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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannum Kannum Kalandhu

From Vanji Kottai Valipan · 1958

Lyricist
Kothamangalam Subbu
Singers
P. Leela, Jikki
Music director
C. Ramachandra
Details
Vanji Kottai Valipan1958

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Yaeno inbamaeWhy this pleasure?
Pudhumaiyaai kaanbadhaeEverything appears so new!
Kaadhal enbadhu idhu thaanoIs this what love is?
Idhu thaano ariyaenae…Is it this? I do not know...
Female
Kannum kannum kalandhuEyes meeting eyes
Sondham kondaadudhaeCelebrating togetherness!
Ennum podhae ullam pandhaadudhaeJust thinking of it makes my heart bounce like a ball!
Kannum kannum kalandhuEyes meeting eyes
Sondham kondaadudhaeCelebrating togetherness!
Ennum podhae ullam pandhaadudhaeJust thinking of it makes my heart bounce like a ball!
Kanni endraenadi kaigalai pidithaarI said I am a maiden, yet he held my hands
Kaadhali endrennai konjiyae azhaithaarCalling me his beloved, he affectionately fondled me
Female
Kannum kannum kalandhuEyes meeting eyes
Sondham kondaadudhaeCelebrating togetherness!
Ennum podhae ullam pandhaadudhaeJust thinking of it makes my heart bounce like a ball!
Male
Sabaash sariyaana potti (Dialogue)Bravo, what an equal match!
Female
Jillu jilujilu jilu vendru naanaeCoolly and refreshingly, I
Jaghathai mayakkiduvenaeWill mesmerize the entire world!
Gala gala gala gala vendru joraaiClinking loudly and grandly,
Kaiyil valai paesum paaraaiLook, the bangles on my hand speak!
Jillu jilujilu jilu vendru naanaeCoolly and refreshingly, I
Jaghathai mayakkiduvenaeWill mesmerize the entire world!
Gala gala gala gala vendru joraaiClinking loudly and grandly,
Kaiyil valai paesum paaraaiLook, the bangles on my hand speak!
Female
Aaduvaen paaradi paaduvaen kaeladiWatch me dance, listen to me sing!
Aaduvaen paaradiWatch me dance!
Ini anaivarum mayangidaNow, so that everyone becomes entranced!
Female
Jillu jilujilu jilu vendru naanaeCoolly and refreshingly, I
Jaghathai mayakkiduvenaeWill mesmerize the entire world!
Gala gala gala gala vendru joraaiClinking loudly and grandly,
Kaiyil valai paesum paaraaiLook, the bangles on my hand speak!
Female
Aaru perugi varin anai kattalaagumIf a river overflows, a dam can dam it,
Anbin paadhayil anaiyidalaamoBut can a dam be built on the path of love?
Aaru perugi varin anai kattalaagumIf a river overflows, a dam can dam it,
Anbin paadhayil anaiyidalaamoBut can a dam be built on the path of love?
Paedhamaiyaalae maadhae ippodhaeOh foolish woman, right now
Kaadhalai vendrida kanavu kaanaadhaeDo not dream of conquering love!
Female
Chaadhuryam pesaadhaediDo not talk cleverly, girl!
En salangaikku badhil solladiAnswer my ankle bells instead!
Chaadhuryam pesaadhaediDo not talk cleverly, girl!
En salangaikku badhil solladiAnswer my ankle bells instead!
Naduvilae vandhu nilladi nadaiyilae solladiStep into the middle and stand, answer through your graceful gait!
Naduvilae vandhu nilladi nadaiyilae solladiStep into the middle and stand, answer through your graceful gait!
Female
Aadum mayil endhan munnaeA dancing peacock standing in front of me,
Enna aanavathil vandhaayodiWith what arrogance have you come?
Paadum kuyil geedhathilae poraamai konduJealous of the song of the singing cuckoo,
Padameduthu aadaadhaediDo not dance like a cobra spreading its hood!
Nee padameduthu aadaadhaediYou, do not dance like a cobra spreading its hood!
Female
Innoruthi nigaraagumoCan another woman ever equal me?
Enakkinnoruthi nigaraagumoCan another woman equal me?
Idi idithaal mazhaiyaagumo paedhai pennaeJust because thunder strikes, does it mean it will rain, foolish girl?
Innoruthi nigaraagumoCan another woman ever equal me?
Female
Minnalukku anjaenadiI am not afraid of this lightning, girl!
Veen vaadhamenna munnae vandhu nee aadadiWhy useless debate? Come forward and dance!
Indha minnalukku anjaenadiI am not afraid of this lightning, girl!
Veen vaadhamenna munnae vandhu nee aadadiWhy useless debate? Come forward and dance!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Kannum Kannum Kalandhu is an iconic dance-duel musical sequence from the 1958 classic Vanji Kottai Valipan. Beginning with romantic musings about love's sweet bewilderment and eye contact, the song transitions into a high-stakes rhythmic confrontation between two rival court dancers (played on screen by Vyjayanthimala and Padmini). Through lyrical jabs and virtuosic footwork, each dancer asserts her artistic superiority, mocking her opponent's arrogance while boasting of her own irresistible charm and mastery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Ennum podhae ullam pandhaadudhae

Compares the turbulent emotions of the heart to a bouncing ball.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Gala gala gala gala vendru joraai

Uses rhythmic sound words ('Jillu jilujilu', 'Gala gala') to evoke cool breezes and jingling bangles.

Monorhyme / Second-letter Rhyme (Ethukai)

Chaadhuryam pesaadhaedi / En salangaikku badhil solladi

Matches second syllables ('dhu') and line endings ('di') to build rhythmic tension in the dance duel.

Imagery / Personification

Padameduthu aadaadhaedi

Compares the rival dancer to an arrogant peacock and a hood-raising cobra jealous of a cuckoo's song.

Did you know?

Trivia

This dance duel featuring Vyjayanthimala and Padmini is one of the most famous in Indian cinematic history. Gemini Ganesan's iconic dialogue line 'Sabaash! Sariyaana potti!' ('Bravo! An equal match!') inserted right before the duel became a permanent part of Tamil pop-culture lexicon. The music was composed by C. R. Subburaman and completed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy after Subburaman's demise, with vocals by P. Leela and Jikki.

Keep listening

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