Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Ketten Avan Sad Song

From Kanna Nalama · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kanna Nalama1972

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Naan kettaen avan thataanI asked, and he gave.
Thaalaattum thaayaanaenI became a mother who sings a lullaby.
Female
Naal paarththu oor saerththuLooking for an auspicious day and gathering the town,
Paer soottu thaai aanaenI became the mother who bestows a name.
Avanandri ival engaWhere would this woman be without him?
En nandri thalaivanukkaeMy gratitude belongs to my leader.
Female
Naan kettaen avan thataanI asked, and he gave.
Thaalaattum thaayaanaenI became a mother who sings a lullaby.
Female
Aariraari raariraari raariraariroLullaby refrain (Aariraari raariraari...)
Aariraari raariraari raariraariro…..Lullaby refrain (Aariraari raariraari...)
Female
Naan kettaen avan thataanI asked, and he gave.
Thaalaattum thaayaanaenI became a mother who sings a lullaby.
Female
Naal paarththu oor saerththuLooking for an auspicious day and gathering the town,
Paer soottu thaai aanaenI became the mother who bestows a name.
Avanandri ival engaWhere would this woman be without him?
En nandri thalaivanukkaeMy gratitude belongs to my leader.
Female
Maanin nizhal maeniyumA body tender like a deer's shade,
Manjal veyyil saayalumWith the gentle glow of golden evening sunshine,
Kovil pola thottramumAnd a majestic presence like a temple,
Kondaan engal kannanaeOur Lord Krishna possesses all these.
Female
Aadaayo….ooo….oo….Won't you swing...
Aadaayo kannaa neeOh Krishna, won't you swing,
En nenjil pon oonjalOn the golden swing of my heart?
Thaedaayo mannaa neeOh my lord, won't you seek,
En nenjil poo manjamThe bed of flowers in my heart?
Female
Naan kettaen avan thataanI asked, and he gave.
Thaalaattum thaayaanaenI became a mother who sings a lullaby.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply emotional Tamil lullaby expressing a mother's joyful devotion and gratitude. She reflects on how her prayers were answered by her husband, enabling her to fulfill her cherished role as a mother. She affectionately praises her child, seeing him as a divine embodiment of Lord Krishna with golden hues and a temple-like majesty, inviting him to swing on the golden swing of her heart.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kovil pola thottramum

Compares the divine appearance of the child to a grand, sacred temple ('Kovil pola thottramum').

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

En nenjil pon oonjal

Metaphorically describes the mother's love and affection in her heart as a 'golden swing' and 'flower bed' for her child.

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhukai)

Aadaayo kannaa nee / Thaedaayo mannaa nee

The second letters 'daa' in 'Aadaayo' and 'Thaedaayo' rhyme, creating a rhythmic lyrical flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

This classic track composed by the legendary M. S. Viswanathan features lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan and the iconic voice of P. Susheela, who is well known for delivering some of Tamil cinema's most memorable lullabies.

Keep listening

More from Kanna Nalama