொன்னால்
நெருப்பிலும் வேகும்} (2)
If you call it fire,
It gets extinguished even in water.
If you call it water,
It burns even in fire.
நான் கொண்ட நெருப்பு
அணைக்கின்ற நெருப்பு
நான் கொண்ட நெருப்பு
அணைக்கின்ற நெருப்பு
யார் அணைப்பாரோ
இறைவனின் பொறுப்பு
என் மனம் என்னவென்று
என்னை அன்றி யாருக்கு தெரியும்
The fire I hold,
Is a fire that quenches.
The fire I hold,
Is a fire that quenches.
Who quenches it is God's responsibility.
What my mind is like,
Who else knows except me?
கண்ணிலே என்ன உண்டு
கண்கள் தான் அறியும்
கல்லிலே ஈரம் உண்டு
கண்களா அறியும்
What is in the eyes?
Only the eyes know.
There is moisture even in stone,
Can eyes perceive it?
சேலைக்குள் ஆடும்
மங்கையின் மேனி
மேனிக்குள் ஆடும்
மனம் எனும் ஞானி
Dancing inside the saree,
Is a woman's body;
Dancing within the body,
Is the sage called the mind.
ஞானியின் மனமும்
ஆசையில் தேனி
ஞானியின் மனமும்
ஆசையில் தேனி
நான் ஒரு ராணி
பெண்களில் ஞானி
என் மனம் என்னவென்று
என்னை அன்றி யாருக்கு தெரியும்
Even the mind of a sage,
Is a bee intoxicated with desire.
Even the mind of a sage,
Is a bee intoxicated with desire.
I am a queen, a sage among women.
What my mind is like,
Who else knows except me?
கோடையில் ஒரு நாள்
மழை வர கூடும்
கோயில் சிலைக்கும்
உயிர் வர கூடும்
On a day in summer,
Rain may fall.
Even to a temple idol,
Life may come.
{காலங்களாலே
காரியம் பிறக்கும்} (2)
காரியம் பிறந்தால்
காரணம் விளங்கும்
என் மனம் என்னவென்று
என்னை அன்றி யாருக்கு தெரியும்
Through the passage of time,
Purposeful action is born.
Once action is born,
The underlying cause will become clear.
What my mind is like,
Who else knows except me?
கண்ணிலே என்ன உண்டு
கண்கள் தான் அறியும்
கண்ணிலே என்ன உண்டு
கண்கள் தான் அறியும்
What is in the eyes?
Only the eyes know.
What is in the eyes?
Only the eyes know.
கல்லிலே ஈரம் உண்டு
கண்களா அறியும்
கல்லிலே ஈரம் உண்டு
கண்களா அறியும்
என் மனம் என்னவென்று
என்னை அன்றி யாருக்கு தெரியும்
Kannilae enna undu
What is in the eyes?
Kangal thaan ariyum
Only the eyes know.
Kannilae enna undu
What is in the eyes?
Kangal thaan ariyum
Only the eyes know.
Kallilae eeram undu
There is moisture even in stone,
Kangalaa ariyum
Can eyes perceive it?
En manam ennavendru
What my mind is like,
Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum
Who else knows except me?
Kannilae enna undu
What is in the eyes?
Kangal thaan ariyum
Only the eyes know.
Kallilae eeram undu
There is moisture even in stone,
Kangalaa ariyum
Can eyes perceive it?
{Neruppendru sonnaal
If you call it fire,
Neerilum anaiyum
It gets extinguished even in water.
Neer endru sonnaal
If you call it water,
Neruppilum vegum} (2)
It burns even in fire.
Naan konda neruppu
The fire I hold,
Anaikkindra neruppu
Is a fire that quenches.
Naan konda neruppu
The fire I hold,
Anaikkindra neruppu
Is a fire that quenches.
Yaar anaippaaro iraivanin poruppu
Who quenches it is God's responsibility.
En manam ennavendru
What my mind is like,
Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum
Who else knows except me?
Kannilae enna undu
What is in the eyes?
Kangal thaan ariyum
Only the eyes know.
Kallilae eeram undu
There is moisture even in stone,
Kangalaa ariyum
Can eyes perceive it?
Selaikkul aadum
Dancing inside the saree,
Mangayin maeni
Is a woman's body;
Maenikkul aadum
Dancing within the body,
Manam enum gnyaani
Is the sage called the mind.
Gnyaaniyin manamum
Even the mind of a sage,
Aasayil thaeni
Is a bee intoxicated with desire.
Gnyaaniyin manamum
Even the mind of a sage,
Aasayil thaeni
Is a bee intoxicated with desire.
Naan oru raani pengalil gnyaani
I am a queen, a sage among women.
En manam ennavendru
What my mind is like,
Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum
Who else knows except me?
Kodaiyil oru naal
On a day in summer,
Mazhai vara koodum
Rain may fall.
Koil silaikkum
Even to a temple idol,
Uyir vara koodum
Life may come.
{Kaalangalaalae
Through the passage of time,
Kaariyam pirakkum} (2)
Purposeful action is born.
Kaariyam pirandhaal
Once action is born,
Kaaranam vilangum
The underlying cause will become clear.
En manam ennavendru
What my mind is like,
Ennai andri yaarukku theriyum
Who else knows except me?
Kannilae enna undu
What is in the eyes?
Kangal thaan ariyum
Only the eyes know.
Kannilae enna undu
What is in the eyes?
Kangal thaan ariyum
Only the eyes know.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply philosophical and psychological exploration of female interiority and complex emotions. The protagonist reflects on the unknowable nature of her inner world, emphasizing that no external observer can truly comprehend her thoughts, pain, or desires. Through evocative imagery—such as stone holding hidden moisture, fire burning in water, and the mind functioning as a sage lured by sweet desire—Kannadasan illustrates the paradoxes of human feelings and womanhood. The song ultimately offers a hopeful outlook on fate, suggesting that time will eventually reveal the deeper purpose and meaning behind life's trials, just as summer eventually yields rain and an inanimate statue receives life.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Kannilae enna undu / Kangal thaan ariyum”
Repetition of the initial letter 'Ka' in lines like 'Kannilae' and 'Kangal', or 'Kallilae' and 'Kangalaa'.
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kodaiyil oru naal / Koil silaikkum”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'da' in 'Kodaiyil' and 'Koil'.
Urvagam (Metaphor)
“Manam enum gnyaani / Gnyaaniyin manamum aasayil thaeni”
Metaphorically identifying the human mind as a 'gnyaani' (wise sage) and desire as a sweet bee ('aasayil thaeni').
Antithesis / Contradiction
“Neruppendru sonnaal neerilum anaiyum / Neer endru sonnaal neruppilum vegum”
Juxtaposition of fire ('neruppu') and water ('neer') to express the paradoxical nature of inner emotional passion.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Kannilae Enna Undu' is from the iconic 1974 Tamil film 'Aval Oru Thodarkathai', directed by K. Balachander. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan (MSV), with lyrics penned by Kannadasan and sung brilliantly by S. Janaki. The song captures the complex psyche of the female protagonist navigating sacrifice and personal dignity.
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