Kelaayo Kanna
From Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri · 1985
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- P. Susheela, Usha Srinivasan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri1985
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Ahaaa….aaaa…..haaa…haa…haa… | Ahaaa….aaaa…..haaa…haa…haa… |
| Ahaaaa….aaa….haa..hmm…mmm.. | Ahaaaa….aaa….haa..hmm…mmm.. |
| Female | |
| {Kelaayo kannaa | Won't you listen, Lord Krishna, |
| Naan paadum geetham} (2) | To the song I sing? (Repeat) |
| Yen indha geetham | Why this song? |
| Yekkam thaan meedham | Only yearning remains. |
| Naalellaam sogam… | Sorrow fills all my days... |
| Ammammaa pothum.. | Oh goodness, enough is enough.. |
| Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa.. | Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa.. |
| Female | |
| Kelaayo kannaa | Won't you listen, Lord Krishna, |
| Naan paadum geetham | To the song I sing? |
| Female | |
| {Naanum solla vaarthai indri | With no words for me to speak, |
| Vaadum ponmayil | A wilting golden peacock, |
| Mounam ennum paadal paadum | Singing a song called silence, |
| Oomai poonkuyil} (2) | A mute, gentle songbird. (Repeat) |
| Female | |
| Nee ariyaathu yengiyaa maathu | This woman who pined without your knowledge, |
| En pizhai ellaam un pizhai yethu | How can all my mistakes be blamed on you? |
| Kannaa… naan sonna paa maalai | Oh Krishna… the garland of verse I offered, |
| Un kaathil vizhavillai | Did not fall upon your ears. |
| Female | |
| Kelaayo kannaa | Won't you listen, Lord Krishna, |
| Naan paadum geetham | To the song I sing? |
| Yen indha geetham | Why this song? |
| Yekkam thaan meedham | Only yearning remains. |
| Naalellaam sogam… | Sorrow fills all my days... |
| Ammammaa pothum.. | Oh goodness, enough is enough.. |
| Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa.. | Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa.. |
| Female | |
| Kelaayo kannaa | Won't you listen, Lord Krishna, |
| Naan paadum geetham | To the song I sing? |
| Female | |
| {Neeril enthan kangal neentha | For my eyes to swim in tears, |
| Naanae kaaranam | I myself am the reason. |
| Kaatril indru kaayum | Drying today in the wind |
| Enthan aasai thoranam} (2) | Is the festive archway of my desires. (Repeat) |
| Female | |
| Naayagiyaaga naan varum velai | At the moment I was to become your bride, |
| Naayenam tholil veroru maalai | Another garland fell around the neck of this lowly self. |
| Kannaa… naan sonna paa maalai | Oh Krishna… the garland of verse I offered, |
| Un kaathil vizhavillai | Did not fall upon your ears. |
| Female | |
| Kelaayo kannaa | Won't you listen, Lord Krishna, |
| Naan paadum geetham | To the song I sing? |
| Yen indha geetham | Why this song? |
| Yekkam thaan meedham | Only yearning remains. |
| Naalellaam sogam… | Sorrow fills all my days... |
| Ammammaa pothum.. | Oh goodness, enough is enough.. |
| Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa.. | Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa.. |
| Female | |
| Kelaayo kannaa | Won't you listen, Lord Krishna, |
| Naan paadum geetham | To the song I sing? |
ஆஹா....ஆஆ...ஹா...ஹா....ஹா....
ஆஹா...ஆஆ...ஹா..ஹ்ம்...ம்ம்...
Ahaaa….aaaa…..haaa…haa…haa…
Ahaaaa….aaa….haa..hmm…mmm..
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
ஏன் இந்த கீதம் ஏக்கம் தான் மீதம்
நாள் எல்லாம் சோகம் அம்மம்மா போதும்
ஆஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஆ......
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
To the song I sing? (Repeat)
Why this song?
Only yearning remains.
Sorrow fills all my days...
Oh goodness, enough is enough..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
To the song I sing?
{நானும் சொல்ல வார்த்தையின்றி
வாடும் பொன் மயில்
மௌனம் என்னும் பாடல் பாடும்
ஊமைப் பூங்குயில்} (2)
With no words for me to speak,
A wilting golden peacock,
Singing a song called silence,
A mute, gentle songbird. (Repeat)
நீ அறியாது ஏங்கிய மாது
என் பிழை எல்லாம் உன் பிழை ஏது
கண்ணா நான் சொன்ன பாமாலை
உன் காதில் விழவில்லை
This woman who pined without your knowledge,
How can all my mistakes be blamed on you?
Oh Krishna… the garland of verse I offered,
Did not fall upon your ears.
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
ஏன் இந்த கீதம் ஏக்கம் தான் மீதம்
நாள் எல்லாம் சோகம் அம்மம்மா போதும்
ஆஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஆ......
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
To the song I sing?
Why this song?
Only yearning remains.
Sorrow fills all my days...
Oh goodness, enough is enough..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
To the song I sing?
{நேரில் எந்தன் கண்கள் நீந்த
நானே காரணம்
காற்றில் இன்று காயும் எந்தன்
ஆசை தோரணம்} (2)
For my eyes to swim in tears,
I myself am the reason.
Drying today in the wind
Is the festive archway of my desires. (Repeat)
நாயகியாக நான் வரும் வேலை
நாயகன் தோளில் வேறொரு மாலை
கண்ணா.. நான் சொன்ன பாமாலை
உன் காதில் விழவில்லை
At the moment I was to become your bride,
Another garland fell around the neck of this lowly self.
Oh Krishna… the garland of verse I offered,
Did not fall upon your ears.
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
ஏன் இந்த கீதம் ஏக்கம் தான் மீதம்
நாள் எல்லாம் சோகம் அம்மம்மா போதும்
ஆஆ....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஆ......
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
To the song I sing?
Why this song?
Only yearning remains.
Sorrow fills all my days...
Oh goodness, enough is enough..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
கேளாயோ கண்ணா
நான் பாடும் கீதம்
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
To the song I sing?
Ahaaa….aaaa…..haaa…haa…haa…
Ahaaa….aaaa…..haaa…haa…haa…
Ahaaaa….aaa….haa..hmm…mmm..
Ahaaaa….aaa….haa..hmm…mmm..
{Kelaayo kannaa
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
Naan paadum geetham} (2)
To the song I sing? (Repeat)
Yen indha geetham
Why this song?
Yekkam thaan meedham
Only yearning remains.
Naalellaam sogam…
Sorrow fills all my days...
Ammammaa pothum..
Oh goodness, enough is enough..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
Kelaayo kannaa
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
Naan paadum geetham
To the song I sing?
{Naanum solla vaarthai indri
With no words for me to speak,
Vaadum ponmayil
A wilting golden peacock,
Mounam ennum paadal paadum
Singing a song called silence,
Oomai poonkuyil} (2)
A mute, gentle songbird. (Repeat)
Nee ariyaathu yengiyaa maathu
This woman who pined without your knowledge,
En pizhai ellaam un pizhai yethu
How can all my mistakes be blamed on you?
Kannaa… naan sonna paa maalai
Oh Krishna… the garland of verse I offered,
Un kaathil vizhavillai
Did not fall upon your ears.
Kelaayo kannaa
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
Naan paadum geetham
To the song I sing?
Yen indha geetham
Why this song?
Yekkam thaan meedham
Only yearning remains.
Naalellaam sogam…
Sorrow fills all my days...
Ammammaa pothum..
Oh goodness, enough is enough..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
Kelaayo kannaa
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
Naan paadum geetham
To the song I sing?
{Neeril enthan kangal neentha
For my eyes to swim in tears,
Naanae kaaranam
I myself am the reason.
Kaatril indru kaayum
Drying today in the wind
Enthan aasai thoranam} (2)
Is the festive archway of my desires. (Repeat)
Naayagiyaaga naan varum velai
At the moment I was to become your bride,
Naayenam tholil veroru maalai
Another garland fell around the neck of this lowly self.
Kannaa… naan sonna paa maalai
Oh Krishna… the garland of verse I offered,
Un kaathil vizhavillai
Did not fall upon your ears.
Kelaayo kannaa
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
Naan paadum geetham
To the song I sing?
Yen indha geetham
Why this song?
Yekkam thaan meedham
Only yearning remains.
Naalellaam sogam…
Sorrow fills all my days...
Ammammaa pothum..
Oh goodness, enough is enough..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
Aaa…aaaa….aa…..aaa..
Kelaayo kannaa
Won't you listen, Lord Krishna,
Naan paadum geetham
To the song I sing?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant track from Naane Raja Naane Mandhiri (1985) is a deeply emotional lament addressed to Krishna, symbolizing an unfulfilled lover. The protagonist pours out her grief, questioning the fate that separated her from her beloved and forced her into another union. She expresses that her unspoken feelings and sorrowful silence are like a song sung by a mute bird, and accepts her own tragic destiny with heavy resignation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani / Uvameyam)
“Vaadum ponmayil / Mounam ennum paadal paadum / Oomai poonkuyil”
The singer compares herself to a 'Vaadum ponmayil' (wilting golden peacock) and an 'Oomai poonkuyil' (mute cuckoo bird) to convey her inability to express her agony.
Wordplay & Pun (Sleidai)
“Kannaa… naan sonna paa maalai / Naayenam tholil veroru maalai”
Vaali plays with the word 'Maalai' (garland), contrasting 'Paa maalai' (garland of verses/song) with the physical marriage garland ('Veroru maalai').
Imagery (Kaatchipizhai)
“Neeril enthan kangal neentha / Kaatril indru kaayum enthan aasai thoranam”
Poetic imagery of eyes swimming in tears ('Neeril enthan kangal neentha') and festive arches of desire drying up in the wind ('Kaatril indru kaayum enthan aasai thoranam').
Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Naayagiyaaga naan varum velai / Naayenam tholil veroru maalai”
Rhyming of the second consonant 'y' in 'Naayagiyaaga' and 'Naayenam'.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung soulfully by S. Janaki with lyrics penned by Vaali, 'Kelaayo Kannaa' is a classic classical-light fusion track set primarily in Carnatic ragas (notably Shenthuruthi/Saramathi nuances) expressing deep viraha (sorrow of separation).
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