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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Kannan Alladi

From Andru Sinthiya Ratham · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
V. Kumar
Movie name
Andru Sinthiya Ratham
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
16 Apr 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan kannan allaldi
Antha kanthan alladi
Naan kannan allaldi
Antha kanthan alladi
Iru kadhalikkum maalai soodum
Kallan alladi naan villanalladi
Ava aasappattaa nadakkumaa
Anachchikkittaa kidakkumaa
Aaththu vellam keni thanni
Adichchikkittu pogumaa
Nalla neram naanthaan thappiththathu
Munnaaladi ava pinnaaladi
Nalla neram naanthaan thappiththathu
Munnaaladi ava pinnaaladi
Nee irukke ponnu adi verethukku onnu
Neer irukkum kannu ennai mayanguthadi ninnu
Aduththavalai thodamaattaendi
Unmael aasa vaiche vidamaattaendi
Naan kannan allaldi
Antha kanthan alladi
Kobam thaabam ellaam koodaathadi
Neethaanadi paavam naanthaanadi
Kobam thaabam ellaam koodaathadi
Neethaanadi paavam naanthaanadi
Verupakkam ponaa naan maari viduvaenaa
Thottuvitta naanaa unnai vittuviduvenaa
Thaen kudikka vanthaenadi
Nee thigattidaatha senthaenadi
Naan kannan allaldi
Antha kanthan alladi
Adi karumbu ennai virumbu
Naan iruthalai kolli erumbu
Ava thurumbu konjam thirumbu
Nee neththu pooththa arumbu
Adi karumbu ennai virumbu
Naan iruthalai kolli erumbu
Ava thurumbu konjam thirumbu
Nee neththu pooththa arumbu
Unakkuthaandi sontham
Unakkum undu pantham
Irandu perkkum inbam
Enakkuthaandi thunbam
Ammaadi pattathupothu
Naan aasappattu thottathu pothum
Naan kannanthanadi
Antha kanthan
Iru kadhalikku idaiyil
Ippo villanthaanadi
Naan villanthaanadi
Naan kannanthanadi
Antha kanthan
I am not Krishna, girl,
Nor am I Lord Murugan,
I am not Krishna, girl,
Nor am I Lord Murugan,
To put wedding garlands on two lovers—
I am no deceitful rogue, girl, nor am I a villain!
Just because she desires it, will it happen?
Just because she hugs me, will she get me?
Can a river flood ever
Wash away the water resting in a well?
It was my good fortune that I escaped,
With you in front of me, girl, and her behind!
It was my good fortune that I escaped,
With you in front of me, girl, and her behind!
When I have you, my girl, why would I ever need another?
Your tear-filled eyes leave me standing spellbound!
I will never lay a hand on another woman, girl,
Having given my heart to you, I will never let you go!
I am not Krishna, girl,
Nor am I Lord Murugan!
You should not hold all this anger and anguish, girl,
You are in a pitiful state, and so am I!
You should not hold all this anger and anguish, girl,
You are in a pitiful state, and so am I!
If I turn the other way, will I change my mind?
Having held you close, would I ever leave you?
I came only to taste sweet honey, girl,
And you are pure honey that one never tires of!
I am not Krishna, girl,
Nor am I Lord Murugan!
Hey my sweet sugarcane, love me,
I am an ant caught on a stick burning at both ends!
She is just a worthless blade of straw, turn this way,
You are a fresh flower bud that opened just yesterday!
Hey my sweet sugarcane, love me,
I am an ant caught on a stick burning at both ends!
She is just a worthless blade of straw, turn this way,
You are a fresh flower bud that opened just yesterday!
I belong only to you, girl,
You are the one who shares a true bond with me,
There is only fun and games for both of you women,
While I am the only one left suffering, girl!
Oh dear, what I have endured is quite enough,
Yearning and getting entangled is quite enough!
Am I really Krishna, girl,
Or that Lord Murugan?
Caught between two lovers,
Now it is nothing but sheer trouble, girl,
Yes, nothing but trouble, girl!
Am I really Krishna, girl,
Or that Lord Murugan?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

In this song, the protagonist tries to convince his beloved of his devotion while navigating the complications of having two women involved in his life. He initially claims that he is neither Krishna nor Murugan—deities famously associated with having two consorts—and insists he is not a trickster or a villain attempting to maintain multiple relationships. He reassures her that she is his true love and that he will never forsake her for another.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Mythological Allusion

Naan kannan allaldi / Antha kanthan alladi

References to Lord Krishna (Kannan) and Lord Murugan (Kanthan) highlight the trope of a man with two lovers.

Metaphor & Idiom

Naan iruthalai kolli erumbu

The phrase 'Iruthalai kolli erumbu' (ant on a firebrand lit at both ends) vividly expresses being trapped in a dilemma with no way out.

Metaphor

Adi karumbu ennai virumbu

Comparing the heroine to 'karumbu' (sugarcane) and 'senthaen' (red honey) emphasizes her sweetness and preciousness to him.

Emona / Rhyme

Adi karumbu ennai virumbu / Naan iruthalai kolli erumbu

Use of internal second-letter rhyming (Edhugai) in Kannadasan's signature rhythm across lines like 'karumbu / erumbu / thurumbu / arumbu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Andru Sinthiya Ratham' (1977) featured music composed by V. Kumar, with lyrics penned by Kavinar Kannadasan. The phrase 'Iruthalai kolli erumbu' is a famous classical Tamil proverb often utilized by Kannadasan to describe situations of double jeopardy or extreme dilemma.

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