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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ninnaiye Rathiyendru

From Kanne Kaniyamudhe · 1986

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
K. J. Jesudass, B. Sasireka
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kanne Kaniyamudhe1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
……………….
Female
Ninnaiyae radhiyendruI think of you as Rathi, the goddess of love and beauty,
Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaaOh my dear Kannamma!
Thannaiyae sagiyendru saranam eithinaenI have surrendered myself to you as your companion.
Aaa….aa….aaa…..aa….aa….Aaa… aa… aaa… aa… aa…
Female
Ninnaiyae radhiyendruI think of you as Rathi,
Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaaOh my dear Kannamma!
Thannaiyae sagiyendru saranam eithinaen…ae….I have surrendered myself to you as your companion…
Male
……………….
Male
Ninnaiyae radhiyendruI think of you as Rathi,
Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaaOh my dear Kannamma!
Thannaiyae sagiyendru saranam eithinaen…ae….yaen….I have surrendered myself to you as your companion…
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa…..aaa….aa…..aaa….aaaaa….Aaa… aa… aa… aa… aaa… aa… aaa… aaaaa…
Male
Ninnaiyae radhiyendruI think of you as Rathi,
Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaaOh my dear Kannamma!
Thannaiyae sagiyendru saranam eithinaen…I have surrendered myself to you as your companion…
Aaa…..aa….aa….aa…..Aaa… aa… aa… aa…
Male
Ninnaiyae radhiyendruI think of you as Rathi,
Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaaOh my dear Kannamma!
Thannaiyae sagiyendru saranam eithinaen…I have surrendered myself to you as your companion…
Male
Ponnaiyae nigarththa maeniYour body shines like pure gold,
Minnaiyae nigarththa saayalYour radiance flashes like lightning,
Ponnaiyae nigarththa maeniYour body shines like pure gold,
Minnaiyae nigarththa saayalYour radiance flashes like lightning,
Pinnaiyae nithya kanniyae kannammaaOh Nappinnai, oh eternal maiden, Kannamma!
Pinnaiyae nithya kanniyaeOh Nappinnai, oh eternal maiden!
Male
Maaran ambugal en meedhu vaari vaari veesa neeWhile Kama, the god of love, relentlessly showers his arrows upon me,
Maaran ambugal en meedhu vaari vaari veesa neeWhile Kama, the god of love, relentlessly showers his arrows upon me,
Kann paarayo vanthu saeraayo kannammaaWon't you look at me with love and unite with me, Kannamma?
Yaavumae sugamunikkorJust as the universe appears to the detached sage Suka,
Eesanaam enakkun thottramYour divine form appears to me as the ultimate Supreme Lord,
Maevumae ingu yaavumaeEverything exists and abides right here,
Kannammaa kannammaa kannammaaKannamma, Kannamma, Kannamma!
Male
Ninnaiyae radhiyendruI think of you as Rathi,
Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaaOh my dear Kannamma!
Thannaiyae sagiyendru saranam eithinaen…ae….ae…ae..I have surrendered myself to you as your companion…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic devotional and romantic poem composed by Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar expresses deep devotion, romantic longing, and spiritual surrender to 'Kannamma'. The poet elevates his beloved to the status of Goddess Rathi and the eternal maiden Nappinnai. He describes her divine brilliance as golden and lightning-like, while expressing the torment caused by Cupid's (Maaran's) arrows of love. At a deeper, mystical level, Bharathiyaar merges romantic love with intense spiritual devotion. He compares his vision of Kannamma to the state of Sage Sukabrahma, seeing the divine supreme entity (Eesan) embodied entirely within her form. The poem transitions from romantic adoration to total surrender at her feet, seeing the divine presence manifest everywhere through her.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Upamai (Simile)

Ponnaiyae nigarththa maeni

Compares her golden complexion to pure gold ('Ponnaiyae nigarththa').

Upamai (Simile)

Minnaiyae nigarththa saayal

Compares her bright demeanor and look to a flash of lightning ('Minnaiyae nigarththa').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Ninnaiyae radhiyendru / Ninaikkiraenadi kannammaa

Repetition of the initial 'Ni' sound in 'Ninnaiyae' and 'Ninaikkiraenadi'.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ponnaiyae nigarththa maeni / Minnaiyae nigarththa saayal

Matching second consonant sound 'nn' ('ந') in 'Ponnaiyae' and 'Minnaiyae'.

Metaphor & Personification

Maaran ambugal en meedhu vaari vaari veesa nee

Refers to the pangs of love metaphorically as the unseen arrows shot by Maaran (Manmatha / Cupid).

Did you know?

Trivia

This immortal song is based on Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar's famous poem 'Ninnaiyae Radhiyendru' from his celebrated Kannamma Pattu series. Bharathiyaar's Kannamma songs are renowned for transcending conventional love poetry by synthesizing human romance with divine Bhakti (devotion).

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