Kannirendil Mai
From Vaa Kanna Vaa · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Vaa Kanna Vaa1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek, |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek, |
| Kaalamellaam paarkka venum | We must admire her for a lifetime, |
| Aandavanthaan kaakka venum | Only God must protect her, |
| Male | |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek, |
| Male | |
| Intha azhagukkenna | What can be said of this beauty? |
| Arivukkenna sollammaa | What can be said of this wisdom, my dear? |
| Pudhu nilavaippola | Like the new crescent moon, |
| Malarai pola kannammaa | Like a tender flower, my darling Kannamma, |
| Male | |
| : Vanna sarigaippattum | Look at the colorful silk saree with silver-gold zari, |
| Nagaiyum nattum paarammaa | Look at her fine jewelry and ornaments, my dear, |
| Enthan magalukkeedaai | Who in this entire universe, |
| Agilaththilthaan yaarammaa | Can ever be equal to my daughter? |
| Geedhai uraiththa naathan arulaal | By the grace of the Lord who delivered the Bhagavad Gita, |
| Geedhai uraiththa naathan arulaal | By the grace of the Lord who delivered the Bhagavad Gita, |
| Kodhai ivalin kolam vaazhga | May the grace and beauty of this young lady flourish! |
| Male | |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek, |
| Male | |
| Engal arumai pennin | For our precious daughter, |
| Perumai pesum valaikkaappu | This is the bangle-ceremony celebrating her honor, |
| Oru kuzhanthai selvam | For the arrival of a precious child, |
| Varugaikkaana varaverppu | This is a loving welcome, |
| Male | |
| Intha kizhavikkenna | Look at this grandmother, |
| Manasukkullae kummaalam | There is immense joy celebrating inside her heart, |
| Nalla perapillai | A wonderful grandchild, |
| Pirakkapogum santhosam | The happiness of a baby soon to be born, |
| Paatti mugaththai paarththu sirikkum | It will look at grandmother's face and smile, |
| Paatti mugaththai paarththu sirikkum | It will look at grandmother's face and smile, |
| Paattan eduththaal maarbil udhaikkum | And if grandfather picks it up, it will playfully kick his chest, |
| Male | |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek, |
| Male | |
| PIllaith tamizhai pesum | Speaking sweet baby talk like sweet Tamil, |
| Arivai tharuvaal meenaatchi | Goddess Meenakshi will bestow wisdom, |
| Vantha pasiyai theerkka | To satisfy the hunger that comes, |
| Paalai pozhivaal kaamaatchi | Goddess Kamakshi will pour milk, |
| Male | |
| Endrum arulai tharuvaal | She will always grant her blessings, |
| Porulai tharuvaal magamaayi | Goddess Mahamayi will grant prosperity, |
| Nalla arumai pillai | A fine and precious child, |
| Neethaan ammaa magaraasi | You are a truly blessed queen, my dear, |
| Koondhal malarum thaalisaradum | May the flowers in her hair and the sacred thali thread, |
| Koondhal malarum thaalisaradum | May the flowers in her hair and the sacred thali thread, |
| Neenda kaalam nilaiththu vaazhga…. | Endure and prosper for a long time! |
| Male | |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek, |
| Kaalamellaam paarkka venum | We must admire her for a lifetime, |
| Aandavanthaan kaakka venum | Only God must protect her, |
| Male | |
| Kannirendil mai ezhuthi | Apply kohl in both eyes, |
| Kannaththilae pottu vachu | Place a black dot on the cheek. |
ஆண்
: கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
காலமெல்லாம் பார்க்க வேணும்
ஆண்டவன் தான் காக்க வேணும்...
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek,
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek,
We must admire her for a lifetime,
Only God must protect her,
கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek,
இந்த அழகுக்கென்ன
அறிவுக்கென்ன செல்லம்மா
புது நிலவைப்போல
மலரைப்போல கண்ணம்மா
What can be said of this beauty?
What can be said of this wisdom, my dear?
Like the new crescent moon,
Like a tender flower, my darling Kannamma,
வண்ண சரிகைப்பட்டும்
நகையும் நட்டும் பாரம்மா
எந்தன் மகளுக்கீடாய்
அகிலத்தில்தான் யாரம்மா
கீதை உரைத்த நாதன் அருளால்
கீதை உரைத்த நாதன் அருளால்
கோதை இவளின் கோலம் வாழ்க.....
Look at the colorful silk saree with silver-gold zari,
Look at her fine jewelry and ornaments, my dear,
Who in this entire universe,
Can ever be equal to my daughter?
By the grace of the Lord who delivered the Bhagavad Gita,
By the grace of the Lord who delivered the Bhagavad Gita,
May the grace and beauty of this young lady flourish!
கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek,
எங்கள் அருமைப் பெண்ணின்
பெருமை பேசும் வளைக்காப்பு
ஒரு குழந்தை செல்வம்
வருகைக்கான வரவேற்பு
For our precious daughter,
This is the bangle-ceremony celebrating her honor,
For the arrival of a precious child,
This is a loving welcome,
இந்த கிழவிக்கென்ன
மனசுக்குள்ளே கும்மாளம்
நல்ல பேரப்பிள்ளை
பிறக்கப்போகும் சந்தோஷம்
பாட்டி முகத்தைப் பார்த்து சிரிக்கும்
பாட்டி முகத்தைப் பார்த்து சிரிக்கும்
பாட்டன் எடுத்தால் மார்பில் உதைக்கும்
Look at this grandmother,
There is immense joy celebrating inside her heart,
A wonderful grandchild,
The happiness of a baby soon to be born,
It will look at grandmother's face and smile,
It will look at grandmother's face and smile,
And if grandfather picks it up, it will playfully kick his chest,
கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek,
பிள்ளைத் தமிழைப் பேசும்
அறிவைத் தருவாள் மீனாட்சி
வந்த பசியைத் தீர்க்க
பாலைப் பொழிவாள் காமாட்சி
Speaking sweet baby talk like sweet Tamil,
Goddess Meenakshi will bestow wisdom,
To satisfy the hunger that comes,
Goddess Kamakshi will pour milk,
என்றும் அருளைத் தருவாள்
பொருளைத் தருவாள் மகமாயி
நல்ல அருமைப் பிள்ளை
நீதான் அம்மா மகராசி
கூந்தல் மலரும் தாலிச்சரடும்
கூந்தல் மலரும் தாலிச்சரடும்
நீண்ட காலம் நிலைத்து வாழ்க......
She will always grant her blessings,
Goddess Mahamayi will grant prosperity,
A fine and precious child,
You are a truly blessed queen, my dear,
May the flowers in her hair and the sacred thali thread,
May the flowers in her hair and the sacred thali thread,
Endure and prosper for a long time!
கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
காலமெல்லாம் பார்க்க வேணும்
ஆண்டவன் தான் காக்க வேணும்...
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek,
We must admire her for a lifetime,
Only God must protect her,
கண்ணிரெண்டில் மை எழுதி
கன்னத்திலே பொட்டு வச்சு
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Place a black dot on the cheek.
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek,
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek,
Kaalamellaam paarkka venum
We must admire her for a lifetime,
Aandavanthaan kaakka venum
Only God must protect her,
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek,
Intha azhagukkenna
What can be said of this beauty?
Arivukkenna sollammaa
What can be said of this wisdom, my dear?
Pudhu nilavaippola
Like the new crescent moon,
Malarai pola kannammaa
Like a tender flower, my darling Kannamma,
: Vanna sarigaippattum
Look at the colorful silk saree with silver-gold zari,
Nagaiyum nattum paarammaa
Look at her fine jewelry and ornaments, my dear,
Enthan magalukkeedaai
Who in this entire universe,
Agilaththilthaan yaarammaa
Can ever be equal to my daughter?
Geedhai uraiththa naathan arulaal
By the grace of the Lord who delivered the Bhagavad Gita,
Geedhai uraiththa naathan arulaal
By the grace of the Lord who delivered the Bhagavad Gita,
Kodhai ivalin kolam vaazhga
May the grace and beauty of this young lady flourish!
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek,
Engal arumai pennin
For our precious daughter,
Perumai pesum valaikkaappu
This is the bangle-ceremony celebrating her honor,
Oru kuzhanthai selvam
For the arrival of a precious child,
Varugaikkaana varaverppu
This is a loving welcome,
Intha kizhavikkenna
Look at this grandmother,
Manasukkullae kummaalam
There is immense joy celebrating inside her heart,
Nalla perapillai
A wonderful grandchild,
Pirakkapogum santhosam
The happiness of a baby soon to be born,
Paatti mugaththai paarththu sirikkum
It will look at grandmother's face and smile,
Paatti mugaththai paarththu sirikkum
It will look at grandmother's face and smile,
Paattan eduththaal maarbil udhaikkum
And if grandfather picks it up, it will playfully kick his chest,
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek,
PIllaith tamizhai pesum
Speaking sweet baby talk like sweet Tamil,
Arivai tharuvaal meenaatchi
Goddess Meenakshi will bestow wisdom,
Vantha pasiyai theerkka
To satisfy the hunger that comes,
Paalai pozhivaal kaamaatchi
Goddess Kamakshi will pour milk,
Endrum arulai tharuvaal
She will always grant her blessings,
Porulai tharuvaal magamaayi
Goddess Mahamayi will grant prosperity,
Nalla arumai pillai
A fine and precious child,
Neethaan ammaa magaraasi
You are a truly blessed queen, my dear,
Koondhal malarum thaalisaradum
May the flowers in her hair and the sacred thali thread,
Koondhal malarum thaalisaradum
May the flowers in her hair and the sacred thali thread,
Neenda kaalam nilaiththu vaazhga….
Endure and prosper for a long time!
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek,
Kaalamellaam paarkka venum
We must admire her for a lifetime,
Aandavanthaan kaakka venum
Only God must protect her,
Kannirendil mai ezhuthi
Apply kohl in both eyes,
Kannaththilae pottu vachu
Place a black dot on the cheek.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Kannirendil mai ezhuthi' is a traditional and heartwarming Tamil family song performed during a Valaikkaappu (bangle-wearing pregnancy ceremony). The elders and family members shower blessings, beauty, and auspicious wishes on the pregnant mother-to-be, warding off any evil eyes by applying kohl and a protective bindi on her cheeks. They praise her elegance, comparing her to the crescent moon and fresh blossoms, while celebrating the upcoming arrival of a new grandchild who will bring joy to the entire household. The lyrics evoke divine protection from traditional Tamil goddesses like Meenakshi, Kamakshi, and Mahamayi, wishing the mother and her long-lasting marital prosperity (thaalisaradu) timeless well-being.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Upamai (Simile)
“Pudhu nilavaippola / Malarai pola kannammaa”
Compares the pregnant lady's radiance directly to the fresh crescent moon and a blooming flower ('Pudhu nilavaippola, Malarai pola').
Ethirukai (Second letter rhyme)
“Kannirendil mai ezhuthi / Kannaththilae pottu vachu”
Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'nni' / 'nna' across lines creates a rhythmic musical cadence characteristic of classical Tamil poetry.
Metaphor (Uruvagakani)
“PIllaith tamizhai pesum”
Comparing the innocent babble of a newborn baby directly to 'Pillaith Tamil' (a traditional genre of Tamil devotional literature dedicated to children).
Did you know?
Trivia
'Vaa Kanna Vaa' (1982) stars Sivaji Ganesan and Sujatha. The soundtrack composed by M. S. Viswanathan features timeless family-oriented classical melodies. The song remains a quintessential track played during traditional Tamil Valaikkaappu and Seemantham (baby shower) functions to this day.
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