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Ninaivugal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Kadhal Leelai Kannan

From Ninaivugal · 1984

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Ninaivugal
Movie release year
1984
Lyrics added on
17 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan kadhal leelai kannan
Oru kannam vaikkum kalvan
Naan kadhal leelai kannan
Oru kannam vaikkum kalvan
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
En kadhal kannanae nee geedhai sollaamal
Un kangal rendilae
Yaen bodhai kondaayo
Un kaigal rendum poomaalai Aakki kondaayo
Naan kadhal leelai kannan
Oru kannam vaikkum kalvan
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Viraga nadhiyil odam iravu muzhuthum odum
Viraga nadhiyil odam iravu muzhuthum odum
Ippozhuthu konjam vellottam
Nee oththukkondaal
Eppozhuthum ingae kondaattam
Nee katti kondaal idhamaai thodarum
Inbam ennum thaerottam
Male :Kadhal ponnodam inba karaiyil nindraadum
Kadhal ponnodam inba karaiyil nindraadum
Naan kadhal leelai kannan
Oru kannam vaikkum kalvan
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Oru vaanavillil Oonjal katti vaanam tharaatho
Male :Vidikaalai varai aadavittu paarkka varaatho
Female :Oru vaanavillil Oonjal katti vaanam tharaatho
Male :Vidikaalai varai aadavittu paarkka varaatho
Nalliravil thookkam varaamal
Male :En chellakkili allikkollum ennai vidaamal
Antha mullaikkodi
Female :Swaramum layamum inainthaal pongaatho
Inba sangeetham adhil vidiyum enbaano….
Inba sangeetham adhil vidiyum enbaano….
Naan kadhal leelai kannan
Oru kannam vaikkum kalvan
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Un paarijaatha poovai kann paarkka paarkka bodhai
Viralum viralum sera vizhiyil mayakkam yaera
Viralum viralum sera vizhiyil mayakkam yaera
Male :Ondraiyondru kavvikkollatho
Kai mella mella
Un idaiyai pinni kollaatho
Kai pinna pinna
Iravaa pagalaa endru manam ennaatho
Kannil yaedhetho suga kanavu vaaraatho
Kannil yaedhetho suga kanavu vaaraatho
I am Krishna, the playful god of love,
a thief who steals a kiss upon your cheek.
I am Krishna, the playful god of love,
a thief who steals a kiss upon your cheek.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
My loving Krishna, without preaching the Gita,
why is there such intoxication in both your eyes?
Have you made your two hands into a flower garland?
I am Krishna, the playful god of love,
a thief who steals a kiss upon your cheek.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
A boat will sail all night upon the river of longing.
A boat will sail all night upon the river of longing.
Right now it is just a trial run;
if you say yes,
it will be a celebration here forever!
If you hold me close, it will gently continue
as a grand chariot procession of joy.
Male: The golden boat of love will sway on the shore of bliss.
The golden boat of love will sway on the shore of bliss.
I am Krishna, the playful god of love,
a thief who steals a kiss upon your cheek.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
Won't the sky hang a swing on a rainbow for us?
Male: Won't it come to watch us swing until the break of dawn?
Female: Won't the sky hang a swing on a rainbow for us?
Male: Won't it come to watch us swing until the break of dawn?
Without falling asleep in the middle of the night,
Male: my sweet darling will embrace me without letting go,
just like that jasmine vine.
Female: When melody and rhythm unite, won't it overflow
into sweet music, and will dawn not break within it?
into sweet music, and will dawn not break within it?
I am Krishna, the playful god of love,
a thief who steals a kiss upon your cheek.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
Looking at your Parijatha flower intoxicates my eyes.
As finger touches finger and a sweet haze fills the eyes,
As finger touches finger and a sweet haze fills the eyes,
Male: Won't they cling tightly to one another?
As hands gently and slowly
wrap around your slender waist,
and as hands hold closer and closer,
won't the heart forget whether it is day or night?
Won't all kinds of sweet dreams fill the eyes?
Won't all kinds of sweet dreams fill the eyes?
Won't all kinds of sweet dreams fill the eyes?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Naan Kadhal Leelai Kannan is a playful and sensual romantic duet from the 1984 Tamil film Ninaivugal, composed by Shankar Ganesh with lyrics by Vaali. In the song, the hero compares himself to Lord Krishna, the divine playful lover, while describing his beloved as a delicate Parijatha flower. The lovers exchange romantic banter, comparing their intimate moments to a boat navigating rivers of passion, music blending swaras and laya, and romantic swings tied to rainbows.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvakam (Metaphor)

Viraga nadhiyil odam iravu muzhuthum odum

Describing the feeling of longing as a river ('Viraga nadhi') and love as a boat ('odam').

Etukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Ippozhuthu konjam vellottam

Rhyming of second syllables across lines ('vellottam', 'kondaattam', 'thaerottam').

Moonaik Kettoybu (Alliteration)

Viralum viralum sera vizhiyil mayakkam yaera

Repetition of initial consonant sound 'v' in 'Viralum', 'vizhiyil', and 'v' sounds.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ninaivugal (1984) featured tunes composed by the popular musical duo Shankar-Ganesh. Lyricist Vaali skillfully blended classical metaphors of Carnatic music (swaram and layam) and mythological imagery of Krishna and the celestial Parijatha flower into a contemporary romantic song.

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