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Madappura album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kannirandum Thevaiyillai Kaanbadharkku

From Madappura · 1962

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
Soolamangalam Rajalakshmi
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Madappura
Movie release year
1962
Lyrics added on
2 Oct 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku
Kaadhirandum thevaiyillai ketpadharkku
Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku
Kaadhirandum thevaiyillai ketpadharkku
Unmai anbu irundhuvittaal
Podhaadhaa
Naam ullathinaal unarndhu kolla mudiyaadhaa
Unmai anbu irundhuvittaal
Podhaadhaa
Naam ullathinaal unarndhu kolla mudiyaadhaa
Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku
Kaadhirandum thevaiyillai ketpadharkku
Kannillaa kumudha malar iravinilum
Vennilavu thondruvadhai unarvadhillaiyaa
Kannillaa kumudha malar iravinilum
Vennilavu thondruvadhai unarvadhillaiyaa
Chinna chinna idhazh virithu
Sirippai sindhi muga malarndhu
Ennathil inbam ponga iruppadhillaiyaa
Chinna chinna idhazh virithu
Sirippai sindhi muga malarndhu
Ennathil inbam ponga iruppadhillaiyaa
Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku
Kaadhirandum thevaiyillai ketpadharkku
Nenjil ezhum alaigalukku
Kangal undu
Adhil neendhum uyar anuvukkellaam
Sevigalum undu
Nenjil ezhum alaigalukku
Kangal undu
Adhil neendhum uyar anuvukkellaam
Sevigalum undu
Anbu manam padaithavargal
Inba vaazhvu koduppavargal
Engirundha podhum
Avai arindhu sollaadhaa
Anbu manam padaithavargal
Inba vaazhvu koduppavargal
Engirundha podhum
Avai arindhu sollaadhaa
Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku
Kaadhirandum thevaiyillai ketpadharkku
Unmai anbu irundhuvittaal
Podhaadhaa
Naam ullathinaal unarndhu kolla mudiyaadhaa
Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku
Kaadhirandum thevaiyillai ketpadharkku
Two eyes are not needed to see,
two ears are not needed to hear.
Two eyes are not needed to see,
two ears are not needed to hear.
If there is true love,
is that not enough?
Can we not feel and understand with our heart?
If there is true love,
is that not enough?
Can we not feel and understand with our heart?
Two eyes are not needed to see,
two ears are not needed to hear.
In the dark of night, does not the eyeless water lily
sense the arrival of the white moon?
In the dark of night, does not the eyeless water lily
sense the arrival of the white moon?
Spreading its tiny petals,
smiling as its face blossoms,
is it not filled with overflowing joy?
Spreading its tiny petals,
smiling as its face blossoms,
is it not filled with overflowing joy?
Two eyes are not needed to see,
two ears are not needed to hear.
The waves that rise in the heart
have eyes of their own,
and every living breath swimming in them
has ears as well.
The waves that rise in the heart
have eyes of their own,
and every living breath swimming in them
has ears as well.
Those who have a loving heart,
those who bring a life of happiness—
wherever they may be,
will our feelings not sense them and tell us?
Those who have a loving heart,
those who bring a life of happiness—
wherever they may be,
will our feelings not sense them and tell us?
Two eyes are not needed to see,
two ears are not needed to hear.
If there is true love,
is that not enough?
Can we not feel and understand with our heart?
Two eyes are not needed to see,
two ears are not needed to hear.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the philosophical and romantic idea that physical senses like eyes and ears are unnecessary to experience true love and connection. Love is a profound internal emotion that transcends sight and sound, capable of being felt deeply through the heart and soul. The lyricist draws a beautiful analogy with the night-blooming lily flower (kumudha malar), which lacks physical eyes yet senses the moon's arrival in the night sky and blossoms in joy. Similarly, people united by genuine affection can feel each other's presence, thoughts, and emotions regardless of physical sensory perception or distance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku”

Matching initial consonant sounds in 'Kannirandum' and 'Kaadhirandum' at the start of consecutive lines.

Personification / Analogy (Uwamai)

“Kannillaa kumudha malar iravinilum”

The night-blooming lily (kumudha malar) is personified as sensing the moon without eyes and blossoming with joy, symbolizing pure intuitive feeling.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Nenjil ezhum alaigalukku Kangal undu”

Attributing physical senses like 'eyes' and 'ears' to emotions and internal waves of the heart.

Anaphora / Refrain

“Kannirandum thevaiyillai kaanbadharkku”

Repetition of the opening couplet throughout the song to emphasize the core philosophical message.

Did you know?

Trivia

Madappura is a 1962 Tamil film starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The lyrics written by A. Maruthakasi emphasize deep emotional intuition over sensory sight, reflecting a recurring philosophical trope in 1960s Tamil cinema where true connection is portrayed as spiritual and heartfelt.

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