Kannumilla Kadhumilla
From Dharma Devan · 1989
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- K. S. Chithra, Chorus
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Dharma Devan1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannumilla kaadhumilla | Without eyes and without ears |
| Kaiyum illa kaalum illa | Without hands and without legs |
| Naetru varaiyinilae | Until yesterday |
| Female | |
| Kannum undu kaadhum undu | We have eyes and we have ears |
| Kaiyum undu kaalum undu | We have hands and we have legs |
| Indru vaazhkaiyilae | Today in our lives |
| Oru devan ingae pirandhan | A deity was born here |
| Engal kannai avan than thiranthaan | He was the one who opened our eyes |
| Female | |
| Kannum undu kaadhum undu | We have eyes and we have ears |
| Kaiyum undu kaalum undu | We have hands and we have legs |
| Indru vaazhkaiyilae | Today in our lives |
| Female | |
| Guhanukku panniru kannu | Lord Murugan has twelve eyes |
| Appan sivanukku irandadhu onnu | Father Lord Shiva has two plus one, three eyes |
| Ezhaikku vaaithathu irandu | The poor are blessed with two eyes |
| Andha irandumae ponadhu irundu | And both of those went dark |
| Female | |
| Sabathai pavathai | The curse and the sin |
| Janaki naayagan maatri veithaan | The hero of Janaki altered them |
| Kannoli polavae | Just like the light of sight |
| Kalviyin deebathai yaetri vaithaan | He lit the lamp of education |
| Female | |
| Engal deivam ingae yaaru | Who is our god here? |
| Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu | It is MGR who lives in our hearts! |
| Chorus :Engal deivam ingae yaaru | Chorus: Who is our god here? |
| Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu | It is MGR who lives in our hearts! |
| Female | |
| Oonangal ezhaiyai varutha | When disabilities afflicted the poor |
| Andha urupugal seyarkkaiyilae porutha | To fit those limbs artificially |
| Aanaigal pottavan nenjam | The heart of the one who issued orders |
| Pettra annaiyin anbaiyum minjum | Surpasses even the love of a mother |
| Female | |
| Sevidargal kettitida | For the deaf to hear |
| Kaadholi karuvigal koduthavanaam | He is the one who gave hearing aids |
| Pillaigal padithida | For children to study |
| Sorudan seerudai alithavanaam | He is the one who provided food and uniforms |
| Female | |
| Engal deivam ingae yaaru | Who is our god here? |
| Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu | It is MGR who lives in our hearts! |
| Chorus :Engal deivam ingae yaaru | Chorus: Who is our god here? |
| Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu | It is MGR who lives in our hearts! |
| Female | |
| Ponn mana semmalai kattum | Embracing the golden-hearted noble man |
| Engal janaki annaiyin thottram | Is the appearance of our Mother Janaki |
| Thaai thandhai boomiyil emakku | For us on this earth, mother and father |
| Ivar vadivathil thaan ingu irukku | Exist here in their form |
| Female | |
| Koyilin deivangal | While the gods in the temples |
| Oomaigal pol ingu irukkaiyilae | Remain like mute idols here |
| Oomaigal pesida | To help the mute speak |
| Udhavidum deivangal ivargal amma | They are the true living gods, Oh Mother! |
| Female | |
| Engal thalaiva naalum vaazhga | Long live our leader forever |
| Engal thaayae neeyum vaazhga | Long live our mother as well |
| Engal thalaiva naalum vaazhga | Long live our leader forever |
| Engal thaayae neeyum vaazhga | Long live our mother as well |
| Chorus | |
| Kannumilla kaadhumilla | Without eyes and without ears |
| Kaiyum illa kaalum illa | Without hands and without legs |
| Naetru varaiyinilae | Until yesterday |
| Female | |
| Kannum undu kaadhum undu | We have eyes and we have ears |
| Kaiyum undu kaalum undu | We have hands and we have legs |
| Indru vaazhkaiyilae | Today in our lives |
கண்ணுமில்ல காதுமில்ல
கையுமில்ல காலுமில்ல
நேற்று வரையினிலே
Without eyes and without ears
Without hands and without legs
Until yesterday
கண்ணும் உண்டு காதும் உண்டு
கையும் உண்டு காலும் உண்டு
இன்று வாழ்க்கையிலே
We have eyes and we have ears
We have hands and we have legs
Today in our lives
A deity was born here
He was the one who opened our eyes
ஒரு தேவன் இங்கே பிறந்தான்
எங்கள் கண்ணை அவன்தான் திறந்தான்
We have eyes and we have ears
We have hands and we have legs
Today in our lives
கண்ணும் உண்டு காதும் உண்டு
கையும் உண்டு காலும் உண்டு
இன்று வாழ்க்கையிலே..
Lord Murugan has twelve eyes
Father Lord Shiva has two plus one, three eyes
The poor are blessed with two eyes
And both of those went dark
குகனுக்கு பன்னிரு கண்ணு
அப்பன் சிவனுக்கு இரண்டது ஒண்ணு
ஏழைக்கு வாய்த்தது இரண்டு அந்த
இரண்டுமே போனது இருண்டு
The curse and the sin
The hero of Janaki altered them
Just like the light of sight
He lit the lamp of education
சாபத்தை பாவத்தை
ஜானகி நாயகன் மாற்றி வைத்தான்
கண்ணொளி போலவே
கல்வியின் தீபத்தை ஏற்றி வைத்தான்
Who is our god here?
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
Chorus: Who is our god here?
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
எங்கள் தெய்வம் இங்கே யாரு
நெஞ்சில் வாழும் எம்.ஜி.ஆரு
When disabilities afflicted the poor
To fit those limbs artificially
The heart of the one who issued orders
Surpasses even the love of a mother
எங்கள் தெய்வம் இங்கே யாரு
நெஞ்சில் வாழும் எம்.ஜி.ஆரு
For the deaf to hear
He is the one who gave hearing aids
For children to study
He is the one who provided food and uniforms
கண்ணும் உண்டு காதும் உண்டு
கையும் உண்டு காலும் உண்டு
இன்று வாழ்க்கையிலே..
குழு :
லாலாலாலா...
Who is our god here?
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
Chorus: Who is our god here?
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
ஊனங்கள் ஏழையை வறுத்த
அந்த உறுப்புகள் செயற்கையில் பொருத்த
ஆணைகள் போட்டவன் நெஞ்சம்
பெற்ற அன்னையின் அன்பையும் மிஞ்சும்
Embracing the golden-hearted noble man
Is the appearance of our Mother Janaki
For us on this earth, mother and father
Exist here in their form
செவிடர்கள் கேட்டிட
காதொலி கருவிகள் கொடுத்தவனாம்
பிள்ளைகள் படித்திட
சோறுடன் சீருடை அளித்தவனாம்
While the gods in the temples
Remain like mute idols here
To help the mute speak
They are the true living gods, Oh Mother!
எங்கள் தெய்வம் இங்கே யாரு
நெஞ்சில் வாழும் எம்.ஜி.ஆரு
Long live our leader forever
Long live our mother as well
Long live our leader forever
Long live our mother as well
எங்கள் தெய்வம் இங்கே யாரு
நெஞ்சில் வாழும் எம்.ஜி.ஆரு
Without eyes and without ears
Without hands and without legs
Until yesterday
கண்ணும் உண்டு காதும் உண்டு
கையும் உண்டு காலும் உண்டு
இன்று வாழ்க்கையிலே..
We have eyes and we have ears
We have hands and we have legs
Today in our lives
லாலாலாலா...
பொன்மனச் செம்மலைக் காட்டும்
எங்கள் ஜானகி அன்னையின் தோற்றம்
தாய் தந்தை பூமியில் எமக்கு
இவர் வடிவத்தில்தான் இங்கு இருக்கு
கோயிலின் தெய்வங்கள்
ஊமைகள் போல் இங்கு இருக்கையிலே
ஊமைகள் பேசிட
உதவிடும் தெய்வங்கள் இவர்களம்மா
எங்கள் தலைவா நாளும் வாழ்க
எங்கள் தாயே நீயும் வாழ்க
எங்கள் தலைவா நாளும் வாழ்க
எங்கள் தாயே நீயும் வாழ்க
கண்ணுமில்ல காதுமில்ல
கையுமில்ல காலுமில்ல
நேற்று வரையினிலே
கண்ணும் உண்டு காதும் உண்டு
கையும் உண்டு காலும் உண்டு
இன்று வாழ்க்கையிலே
ஒரு தேவன் இங்கே பிறந்தான்
எங்கள் கண்ணை அவன்தான் திறந்தான்....
ஒரு தேவன் இங்கே பிறந்தான்
எங்கள் கண்ணை அவன்தான் திறந்தான்....
Kannumilla kaadhumilla
Without eyes and without ears
Kaiyum illa kaalum illa
Without hands and without legs
Naetru varaiyinilae
Until yesterday
Kannum undu kaadhum undu
We have eyes and we have ears
Kaiyum undu kaalum undu
We have hands and we have legs
Indru vaazhkaiyilae
Today in our lives
Oru devan ingae pirandhan
A deity was born here
Engal kannai avan than thiranthaan
He was the one who opened our eyes
Kannum undu kaadhum undu
We have eyes and we have ears
Kaiyum undu kaalum undu
We have hands and we have legs
Indru vaazhkaiyilae
Today in our lives
Guhanukku panniru kannu
Lord Murugan has twelve eyes
Appan sivanukku irandadhu onnu
Father Lord Shiva has two plus one, three eyes
Ezhaikku vaaithathu irandu
The poor are blessed with two eyes
Andha irandumae ponadhu irundu
And both of those went dark
Sabathai pavathai
The curse and the sin
Janaki naayagan maatri veithaan
The hero of Janaki altered them
Kannoli polavae
Just like the light of sight
Kalviyin deebathai yaetri vaithaan
He lit the lamp of education
Engal deivam ingae yaaru
Who is our god here?
Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
Chorus :Engal deivam ingae yaaru
Chorus: Who is our god here?
Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
Oonangal ezhaiyai varutha
When disabilities afflicted the poor
Andha urupugal seyarkkaiyilae porutha
To fit those limbs artificially
Aanaigal pottavan nenjam
The heart of the one who issued orders
Pettra annaiyin anbaiyum minjum
Surpasses even the love of a mother
Sevidargal kettitida
For the deaf to hear
Kaadholi karuvigal koduthavanaam
He is the one who gave hearing aids
Pillaigal padithida
For children to study
Sorudan seerudai alithavanaam
He is the one who provided food and uniforms
Engal deivam ingae yaaru
Who is our god here?
Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
Chorus :Engal deivam ingae yaaru
Chorus: Who is our god here?
Nenjil vaazhum mgraaruuu
It is MGR who lives in our hearts!
Ponn mana semmalai kattum
Embracing the golden-hearted noble man
Engal janaki annaiyin thottram
Is the appearance of our Mother Janaki
Thaai thandhai boomiyil emakku
For us on this earth, mother and father
Ivar vadivathil thaan ingu irukku
Exist here in their form
Koyilin deivangal
While the gods in the temples
Oomaigal pol ingu irukkaiyilae
Remain like mute idols here
Oomaigal pesida
To help the mute speak
Udhavidum deivangal ivargal amma
They are the true living gods, Oh Mother!
Engal thalaiva naalum vaazhga
Long live our leader forever
Engal thaayae neeyum vaazhga
Long live our mother as well
Engal thalaiva naalum vaazhga
Long live our leader forever
Engal thaayae neeyum vaazhga
Long live our mother as well
Kannumilla kaadhumilla
Without eyes and without ears
Kaiyum illa kaalum illa
Without hands and without legs
Naetru varaiyinilae
Until yesterday
Kannum undu kaadhum undu
We have eyes and we have ears
Kaiyum undu kaalum undu
We have hands and we have legs
Indru vaazhkaiyilae
Today in our lives
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song pays rich tribute to the legendary Tamil actor and former Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and his wife Janaki Ramachandran. The lyrics describe how marginalized, impoverished, and differently-abled individuals found hope, sustenance, and dignity through MGR's social welfare schemes and philanthropy. By comparing MGR's compassion to divine grace, lyricist Vaali highlights his contributions like free artificial limbs, hearing aids, school uniforms, and the mid-day meal scheme for school children. The song elevates MGR and Janaki Ramachandran to the status of living deities who stepped in to help humanity when temple gods remained silent spectators.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Antithesis (Edhir-sol)
“Kannumilla kaadhumilla ... Indru vaazhkaiyilae”
Contrasts the helpless past ('Kannumilla kaadhumilla...') with the empowered present ('Kannum undu kaadhum undu...').
Emona / Rhyme (Monai)
“Kannumilla kaadhumilla / Kaiyum illa kaalum illa”
Repetition of starting sounds/letters across phrases like 'Kannumilla' / 'Kaiyum illa'.
Metaphor (Uruvagamm)
“Kalviyin deebathai yaetri vaithaan”
Comparing MGR directly to a god ('Oru devan ingae pirandhan') and education to a lamp ('Kalviyin deebathai').
Did you know?
Trivia
This song praises the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. G. Ramachandran (MGR), and V. N. Janaki. Lyricist Vaali was a close associate of MGR and wrote numerous iconic political and social welfare songs celebrating MGR's schemes like the Noon Meal Scheme and assistance for the disabled.
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