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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Kannum Kannum Pesiyadhum

From Kairasi · 1960

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
R. Govarthanam
Details
Kairasi1960

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aaa…..aaa….aaa….aaa..aa…Aaa…..aaa….aaa….aaa..aa…
Haa….aaa…aaa…Haa….aaa…aaa…
Haaa…aaa..haaa..aaa…aaa…aa..aa..aa..aa..Haaa…aaa..haaa..aaa…aaa…aa..aa..aa..aa..
Male
Kannum kannum pesiyadhumThat our eyes met and spoke to each other,
Unnaal androwas it not because of you?
Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhumThat sweet music of love was sung,
Neeyae androwas it not by you?
Pen manadhil yetri vaithaIs it not the lamp lit,
Dheebamallavaain a woman's heart?
Oli pirakkum munnae anaithalTo extinguish it before the light shines,
Paavamallavaais it not a sin?
Male
Kannum kannum pesiyadhumThat our eyes met and spoke to each other,
Unnaal androwas it not because of you?
Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhumThat sweet music of love was sung,
Neeyae androwas it not by you?
Pen manadhil yetri vaithaIs it not the lamp lit,
Dheebamallavaain a woman's heart?
Oli pirakkum munnae anaithalTo extinguish it before the light shines,
Paavamallavaais it not a sin?
Female
{Kaadhal nenjin vaedhanaigal{The painful agonies of a loving heart,
Theeruvadhundodo they ever end?
Nee kaadhal vazhi sendraalumEven if you walk down the path of love,
Aaruvadhundo} (2)does the pain ever heal?} (2)
Female
Aadhi mudhal paadam sonnaThe poet who taught the first lesson from the beginning,
Paavalan androwas it not him?
Aadhi mudhal paadam sonnaThe poet who taught the first lesson from the beginning,
Paavalan androwas it not him?
Ennai aada vaithu paarthirundhaThe hero who made me dance and watched,
Naayagan androwas it not him?
Female
Kannum kannum pesiyadhumThat our eyes met and spoke to each other,
Unnaal androwas it not because of you?
Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhumThat sweet music of love was sung,
Neeyae androwas it not by you?
Pen manadhil yetri vaithaIs it not the lamp lit,
Dheebamallavaain a woman's heart?
Oli pirakkum munnae anaithalTo extinguish it before the light shines,
Paavamallavaais it not a sin?
Male
{Andhi varum thendralukku{For the evening breeze that arrives,
Maatramillaiyaethere is no change;
Aadi vellam odi varaFor the monsoon floods of Aadi to gush forth,
Marappadhillaiyae} (2)it never forgets.} (2)
Male
Thingal varum paadhaiyilumEven in the path the moon travels,
Maatramillaiyaethere is no change;
Thingal varum paadhaiyilumEven in the path the moon travels,
Maatramillaiyaethere is no change;
Vindhai konda kaadhal mattumDoes love alone, full of wonder,
Maaruvadhundoever change?
Male
Kannum kannum pesiyadhumThat our eyes met and spoke to each other,
Unnaal androwas it not because of you?
Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhumThat sweet music of love was sung,
Neeyae androwas it not by you?
Female
Vaer oondri valarum endruHoping it would take root and grow,
Vidhai vidhaithenI sowed the seed;
Vaer oondri valarum endruHoping it would take root and grow,
Vidhai vidhaithenI sowed the seed;
Iru vizhi pola kaathirundhuGuarding it like my two eyes,
Neerum iraithaenI watered it;
Female
Poo mudikkum aasai konduDesiring to wear the flowers,
Solai adaindhaenI reached the garden;
Poo mudikkum aasai konduDesiring to wear the flowers,
Solai adaindhaenI reached the garden;
Angu puyal veesi kaadhal kodiThere, a storm blew and I saw,
Saaindhida kandenthe creeper of love fall over.
Female
Kannum kannum pesiyadhumThat our eyes met and spoke to each other,
Unnaal androwas it not because of you?
Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhumThat sweet music of love was sung,
Neeyae androwas it not by you?
Male
Pen manadhil yetri vaithaIs it not the lamp lit in a woman's heart... lit in a woman's heart?
Dheebamallavaa…dheebamallavaaTo extinguish it before the light shines... is it not a sin... a sin?
Oli pirakkum munnae anaithal{That our eyes met and spoke to each other,
Paavamallavaa…paavamallavaa…..was it not because of you?
Female
{Kannum kannum pesiyadhumInba kaadhal isai paadiyadhum,
Unnaal androwas it not by you?} (2)
Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhum
Neeyae andro} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant Tamil song depicts the profound angst and grief of a woman expressing her heartbreak over lost love. She reflects on how her lover first sparked the romance through unspoken glances and sweet promises, likening love to a lamp lit within a woman's soul. She laments that snuffing out this light before it can illuminate her life is a grave injustice and a sin.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani / Urvagham)

Pen manadhil yetri vaitha Dheebamallavaa

The line compares love to a lamp lit in a woman's heart ('Pen manadhil yetri vaitha dheebamallavaa').

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannum kannum pesiyadhum / Inba kaadhal isai paadiyadhum

Rhyming of the second letter in consecutive lines: 'Kannum' and 'Inba' share nasal harmony, while 'Pen' and 'Oli' showcase poetic flow across stanzas.

Anaphora / Repetition (Irrattai Kilavi / Anaphora)

Kannum kannum pesiyadhum

Repetition of 'Kannum kannum' emphasizes the silent communication of the eyes during love.

Analogy (Uvamai)

Andhi varum thendralukku Maatramillaiyae / Thingal varum paadhaiyilum Maatramillaiyae

Comparing the unchanging nature of evening breeze, moon path, and monsoon floods to the ideal constancy of love.

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Trivia

This classical sad romance track from Kairasi (1960) features lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan, with music composed by R. Sudarsanam and vocals rendered by P. Susheela.

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