Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Kaanum Ulagangal

From Kasi · 2001

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Kasi2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Oo oo….ohho ho oo….Oo oo... ohho ho oo...
Oo oo…..hho ho oo….oo….Oo oo... hho ho oo... oo...
Oo….oo….oo….aaa….aa….aa….aa…..Oo... oo... oo... aaa... aa... aa... aa...
Male
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodumWho else could behold them?
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodumWho else could behold them?
Male
Solvathu yaar solTell me, who is to tell?
Pen panith thuliyaeO feminine dewdrop!
Mellena paer solSoftly whisper your name,
Pasum pulveliyaeO green meadow!
Ennai kaanum annai bhoomiO Mother Earth who beholds me,
Male
Unnai kaanavae ingaeJust to behold you here,
Vendum innum oor jenmamI need another birth!
Vaanampaadi pol paadumSinging like a skylark,
Vaazhakkai endrumae vendumI desire a life forever.
Male
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodum….Who else could behold them...
Male
Pooththidum pookkalai paarththathillaiI have never seen the blooming flowers,
Adhan punnagai manam arivaenYet I know the fragrance of their smile.
Kottidum aruviyai paarththathillaiI have never seen the cascading waterfall,
Kai thottathan unaivarivaenYet I feel its emotion through my touch.
Male
Kukukkuk koovena koovum kuyilgalinIn the flock of cuckoos that coo 'kuku koo',
Koottaththila naan inaivaenI join as one among them.
Kattukkadangaa ninaivil karpanaiIn uncontrolled memories, imagination
Rekkai viriththiduvaenSpreads its wings.
Male
Ungal mugam paarththathillaiI have never seen your faces,
Varunthavillai naanYet I do not grieve.
En mugaththai neengal ellaamBecause all of you
PaarppathinaalthaanLook at my face,
Ungal maedai paadagan naanI am the singer on your stage.
Oo….oo….ooo…..Oo... oo... ooo...
Male
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodumWho else could behold them?
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodumWho else could behold them?
Male
Raaththiri pechchinil ammaa kadhaigalilIn night talks and mother's stories,
Pooththathu pala ninaivuMany memories blossomed.
Kettidum kadhaikalil kalanthae ulavidaTo mingle and wander in those heard tales,
Suttri varum kanavuDreams swirl around me.
Male
Kattravar pesida kaadhil kettathilFrom listening to the learned speak,
Pettrathellaam varavuWhatever I gained was a blessing.
Vaattiya varumaiyil enakkul thiranthathuIn the midst of scorching poverty,
Karpanaiyin kadhavuThe doors of imagination opened inside me.
Male
Vaazhvinai naanMy life, I
Kandukondaen thaedalilthaanaeFound it through my search alone;
Vaazhakkai padum paattinilaeIn the song sung by life itself,
Paadagan aanaenaeI became a singer.
Paattil vaazhum poonguyil naanI am a sweet cuckoo living in song.
Oo….oo….ooo…..Oo... oo... ooo...
Male
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodumWho else could behold them?
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodumWho else could behold them?
Male
Solvathu yaar solTell me, who is to tell?
Pen panith thuliyaeO feminine dewdrop!
Mellena paer solSoftly whisper your name,
Pasum pulveliyaeO green meadow!
Ennai kaanum annai bhoomiO Mother Earth who beholds me,
Male
Unnai kaanavae ingaeJust to behold you here,
Vendum innum oor jenmamI need another birth!
Vaanampaadi pol paadumSinging like a skylark,
Vaazhakkai endrumae vendumI desire a life forever.
Male
Naan kaanum ulagangalThe worlds that I behold,
Yaar kaana koodum….Who else could behold them...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Naan Kaanum Ulagangal expresses the profound inner vision and emotional world of a visually impaired singer (played by Vikram in the movie Kasi). Rather than lamenting his lack of physical sight, the protagonist celebrates his heightened sensory perception, imagination, and deep spiritual connection with nature, music, and his audience. He perceives the fragrance of blooming flowers, the touch of cascading waterfalls, and the joy of nature through his heart and remaining senses.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification (Tharkurippettra Ani)

Adhan punnagai manam arivaen

Attributing a 'smile' to blooming flowers and addressing dewdrops and meadows as living companions.

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

Vaanampaadi pol paadum

Comparing the longing for a joyful, singing life to that of a free skylark.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Paattil vaazhum poonguyil naan

Describing oneself as a songbird whose very existence is rooted inside music.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kattukkadangaa ninaivil karpanai

Repetition of consonant sounds ('ka') at the beginning of words for melodic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kasi (2001) is a remake of the Malayalam hit Vasanthiyum Lakshmiyum Pinne Njaanum. Vikram delivered a career-defining performance as the blind village singer, earning the Filmfare Award for Best Actor – Tamil. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, and this particular song was rendered by Hariharan with lyrics by Mu. Metha.

Keep listening

More from Kasi