Kannukku Mai Azhagu
From Pudhiya Mugam · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Pudhiya Mugam1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Hmmm…mm…mmm… | Humming... |
| Mmm….mmm….mmm…. | Humming... |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
| Male | |
| Haa…aaa…aaa…aaaa | Vocalizing... |
| Haa…aaa…aaa…aaaa | Vocalizing... |
| Female | |
| Mazhai nindra pinnallum | Even after the rain stops, |
| Ilai sinthum thuli azhagu | the water droplet falling from the leaf is beautiful. |
| Alai meendu ponalum | Even after the wave recedes, |
| Karai konda nurai azhagu | the foam left behind on the shore is beautiful. |
| Female | |
| Imai kottum vin meengal | The twinkling stars in the sky |
| Iravodu than azhagu | are beautiful only along with the night. |
| Imai kottum vin meengal | The twinkling stars in the sky |
| Iravodu than azhagu | are beautiful only along with the night. |
| Illamaran kannukku | To the eyes of young Illamaran, |
| Epothum naan azhagu | I am always beautiful. |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Anantha manjathil | On the bed of blissful union, |
| Avizhnthalum kuzhal azhagu | hair left untied is beautiful. |
| Adaiyala muthathil | In a passionate kiss that leaves a mark, |
| Azhinthalum pottu azhagu | even a smudged bindi is beautiful. |
| Female | |
| Pennodu kaadhal vandhaal | When one falls in love with a woman, |
| Pirai kooda perazhagu | even the crescent moon looks immensely beautiful. |
| Pennodu kaadhal vandhaal | When one falls in love with a woman, |
| Pirai kooda perazhagu | even the crescent moon looks immensely beautiful. |
| Ennodu nee irunthaal | If you are with me, |
| Irul kooda orr azhagu | even the darkness is a thing of beauty. |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Kannukku mai azhagu | Kohl adds beauty to the eyes. |
| Kavidhaikku poi azhagu | Imagination adds beauty to poetry. |
| Avaraikku poo azhagu | Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine. |
| Avarukku naan azhagu | I am the beauty to my beloved. |
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்
ம்ம் ம்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்
Humming...
Humming...
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
ஹா ஆஆ
ஆஆ ஆஆ ஹா
ஆஆ ஆஆ ஆஆ
Vocalizing...
Vocalizing...
மழை நின்ற
பின்னாலும் இலை
சிந்தும் துளி அழகு
அலை மீண்டு போனாலும்
கரை கொண்ட நுரை அழகு
Even after the rain stops,
the water droplet falling from the leaf is beautiful.
Even after the wave recedes,
the foam left behind on the shore is beautiful.
இமை கொட்டும்
விண்மீன்கள் இரவோடு
தான் அழகு இமை கொட்டும்
விண்மீன்கள் இரவோடு
தான் அழகு இளமாறன்
கண்ணுக்கு எப்போதும்
நான் அழகு
The twinkling stars in the sky
are beautiful only along with the night.
The twinkling stars in the sky
are beautiful only along with the night.
To the eyes of young Illamaran,
I am always beautiful.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
ஆனந்த மஞ்சத்தில்
அவிழ்ந்தாலும் குழல் அழகு
அடையாள முத்தத்தில்
அழிந்தாலும் பொட்டு அழகு
On the bed of blissful union,
hair left untied is beautiful.
In a passionate kiss that leaves a mark,
even a smudged bindi is beautiful.
பெண்ணோடு
காதல் வந்தால் பிறை
கூட பேரழகு பெண்ணோடு
காதல் வந்தால் பிறை
கூட பேரழகு என்னோடு
நீ இருந்தால் இருள் கூட
ஓர் அழகு
When one falls in love with a woman,
even the crescent moon looks immensely beautiful.
When one falls in love with a woman,
even the crescent moon looks immensely beautiful.
If you are with me,
even the darkness is a thing of beauty.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
கண்ணுக்கு மை
அழகு கவிதைக்கு பொய்
அழகு அவரைக்கு பூ அழகு
அவருக்கு நான் அழகு
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Hmmm…mm…mmm…
Humming...
Mmm….mmm….mmm….
Humming...
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaaa
Vocalizing...
Haa…aaa…aaa…aaaa
Vocalizing...
Mazhai nindra pinnallum
Even after the rain stops,
Ilai sinthum thuli azhagu
the water droplet falling from the leaf is beautiful.
Alai meendu ponalum
Even after the wave recedes,
Karai konda nurai azhagu
the foam left behind on the shore is beautiful.
Imai kottum vin meengal
The twinkling stars in the sky
Iravodu than azhagu
are beautiful only along with the night.
Imai kottum vin meengal
The twinkling stars in the sky
Iravodu than azhagu
are beautiful only along with the night.
Illamaran kannukku
To the eyes of young Illamaran,
Epothum naan azhagu
I am always beautiful.
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Anantha manjathil
On the bed of blissful union,
Avizhnthalum kuzhal azhagu
hair left untied is beautiful.
Adaiyala muthathil
In a passionate kiss that leaves a mark,
Azhinthalum pottu azhagu
even a smudged bindi is beautiful.
Pennodu kaadhal vandhaal
When one falls in love with a woman,
Pirai kooda perazhagu
even the crescent moon looks immensely beautiful.
Pennodu kaadhal vandhaal
When one falls in love with a woman,
Pirai kooda perazhagu
even the crescent moon looks immensely beautiful.
Ennodu nee irunthaal
If you are with me,
Irul kooda orr azhagu
even the darkness is a thing of beauty.
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Kannukku mai azhagu
Kohl adds beauty to the eyes.
Kavidhaikku poi azhagu
Imagination adds beauty to poetry.
Avaraikku poo azhagu
Flowers add beauty to the broad bean vine.
Avarukku naan azhagu
I am the beauty to my beloved.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Kannukku Mai Azhagu' is a serene romantic song from the 1993 Tamil movie Pudhiya Mugam, composed by A. R. Rahman and penned by Vairamuthu. The song uses a series of poetic analogies to show how simple elements gain aesthetic perfection through complementary pairings—such as kohl adorning the eyes, poetic license enriching poetry, and blossoms adorning a vine. Through these imagery-rich comparisons, the female protagonist asserts that her ultimate beauty lies in being cherished by her beloved.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaibu (Epiphora / End Rhyme)
“Kannukku mai azhagu / Kavidhaikku poi azhagu”
Every line in the refrain ends with the word 'azhagu' (beauty), creating a lyrical cadence.
Moonaikku (Alliteration)
“Kannukku mai azhagu / Kavidhaikku poi azhagu”
Repetition of initial consonant sound 'K' across adjacent words.
Edhugai (Second-letter Assonance / Rhyme)
“Mazhai nindra pinnallum / Alai meendu ponalum”
Matching second letter/sound 'lai' in consecutive lines.
Imagery & Parallelism
“Adaiyala muthathil / Azhinthalum pottu azhagu”
Drawing parallels between natural romantic moments (falling rain droplets, sea foam, untied hair, smudged bindi) to illustrate beauty in impermanence and intimacy.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A. R. Rahman, 'Kannukku Mai Azhagu' features legendary playback singer P. Susheela alongside Unni Menon. The song is famed for combining classical Carnatic-inspired melody with modern orchestration, highlighting Vairamuthu's rich traditional Tamil metaphors.
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