Kannunjal
From Navarasa · 2021
- Lyricist
- Uma Devi
- Singer
- Sudha Raghunathan
- Music director
- Justin Prabhakaran
- Details
- Navarasa2021
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
| Manam magizhndhal | Her heart rejoiced |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
| Manam magizhndhal | Her heart rejoiced |
| Female | |
| Vinnodu thaavi parandhal | She leaped towards the sky and flew |
| Kaarkuzhal aada | As her dark tresses swayed |
| Kannodu kaadhal kalandhal | Love blended in her eyes |
| Male | |
| Ponnunjalil thavazhum | Gently swaying on the golden swing |
| Thoranangal manakka | As the festoons radiated fragrance |
| Naranam kaigal pada | As Narayana's hands touched her |
| Naanangal kooda yezha | Even bashfulness arose within her |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
| Female | |
| Ullathilae vanjam illaa | Without any deceit in her heart |
| Uthaman petra kumaari | The maiden born to the righteous man |
| Sutram puzhai soozha | Surrounded by relatives like a flowing river |
| Nirkum niththiya sarvalangkari | Standing as the eternally fully-adorned divine beauty |
| Female | |
| Malai soottinaal | She garlanded him |
| Maalai maatrinaal | She exchanged garlands |
| Malan marbilae maamalar aadida | As the grand flower sways on her lotus-chested lover |
| Mayil yenguthae thoo malar thoovida | The peacock longs to scatter pure flowers |
| Aazhi vannan avan aasai | He of the ocean-blue hue is her desire |
| Thozh inaindhu kodhai vaazhga | May Kodhai live united shoulder to shoulder with him |
| Female | |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
| Manam magizhndhal | Her heart rejoiced |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
| Female | |
| Naranam kaigal pada | As Narayana's hands touched her |
| Naanangal kooda yezha | Even bashfulness arose within her |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
| Manam magizhndhal | Her heart rejoiced |
| Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal | She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing |
ஜஸ்டின் பிரபாகரன்
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Her heart rejoiced
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Her heart rejoiced
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
மனம் மகிழ்ந்தாள்
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
மனம் மகிழ்ந்தாள்
She leaped towards the sky and flew
As her dark tresses swayed
Love blended in her eyes
விண்ணோடு தாவி பறந்தாள்
கார்குழல் ஆட
கண்ணோடு காதல் கலந்தாள்
Gently swaying on the golden swing
As the festoons radiated fragrance
As Narayana's hands touched her
Even bashfulness arose within her
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
பொன்னூஞ்சலில் தவழும்
தோரணங்கள் மணக்க
நாரணம் கைகள் பாட
நாணங்கள் கூட எழ
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
Without any deceit in her heart
The maiden born to the righteous man
Surrounded by relatives like a flowing river
Standing as the eternally fully-adorned divine beauty
உள்ளத்திலே வஞ்சம் இல்லா
உத்தமம் பெற்ற குமாரி
சுற்றும் புழை சூழ
நிற்கும் நித்திய சர்வலங்காரி
She garlanded him
She exchanged garlands
As the grand flower sways on her lotus-chested lover
The peacock longs to scatter pure flowers
He of the ocean-blue hue is her desire
May Kodhai live united shoulder to shoulder with him
மாலை சூட்டினாள்
மாலை மாற்றினாள்
மாலன் மார்பிலே மாமலர் ஆடிட
மயில் ஏங்குதே தூ மலர் தூவிட
ஆழி வண்ணன் அவன் ஆசை
தோள் இணைந்து கோதை வாழ்க
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Her heart rejoiced
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
மனம் மகிழ்ந்தாள்
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
As Narayana's hands touched her
Even bashfulness arose within her
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Her heart rejoiced
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
நாரணம் கைகள் பட
நாணங்கள் கூட எழ
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
மனம் மகிழ்ந்தாள்
கன்னூஞ்சல் ஆடி மகிழ்ந்தாள்
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Manam magizhndhal
Her heart rejoiced
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Manam magizhndhal
Her heart rejoiced
Vinnodu thaavi parandhal
She leaped towards the sky and flew
Kaarkuzhal aada
As her dark tresses swayed
Kannodu kaadhal kalandhal
Love blended in her eyes
Ponnunjalil thavazhum
Gently swaying on the golden swing
Thoranangal manakka
As the festoons radiated fragrance
Naranam kaigal pada
As Narayana's hands touched her
Naanangal kooda yezha
Even bashfulness arose within her
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Ullathilae vanjam illaa
Without any deceit in her heart
Uthaman petra kumaari
The maiden born to the righteous man
Sutram puzhai soozha
Surrounded by relatives like a flowing river
Nirkum niththiya sarvalangkari
Standing as the eternally fully-adorned divine beauty
Malai soottinaal
She garlanded him
Maalai maatrinaal
She exchanged garlands
Malan marbilae maamalar aadida
As the grand flower sways on her lotus-chested lover
Mayil yenguthae thoo malar thoovida
The peacock longs to scatter pure flowers
Aazhi vannan avan aasai
He of the ocean-blue hue is her desire
Thozh inaindhu kodhai vaazhga
May Kodhai live united shoulder to shoulder with him
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Manam magizhndhal
Her heart rejoiced
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Naranam kaigal pada
As Narayana's hands touched her
Naanangal kooda yezha
Even bashfulness arose within her
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Manam magizhndhal
Her heart rejoiced
Kannunjal aadi magizhndhal
She rejoiced swinging in the eye-swing
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Kannunjal is a classically grounded piece from the anthology Navarasa (2021), composed by Justin Prabhakaran and sung by Carnatic icon Sudha Raghunathan. The song captures the bliss of a traditional South Indian wedding ceremony, specifically evoking the 'Oonjal' (swing) ritual where the bride and groom sit together amidst festivities.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Moonaal (Alliteration)
“Malai soottinaal / Maalai maatrinaal”
Repetition of the initial 'Ma' sound across consecutive phrases creates a rhythmic musicality.
Metaphor / Classical Allusion
“Aazhi vannan avan aasai / Thozh inaindhu kodhai vaazhga”
'Kodhai' refers to Goddess Andal, and 'Aazhi vannan' refers to Lord Vishnu (ocean-hued), metaphorically elevating the earthly bride and groom to divine lovers.
Visual Imagery
“Vinnodu thaavi parandhal / Kaarkuzhal aada”
Vivid imagery describing the bride swinging high towards the sky with her dark locks swaying.
Did you know?
Trivia
Sung by classical exponent Sudha Raghunathan, the song draws deep inspiration from Tamil Vaishnavite classical literature, specifically Andal's Nachiyar Thirumozhi, which describes divine wedding rituals and the swing ceremony (Oonjal).
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