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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Ketten Avan

From Kanna Nalama · 1972

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Suseela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Kanna Nalama
Movie release year
1972
Lyrics added on
11 Oct 2023

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Aariraari raariraari raariraariro
Aariraari raariraari raariraariro…..
Naan kettaen avan thanthaan
Thaalaattum thaayaanaen
Naan kettaen avan thataan
Thaalaattum thaayaanaen
Naal paarththu oor saerththu
Paer soottu thaai aanaen
Avanandri ival enga
En nandri thalaivanukkae
Naan kettaen avan thanthaan
Thaalaattum thaayaanaen
Maanin nizhal maeniyum
Manjal veyyil saayalum
Kovil pola thottramum
Kondaan engal kannanae
Kondaan engal kannanae
Aadaayo….ooo….oo….
Aadaayo kannaa nee
En nenjil pon oonjal
Thaedaayo mannaa nee
En nenjil poo manjam
Naan kettaen avan thanthaan
Thaalaattum thaayaanaen
Aayar kulakannanaal
Annai perum sodhanai
Engal inba kannanaal
Naanum kanda saathanai
Naanum kanda saathanai
Kondaada kondaada
Annai naan nindraadum selvam nee
Vanthaadum poonth thendral
Endraadum en illam
Naan kettaen avan thanthaan
Thaalaattum thaayaanaen
Naal paarththu oor saerththu
Paer soottu thaai aanaen
Avanandri ival enga
En nandri thalaivanukkae
Naan kettaen avan thanthaan
Thaalaattum thaayaanaen
Aariraari raariraari raariraariro
Aariraari raariraari raariraariro...
I asked, and he gave him to me,
And I became a mother singing a lullaby.
I asked, and he gave him to me,
And I became a mother singing a lullaby.
Choosing a good day and gathering the town,
I became a mother who gives her child a name.
Without him, where would I be?
All my gratitude belongs to my husband.
I asked, and he gave him to me,
And I became a mother singing a lullaby.
A tender form as graceful as a deer,
The warm glow of golden sunlight,
And a sacred presence like a temple—
Our little Kanna has them all.
Our little Kanna has them all.
Won't you sway... oh...
Won't you sway, my little Kanna,
On the golden swing of my heart?
Won't you seek, my little king,
The bed of flowers in my heart?
I asked, and he gave him to me,
And I became a mother singing a lullaby.
Because of Krishna of the cowherd clan,
His mother had to face great trials;
Yet because of our sweet Kanna,
I have achieved my life's greatest joy.
I have achieved my life's greatest joy.
As I cherish you again and again,
You are the treasure that makes this mother dance with joy.
A gentle floral breeze drifts in to play,
In my home that dances with delight.
I asked, and he gave him to me,
And I became a mother singing a lullaby.
Choosing a good day and gathering the town,
I became a mother who gives her child a name.
Without him, where would I be?
All my gratitude belongs to my husband.
I asked, and he gave him to me,
And I became a mother singing a lullaby.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic Tamil lullaby celebrates the profound joy and divine bliss of motherhood. The protagonist expresses deep gratitude to her husband/God for granting her the gift of a child. She adores her newborn child, comparing his divine form and gentle nature to Lord Krishna, and offers her heart as a golden swing and flower bed for him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

“En nenjil pon oonjal”

Comparing the mother's heart directly to a golden swing ('pon oonjal') and a flower bed ('poo manjam') for her child.

Uvamai (Simile / Imagery)

“Manjal veyyil saayalum / Kovil pola thottramum”

Describing the child's serene aura and appearance using rich natural visual metaphors like evening sunshine and sacred temples.

Anaphora / Repetition

“Naan kettaen avan thanthaan”

The rhythmic repetition of 'Naan kettaen avan thanthaan' emphasizes divine grace and fulfilled wishes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with soul-stirring lyrics by Kannadasan, this lullaby rendered by legendary singer P. Susheela remains one of Tamil cinema's most iconic maternal lullabies, frequently played to showcase the affection between mother and child.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Aaraaro Aasai Kanmaniye1956
Kannin ManigalMotherhoodTender
Poomarathu Nizhalumundu1969
Kuzhanthai UllamMotherhoodTender
Kaadhalile Patru Vaithaal1963
Idhu SathiyamMotherhoodDevotion
Oru Veedu Oru Annai1980
Madhavi VanthalMotherhoodDomestic Life
Thedamal Deivam Irandu1984
Kudumbam (1984)MotherhoodDevotion
Cheenikkallu2025
Bison : KaalamaadanDevotionMotherhood

From the same album

More songs from Kanna Nalama

View album
Pattathu Rajavukku1972
Kanna NalamaContemplative
Naan Ketten Avan Sad Song1972
Kanna NalamaTender
Petredutha Ullam1972
Kanna NalamaDevotional

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