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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Strawberry Kannae

From Minsara Kanavu · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
KK, Febi Mani
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Minsara Kanavu1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Strawberry kannaeGirl with strawberry eyes,
Vinveli pennaeGirl from outer space,
Silver spoon kaiyoduBorn with a silver spoon
Pirandhaval neeyaeIn your hands,
Oru fridgukkul apple polLike an apple kept inside a refrigerator,
Irundhaval neeyeYou were preserved.
Male
Thanga thattil soruFood served on a golden plate,
Benz ac karuAn air-conditioned Benz car,
Irundhum nenjoduDespite all this, in your heart,
Solladha baram ennaWhat is the unsaid burden you carry?
Male
Thanimai inimaiyagaMaking solitude sweet,
Ilamai kulumaiyagaMaking youth cool,
Unadhu kannoduIn your eyes,
Solladha sogam ennaWhat is the unsaid sorrow?
Male
Ennada reactionae illaWhy is there no reaction at all?
Volume yethanumoShould I turn up the volume?
Male
Strawberry kannaeGirl with strawberry eyes,
Vinveli pennaeGirl from outer space,
Silver spoon kaiyoduBorn with a silver spoon
Pirandhaval neeyaeIn your hands,
Oru fridgukkul apple polLike an apple kept inside a refrigerator,
Irundhaval neeyeYou were preserved.
Male
Thanga thattil soruFood served on a golden plate,
Benz ac karuAn air-conditioned Benz car,
Irundhum nenjoduDespite all this, in your heart,
Solladha baram ennaWhat is the unsaid burden you carry?
Male
Thanimai inimaiyagaMaking solitude sweet,
Ilamai kulumaiyagaMaking youth cool,
Unadhu kannoduIn your eyes,
Solladha sogam ennaWhat is the unsaid sorrow?
Male
Un pennazhagaiyumIf you conceal your feminine grace
PerazhagaiyumAnd grand beauty like this,
Ippadi maraithaalIf you burn away
Un karpanaigalin arpudhangalaiThe wonders of your imagination like this,
Ippadi erithaalIt will drive one mad!
Pidikkumae paithiyamShall I find a doctor for you?
Parkkavaa vaithiyamI am not an old-fashioned
Female
Pazhaiya paithiyam paithiyamMad person,
Naanum illaiYour medical treatment
Unadhu vaithiyam vaithiyamIs not required for me.
Thevai illaiNone of my ancestors
Enadhu munnavar yarumaeWere fools,
Mooder illaiThere is no confusion in my heart.
En nenjinil kuzhappam illaiIn serving a husband,
Female
Kanavan sevaiyil sevaiyilThere is no joy,
Inbam illaiIn joining social service,
Manidha sevaiyil sergaiyilThere is no sorrow.
Thunbam illaiI am not a burden to anyone
Naan yarukkum boomiyilOn this earth,
Baram illaiThere is no darkness in my path.
En paadhaiyil irulum illaiFinding love yesterday,
Female
Netru kaadhal kanduGetting a husband today,
Indru kanavan konduAnd burning at the kitchen stove tomorrow—
Nalai aduppilae vendhidaI have no desire for that.
Asai illaiFirst adorning a marriage garland,
Female
Mudhalil malai soottumThen locking up in handcuffs—
Piragu vilangum poottumYour messy marriage process
Ungal kasamusa kalyanamIs not needed by me.
Thevai illaiOh no, she doesn't want marriage?
Male
Aiyo kalyanam venamaChange the route...
Routta mathu…What beautiful eyes, what beautiful eyes!
Male
Enna kangal enna kangalWhat lovely cheeks, what lovely cheeks!
Enna kannam enna kannamLotus-like cheeks coated with gold!
Thangam poosiya thamarai kannamWhat beautiful lips, what beautiful lips!
Enna udhadu enna udhaduRed lips red as cherry fruits!
Cherry pazham pol sivandha udhaduAaaaoonnn....
Male
Aaaaoonnn….Only the nose is a bit oversized!
Nose dhan konjam over sizeIt's okay ma,
Its ok maWe can do plastic surgery!
Plastic surgery pannikuvomWhoever created my nose
Female
En mookkai enakkuTo be large,
PeriyadhagaaThat same creator made
Padaithavan evanoYour brain size small!
Unadhu moolai alavaiAre you even a man?
Siriyadhaga padaithavan avanaeA monkey or a human being?...
Neeyoru purushana
Monkey-ah manushanaa….

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful and witty song features a banter between Deva (Prabhu Deva) and Priya (Kajol) from the movie Minsara Kanavu. Deva attempts to woo Priya by praising her privileged upbringing and physical beauty, trying to persuade her to embrace love and marriage. Priya, who aspires to become a nun and serve humanity, sharply rebuts his advances, critiquing traditional domestic expectations for women and highlighting Deva's absurd flatteries.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Oru fridgukkul apple pol Irundhaval neeye

Compares Priya's sheltered and privileged life to an apple preserved inside a refrigerator.

Rhyme / Monnai (Initial Rhyme)

Netru kaadhal kandu / Indru kanavan kondu

Matches the initial syllables 'Netru' and 'Indru' to create rhythmic contrast across timeline concepts.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Thangam poosiya thamarai kannam

Describes her cheeks metaphorically as gold-coated lotus flowers.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Strawberry Kannae' features music composed by A. R. Rahman, who won the National Film Award for Best Music Direction for Minsara Kanavu (1997). The track was sung by KK and Febi Mani, with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu.

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