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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Maalai Suda Kanne Radha

From Kanne Radha · 1982

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kanne Radha1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Laalalaalaaa lalaalaalaa laalaalaalaVocalizing melody
LalaalaalaaVocalizing melody
LalaalaalaaVocalizing melody
Maalai sooda kannae raadhaOh my dear Radha, to wear the wedding garland,
Naal varaadhaWill that day not come?
Kaigal thol thodaathaWill hands not touch shoulders?
Nenjil thaen vizhaathaWill honey not fall into the heart?
Female
Kanni chittuYoung maiden bird,
Kannukkul minnal vettuLightning strikes inside the eyes,
Mella thattu melathai nee kottuTap gently and beat the wedding drum.
Female
Kanni chittuYoung maiden bird,
Kannukkul minnal vettuLightning strikes inside the eyes,
Mella thattu melathai nee kottuTap gently and beat the wedding drum.
Male
Maalai sooda kannae raadhaOh my dear Radha, to wear the wedding garland,
Naal varaadhaWill that day not come?
Kaigal thol thodaathaWill hands not touch shoulders?
Nenjil thaen vizhaathaWill honey not fall into the heart?
Male
Naalum en nenjil vandhuEvery day, coming into my heart,
Aadum pon mullai panthuA dancing golden jasmine ball,
Kaaman saalai kangal allavaAre not those eyes the realm of Lord Kama?
Female
Kanna naan katti konduOh Kanna, as I embrace you tightly,
Tholil naan otti konduAs I cling to your shoulder,
Muthathirkku vatti kattavaShall I pay interest for your kisses?
Male
Naalum en nenjil vandhuEvery day, coming into my heart,
Aadum pon mullai panthuA dancing golden jasmine ball,
Kaaman saalai kangal allavaAre not those eyes the realm of Lord Kama?
Female
Kanna naan katti konduOh Kanna, as I embrace you tightly,
Tholil naan otti konduAs I cling to your shoulder,
Muthathirkku vatti kattavaShall I pay interest for your kisses?
Male
Muthu pandhal ondruA canopy of pearls,
Ila mutham sindhum indruSheds tender kisses today.
Female :Satham varum yendruFemale: Fearing that a noise might occur,
Manam vetkam kollum nindruThe heart hesitates in bashful shyness.
Male :La la laa laa la la laa laa laa la la laaMale: La la laa laa la la laa laa laa la la laa
Male
Maalai sooda kannae raadhaOh my dear Radha, to wear the wedding garland,
Naal varaadhaWill that day not come?
Kaigal thol thodaathaWill hands not touch shoulders?
Nenjil thaen vizhaathaWill honey not fall into the heart?
Female
Kanni chittuYoung maiden bird,
Kannukkul minnal vettuLightning strikes inside the eyes,
Mella thattu melathai nee kottuTap gently and beat the wedding drum.
Male
La la laa laa la la laa laa laa la la laaLa la laa laa la la laa laa laa la la laa
Female
Naanae un thanga killaiI am your golden branch,
Nee thaan en chella pillaiYou are my precious darling,
Tholil ittu thooli kattavoShall I make a swing for you on my shoulder?
Male
Raadha en sokka thangamRadha is my pure unadulterated gold,
Kannil pon sorgam thangumA golden paradise resides in her eyes,
Kannam thottu thaalam thattavoShall I touch her cheek and tap the rhythm?
Female
Naanae un thanga killaiI am your golden branch,
Nee thaan en chella pillaiYou are my precious darling,
Tholil ittu thooli kattavoShall I make a swing for you on my shoulder?
Male
Raadha en sokka thangamRadha is my pure unadulterated gold,
Kannil pon sorgam thangumA golden paradise resides in her eyes,
Kannam thottu thaalam thattavoShall I touch her cheek and tap the rhythm?
Female
Allithandu naanaeI am a tender water-lily stem,
Ivan killi yedupaanaeHe will gently pluck me,
Male :Ullangayil thaenaeMale: Oh honey held in the palm,
Rusi paarthu kolven naanaeI shall taste it all myself.
Male :La la laa laa la la laa laa laa la la laaMale: La la laa laa la la laa laa laa la la laa
Male
Laalalaalaaa lalaalaalaa laalaalaalaVocalizing melody
LalaalaalaaVocalizing melody
LalaalaalaaVocalizing melody
Maalai sooda kannae raadhaOh my dear Radha, to wear the wedding garland,
Naal varaadhaWill that day not come?
Kaigal thol thodaathaWill hands not touch shoulders?
Nenjil thaen vizhaathaWill honey not fall into the heart?
Female
Kanni chittuYoung maiden bird,
Kannukkul minnal vettuLightning strikes inside the eyes,
Mella thattu melathai nee kottuTap gently and beat the wedding drum.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet captures the joyful longing and romantic playfulness between two lovers who eagerly anticipate their union and marriage. Expressed through the timeless metaphorical imagery of Radha and Krishna (Kanna), the lovers exchange affectionate teasing and poetic imagery, looking forward to the day they can be together openly.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Naanae un thanga killai / Nee thaan en chella pillai

Matching second consonant 'lli' across adjacent lines ('killai' / 'pillai').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Naanae un thanga killai

Describing the beloved as a golden branch ('thanga killai') and pure gold ('sokka thangam').

Monaai (First-letter Alliteration)

Maalai sooda kannae raadha ... Mella thattu melathai nee kottu

Repetition of the initial 'M' sound in 'Maalai' and 'Melathai'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Featuring lyrics penned by Vairamuthu in the early 1980s, the song uses classical motifs of Radha-Krishna romance transposed into contemporary film melody.

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