Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Kasthuri Maan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Kekkaliyo Kekkaliyo

From Kasthuri Maan · 2005

Lyricist
Muthulingam
Singers
Tippu, Manjari
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kasthuri Maan
Movie release year
2005
Lyrics added on
27 Mar 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yamunai karaiyil vandhu vandhu modhum
Alai pol ninaivu nenjil vandhu pogum
Alaigal ezhundhaal thaangum karai naanae
Nadhi neer pirindhaal illai indha meenae
Veyilaal urugi vellai pani odum
Ninaivaal urugi ullam vazhindhodum
Unnai paarkkaadhu karam serkkaadhu
Thavikkum thavippai
Yaarai kandu naanum solven
Kekkaliyo kekkaliyo
Kannanadhu gaangam
Pookkaliyo pookkaliyo pookkal nenjil naanam
Ennai vittu engae ponaalum
Indha ullam mattum
Unnai vittu engum pogaadhu
Mullilae methai ittu thoongum padi sonnaai
Yevaraal mudiyum nee sollu kannaa
Kannanin kangal vidum baanam oru podhum
Kaamanin baanam pol unnai varuthaadhu
Kolludhae thanimai ennai indha naalil
Kottudhae neruppai kodhai endhan saelai
Mazhai peidhaalum kulir adithaalum
Anal pol kodhikkum
Aasai konda dhegam rendum
Kekkaliyo kekkaliyo kannanadhu gaangam
Striking the banks of the Yamuna again and again,
memories come and go like waves in my heart.
When the waves rise, I am the shore that bears them.
Separated from the river's water, this fish cannot survive.
Melting in the sunlight, the white snow flows away.
Melting in your thoughts, my heart overflows and streams away.
Without seeing you, without holding your hands,
this deep ache of longing I feel,
who can I turn to and tell?
Don't you hear it? Don't you hear it?
Kannan's sweet music?
Hasn't shyness blossomed like flowers in your heart?
Wherever you go away from me,
this heart of mine
will never wander away from you.
You asked me to make a bed of thorns and sleep on it!
Who could ever do that? Tell me, Kannan!
The arrows shot from Kannan's eyes
will never hurt you like the arrows of the god of love.
This loneliness is killing me these days.
Even my saree feels like it is pouring fire on me!
Even if it rains, even if the cold wind blows,
they boil like hot embers—
both our bodies filled with desire!
Don't you hear it? Don't you hear it, Kannan's sweet music?
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses the deep devotion and intense romantic longing (Nikitai/Viraha Bhakti) of a maiden for Lord Krishna along the banks of the river Yamuna. Through vivid imagery, she compares her relentless memories to relentless waves crashing on the riverbank, and her existence without her beloved to a fish removed from water. The grief of separation makes even cold rain feel like burning heat and a soft saree feel like a bed of thorns. Despite the suffering caused by distance and solitude, her devotion remains steadfast. She affirms that no matter where her beloved goes, her heart will eternally remain tethered to him, captivated by the echoing divine melody of Krishna's flute.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Alai pol ninaivu nenjil vandhu pogum”

Compares the incoming and outgoing memories in the heart directly to the ocean waves hitting the riverbank using 'pol'.

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

“Nadhi neer pirindhaal illai indha meenae”

Compares herself to a fish that cannot survive without the river water (which represents Krishna).

Parallelism / Analogy

“Veyilaal urugi vellai pani odum / Ninaivaal urugi ullam vazhindhodum”

Parallels the melting of snow due to sunlight with the melting of the heart due to cherished memories.

Hyperbole (Uvarchi Aani)

“Kottudhae neruppai kodhai endhan saelai”

Exaggerates the unbearable pain of separation by describing her saree as pouring heat like fire.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track from the 2005 movie 'Kasthuri Maan' (directed by A. K. Lohithadas) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Pulamaipithan / Muthulingam. The song uses rich classical Tamil poetic tropes rooted in Sangam Akam poetry and Vaishnavite Krishna-Bhakti tradition.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Nee Tholaindhaayo2016
Kavalai VendamLongingSeparation
Kairegai Polathan Kadhal Female2014
Ninaithathu YaaroLongingDevotion
Neethana Neethana1990
Thalattu PadavaLongingDevotion
Jeevane Jeevane2016
MeghaLongingDevotion
Sundari Kannal Oru1991
ThalapathiLongingDevotion
Unnaalae2021
Radhe ShyamLongingDevotion

From the same album

More songs from Kasthuri Maan

View album
Ada Nethu Varaikkum2005
Kasthuri MaanJoyful
Vaanin Kadhal Devathai2005
Kasthuri MaanRomantic
Oru Porkaalam2005
Kasthuri MaanJoyful
Ennai Ketkkum2005
Kasthuri MaanContemplative

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.