Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan

"Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan"
album cover
Song by Kamal Haasan, S. Janaki
from the album Gunaa
Released1991
Length5:27[1]
LabelPyramid Audio
Composer(s)Ilaiyaraaja
Lyricist(s)Vaali
Producer(s)Ilaiyaraaja
Gunaa track listing
  1. "Appan Endrum"
  2. "Unnai Naan"
  3. "Paartha Vizhi"
  4. "Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan"
  5. "Unnai Naan (Bit)"
  6. "Oyilala"
Music video
"Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan" on YouTube

"Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan" (transl. To my love, Kanmani) is a song from the Tamil film Gunaa (1991) composed by Ilaiyaraaja, written by Vaali and sung by Kamal Haasan and S. Janaki.[2] The song was noticed for having dialogues interspersed between the lines,[3] and it was notably one of the few conversational songs in Tamil cinema.[4]

About the song

Rohini (Roshini) is being held hostage by Gunaa (Kamal Haasan) in a cave near Kodaikanal. He recites the lines he wants to sing for her as she is his sweetheart. Meanwhile, she also develops a soft-spot for him and sings the lines he suggests.[3]

Production

Ilaiyaraaja was told the situation of the scene and someone suggested that the song be made in a similar fashion to "Anbulla Mannavane" from Kuzhandaiyum Deivamum (1965) but different. Kamal Haasan was already decided to be the singer before the song was made. Since Haasan already wrote the dialogues of the song himself, Vaali only wrote the lyrics for the song.[5] Haasan called the song "a love letter" between Ilaiyaraaja and himself. Santhana Bharathi said, "The song could apply to any two people who have immense affection for each other. Kamal Haasan-Ilaiyaraaja or Kamal Haasan and myself for the bonding we have had". The song was initially supposed to be shot in a set until after several days, a trekking guide introduced them to Devil's Kitchen.[6] Upon entering the caves, Bharathi and Haasan were adamant that they would shoot the song there. The forest department helped ensure that the film crew was safe while shooting.[7] The song was shot at night.[8]

Themes and influences

The relationship between Gunaa and Rohini as shown in the song was considered to be love in the 1990s, but in modern times, it may also be considered as Stockholm syndrome.[3] According to Vishnu Sivasankar, the song can also be about the love and non-sexual affection in friendship such as bromance as shown by the song's placement throughout the 2024 Malayalam film Manjummel Boys (2024).[9][10]

Selected lyrics

Transliteration English Translation Ref.
Kanmani anbodu kadhalan yezhudhum kadithame To my love, Kanmani, I write you this letter. [7][3]
Oh, paatave padichittiya Oh, you have composed a song out of this [3]
Mandihar unarthukkola ithu manitha kadhal alla, athaiyum thaandi punithamaanathu the immortal love that cannot be understood by humans [7][11][12]
undana kaayam engum thannale aari pogum maayam enna, ponmane what is the magic behind my wounds healing on their own? [7]
enna kaayam aana podhu en meni thaangi kollum undhan meni thaangadhu sendhene Whatever be the wound, I will bear. But, will you be able to bear it, honey? [13]
Endhan kadhal enna vendru sollamal enga enga azhugai vandhadhu, endhan sogam unnai thaakum endrennum podhu vandha azhugai nindradhu I get tears when I'm not able to express my love. But my tears stop when I think that my sadness will have an effect on you [13]

Impact

The line "Abhirami Abhirami" became popular and men would whisper these lines at women's colleges.[3] Stella Maris College alumnus Ray Simon said, "The lyrics had depth and the melody was soothing. [...] Every time I hear the song or hum it, it takes me back to those good old days of kanmanis and kadhals (transl. women and men falling in love in college)".[3]

Other versions

The Telugu dubbed version of the song "Kammani ee Premalekha" (also called "Priyathama Neevachata Kusalama") was also popular.[14][15] In 2018, Sanah Moidutty recreated a cover version of the song.[16][17] In 2024, DJ Revvy created a remix version of the song.[18]

Charts

Chart performances for "Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan"
Chart (2024) Peak
position
India (Instagram)[18]
DJ Revvy remix 		1

References

  1. ^ "Guna". Gaana. Archived from the original on 5 September 2020. Retrieved 11 July 2020.
  2. ^ "Reba Monica John's rendition of Kanmani Anbodu Kadhalan wins hearts". The Times of India. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 23 June 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Vijaya Kumar, KC. "Guna's 'Kanmani Anbodu' lingering once again". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 29 March 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  4. ^ "நரைத்த நதியில் வாலிபத்தை வாழவைக்கும் வாலி!" [Vaali that keeps youth alive in the gray river!]. ETV Bharat (in Tamil). 18 July 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  5. ^ ஆவுடையப்பன், பேச்சி (1 March 2024). "Manjummel Boys: இணையத்தை கலக்கும் "கண்மணி அன்போடு" பாடல் - உருவான விதம் தெரியுமா?". ABP Live (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 6 March 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  6. ^ Sivalingam (14 November 2017). "மீண்டும் திறக்கப்படுகிறது கமல் கண்டுபிடித்த குணா குகை" [The Guna cave discovered by Kamal is being reopened]. Webdunia (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d Sivapriyan, ETB (8 March 2024). "'Kanmani anbodu kaadhalan': From a love album to friendship song". Deccan Herald. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  8. ^ Rahman, Kaleel (1 September 2021). "'பேய்களின் சமையல் அறை' - கண்மணி அன்போடு காதலன்... குணா குகை பற்றிய சிறப்பு தொகுப்பு" ['Ghosts' Kitchen' - Kanmani Anbodu Lover... Special collection on Guna Cave]. Puthiya Thalaimurai (in Tamil). Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  9. ^ Ramachandran, Arjun (7 March 2024). "Here's how Tamil melody 'Kanmani Anbodu' redefined friendship and selfless love in 'Manjummel Boys'…". The South First. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  10. ^ P. V., Anjana (6 March 2024). "'Manjummel Boys' Movie: How a new Malayalam movie has made an old Tamil song go viral". The Hindu Business Line. Archived from the original on 9 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. ^ Suryawanshi, Sudhir (1 June 2019). "'The beauty of success is when you don't see it coming'". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Guna means everything to me: RS Prasanna". The New Indian Express. 7 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  13. ^ a b K., Janani (29 February 2024). "Why Kerala's 'Manjummel Boys' is a perfect tribute to Kamal Haasan's 'Guna'". India Today. Archived from the original on 5 March 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  14. ^ "SPB is Magic, No Matter What the Language". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Allu Arjun and Nani sing at their best friend's wedding. Watch video". India Today. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Singer Sanah Moidutty: I was nervous about covering Kanmani Anbodu; the song means a lot to everyone". Cinema Express. 17 September 2018. Archived from the original on 24 September 2020. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  17. ^ "Singer Sanah Moidutty comes up with her first ever Tamil Cover". radioandmusic.com. 4 September 2018. Archived from the original on 14 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  18. ^ a b "Remix Version Of Song Kanmani Anbodu From Kamal Haasan's Film Guna Viral". News18. Archived from the original on 3 July 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.