Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannukku Kannana Katchi

From Raja Malaiya Simman · 1959

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Raja Malaiya Simman1959

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself,
En kalaiyin perumaikake iyarkkai saatchiNature stands witness to the pride and glory of my art.
Female
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself,
En kalaiyin perumaikake iyarkkai saatchiNature stands witness to the pride and glory of my art.
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself.
Female
Minnal ennum oru maadhuA maiden named lightning,
Vaan mega malar solai meedhuUpon the floral garden of skyward clouds,
Minnal ennum oru maadhuA maiden named lightning,
Vaan mega malar solai meedhuUpon the floral garden of skyward clouds,
Thannai maranthaadum velaiyilaeWhen she forgets herself and dances,
Idi thaalangal podum thappaadhuThunder unfailingly plays the rhythmic beats.
Female
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself,
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself.
Female
Haa…aaa…aa..Ah... aaa... aa..
Pongum kadal ennum kanniA young maiden named the surging sea,
Than angam alaipaaaya thulliLeaping as her waves ripple her body,
Pongum kadal ennum kanniA young maiden named the surging sea,
Than angam alaipaaaya thulliLeaping as her waves ripple her body,
Thingal mugam kaanum inbathilaeIn the pure bliss of beholding the moon's face,
Dhinam seerudan aaduvathellaamDances gracefully every single day,
Female
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself,
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself.
Female
Mannil mozhi thondrum munnaeLong before spoken language appeared on this earth,
Than kangalinaal ennam thannaiExpressing one's inner thoughts purely through the eyes,
Innoruvar unara sonnathellaamMaking others feel and comprehend them,
Inaiyaedhum illaadha abinayamaeIs the peerless and unrivaled art of Abhinaya.
Female
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself,
En kalaiyin perumaikake iyarkkai saatchiNature stands witness to the pride and glory of my art.
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself,
Kannukku kannaana kaatchiA sight as precious as the eye itself.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a grand celebration of classical dance and expression (Abhinaya), drawing deep parallels between divine human art and cosmic natural phenomena. The protagonist describes nature as the supreme dancer: lightning acts as a maiden dancing amidst cloud-flowered skies while thunder provides the faultless rhythm (Taalam). Similarly, the surging ocean acts as a maiden dancing in pure bliss under the gentle gaze of the moon. The lyrics highlight that expressive dance predated spoken language on earth as the ultimate medium of emotion and communication. Nature itself stands as the ultimate witness and testament to the majesty of classical dance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Uruvagandham / Personification)

Minnal ennum oru maadhu / Pongum kadal ennum kanni

Lightning ('Minnal') and the ocean ('Pongum kadal') are personified as young maiden dancers, while thunder ('Idi') is personified as a percussionist keeping time.

Etukai (Second letter rhyme)

Kannukku kannaana kaatchi / En kalaiyin perumaikake iyarkkai saatchi

The second letters of consecutive lines match to create a melodic rhythm, such as 'Kannukku' and 'En kalaiyin' ('n' sound).

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Vaan mega malar solai meedhu

Comparing sky clouds to a floral garden ('Vaan mega malar solai') to enrich the visual imagery of the performance arena.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1959 action-adventure film 'Raja Malaiya Simman', this composition by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy is a celebrated classical dance song rendered by P. Susheela. A. Maruthakasi's lyrics brilliantly capture the philosophical origin of 'Abhinaya' (facial expression and mime in Indian classical dance), asserting that expression preceded speech in human evolution.

Keep listening

More from Raja Malaiya Simman