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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Unnai Ethirparthen Kanna

From Radha · 1973

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Radha
Movie release year
1973
Lyrics added on
24 Apr 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Kanna..kanna…. kanna…
Kanna..kanna…. kanna…
Kanna..aaa..aaa…
Unnai edhirpaarthen kanna nee vaa vaa
Kangal urangaaml thavithaalae raadha
Ullam poradavum kannil neradavum
Ullam poradavum kannil neradavum
Ingae yengugiren thaniyaaga
Unnai edhirpaarthen kanna nee vaa vaa
Kangal urangaamal thavithaalae raadha
Undhan mugam thaanae pasiyaara naan paarthathu
Undhan manam thaanae varamaaga naan kettadhu
Udal ennodu thaan uyir unnodu thaan
Innum ver enna naan solvadhu
Kann ellaam un vannam
Nenjellaam un ennam
Endhan uravennum ulagangal
nee thandhadhu
Idhil pirivennum oru thunbam
yen vandhadhu
Unnai edhirpaarthen kanna nee vaa vaa
Kangal urangaaml thavithaalae raadha
Dhinam theindhaalum pirai kooda nilavaaguame
Malar kaainthaalum pinjaagi kaniyaagumae
Udal theigindrathae manam kaaigindrathae
Indha nilai maara nee vendumae
Penn paavam polladhu
Kanna vaa ippodhu
Un vilaiyattai naan thaanga mudiyaadhaiyaa
Nee varaamal pozhudhinghu vidiyaadhaiyaa
Unnai edhirpaarthen kanna nee vaa vaa
Kangal urangaaml thavithaalae raadha
Kanna... Kanna... Kanna...
Kanna... Kanna... Kanna...
Kanna... ah... ah...
I have been waiting for you, Kanna, please come!
Without any sleep in her eyes, Radha suffers in longing.
With my heart struggling and tears filling my eyes,
With my heart struggling and tears filling my eyes,
I am longing here, all alone.
I have been waiting for you, Kanna, please come!
Without any sleep in her eyes, Radha suffers in longing.
Wasn't it your face that I looked upon to satisfy my hunger?
Wasn't it your heart that I asked for as a blessing?
My body may be with me, but my life is with you.
What more is there left for me to say?
My eyes see only your form,
My heart holds only your thoughts.
This entire world of love and belonging
was given by you.
Why then did this grief of separation
have to enter it?
I have been waiting for you, Kanna, please come!
Without any sleep in her eyes, Radha suffers in longing.
Even if it wanes each day, the crescent moon becomes full again.
Even if the flower withers, it yields fruit that ripens.
My body wastes away and my heart dries up;
For this state to change, I need you.
Hurting a woman brings bad karma,
Kanna, come to me right now!
I can no longer bear your teasing games!
Without your arrival, dawn will not break here.
I have been waiting for you, Kanna, please come!
Without any sleep in her eyes, Radha suffers in longing.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful song captures Radha's intense yearning and sorrow during her separation from Lord Krishna (Viraha Bhakti). Radha expresses that her whole existence revolves around Krishna—her eyes see only his form, her heart harbors only his thoughts, and her soul resides with him even if her physical body is apart. She feels completely isolated and restless, unable to sleep as her longing deepens. To emphasize her suffering, Radha contrasts her plight with nature's cyclical resilience: the moon wanes only to shine fully again, and a flower dries up only to give birth to fruit. In contrast, Radha feels her body and spirit deteriorating without renewal. She pleads with Krishna to stop his divine, teasing games and return, stating that her world cannot awaken to a new dawn without his presence.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Undhan mugam thaanae pasiyaara naan paarthathu / Undhan manam thaanae varamaaga naan kettadhu Auditorium Paarthathu / Kettadhu match in ending sound to create lyrical rhythm.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Kann ellaam un vannam / Nenjellaam un ennam

Uvamai (Analogy / Metaphor)

Dhinam theindhaalum pirai kooda nilavaaguame / Malar kaainthaalum pinjaagi kaniyaagumae

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Penn paavam polladhu / Kanna vaa ippodhu

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh and rendered by P. Susheela, this song stands out as a prime example of Viraha Bhakti in 1970s Tamil cinema music, featuring lyricist Vaali's deep devotional imagery centered around the divine love between Radha and Krishna.

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