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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannodu Kannana

From Sippikkul Muthu · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sippikkul Muthu1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Male
Annai unnai adithaalo saamiDid your mother hit you, my lord?
Pinju nenju valikathoo saamiDoesn't your tender heart hurt, my lord?
Annaiyum naan thaanaeI am your mother as well
Un appanum naan thaanaeAnd I am your father as well
Male
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai yaar adithaar appaaWho hit you, my dear child?
Male
Nalla thaayin kannirandilIn a good mother's eyes
Kovam vantha maayam ennaWhat is this illusion of anger appearing?
Pasam nenjil irunthaalumEven if love resides in her heart
Nadipathil laabam ennaWhat is the gain in pretending otherwise?
Male
Vennaiyai kannan polLike Lord Krishna with butter
ThirudivittaaiyooDid you steal it?
Veedhiyin mann ellaamAll the soil from the street
ThindruvittaaiyooDid you eat it?
Male
Ammaa mannai thingaMother, to eat soil
Naan siruvano maayavano..ooAm I a little boy or a mythical child?
Kirukkano… neeyae paaru aahOr a madman? Look for yourself
Male
Veruppadhu amma thaan..aa..Mother only pretends to hate
Veruppadhu amma thaanMother only pretends to hate
Vitu vittu pogaadhaeDo not abandon me and go away
Kozhi onnu kunja midichaaIf a mother hen steps on her chick
Sedhangal vaaraadhaeNo harm will ever come to it
Male
Haaann…haahahaHaaann... haahaha
Azhugai varaadhooWouldn't tears flow?
Enakku azhugai vaaradhooWouldn't tears come to me?
Oora vittu ponaalumEven if I leave this town
Poga oru oorilla…aanThere is no other town for me to go to
Sondham bandham paarthaalumEven if I search for kin and relations
Soru thara aalillaThere is no one to offer food
Male
Pakkathila ava irunthaIf she is right next to me
Pasiyae edukkathuI won't even feel hunger
Kovathula adichaalumEven if she hits me in anger
Konjamum valikaathuIt won't hurt even a little bit
Podammaa podu nalla poduBeat me, mother, beat me well
Innum podu poduBeat me even more, beat me
Male
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Female
Chinna paiyan nee allaYou are not a little boy
Alli vaithu thaalattaTo scoop up and sing a lullaby to
Periya paiyan nee allaYou are not a grown man either
Puththi madhi sollaTo offer advice and wisdom to
Anaadhaiyaai vazhnthathuLiving as an orphan
Adadaa andruAh, that was back then
Ippodhu naan kondadhuWhat I have gained today
Pillaigal renduIs two children
Female
Sondham enbadhu….What is called kinship...
Sondham enbadhuWhat is called kinship
Thodarkadhai aanadhuHas become a continuous story
Bandham enbadhuWhat is called a relationship
Vidukadhai aanadhuHas become a riddle
Vaazhvae vidukadhai aanadhuLife itself has become a riddle
Male
Haan …aa…Haan... aa...
Ennamma manasukkul baramaaWhat is it, mother? Is there a heavy burden in your heart?
Female
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Male
Annaiyum naan thaanaeI am your mother as well
Child :Aiyoo nee ambalaChild: Oh no, you are a man!
Male :Un appanum naan thaanaeMale: And I am your father as well
Male
Lallaala lallaala laalaaLallaala lallaala laalaa
Laala lalalala laalaLaala lalalala laala
Female :Kannodu kannaanaFemale: Eye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?
Kannodu kannaanaEye to eye
En kannaaMy precious child
Unnai evaradithaar kannaWho hit you, my child?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song from 'Sippikkul Muthu' captures a deeply emotional conversation between an intellectually disabled, innocent man (played by Kamal Haasan) and a widow with a young child whom he marries out of pure innocence. The protagonist identifies with Lord Krishna's childhood antics, comparing his mother's loving reprimands to Yashoda scolding young Krishna. The lyrics weave together themes of maternal unconditional love, childlike innocence, and the complex societal bond that forms their unique family unit. The character expresses how maternal discipline is devoid of malice, using the metaphor of a hen stepping on her chick without causing harm. Despite his age, his mind remains as pure as an infant's, blurring the lines between father, child, and mother. The narrative turns poignant as he reflects on his past orphan hood compared to his present blessing of having a family, acknowledging that while relationships and life feel like complex riddles, love and togetherness remain his ultimate comfort.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile / Analogy)

Kozhi onnu kunja midichaa / Sedhangal vaaraadhae

Compares maternal discipline to a mother hen accidentally stepping on her chick, emphasizing that a mother's anger never truly harms the child.

Mythological Allusion (Uruvagam / Purana Udharanam)

Vennaiyai kannan pol / Thirudivittaaiyoo

References Lord Krishna stealing butter and eating soil to parallel the innocent protagonist's child-like traits.

Edhukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Sondham enbadhu / Bandham enbadhu

The second letters 'n' (nn) match in consecutive lines, adding rhythmic flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thodarkadhai aanadhu / Bandham enbadhu / Vidukadhai aanadhu

Life and human relationships are metaphorically described as a continuous serial story and a riddle.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Kannodu Kannaana' is the Tamil rendition of the famous song 'Lali Lali' from the iconic Telugu film 'Swathi Muthyam' (1986), directed by K. Viswanath and scored by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Kamal Haasan won widespread acclaim and awards for his portrayal of the autistic protagonist, and Ilaiyaraaja's score for this film is considered one of his absolute masterpieces in Indian cinema.

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