Nee Enna Kannana
From General Chakravarthi · 1978
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- General Chakravarthi1978
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nee enna kannanaa | Are you Lord Krishna? |
| Naan enna kamsanaa | Am I King Kamsa? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Male | |
| Thanthai peyar kannanukku | Is Krishna's father's name |
| Vasudevano | Vasudeva? |
| Illai thaaraniyor arinthathupol | Or as the world knows, |
| Nanthakobano | Nandagopa? |
| Male | |
| Thanthai peyar kannanukku | Is Krishna's father's name |
| Vasudevano | Vasudeva? |
| Illai thaaraniyor arinthathupol | Or as the world knows, |
| Nanthakobano | Nandagopa? |
| Male | |
| Irandu veettu pillaiyaaga | As a child belonging to two homes, |
| Kannan valarnthaan | Krishna grew up. |
| Irandu veettu pillaiyaaga | As a child belonging to two homes, |
| Kannan valarnthaan | Krishna grew up. |
| Male | |
| Nee engal veettu kannanaaga | As the Krishna of our home, |
| Vaazha piranthaai | You were born to live. |
| Nee engal veettu kannanaaga | As the Krishna of our home, |
| Vaazha piranthaai | You were born to live. |
| Male | |
| Nee enna kannanaa | Are you Lord Krishna? |
| Naan enna kamsanaa | Am I King Kamsa? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Male | |
| Kuyil itta muttai endru | That it is an egg laid by a cuckoo, |
| Kaakkaikku theriyum adhu | The crow knows that. |
| Koovum pothu thaavum pothum | When it sings and when it leaps, |
| Yaarukkum puriyum | Everyone will understand. |
| Male | |
| Kuyil itta muttai endru | That it is an egg laid by a cuckoo, |
| Kaakkaikku theriyum adhu | The crow knows that. |
| Koovum pothu thaavum pothum | When it sings and when it leaps, |
| Yaarukkum puriyum | Everyone will understand. |
| Male | |
| Kaattu kadhai veettil kooda | A wild forest story inside the home |
| Nadakkuthu kannaa | Is taking place, my Krishna. |
| Kaattu kadhai veettil kooda | A wild forest story inside the home |
| Nadakkuthu kannaa | Is taking place, my Krishna. |
| Male | |
| Kadavul kannai theeppugai | Smoke from fire is covering |
| Maraikkuthu kannaa | God's eyes, my Krishna. |
| Kadavul kannai theeppugai | Smoke from fire is covering |
| Maraikkuthu kannaa | God's eyes, my Krishna. |
| Male | |
| Nee enna kannanaa | Are you Lord Krishna? |
| Naan enna kamsanaa | Am I King Kamsa? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Male | |
| Tholirandil unnai indru | On both my shoulders today, |
| Thaangi kolgiraen | I support you. |
| Nee sollumpothu un kadhaiyai | When you tell your story, |
| Purinthu kolgiraen | I understand it. |
| Male | |
| Naal varattum adhuvaraikkum | Let the day come, until then |
| Kaaththirukkiraen | I am waiting. |
| Naal varattum adhuvaraikkum | Let the day come, until then |
| Kaaththirukkiraen | I am waiting. |
| Male | |
| Nee nadakkumpothu nadanthathellaam | As you walk, everything that happened, |
| Arinthu kolgiraen | I learn and understand. |
| Nee nadakkumpothu nadanthathellaam | As you walk, everything that happened, |
| Arinthu kolgiraen | I learn and understand. |
| Male | |
| Nee enna kannanaa | Are you Lord Krishna? |
| Naan enna kamsanaa | Am I King Kamsa? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
| Nee nadikkum naadagathil | In the drama you act, |
| Naanum oru amsamaa | Am I also a part? |
நீ என்ன கண்ணனா
நான் என்ன கம்சனா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
Are you Lord Krishna?
Am I King Kamsa?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
தந்தை பெயர் கண்ணனுக்கு
வாசுதேவனோ
இல்லை தாரணியோர் அறிந்ததுபோல்
நந்தகோபனோ
Is Krishna's father's name
Vasudeva?
Or as the world knows,
Nandagopa?
தந்தை பெயர் கண்ணனுக்கு
வாசுதேவனோ
இல்லை தாரணியோர் அறிந்ததுபோல்
நந்தகோபனோ
Is Krishna's father's name
Vasudeva?
Or as the world knows,
Nandagopa?
இரண்டு வீட்டுப் பிள்ளையாக
கண்ணன் வளர்ந்தான்
இரண்டு வீட்டுப் பிள்ளையாக
கண்ணன் வளர்ந்தான்
As a child belonging to two homes,
Krishna grew up.
As a child belonging to two homes,
Krishna grew up.
நீ எங்கள் வீட்டுக் கண்ணனாக
வாழப் பிறந்தாய்
நீ எங்கள் வீட்டுக் கண்ணனாக
வாழப் பிறந்தாய்
As the Krishna of our home,
You were born to live.
As the Krishna of our home,
You were born to live.
நீ என்ன கண்ணனா
நான் என்ன கம்சனா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
Are you Lord Krishna?
Am I King Kamsa?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
குயில் இட்ட முட்டை என்று
காக்கைக்கு தெரியும் அது
கூவும் போது தாவும் போதும்
யாருக்கும் புரியும்...
That it is an egg laid by a cuckoo,
The crow knows that.
When it sings and when it leaps,
Everyone will understand.
குயில் இட்ட முட்டை என்று
காக்கைக்கு தெரியும் அது
கூவும் போது தாவும் போதும்
யாருக்கும் புரியும்...
That it is an egg laid by a cuckoo,
The crow knows that.
When it sings and when it leaps,
Everyone will understand.
காட்டுக் கதை வீட்டில் கூட
நடக்குது கண்ணா
காட்டுக் கதை வீட்டில் கூட
நடக்குது கண்ணா
A wild forest story inside the home
Is taking place, my Krishna.
A wild forest story inside the home
Is taking place, my Krishna.
கடவுள் கண்ணை தீபப்புகை
மறைக்குது கண்ணா
கடவுள் கண்ணை தீபப்புகை
மறைக்குது கண்ணா
Smoke from fire is covering
God's eyes, my Krishna.
Smoke from fire is covering
God's eyes, my Krishna.
நீ என்ன கண்ணனா
நான் என்ன கம்சனா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
Are you Lord Krishna?
Am I King Kamsa?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
தோளிரண்டில் உன்னை இன்று
தாங்கிக் கொள்கிறேன்
நீ சொல்லும்போது உன் கதையைப்
புரிந்துக் கொள்கிறேன்
On both my shoulders today,
I support you.
When you tell your story,
I understand it.
தோளிரண்டில் உன்னை இன்று
தாங்கிக் கொள்கிறேன்
நீ சொல்லும்போது உன் கதையைப்
புரிந்துக் கொள்கிறேன்
Let the day come, until then
I am waiting.
Let the day come, until then
I am waiting.
நாள் வரட்டும் அதுவரைக்கும்
காத்திருக்கிறேன்
நாள் வரட்டும் அதுவரைக்கும்
காத்திருக்கிறேன்
As you walk, everything that happened,
I learn and understand.
As you walk, everything that happened,
I learn and understand.
நீ நடக்கும்போது நடந்ததெல்லாம்
அறிந்து கொள்கிறேன்
நீ நடக்கும்போது நடந்ததெல்லாம்
அறிந்து கொள்கிறேன்
Are you Lord Krishna?
Am I King Kamsa?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
In the drama you act,
Am I also a part?
நீ என்ன கண்ணனா
நான் என்ன கம்சனா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
நீ நடிக்கும் நாடகத்தில்
நானும் ஒரு அம்சமா
Nee enna kannanaa
Are you Lord Krishna?
Naan enna kamsanaa
Am I King Kamsa?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Thanthai peyar kannanukku
Is Krishna's father's name
Vasudevano
Vasudeva?
Illai thaaraniyor arinthathupol
Or as the world knows,
Nanthakobano
Nandagopa?
Thanthai peyar kannanukku
Is Krishna's father's name
Vasudevano
Vasudeva?
Illai thaaraniyor arinthathupol
Or as the world knows,
Nanthakobano
Nandagopa?
Irandu veettu pillaiyaaga
As a child belonging to two homes,
Kannan valarnthaan
Krishna grew up.
Irandu veettu pillaiyaaga
As a child belonging to two homes,
Kannan valarnthaan
Krishna grew up.
Nee engal veettu kannanaaga
As the Krishna of our home,
Vaazha piranthaai
You were born to live.
Nee engal veettu kannanaaga
As the Krishna of our home,
Vaazha piranthaai
You were born to live.
Nee enna kannanaa
Are you Lord Krishna?
Naan enna kamsanaa
Am I King Kamsa?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Kuyil itta muttai endru
That it is an egg laid by a cuckoo,
Kaakkaikku theriyum adhu
The crow knows that.
Koovum pothu thaavum pothum
When it sings and when it leaps,
Yaarukkum puriyum
Everyone will understand.
Kuyil itta muttai endru
That it is an egg laid by a cuckoo,
Kaakkaikku theriyum adhu
The crow knows that.
Koovum pothu thaavum pothum
When it sings and when it leaps,
Yaarukkum puriyum
Everyone will understand.
Kaattu kadhai veettil kooda
A wild forest story inside the home
Nadakkuthu kannaa
Is taking place, my Krishna.
Kaattu kadhai veettil kooda
A wild forest story inside the home
Nadakkuthu kannaa
Is taking place, my Krishna.
Kadavul kannai theeppugai
Smoke from fire is covering
Maraikkuthu kannaa
God's eyes, my Krishna.
Kadavul kannai theeppugai
Smoke from fire is covering
Maraikkuthu kannaa
God's eyes, my Krishna.
Nee enna kannanaa
Are you Lord Krishna?
Naan enna kamsanaa
Am I King Kamsa?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Tholirandil unnai indru
On both my shoulders today,
Thaangi kolgiraen
I support you.
Nee sollumpothu un kadhaiyai
When you tell your story,
Purinthu kolgiraen
I understand it.
Naal varattum adhuvaraikkum
Let the day come, until then
Kaaththirukkiraen
I am waiting.
Naal varattum adhuvaraikkum
Let the day come, until then
Kaaththirukkiraen
I am waiting.
Nee nadakkumpothu nadanthathellaam
As you walk, everything that happened,
Arinthu kolgiraen
I learn and understand.
Nee nadakkumpothu nadanthathellaam
As you walk, everything that happened,
Arinthu kolgiraen
I learn and understand.
Nee enna kannanaa
Are you Lord Krishna?
Naan enna kamsanaa
Am I King Kamsa?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Nee nadikkum naadagathil
In the drama you act,
Naanum oru amsamaa
Am I also a part?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nee Enna Kannanaa from General Chakravarthi (1978) is a deeply philosophical and emotional song that draws parallels between human life and Hindu mythology, specifically the life of Lord Krishna. The lyricist Kannadasan uses the imagery of Krishna's dual upbringing—born to Vasudeva but raised by Nandagopa—to reflect on identity, foster parenthood, and unexpected life turns. The speaker wonders about his own role in this dramatic play of life, questioning whether he plays a villain like Kamsa or a protective guardian. Through powerful allegories such as the cuckoo's egg in a crow's nest and smoke obscuring God's vision, the song conveys themes of hidden truths, waiting patiently for justice, and enduring affection across life's trials. Set to M. S. Viswanathan's soulful melody and rendered by T. M. Soundararajan, it captures a reflective moment of realization and patience.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Ani)
“Nee enna kannanaa / Naan enna kamsanaa”
The song opens with rhetorical questions comparing the characters to Lord Krishna and Kamsa to express confusion and dramatic roleplay in real life.
Metaphor (Urvagam)
“Kuyil itta muttai endru / Kaakkaikku theriyum adhu”
Uses the famous natural allegory of a cuckoo's egg raised in a crow's nest to symbolize a child raised away from birth parents, whose true nature reveals itself over time.
Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Kuyil itta muttai endru / Kaakkaikku theriyum adhu”
Consonance in the second letter across consecutive lines ('Kuyil' / 'Kaakkai').
Anaphora / Repetition (Adukku Thodar)
“Nee nadikkum naadagathil / Naanum oru amsamaa”
Repetition of refrain lines throughout the song to emphasize the core philosophical premise.
Did you know?
Trivia
General Chakravarthi (1978) stars Sivaji Ganesan and K. R. Vijaya. The song brings together the iconic trio of Tamil cinema's golden era: lyricist Kannadasan, composer M. S. Viswanathan, and playback singer T. M. Soundararajan.
Keep listening
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