Keladi Kanmani
From Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal · 1989
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal1989
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Hmmm..mmm ahaaa… ahaaa… | Humming... Ah... Ah... |
| Male | |
| Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi | Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story. |
| Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi | Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart. |
| Aaahaaa… naal muzhuthum parvaiyil naan ezhuthum | Ah... written in my gaze all day long, |
| Orr kadhaiyai unakkena naan koora… | Let me tell a story just for you... |
| Male | |
| Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi | Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story. |
| Male | |
| Ennaalum thaanae thaen virunthaavathu | It was always a sweet feast, |
| Pirarkaaga naan paadum thirai paadal thaan | The film songs that I sang for others. |
| Innaalil thaanae naan isaithaen amma | Only today have I sung, my dear, |
| Enakaaga naan paadum mudhal paadal thaan | The very first song I sing for myself. |
| Male | |
| Kaanal neeraal theeratha dhaagam | The thirst that mirage water could not quench, |
| Gangai neeraal theernthathadi | Has been quenched by the waters of the Ganges. |
| Naan potta poo maalai manam serka villai | The flower garland I placed did not bring fragrance, |
| Nee thaanae enakaaga madal pootha mullai… | You are the jasmine that bloomed just for me... |
| Male | |
| Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi | Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story. |
| Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi | Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart. |
| Male | |
| Neengaatha baaram en nenjodu thaan | An unshakeable burden weighs upon my heart, |
| Naan thedum sumai thaangi nee allava | Aren't you the rest-stone/support I have been searching for? |
| Naan vaadum neram un maarbodu thaan | When I wither, it is against your chest, |
| Nee ennai thaalattum thaai allava | Aren't you the mother who lulls me to sleep? |
| Male | |
| Yetho yetho aanandha raagam | Some blissful melodic raaga, |
| Unnaal thaanae undaanathu | Was created solely because of you. |
| Kaalpona paathaigal naan pona pothu | When I walked along random paths wherever my feet led, |
| Kai serthu nee thaanae mei sertha maadhu… | You were the woman who held my hand and embraced my soul... |
| Male | |
| Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi | Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story. |
| Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi | Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart. |
| Aaahaaa… naal muzhuthum parvaiyil naan ezhuthum | Ah... written in my gaze all day long, |
| Orr kadhaiyai unakkena naan koora… | Let me tell a story just for you... |
| Male | |
| Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi | Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story. |
| Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi | Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart. |
ஹ்ம்ம் ம்ம்ம்ம்
ஆஹா ஆஹா
Humming... Ah... Ah...
கேளடி கண்மணி
பாடகன் சங்கதி நீ இதை
கேட்பதால் நெஞ்சில் ஓர்
நிம்மதி ஆஹா நாள்முழுதும்
பார்வையில் நான் எழுதும்
ஓர் கதையை உனக்கென
நான் கூற
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Ah... written in my gaze all day long,
Let me tell a story just for you...
கேளடி கண்மணி
பாடகன் சங்கதி
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
எந்நாளும் தானே
தேன் விருந்தாவது
பிறர்க்காக நான் பாடும்
திரைப் பாடல் தான்
இந்நாளில் தானே நான்
இசைத்தேனம்மா எனக்காக
நான் பாடும் முதல்
பாடல் தான்
It was always a sweet feast,
The film songs that I sang for others.
Only today have I sung, my dear,
The very first song I sing for myself.
கானல் நீரால்
தீராத தாகம் கங்கை
நீரால் தீர்ந்ததடி நான்
போட்ட பூமாலை மணம்
சேர்க்கவில்லை நீதானே
எனக்காக மடல் பூத்த
முல்லை
The thirst that mirage water could not quench,
Has been quenched by the waters of the Ganges.
The flower garland I placed did not bring fragrance,
You are the jasmine that bloomed just for me...
கேளடி கண்மணி
பாடகன் சங்கதி நீ இதை
கேட்பதால் நெஞ்சில் ஓர்
நிம்மதி
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
நீங்காத பாரம்
என் நெஞ்சோடு தான்
நான் தேடும் சுமைதாங்கி
நீயல்லவா நான் வாடும்
நேரம் உன் மார்போடு தான்
நீ என்னைத் தாலாட்டும்
தாய் அல்லவா
An unshakeable burden weighs upon my heart,
Aren't you the rest-stone/support I have been searching for?
When I wither, it is against your chest,
Aren't you the mother who lulls me to sleep?
ஏதோ ஏதோ
ஆனந்த ராகம் உன்னால்
தானே உண்டானது கால்போன
பாதைகள் நான் போன போது
கை சேர்த்து நீதானே மெய்
சேர்த்த மாது
Some blissful melodic raaga,
Was created solely because of you.
When I walked along random paths wherever my feet led,
You were the woman who held my hand and embraced my soul...
கேளடி கண்மணி
பாடகன் சங்கதி நீ இதை
கேட்பதால் நெஞ்சில் ஓர்
நிம்மதி ஆஹா நாள்முழுதும்
பார்வையில் நான் எழுதும்
ஓர் கதையை உனக்கென
நான் கூற
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Ah... written in my gaze all day long,
Let me tell a story just for you...
கேளடி கண்மணி
பாடகன் சங்கதி நீ இதை
கேட்பதால் நெஞ்சில் ஓர்
நிம்மதி
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Hmmm..mmm ahaaa… ahaaa…
Humming... Ah... Ah...
Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Aaahaaa… naal muzhuthum parvaiyil naan ezhuthum
Ah... written in my gaze all day long,
Orr kadhaiyai unakkena naan koora…
Let me tell a story just for you...
Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Ennaalum thaanae thaen virunthaavathu
It was always a sweet feast,
Pirarkaaga naan paadum thirai paadal thaan
The film songs that I sang for others.
Innaalil thaanae naan isaithaen amma
Only today have I sung, my dear,
Enakaaga naan paadum mudhal paadal thaan
The very first song I sing for myself.
Kaanal neeraal theeratha dhaagam
The thirst that mirage water could not quench,
Gangai neeraal theernthathadi
Has been quenched by the waters of the Ganges.
Naan potta poo maalai manam serka villai
The flower garland I placed did not bring fragrance,
Nee thaanae enakaaga madal pootha mullai…
You are the jasmine that bloomed just for me...
Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Neengaatha baaram en nenjodu thaan
An unshakeable burden weighs upon my heart,
Naan thedum sumai thaangi nee allava
Aren't you the rest-stone/support I have been searching for?
Naan vaadum neram un maarbodu thaan
When I wither, it is against your chest,
Nee ennai thaalattum thaai allava
Aren't you the mother who lulls me to sleep?
Yetho yetho aanandha raagam
Some blissful melodic raaga,
Unnaal thaanae undaanathu
Was created solely because of you.
Kaalpona paathaigal naan pona pothu
When I walked along random paths wherever my feet led,
Kai serthu nee thaanae mei sertha maadhu…
You were the woman who held my hand and embraced my soul...
Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Aaahaaa… naal muzhuthum parvaiyil naan ezhuthum
Ah... written in my gaze all day long,
Orr kadhaiyai unakkena naan koora…
Let me tell a story just for you...
Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi
Listen, my precious jewel, to the singer's story.
Nee idhai ketpathaal nenjil orr nimmadhi
Because you listen to it, there is peace in my heart.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Keladi Kanmani is a deeply emotional song from K. Balachander's 'Pudhu Pudhu Arthangal' (1989), composed by Ilaiyaraaja and penned by Vaali. The song represents the inner voice of a professional playback singer who has dedicated his life to entertaining others with cinema songs. For the first time, he finds a personal, true melody within his heart that belongs solely to him and his beloved companion, who acts as a source of relief and comfort.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Keladi kanmani paadagan sangathi”
Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'K' in 'Keladi' and 'Kanmani' creating rhythmic harmony.
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Kaanal neeraal theeratha dhaagam / Gangai neeraal theernthathadi”
Contrasting temporary, illusory satisfaction ('Kaanal neer' / mirage water) with true spiritual and emotional fulfillment ('Gangai neer' / Ganges water).
Personification / Maternal Imagery
“Naan thedum sumai thaangi nee allava / Nee ennai thaalattum thaai allava”
Addressing the beloved as a 'sumai thaangi' (rest-stone/load bearer) and a comforting mother ('thaai') who lulls him to sleep.
Did you know?
Trivia
This iconic song, composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside K. S. Chithra, is legendary for SPB's continuous 'breathless' rendition in the charanam sections, which became a landmark feat in Indian playback singing.
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