Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Agal Vilakku album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Kannil Vazhum

From Agal Vilakku · 1979

Lyricist
M. G. Vallaban
Singer
Sasirekha
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Agal Vilakku
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
15 Nov 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee kannil vaazhum
Mannan dhaanae
Nee mannippaayae
Dheivam polae
Undhan raagangal paadum
Nenjam ingae
Nee kannil vaazhum
Mannan dhaanae
Naan thediya dhevan
Geedhaiyin naadhan
Kannai pol unnai thaan ninaithen
Naan thediya dhevan
Geedhaiyin naadhan
Kannai pol unnai thaan ninaithen
Maadhavan manam maarinum
Endha naalilum
Naan avan raadhai
Malar kodhai….
Nee kannil vaazhum
Mannan dhaanae
Naan paadhiyil thoongi
Meedhiyil yengi
Kannil neer vadithen thudithen
Naan paadhiyil thoongi
Meedhiyil yengi
Kannil neer vadithen thudithen
Maavilai malar thooranam
Indha poomagal vaasalil
Kaanum nalam venum
Nee kannil vaazhum
Mannan dhaanae
Nee mannippaayae
Dheivam polae
Undhan raagangal paadum
Nenjam ingae
Nee kannil vaazhum
Mannan dhaanae
You live in my eyes,
are you not my king?
Won't you forgive me,
just like God?
Singing your melodies,
my heart is right here.
You live in my eyes,
are you not my king?
You are the god I searched for,
the Lord of the Gita,
I cherished you as dearly as my own eyes.
You are the god I searched for,
the Lord of the Gita,
I cherished you as dearly as my own eyes.
Even if Madhavan's (Krishna's) heart changes,
on any given day,
I will always be his Radha,
his garland of flowers...
You live in my eyes,
are you not my king?
Sleeping half the night,
longing through the rest,
I wept tears and suffered in pain.
Sleeping half the night,
longing through the rest,
I wept tears and suffered in pain.
With festive garlands of mango leaves and flowers,
at the doorstep of this young woman,
I yearn to see such good fortune.
You live in my eyes,
are you not my king?
Won't you forgive me,
just like God?
Singing your melodies,
my heart is right here.
You live in my eyes,
are you not my king?
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a woman's deep devotion, love, and plea for forgiveness towards her beloved, whom she places on a divine pedestal. Comparing her devotion to Radha's eternal love for Krishna (Madhavan), she declares that regardless of circumstance or emotional distance, her heart remains unconditionally bound to him. She recounts nights of sleepless longing, weeping in solitude, yet holds onto the hope of a blessed union symbolized by auspicious decorations at her doorstep.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Dheivam polae

Compares forgiving the protagonist's faults to the divine grace of God ('Dheivam polae') and loving the partner like one's own eyes ('Kannai pol').

Uruvagam (Metaphor / Devotional Allusion)

Naan avan raadhai

Compares her divine devotion to Radha's eternal love for Lord Krishna ('Geedhaiyin naadhan' and 'Naan avan raadhai').

Iyaibu (Rhyme / End Rhyme)

Kannil neer vadithen thudithen

Rhyming structure using 'thoongi', 'yengi', 'vadithen', and 'thudithen' to accentuate emotional turmoil.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Agal Vilakku' (1979) was based on the famous Tamil novel of the same name written by M. Varadarajan (Mu. Va.). The lyrics by M.G. Vallaban feature rich classical imagery drawing from Hindu mythology and traditional Tamil bridal symbolism.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

From the same album

More songs from Agal Vilakku

View album

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.