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Irumbu Pookkal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naanum Kooda

From Irumbu Pookkal · 1991

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Irumbu Pookkal
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
9 Jun 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hae yaayayaa… yaayaayaa…
Hae yaayayaa yaayaayaa
Yaayaayaa yaayaayaa yaayaayaa…
Naanum kooda mannan thaan
Baanam podum kannan thaan
Naanum paadum isai paattu
Ketkkum nenjai valai pottu
Nottam podum aattam podum
Koottam koodum ingae
Naanum kooda mannan thaan
Baanam podum kannan thaan
Haa…aaa…aaa…haaa…aaa..aaa…
Male :Sattam illai
Chorus :Illai
Male :Maedai meedhu vattam illai
Chorus :Illai
Male :Kattum mullai
Chorus :Mullai
Male :Thottu paarkka ishtam illai
Chorus :Illai
Paattukkendru vaeli illai
Ketkkum nenjil baedham illai
Vegam maarum vegam illai
Dhaagam theerum dhaagam illai
Naalai endru thalli podum
Naalai naanum illai
Naanum kooda mannan thaan
Baanam podum kannan thaan
Naanum paadum isai paattu
Ketkkum nenjai valai pottu
Nottam podum aattam podum
Koottam koodum ingae
Naanum kooda mannan thaan
Baanam podum kannan thaan
………………………………………
Innal kandu
Chorus :Kandu
Male :Yengum ezhai jannal kandu
Chorus :Kandu
Male :Inbam kondu
Female :Kondu
Male :Endrum paadum nenjam undu
Chorus :Undu
Kaala dhevan naan thaanammaa
Kaaval kaakka vandhenammaa
Kaattu theeyai paattil vaithu
Naatrai maatra vandhenammaa
Paadhai ondru paadam ondru
Paadum naalai ondru
Naanum kooda mannan thaan
Baanam podum kannan thaan
Naanum paadum isai paattu
Ketkkum nenjai valai pottu
Nottam podum aattam podum
Koottam koodum ingae
Naanum kooda mannan thaan
Baanam podum kannan thaan
Hey yayaya... yayaya...
Hey yayaya yayaya
Yayaya yayaya yayaya...
I too am a king
I am Kannan who shoots arrows of love
The musical song that I sing
Casts a net over listening hearts
Gauges their mood and makes them dance
A crowd gathers right here
I too am a king
I am Kannan who shoots arrows of love
Ha... aaa... aaa... haa... aaa... aaa...
Male: There are no rules
Chorus: None at all!
Male: There are no bounds on this stage
Chorus: None at all!
Male: The woven jasmine flowers
Chorus: Jasmine!
Male: I have no desire to touch them
Chorus: No desire!
Music has no fences
The hearts that listen know no divide
This is not an energy that slows down
This is not a thirst to be easily quenched
Postponing everything for tomorrow—
I am not one to live like that
I too am a king
I am Kannan who shoots arrows of love
The musical song that I sing
Casts a net over listening hearts
Gauges their mood and makes them dance
A crowd gathers right here
I too am a king
I am Kannan who shoots arrows of love
...
Seeing their sorrow
Chorus: Seeing it!
Male: Looking through the window of the longing poor
Chorus: Looking!
Male: Filled with joy
Female: Filled with joy!
Male: There is a heart that will always sing
Chorus: Yes, there is!
I am the master of time, my dear
I have come to stand guard and protect
Packing wildfire into song
I have come to nurture a new harvest
One single path, one single lesson
One bright tomorrow to sing for
I too am a king
I am Kannan who shoots arrows of love
The musical song that I sing
Casts a net over listening hearts
Gauges their mood and makes them dance
A crowd gathers right here
I too am a king
I am Kannan who shoots arrows of love
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a celebratory, high-energy declaration of artistic freedom and the power of music. The singer proclaims himself a king of music and a divine figure like Krishna whose melodic 'arrows' captivate audiences. He asserts that music transcends rules, stages, social barriers, and prejudice, acting as an equalizer that brings joy to everyone, especially the poor and downtrodden.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Naanum kooda mannan thaan / Baanam podum kannan thaan

The second consonant sound 'na' rhymes across lines, creating rhythm and flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ketkkum nenjai valai pottu

Comparing the melody of a song to a net ('valai') thrown over listening hearts to captivate them.

Monaai (Alliteration)

Kaala dhevan naan thaanammaa / Kaaval kaakka vandhenammaa / Kaattu theeyai paattil vaithu

Repetition of the initial 'Kaa' sound across multiple lines to build poetic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Irumbu Pookkal' (1991) is notable in Tamil cinema history for being one of the rare films featuring musical compositions by both legendary composers Ilaiyaraaja and M. S. Viswanathan.

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