Kannodu Kaanbathellaam – lyrics meaning

Kannodu Kaanbathellaam – Jeans (click for the video)

Movie    : Jeans  

Lyricist : Vairamuthu

Music    : A.R.Rahman

Singer   : Nithyasree Mahadevan (won the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Female Playback Singer for 1998 for this song)

[Context : This song comes at a point where the heroine’s family tries to deceive the hero’s family by portraying her as a twin]

 

Pa Pani Panipama Panipama Kamapa Sagasani Panipama Gamagasa Gamapa

Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagajam (2)

Kannodu Kaanbadhellaam Thalaivaa Kangalukkuch Chonthamillai                                             All that is seen by the eyes, don’t belong to the eyes..                                                                     Kangalukkuch Chonthamillai                                                                                                               Don’t belong to the eyes..
Kannodu Maniyaanaay Athanaal Kannaivittup Pirivathillai                                                             You became a bead in my eye, so you never leave my eyes..                                                                               Nee Ennaivittu Pirivathillai                                                                                                             You..Never leave me..

 Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagajam (2)

 

Salasala Salasala Irattaik Kilavi Thagathaga Thagathaga Irattaik Kilavi
‘SalaSala’ is a doublet.. ‘ThagaThaga’ is a doublet..                                                                                  Undalloa Thamizhil Undalloa                                                                                                                    Isn’t it there in Tamil?                                                                                                                                   [‘IrattaiKilavi’ is a part of Tamil grammar which is a doublet containing repetitive word – both the words are one and the same and they don’t have individual existence or meaning. The poet uses this as a metaphor for the heroine’s deception.                                                     Eg: ‘Thaga-Thaga’ is used to describe shine or glossiness]

Pirithu Vaithal Niyaayam Illai Pirithup Paarthaal Porulum Illai                                                   It’s unfair to separate them. They are meaningless if you separate them.                                                   Irandalloa Irandum Onralloa                                                                                                                         They are two but both are one and the same!

Dhinakku Dhinakku Dhina Dhinthinnaanaa Naagiruthaani Dhoangiruthaani Dhinadhoam

Iravum Pagalum Vanthaalum Naal Enbathu Onralloa                                                                       Even if there comes Morning and Night, the day is just one..
Kaalgal Irandu Kondaalum Payanam Ènbathu Ondralloa                                                             Even if the legs are two, the journey is just one..
Ithayam Irandu Èndraalum Kaathal Ènbathu Ondralloa                                                                 Even if the hearts are two, Love is just one..

(Kannodu)

Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagrathim Thagrathagrathagajam (2)

Anril Paravai Irattaip Piravi Onril Onraay Vaazhum Piravi
Ibis (bird) is a twin that lives one for another                                                                                         Piriyaathae Vittup Piriyaathae                                                                                                                     It never leaves (the partner alone)..                                                                                                                   Kannum Kannum Irattaip Piravi Oru Vizhi Azhuthaal Maruvizhi Aruvi                                           Both the eyes are twins, if one cries the other turns into a waterfall..
Pozhiyaadhoa Anbae Vazhiyaadhoa                                                                                                 Doesn’t it rain? Oh dear.. Doesn’t it shed tears?

Dhinakku Dhinakku Dhina Dhinthinnaanaa Naagiruthaani Dhoangiruthaani Dhinadhoam

Oruvar Thoongum Thookkathil Iruvar Kanavugal Kaanugiroam
In one’s sleep, both of us dream..                                                                                                                         Oruvar Vaangum suvaasathil Iruvar Iruthayam Vaazhugiroam                                                       In one’s breath, both of our hearts live..                                                                                                 Thaavikkolla Mattumthaan Thanith Thaniyae Thaeduginroam                                                         Just to jump/switch, we search separately..

(Kannodu)

**Have tried explaining contextually, so literal meanings may vary!