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Lyrics & meaning

Kannukutti Kannukutti

From Kankanda Deivam · 1962

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Kankanda Deivam1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Kannukutti kannukuttiLittle calf, little calf,
Kaala kannukuttiBull calf,
Kalyaana vayasu vandha chinna kuttiLittle young girl who has reached marriageable age,
Naan sollaama sonnadhaiWhatever I communicated without speaking,
Ellaam sollukutti} (2)Tell it all, little calf!
Male
{Kannukutti kannukuttiLittle calf, little calf,
Kaala kannukuttiBull calf,
Kalyaana vayasu vandha chinna kuttiLittle young girl who has reached marriageable age,
Naan sollaama sonnadhaiWhatever I communicated without speaking,
Ellaam sollukutti} (2)Tell it all, little calf!
Female
{Kallaana manasu kondaHe who possesses a heart made of stone,
Pollaadha aaluThat naughty, mischievous man,
Enna kanneduthum pakkalaiyaeDid not even look up to glance at me,
Ennaanu kelu} ( 2)Ask him what the reason is!
Male
Naalu kannu paathukittaWhen four eyes meet each other,
Kaadhalunnu peruIt is called love;
Adha ooru kannu paathuputtaIf the whole town's eyes see it,
Varum akka poruIt leads to gossip and conflict.
AmbuttuthaanThat is all there is to it.
Naalu kannu paathukittaWhen four eyes meet each other,
Kaadhalunnu peruIt is called love;
Adha ooru kannu paathuputtaIf the whole town's eyes see it,
Varum akka poruIt leads to gossip and conflict.
Female
Aattukkum aattukkum rendu kombhuEven goats have only two horns,
Indha aambalaikkennadi akkurumbhuWhy does this man have so much mischief and pride?
Male :Thananna thaananna thandhaanaMale: Thananna thaananna thandhaana
Thana thananna thaananna thandhaanaThana thananna thaananna thandhaana
Female
Aattukkum aattukkum rendu kombhuEven goats have only two horns,
Indha aambalaikkennadi akkurumbhuWhy does this man have so much mischief and pride?
Male
Kannukutti kannukuttiLittle calf, little calf,
Kaala kannukuttiBull calf,
Kalyaana vayasu vandha chinna kuttiLittle young girl who has reached marriageable age,
Female :Naan sollaama sonnadhaiFemale: Whatever I communicated without speaking,
Ellaam sollukuttiTell it all, little calf!
Male
Chinnanjiru idaiyai kandaSeeing your slender, tiny waist,
Theriyudhu vayasuYour youthful age is evident;
Un singaara nadaiyai kandaaSeeing your stylish, charming walk,
Thalumbudhu manasuThe heart overflows with emotion!
Female
AmmadiyooOh my goodness!
Male
Chinnanjiru idaiyai kandaSeeing your slender, tiny waist,
Theriyudhu vayasuYour youthful age is evident;
Un singaara nadaiyai kandaaSeeing your stylish, charming walk,
Thalumbudhu manasuThe heart overflows with emotion!
Female
{Muthaana sirippai kandaaSeeing that pearl-like bright smile,
theriyudhu thudippuThe secret yearning becomes clear;
Moodi vechu maraichadhellaamWhatever was hidden and kept covered,
Aathaadi nadippu} (2)Oh dear, was all just playful acting!
Male
Pattadhai innikku kotti puttenWhatever I felt, I have poured out today,
Ini uttadhai naalaikku thottukuvomWhatever remains, we shall touch upon tomorrow.
Female :Thananna thaananna thandhaanaFemale: Thananna thaananna thandhaana
Thana thananna thaananna thandhaanaThana thananna thaananna thandhaana
Male :Pattadhai innikku kotti puttenMale: Whatever I felt, I have poured out today,
Ini uttadhai naalaikku thottukuvomWhatever remains, we shall touch upon tomorrow.
Female
Kannukutti kannukuttiLittle calf, little calf,
Kaala kannukuttiBull calf,
Kalyaana vayasu vandha chinna kuttiLittle young girl who has reached marriageable age,
Naan sollaama sonnadhaiWhatever I communicated without speaking,
Ellaam sollukuttiTell it all, little calf!
Male :Naan sollaama sonnadhaiMale: Whatever I communicated without speaking,
Ellaam sollukuttiTell it all, little calf!
Ada naan sollaama sonnadhaiHey, whatever I communicated without speaking,
Ellaam sollukuttiTell it all, little calf!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kannukutti Kannukutti is a playful, romantic duet set in a rural Tamil background from the 1962 movie Kankanda Deivam. The song features two lovers teasing each other in a lighthearted manner using rural metaphors and innocent folk dialect. The female protagonist playfully uses a young farm calf as a messenger to convey her unexpressed feelings to her lover, who initially feigns indifference.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kannukutti kannukutti / Kaala kannukutti

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Ka' across lines creating rhythmic flow.

Personification

Naan sollaama sonnadhai Ellaam sollukutti

Addressing the calf as a confidante and messenger capable of understanding and relaying implicit love.

Folk Metaphor / Idiom

Aattukkum aattukkum rendu kombhu Indha aambalaikkennadi akkurumbhu

Comparing male hubris and playfulness to a goat's horns to express humorous frustration.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kankanda Deivam features music by legendary composer K. V. Mahadevan, known for his ability to seamlessly blend classical melodies with authentic Tamil folk rhythms. The playback duo T. M. Soundarajan and P. Susheela performed scores of hit rural duets during this era.

Keep listening

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