Guna - a love story - Kanmani Anbodu Kaadalan

Kamal Hasan likes to push the envelop at times, and his movie Guna is no exception. It is a movie about a deranged man who kidnaps a woman who resembles his fantasy woman. In the song "Kanmani, Anbodu Kaadalan", he wants to write her a letter. Being illiterate, he dictates his letter to her, and she writes it down, and sings it. The song and the sentiments expressed therein are sheer poetry. Here are the lyrics, and my attempt at translation.


(kanmani)

kanmani anboadu kaadhalan naan ezhudhum kadidhamae
ponmani un veettil soukyamaa naan ingu soukyamae
unnai ennip paarkkaiyil kavidhai sottudhu
adhai ezhudha ninaikkaiyil varththai muttudhu

undaana kaayam yaavum thannaalae aarip poagum
maayam enna ponmaanae ponmaanae
enna kaayam aana poadhum en maeni thaangik kollum
undhan maeni thaangaadhu sendhaenae
endhan kaadhal ennavenru sollaamal aenga aenga azhugai vandhadhu
endhan soagam unnaith thaakkum enrennumboadhu vandha azhugai ninradhu
manidhar unarndhu kolla idhu manidhak kaadhalalla
adhaiyum thaandip punidhamaanadhu

abiraamiyae thaalaattum saamiyae naandhaanae theriyumaa
sivagaamiyae sivanil neeyum paadhiyae adhuvum unakku puriyumaa
suba laali laali laali laali
abiraami laali laali laali


Translation
------------

My dearest, this is a letter that I, your lover, writes with love and affection.
My sweet one, is everyone fine at your end? I'm doing fine here.
When I think of you, poetry flows
But when I try to write it down, words escape me

Any wounds that are inflicted on me heal quickly, what's the magic, my dear!
My body will withstand any wounds
Your fair skin will not, honey
The angst of not expressing my love to you makes me weep
But the thought that my sorrow may affect you makes the tears stop
This is not a worldly love for mankind to understand
But is a pure love that transcends that
Abirami, don't you know that I'm the Siva that cradles you and gently rocks you to sleep?
O Sivagami, you're the half of Siva, do you understand?
Sweet lullabies
Abirami, sweet lullabies

-Sridhar