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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Veenaiyadi Nee Enakku

From Ezhavathu Manithan · 1982

Lyricist
Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyaar
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, B. Neeraja
Music director
L. Vaidyanathan
Details
Ezhavathu Manithan1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Paayumozhi nee enakkuYou are the flowing words to me,
Paarkkum vizhi naan unakkuI am the seeing eyes to you.
Thoyum madhu nee enakkuYou are the intoxicating honey to me,
Thumbiyadi naan unakkuI am the hovering bee to you, my dear.
Vaayuraikka varuguvathillaiWords fail to utter
Vaazhi nindran menmai ellaamAll the glorious grandeur of your presence.
Thooya sudar vaanoliyaeO pure radiant sky light,
Soorayamuthae kannammaO sweet nectar of the sun, Kannamma!
Male
Veenaiyadi nee enakkuYou are the veena lute to me, my dear,
Mevum viral naan unakkuI am the plucking fingers to you.
Veenaiyadi nee enakkuYou are the veena lute to me, my dear,
Mevum viral naan unakkuI am the plucking fingers to you.
Poonum vadam nee enakkuYou are the adorned necklace to me,
Pudhu vairam naan unakkuI am the rare diamond set in it for you.
Female
Vaana mazhai nee enakkuYou are the rain from the sky to me,
Vanna mayil naan unakkuI am the colorful peacock to you.
Aaa…..aaa…..aaa…..aa….Ah... ah... ah... ah...
Vaana mazhai nee enakkuYou are the rain from the sky to me,
Vanna mayil naan unakkuI am the colorful peacock to you.
Male
Baanamadi nee enakkuYou are the divine drink to me, my dear,
Paandamadi naan unakkuI am the holding vessel to you, my dear.
Female
Nyaana oli veesuthadiThe light of supreme wisdom radiates
Nangai nindran jodhimugamFrom your radiant luminous face, O maiden.
Male :Oonamaru nallazhagae….nallazhagaeMale: Flawless exquisite beauty... exquisite beauty,
Oonamaru nallazhagae ooru suvaiyae kannammaaFlawless exquisite beauty, overflowing sweet taste, Kannamma!
Male
Kadhaladi nee enakku kaandhamadi naan unakkuYou are love itself to me, I am the magnet drawn to you.
Female :Vedhamadi nee enakku vinthaiyadi naan unakkuFemale: You are the sacred scriptures to me, I am the mystery to you.
Male :Podhamuttra pothinilae pongi varum theensuvaiyaeMale: In moments of heightened awareness, the overflowing sweet flavor,
Naadha vadivaanavalaeO divine embodiment of musical sound!
Both :Naadha vadivaanavalaeBoth: O divine embodiment of musical sound!
Nalla uyirae kannammaaO precious soul of mine, Kannamma!
Male
Veenaiyadi nee enakkuYou are the veena lute to me, my dear,
Mevum viral naan unakku….I am the plucking fingers to you...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Paayumozhi Nee Enakku is one of Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathiyar's iconic Kannamma poems, celebrating an intense, poetic, and spiritual union. Through a series of complementary metaphors—such as the veena and playing fingers, sky-rain and dancing peacock, honey and bee, and magnet and love—the poet depicts the absolute oneness of the lover and the beloved, where neither is complete without the other. Adopted into the 1982 film Ezhavathu Manithan, this immortal verse elevates romantic affection into a spiritual communion, portraying Kannamma as divine wisdom, beauty, and the fundamental force of life itself.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Veenaiyadi nee enakku / Mevum viral naan unakku

Compares the beloved and the lover to interdependent entities like a Veena and playing fingers, highlighting seamless harmony.

Anaphora / Parallelism

Paayumozhi nee enakku / Paarkkum vizhi naan unakku

The repetitive phrase structure 'nee enakku... naan unakku' across multiple couplets creates a rhythmic cadence and reinforces reciprocity.

Assonance and Rhyme (Ethirukai / Monai)

Baanamadi nee enakku / Paandamadi naan unakku

Utilizes second-letter rhyming and phonetic harmony (e.g., Baanamadi / Paandamadi) characteristic of traditional Tamil poetry.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ezhavathu Manithan (1982), directed by K. Hariharan and starring Raghuvaran, won the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Tamil. The film's soundtrack exclusively features timeless poems of Mahakavi Bharathiyar set to music composed by L. Vaidyanathan, with vocals for this song performed by K. J. Yesudas and S. P. Sailaja.

Keep listening

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