Kannile Neer
From Policekaran Magal · 1962
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- Sirkazhi Govindarajan, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Policekaran Magal1962
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Female :Kalamellam aluvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Male :Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Female :Kalamellam aluvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Male | |
| Nenjile ninaivetharku ho | Why are there memories in the heart? |
| Female :Vanjagarai marapatharku | To forget the deceitful ones. |
| Male :Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Kalamellam azuvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Male | |
| Inbamennum mozhi etharku ho | Why is there a word called pleasure? |
| Female :Selvathil methaparku | To float in the pride of wealth. |
| Male :Thunbamenum sollethaku | Why is there a word called sorrow? |
| Female :Ullamenpathullavarku | For those who possess a sensitive heart. |
| Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Kalamellam azuvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Male | |
| Kaiyilae valaivetharku | Why are there curves in the arms? |
| Female :Kadhaliyai anaipatharku | To embrace the lover. |
| Male :Kaalilae nadai etharku | Why is there a step in the feet? |
| Female :Kadhalithu pirivatharku | To fall in love and then walk away. |
| Male :Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Kalamellam azuvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Male | |
| Paasamendra sol etharku | Why is there a word called affection? |
| Female :Paarthirunthu thudipatharku | To watch helplessly and throb in agony. |
| Male :Asai konda vazhvetharku | Why live a life filled with desires? |
| Female :Antradam savatharku | To die a little every single day. |
| Female | |
| Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Kalamellam azuvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Male | |
| Poovilae thean etharku | Why is there nectar in the flower? |
| Female :Vandu vanthu suvaipatharku | For the bee to come and taste. |
| Male :Vanduku siraketharku | Why does the bee have wings? |
| Female :Unda pinbu parapatharku | To fly away after feeding. |
| Both :Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Kalamellam azuvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
| Nenjile ninaivetharku ho | Why are there memories in the heart? |
| Vanjagarai marapatharku | To forget the deceitful ones. |
| Kannile neer etharku ho | Why are there tears in the eyes? |
| Kalamellam azuvatharku | To weep for a lifetime. |
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோ
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோ
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
நெஞ்சிலே நினைவெதற்கு ஹோ
வஞ்சகரை மறப்பதற்கு
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோ
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
இன்பமெனும் மொழி எதற்கு ஹோ
செல்வத்தில் மிதப்பவர்க்கு
துன்பமெனும் சொல்லெதற்கு
உள்ளமென்பதுள்ளவர்க்கு
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோய்
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
Why are there memories in the heart?
To forget the deceitful ones.
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
கையில்லே வளைவெதற்க்கு
காதலியை அணைப்பதற்கு
காலிலே நடை எதற்கு
காதலித்து பிரிவதற்கு
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோ
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
Why is there a word called pleasure?
To float in the pride of wealth.
Why is there a word called sorrow?
For those who possess a sensitive heart.
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
பாசமென்ற சொல் எதற்கு
பார்த்திருந்து துடிப்பதற்கு
ஆசை கொண்ட வாழ்வெதற்கு
அன்றாடம் சாவதற்கு
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோய்
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
Why are there curves in the arms?
To embrace the lover.
Why is there a step in the feet?
To fall in love and then walk away.
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
பூவில்லே தேன் எதற்கு
வண்டு வந்து சுவைப்பதற்கு
வண்டுக்கு சிறகெதற்கு
உண்ட பின்பு பறப்பதற்க்கு
Why is there a word called affection?
To watch helplessly and throb in agony.
Why live a life filled with desires?
To die a little every single day.
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோய்
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
நெஞ்சிலே நினைவெதற்கு ஹோ
வஞ்சகரை மறப்பதற்கு
கண்ணிலே நீர் எதற்கு ஹோய்
காலமெல்லாம் அழுவதற்கு
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
Why is there nectar in the flower?
For the bee to come and taste.
Why does the bee have wings?
To fly away after feeding.
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
Why are there memories in the heart?
To forget the deceitful ones.
Why are there tears in the eyes?
To weep for a lifetime.
Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Female :Kalamellam aluvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Male :Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Female :Kalamellam aluvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Nenjile ninaivetharku ho
Why are there memories in the heart?
Female :Vanjagarai marapatharku
To forget the deceitful ones.
Male :Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Kalamellam azuvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Inbamennum mozhi etharku ho
Why is there a word called pleasure?
Female :Selvathil methaparku
To float in the pride of wealth.
Male :Thunbamenum sollethaku
Why is there a word called sorrow?
Female :Ullamenpathullavarku
For those who possess a sensitive heart.
Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Kalamellam azuvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Kaiyilae valaivetharku
Why are there curves in the arms?
Female :Kadhaliyai anaipatharku
To embrace the lover.
Male :Kaalilae nadai etharku
Why is there a step in the feet?
Female :Kadhalithu pirivatharku
To fall in love and then walk away.
Male :Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Kalamellam azuvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Paasamendra sol etharku
Why is there a word called affection?
Female :Paarthirunthu thudipatharku
To watch helplessly and throb in agony.
Male :Asai konda vazhvetharku
Why live a life filled with desires?
Female :Antradam savatharku
To die a little every single day.
Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Kalamellam azuvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Poovilae thean etharku
Why is there nectar in the flower?
Female :Vandu vanthu suvaipatharku
For the bee to come and taste.
Male :Vanduku siraketharku
Why does the bee have wings?
Female :Unda pinbu parapatharku
To fly away after feeding.
Both :Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Kalamellam azuvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Nenjile ninaivetharku ho
Why are there memories in the heart?
Vanjagarai marapatharku
To forget the deceitful ones.
Kannile neer etharku ho
Why are there tears in the eyes?
Kalamellam azuvatharku
To weep for a lifetime.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This profound philosophical duet from 'Policekaran Magal' explores themes of love, heartbreak, betrayal, and existential grief. Structured as a series of poignant questions and answers, the male singer asks about fundamental human experiences, emotions, and anatomical traits, while the female singer responds with tragic cynicism born out of deep emotional pain.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Questioning (Vinaip Porul)
“Kannile neer etharku ho”
The lyrics use a call-and-response framework ('etharku') where questions about human traits lead to heartbreaking philosophical revelations.
Extended Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Vanduku siraketharku / Unda pinbu parapatharku”
The flower and bee imagery serves as a metaphor for a self-serving lover who consumes affection and flies away without commitment.
Antithesis (Ethirithal)
“Inbamennum mozhi etharku ho... Thunbamenum sollethaku”
Contrasts positive words like 'Inbam' (pleasure) with 'Thunbam' (sorrow) to highlight the duality of emotional experience.
Second-Letter Rhyme (Etukai)
“Kannile neer etharku ho / Nenjile ninaivetharku ho”
The second consonant 'n' is harmonized between lines ('Kannile' and 'Nenjile').
Did you know?
Trivia
Kannadasan's bee-and-flower metaphor in the final verse ('Poovilae thean etharku / Vandu vanthu suvaipatharku / Vanduku siraketharku / Unda pinbu parapatharku') is widely considered one of the most brilliant allegories in Tamil film song history, subtly portraying betrayal without explicit accusation.
Keep listening
More from Policekaran Magal
Policekaran Magal
Policekaran Magal
Policekaran Magal
Policekaran Magal
Policekaran Magal
Policekaran Magal