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Kathanayaki album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Karpanai Kanavinile

From Kathanayaki · 1955

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
A. M. Rajah, Swarnalatha
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Movie name
Kathanayaki
Movie release year
1955
Lyrics added on
16 Sept 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Karpanai kanavilae naanoru
Kathaanaayagiyai kandaen
Oru kadhaanaayagiyai kandaen
Karpanai kanavilae naanoru
Kathaanaayagiyai kandaen
Oru kadhaanaayagiyai kandaen
Antha kadhaanaayagi yaaro
Kadhal paattu paadinaalo
Hindi tune-yil paadinaalo
English dance-u aadinaalo
Suvai tharum tamizhil paadi
Cineema star pol aadi
Sirippu kaattiyae aasai moottiya
International beauty
Karupppu thiratchai pol kangal
Kannam irandumae apple
Kaandham polavae kavarum pechu
Kidaiththathae enaku chance-u
Karpanai kanavilae naanoru
Kathaanaayagiyai kandaen
Pulli maanai pol thulli
Paarvaiyaal kadhai solli
Jollyaai aval jaadai pesave
Sarasam aadi vantheero
Azhagu punnagai kandu
Avalidam aaval kondu
Annamae ajandha vannamae
Enavae adukku mozhiyil alantheero
Karpanai kanavilae naanoru
Kathaanaayagiyai kandaen
Parakkum thattilae vanthaal
Park-kil ennaiyae kandaal
Paavai ennudan keli pesiyae
Edhiril vanthu nirkkindraal
Vishayam Purinthu kondaen
Vaahvini inbam kandaen
Kanavilum ninaivilum inai piriyaatha
Kadhal jodi naamthaanae
Karpanai kanavilae naanoru
Kathaanaayagi yaaro…
Un kadhaanayagi naano..
In a dream of my imagination, I
saw a heroine!
I saw a heroine!
In a dream of my imagination, I
saw a heroine!
I saw a heroine!
Who could that heroine be?
Did she sing a love song?
Did she sing to a Hindi tune?
Did she dance an English dance?
Singing in sweet Tamil,
dancing like a movie star,
flashing a smile and sparking desire,
she was an international beauty!
Eyes like dark grapes,
both cheeks like apples,
words that attract like a magnet—
I finally got my chance!
In a dream of my imagination, I
saw a heroine!
Prancing like a spotted deer,
telling stories with her glances,
as she playfully teased with her gestures,
did you go and flirt with her?
Seeing her lovely smile,
growing eager for her,
calling her a swan and an Ajanta painting,
did you flatter her with rhyming words?
In a dream of my imagination, I
saw a heroine!
She came down in a flying saucer,
and spotted me in the park!
Teasing and joking with me,
she is standing right in front of me now!
Now I understand the truth!
I have found sweet joy in life!
Inseparable in dreams and in waking life,
we are a couple in love, aren't we?
In a dream of my imagination, I...
Who could that heroine be...
Am I your heroine?...
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This humorous and romantic duet from the film Kathanayaki (1955) captures a modern lover describing an idealized heroine seen in his dream, blending traditional imagery with contemporary Western and pop-culture influences. He portrays her as an 'international beauty' with grape-like eyes, apple cheeks, and stylish flair, capable of dancing and singing across cultural tropes. His partner playfully teases his vivid fantasy, questioning if he wooed this dream figure with sweet poetry before realizing that she herself is the true heroine of his life and dreams. Composed by G. Ramanathan and written by Kannadasan, the song reflects the mid-1950s trend of playful code-mixing and lighter romantic comedy in Tamil cinema music.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Karupppu thiratchai pol kangal”

Comparing her eyes to black grapes ('Karupppu thiratchai pol kangal') and her movement to a leaping deer ('Pulli maanai pol thulli').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kannam irandumae apple”

Directly comparing her cheeks to apples ('Kannam irandumae apple') and her voice to a magnet ('Kaandham polavae kavarum pechu').

Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

“Pulli maanai pol thulli / Paarvaiyaal kadhai solli”

Matching second-consonant sounds in adjacent lines ('Pulli' and 'Paarvaiyaal' / 'thulli' and 'solli').

Code-Mixing (Tanglish / Borrowed Words)

“International beauty”

Innovative integration of contemporary English terms like 'apple', 'chance-u', 'International beauty', and 'Park-kil' into traditional Tamil verse.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kannadasan was one of the early Tamil lyricists to creatively weave English terms (like 'flying saucer', 'park', 'chance', and 'international beauty') into classical Tamil rhythmic structures, adding modern urban flair to 1950s cinema.

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