Kannuku Kulam Yedu
From Karnan · 1964
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. Susheela
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Karnan1964
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu…uu… | What caste does the eye have? |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu …uu… | What caste does the eye have? |
| Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu.. | Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have? |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu..uu.. | What caste does the eye have? |
| Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu.. | Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have? |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu..uu… | What caste does the eye have? |
| Female | |
| Vinnukkul pirivaedhu kannaa …aa… | Oh Krishna, what division exists within the sky? |
| Vinnukkul pirivaedhu kannaa | Oh Krishna, what division exists within the sky? |
| Villakkukkul irulaedhu | What darkness can exist inside a light lamp? |
| Female | |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu | What caste does the eye have? |
| Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu… | Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have? |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu…… | What caste does the eye have? |
| Female | |
| Paalinil irundhae… ae…ae… | From milk itself... |
| Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aaa….aa….aa… | (Vocalizing) |
| Aaa…..aaa….aaa…. | (Vocalizing) |
| Female | |
| Paalinil irundhae nei pirakkum | Clarified butter (ghee) is born from milk, |
| Kannaa param porul kandae | Oh Krishna, only upon seeing the Supreme Reality, |
| Uyir pirakkum | Does true life/soul come into existence. |
| Verathil irundhae kulam pirakkum | A clan or lineage is born out of valor, |
| Adhil mel endrum keezh endrum engirukkum | In that, where is high status or low status? |
| Female | |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu | What caste does the eye have? |
| Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu… | Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have? |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu…… | What caste does the eye have? |
| Female | |
| Koduppavarellaam… aaammm | All those who give... |
| Koduppavarellaam mel aavaar | All those who give become elevated and high, |
| Kaiyil kolbavarellaam keezh aavaar | All those who receive in their hands become low. |
| Tharubavan illaiyo kannaa nee | Oh Krishna, are you not the ultimate Giver? |
| Dharumathin thaayae kalangaadhae | Oh mother of righteousness, do not grieve! |
| Dharumathin thaayae kalangaadhae | Oh mother of righteousness, do not grieve! |
| Female | |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu | What caste does the eye have? |
| Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu… | Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have? |
| Kannuku kulamaedhu…… uuu… | What caste does the eye have? |
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணா கருணைக்கு இனமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணா கருணைக்கு இனமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது....ஊ.....
What caste does the eye have?
What caste does the eye have?
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
What caste does the eye have?
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
What caste does the eye have?
விண்ணுக்குள் பிரிவேது கண்ணா...ஆ....
விண்ணுக்குள் பிரிவேது கண்ணா
விளக்குக்குள் இருளேது
Oh Krishna, what division exists within the sky?
Oh Krishna, what division exists within the sky?
What darkness can exist inside a light lamp?
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது
கண்ணா கருணைக்கு இனமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது.....
What caste does the eye have?
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
What caste does the eye have?
பாலினில் இருந்தே...ஏ...ஏ...
ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...
ஆ...ஆ...ஆ...
From milk itself...
(Vocalizing)
(Vocalizing)
பாலினில் இருந்தே
நெய் பிறக்கும்
கண்ணா பரம்பொருள் கண்டே
உயிர் பிறக்கும்
வீரத்தில் இருந்தே குலம் பிறக்கும்
அதில் மேலென்றும் கீழென்றும்
எங்கிருக்கும்
Clarified butter (ghee) is born from milk,
Oh Krishna, only upon seeing the Supreme Reality,
Does true life/soul come into existence.
A clan or lineage is born out of valor,
In that, where is high status or low status?
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது
கண்ணா கருணைக்கு இனமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது.....
What caste does the eye have?
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
What caste does the eye have?
கொடுப்பவரெல்லாம்...ஆஆம்ம்...
கொடுப்பவரெல்லாம் மேல் ஆவார்
கையில் கொள்பவரெல்லாம் கீழ் ஆவார்
தருபவன் இல்லையோ கண்ணா நீ
தருமத்தின் தாயே கலங்காதே
தருமத்தின் தாயே கலங்காதே
All those who give...
All those who give become elevated and high,
All those who receive in their hands become low.
Oh Krishna, are you not the ultimate Giver?
Oh mother of righteousness, do not grieve!
Oh mother of righteousness, do not grieve!
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது
கண்ணா கருணைக்கு இனமேது....ஊ.....
கண்ணுக்கு குலமேது.....ஊ......
What caste does the eye have?
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
What caste does the eye have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu…uu…
What caste does the eye have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu …uu…
What caste does the eye have?
Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu..
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu..uu..
What caste does the eye have?
Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu..
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu..uu…
What caste does the eye have?
Vinnukkul pirivaedhu kannaa …aa…
Oh Krishna, what division exists within the sky?
Vinnukkul pirivaedhu kannaa
Oh Krishna, what division exists within the sky?
Villakkukkul irulaedhu
What darkness can exist inside a light lamp?
Kannuku kulamaedhu
What caste does the eye have?
Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu…
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu……
What caste does the eye have?
Paalinil irundhae… ae…ae…
From milk itself...
Aa… aa… aa… aa… aa…aaa….aa….aa…
(Vocalizing)
Aaa…..aaa….aaa….
(Vocalizing)
Paalinil irundhae nei pirakkum
Clarified butter (ghee) is born from milk,
Kannaa param porul kandae
Oh Krishna, only upon seeing the Supreme Reality,
Uyir pirakkum
Does true life/soul come into existence.
Verathil irundhae kulam pirakkum
A clan or lineage is born out of valor,
Adhil mel endrum keezh endrum engirukkum
In that, where is high status or low status?
Kannuku kulamaedhu
What caste does the eye have?
Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu…
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu……
What caste does the eye have?
Koduppavarellaam… aaammm
All those who give...
Koduppavarellaam mel aavaar
All those who give become elevated and high,
Kaiyil kolbavarellaam keezh aavaar
All those who receive in their hands become low.
Tharubavan illaiyo kannaa nee
Oh Krishna, are you not the ultimate Giver?
Dharumathin thaayae kalangaadhae
Oh mother of righteousness, do not grieve!
Dharumathin thaayae kalangaadhae
Oh mother of righteousness, do not grieve!
Kannuku kulamaedhu
What caste does the eye have?
Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu..uu…
Oh Krishna, what race or lineage does compassion have?
Kannuku kulamaedhu…… uuu…
What caste does the eye have?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant philosophical track from Karnan (1964) questions the social prejudices and caste-based hierarchies of human society. Through deep analogies drawn from nature—such as the sky having no divisions, a lamp containing no darkness, and milk giving birth to ghee—the lyricist emphasizes that natural virtues like vision, light, and mercy carry no caste or lineage labels. The lyrics praise Karnan's unbound charity, asserting that true greatness is defined by a person's generosity and actions rather than their birth or origin. Those who give selflessly are noble, while those who hoard or beg remain lesser, reminding us that righteousness and compassion are the supreme spiritual truths.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Alangaram)
“Kannuku kulamaedhu... Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu”
Posing poetic questions about eyes, sky, and light having no caste or division to challenge human caste discrimination.
Metaphor (Uvamaikani)
“Villakkukkul irulaedhu”
Comparing the absence of caste in eyes or darkness in a lamp to show the inherent purity of the soul and charity.
Antithesis / Contrast (Muran Alangaram)
“Koduppavarellaam mel aavaar / Kaiyil kolbavarellaam keezh aavaar”
Contrasting 'mel' (high/noble) and 'keezh' (low) based on the action of giving ('koduppavar') versus receiving ('kolbavar').
Initial Rhyme (Monaai)
“Kannuku kulamaedhu / Kannaa karunaikku inamaedhu”
Repetition of initial consonant sounds across lines (e.g., 'Kannuku' / 'Kannaa' / 'Karunaikku').
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the renowned duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and rendered by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, this track in Karnan highlights Karnan's noble struggle against societal rejection due to his foster birth. The song remains one of Tamil cinema's most potent anti-caste philosophical anthems.
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