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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannodu Kanbathellam

From Jeans · 1998

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Nithyasree Mahadevan
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Jeans
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
7 Apr 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Pa pani panipama
Panipama gamapa sagasani
Panipama gamagasa gamapa } (2)
{ Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagajam } (2)
Kannodu kaanbadhellam
Thalaiva kangaluku chonthamillai
Kangaluku chonthamillai
Kannodu maniyanaai
Athanaal kannai vittu pirivathillai
Nee ennai vittu pirivathillai
{ Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagajam } (2)
Pirithu vaithal
Niyayam illai
Pirithu paarthaal
Porulum illai
Rendallo rendum ondrallo
{ Dhinaku dhinaku dhina
Dhinthinnaanaa naagirudhaani
Dhongirudhaani dhinathom } (2)
Iravum pagalum vanthaalum
Naal enbathu ondrallo
Kaalgal irandu kondaalum
Payanam enbathu ondrallo
Idhayam irandu endraalum
Kaadhal enbathu ondrallo
Kannodu kaanbadhellam
Thalaiva kangaluku chonthamillai
Kangaluku chonthamillai
{ Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagradhim
Thagra thagra thagajam } (2)
Andril paravai
Irattai piravi
Ondril ondraai
Vaazhum piravi
Piriyadhae vittu piriyadhae
Kannum kannum
Irattai piravi
Oru vizhi azhuthaal
Iruvizhi aruvi
Pozhiyadho anbae vazhiyadho
{ Dhinaku dhinaku dhina
Dhinthinnaanaa naagirudhaani
Dhongirudhaani dhinathom } (2)
Oruvar thoongum thookathil
Iruvar kanavugal kaanugirom
Oruvar vaangum suvaasathil
Iruvar irudhayam vaazhugirom
Thaavikolla mattum thaan
Thani thaniyae thedugindrom
Pa pa ni ni sa sa ga
Ga ma ma pa pa ni ni sa sa
Ni sa ga ma pa ni dha pa ma
Ga ma pa ni sasa ga ra sa ni
Sa ma ga ri sa ni dha
Kannodu kaanbadhellam thalaiva ….
Ri ri ri sasa ni sa
Ri ri sa sa ri ri ni ni sa sa
Ga ri sa ni si ga ri sa ni dha
Ni dha pa ma ga ni sa ga sa
Ga ma ga ma pa dha pa ma
Ni ma pa na sa ga ri sa ga
Ri sa ni sa ni dha pa ma
Ga ri sa ri ma
Kannodu kaanbadhellam
Thalaiva kangaluku chonthamillai
Kangaluku chonthamillai
Kannodu maniyanaai
Athanaal kannai vittu pirivathillai
Nee ennai vittu pirivathillai
{ Pa pa-ni pa-ni-pa-ma
Pa-ni-pa-ma ga-ma-pa sa-ga-sa-ni
Pa-ni-pa-ma ga-ma-ga-sa ga-ma-pa } (2)
{ Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagajam } (2)
Everything the eyes behold,
my love, does not belong to the eyes.
It does not belong to the eyes.
You became the pupil of my eye,
and so you never leave my sight.
You never part from me.
{ Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagajam } (2)
If kept apart,
it is not right.
If viewed separately,
there is no meaning.
Though they seem like two, aren't both just one?
{ Thinakku thinakku thina
Thinthinnaanaa naagirudhaani
Thongirudhaani thinathom } (2)
Though day and night alternate,
isn't a day just one?
Though we walk with two legs,
isn't the journey just one?
Though hearts are two,
isn't love just one?
Everything the eyes behold,
my love, does not belong to the eyes.
It does not belong to the eyes.
{ Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagaradhim
Thagara thagara thagajam } (2)
Like the Anril bird (legendary inseparable lovebird),
born always as a pair,
living as one
within each other,
do not part, never leave my side.
The pair of eyes,
born together as two,
if one eye weeps,
won't a waterfall of tears
pour and overflow from both, my love?
{ Thinakku thinakku thina
Thinthinnaanaa naagirudhaani
Thongirudhaani thinathom } (2)
In the sleep of one,
both of us share dreams.
In the breath of one,
both our hearts live on.
Only to embrace each other,
do we search for one another apart.
Pa pa ni ni sa sa ga
Ga ma ma pa pa ni ni sa sa
Ni sa ga ma pa ni dha pa ma
Ga ma pa ni sa sa ga ri sa ni
Sa ma ga ri sa ni dha
Everything the eyes behold, my love...
Ri ri ri sa sa ni sa
Ri ri sa sa ri ri ni ni sa sa
Ga ri sa ni sa ga ri sa ni dha
Ni dha pa ma ga ni sa ga sa
Ga ma ga ma pa dha pa ma
Ni ma pa ni sa ga ri sa ga
Ri sa ni sa ni dha pa ma
Ga ri sa ri ma
Everything the eyes behold,
my love, does not belong to the eyes.
It does not belong to the eyes.
You became the pupil of my eye,
and so you never leave my sight.
You never part from me.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Kannodu Kaanbadhellam is a iconic Carnatic-fusion love song from the 1998 Tamil film Jeans, composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics by Vairamuthu and sung by Nithyasree Mahadevan. The song centers on the poetic concept of non-duality in love, expressing how two individual lovers merge into a single emotional and spiritual entity.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Kannodu maniyanaai / Athanaal kannai vittu pirivathillai

Compares the beloved to the pupil inside the eye, highlighting an inseparable connection.

Parallelism & Paradox

Kaalgal irandu kondaalum payanam enbathu ondrallo

Uses physical dualities (two legs, night/day, two eyes) to emphasize singular emotional unity (one journey, one day, one love).

Cultural Imagery (Andril Paravai)

Andril paravai irattai piravi

References the classic Tamil literary motif of the Andril bird pair, legendary for dying of grief if separated from its partner.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track marked the prominent film music debut of classical vocalist Nithyasree Mahadevan. A.R. Rahman composed the melody based on the classical ragam Abheri, blending complex Carnatic swara passages (kalpanaswaram) with contemporary orchestral arrangements.

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