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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Aan Pillai Endraal Meesai

From En Jeevan Paduthu · 1988

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
S. Janaki, Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
En Jeevan Paduthu1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
{Aan pillai endraal oruIf one is a man, he has
Meesai unduA mustache
Appodhu kaadhal varumThen love arrives
Aasai undu} (2)And desire exists (Repeat)
Female
Kaadhalum illamaeWithout love
Aasaiyum illamaeAnd without desire
Jodigal seramaeWithout joining as couples
Leelaigal seiyamaeWithout engaging in playful acts
Female
Indha meesai mattumWhy keep this mustache alone?
Vechadhenna sollu solluTell me, tell me!
Oru kaavi kattiWear saffron robes
Kaasi pakkam sellu selluAnd head towards Kashi, go go!
Female
Aan pillai endraal oruIf one is a man, he has
Chorus :Meesai unduChorus: A mustache
Female :Appodhu kaadhal varumFemale: Then love arrives
Chorus :Aasai unduChorus: And desire exists
Female
Poo ennum per konduBearing the name of a flower
Penn ondru vanthathuA girl came along
Thean pattu kannam thottuTouching cheeks smooth like honey-silk
Aal aagadha…Without becoming mature...
Female
Mogathin megathilIn the cloud of lust
Mundhanai orathilAt the edge of the saree pallu
Muthangal thandhu vittalIf kisses are given
Theerathaa…Will it never end?
Male
Sitrimba settril ennaiInto the mire of worldly pleasures
Thallathinga thallathingaDo not push me, do not push me
Sillarai kaamam ellamAll cheap lustful things
Sollathinga sollathingaDo not speak of them, do not speak
Male
Sitrimba settril ennaiInto the mire of worldly pleasures
Chorus :Thallathinga thallathingaChorus: Do not push me, do not push me
Male :Sillarai kaamam ellamMale: All cheap lustful things
Chorus :Sollathinga sollathingaChorus: Do not speak of them, do not speak
Female
Sondham indriWithout relatives
Bandham indri vazhvor ellamThose who live without bonds
Oru patta maram polaLike a withered tree
Pattu povaar aiyaaWill wither away, sir
Chorus
Sondham indriWithout relatives
Bandham indri vazhvor ellamThose who live without bonds
Oru patta maram polaLike a withered tree
Pattu povaar aiyaaWill wither away, sir
Male
Ada neeyum veruHey, you are different
Naanum veruAnd I am different
Venam venam thagararuu..No need, no need for dispute...
Male
Aan pillai endraal oruIf one is a man, he has
Aanmai unduManliness
Aasaiyai katti veithalIf desire is controlled
Menmai unduThere is nobility
Male
Kaadhalum kollathaeDo not fall in love
Aasaiyai veikathaeDo not harbour desire
Jodiyai thedathaeDo not seek a partner
Leelaigal seiyadhaeDo not indulge in playful antics
Male
Andha gyanam vandhuWhen that wisdom arrives
Serum bothu sorgam sorgamAnd joins, it is heaven, heaven
Indha moga theeyilIn this fire of passion
Sayum bothu thukkam thukkamWhen falling, it is sorrow, sorrow
Male
Sithargal paadalilIn the songs of the Siddhas
Ullathu bodhanaiThere is teaching
Arinthavar kaanbathaeWhat the wise see
Per inbamIs supreme bliss
Male
Buddhanai paaradiLook at the Buddha, girl
Sonnadhai keladiListen to what he said, girl
Nall vazhi thedi poGo seeking the good path
AanandhamThat is true happiness
Female
Bharathi padal kandaEnvisioned in Bharathiyar's poetry
Chorus :Pudhumai penn nangal thanaeChorus: We are the modern women
Female :Kalidasan kavithai ellamFemale: All of Kalidasa's poetry
Chorus :Solvathellam kaadhal thanaeChorus: Speaks only of love
Female
Paruvathai payurai seidhalIf youth is cultivated like a crop
Chorus :Paruva ponnu suvaiyum unduChorus: The young woman also has sweetness
Female :Kuruvikkum unarchi unduFemale: Even a sparrow has feelings
Chorus :Koodu katti vazhum nandruChorus: Living by building a nest is good
Male
Sondham endruBelieving in family
Bandham endruAnd in relationships
Veezhvor ellamThose who fall
Oru pattu maram polaLike a silk tree/withered tree
Pattu povar ammaWill wither away, ma'am
Chorus
Sondham endruBelieving in family
Bandham endruAnd in relationships
Veezhvor ellamThose who fall
Oru pattu maram polaLike a silk tree/withered tree
Pattu povar ammaWill wither away, ma'am
Female
Ada neeyum onnuHey, you and I
Naanum onnuAre one and the same
Vaaya vaaya oravadaCome, come, let's bond
Chorus
Aan pillai endraal oruIf one is a man, he has
Female :Meesai unduFemale: A mustache
Chorus :Appodhu kaadhal varumChorus: Then love arrives
Female: Aasai unduFemale: And desire exists
Male
Kaadhalum kollathaeDo not fall in love
Chorus :Aasaiyai veikathaeChorus: Do not harbour desire
Male :Jodiyai thedathaeMale: Do not seek a partner
Chorus :Leelaigal seiyadhaeChorus: Do not indulge in playful antics
Female
Indha meesai mattumWhy keep this mustache alone?
VechadhennaTell me, tell me
Chorus :Sollu solluFemale: Wear saffron robes
Female :Oru kaavi kattiTo the direction of Kashi
Kaasi pakkamChorus: Go, go!
Chorus :Sellu selluIf one is a man, he has
Male
Aan pillai endraal oruManliness
Aanmai unduIf desire is controlled
Aasaiyai katti veithalThere is nobility
Menmai undu

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This playful philosophical duet frames a lively debate between ascetic self-restraint and romantic, worldly devotion. The male voice advocates for spiritual wisdom, citing Buddha and the Siddha sages while warning that worldly passion ('Sitrimbam') leads to grief. Conversely, the female voice champions love and companionate life, citing classical literary traditions (Bharathiyar and Kalidasa) and arguing that true fulfillment comes from human connection rather than isolation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

Aan pillai endraal oru / Aasai undu

Initial sound matching in 'Aan pillai' and 'Aasai undu'.

Ethugai (Assonance)

Sondham indri / Bandham indri

Matching second letter in consecutive lines: 'Sondham' and 'Bandham'.

Uvamaani (Simile)

Oru patta maram pola / Pattu povaar aiyaa

Comparing a life without relationships to a withered tree ('patta maram pola').

Metaphor

Indha moga theeyil / Sayum bothu thukkam thukkam

Comparing worldly desire/lust to a fire ('moga theeyil').

Did you know?

Trivia

The track is credited with lyrics by Ilaiyaraaja himself, showcasing his adept ability to pen witty Tamil philosophical debate lyrics (Pattimandram style) interwoven into cinematic song compositions.

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