- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- En Jeevan Paduthu
- Movie release year
- 1988
- Lyrics added on
- 25 Jun 2017
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Aan pillai endraal oru
Meesai undu
Appodhu kaadhal varum
Aasai undu} (2)
Kaadhalum illamae
Aasaiyum illamae
Jodigal seramae
Leelaigal seiyamae
Indha meesai mattum
Vechadhenna sollu sollu
Oru kaavi katti
Kaasi pakkam sellu sellu
Aan pillai endraal oru
Chorus :Meesai undu
Female :Appodhu kaadhal varum
Chorus :Aasai undu
Poo ennum per kondu
Penn ondru vanthathu
Thean pattu kannam thottu
Aal aagadha…
Mogathin megathil
Mundhanai orathil
Muthangal thandhu vittal
Theerathaa…
Sitrimba settril ennai
Thallathinga thallathinga
Sillarai kaamam ellam
Sollathinga sollathinga
Sitrimba settril ennai
Chorus :Thallathinga thallathinga
Male :Sillarai kaamam ellam
Chorus :Sollathinga sollathinga
Sondham indri
Bandham indri vazhvor ellam
Oru patta maram pola
Pattu povaar aiyaa
Sondham indri
Bandham indri vazhvor ellam
Oru patta maram pola
Pattu povaar aiyaa
Ada neeyum veru
Naanum veru
Venam venam thagararuu..
Aan pillai endraal oru
Aanmai undu
Aasaiyai katti veithal
Menmai undu
Kaadhalum kollathae
Aasaiyai veikathae
Jodiyai thedathae
Leelaigal seiyadhae
Andha gyanam vandhu
Serum bothu sorgam sorgam
Indha moga theeyil
Sayum bothu thukkam thukkam
Sithargal paadalil
Ullathu bodhanai
Arinthavar kaanbathae
Per inbam
Buddhanai paaradi
Sonnadhai keladi
Nall vazhi thedi po
Aanandham
Bharathi padal kanda
Chorus :Pudhumai penn nangal thanae
Female :Kalidasan kavithai ellam
Chorus :Solvathellam kaadhal thanae
Paruvathai payurai seidhal
Chorus :Paruva ponnu suvaiyum undu
Female :Kuruvikkum unarchi undu
Chorus :Koodu katti vazhum nandru
Sondham endru
Bandham endru
Veezhvor ellam
Oru pattu maram pola
Pattu povar amma
Sondham endru
Bandham endru
Veezhvor ellam
Oru pattu maram pola
Pattu povar amma
Ada neeyum onnu
Naanum onnu
Vaaya vaaya oravada
Aan pillai endraal oru
Female :Meesai undu
Chorus :Appodhu kaadhal varum
Female: Aasai undu
Kaadhalum kollathae
Chorus :Aasaiyai veikathae
Male :Jodiyai thedathae
Chorus :Leelaigal seiyadhae
Indha meesai mattum
Vechadhenna
Chorus :Sollu sollu
Female :Oru kaavi katti
Kaasi pakkam
Chorus :Sellu sellu
Aan pillai endraal oru
Aanmai undu
Aasaiyai katti veithal
Menmai undu
If one is a man,
he sports a mustache!
And with it comes love,
and desire too!
Without any love,
without any desire,
without pairing up with someone,
without any playful romance,
keeping just this mustache,
what is it for? Tell me, tell me!
Wrap yourself in saffron robes
and head off towards Kasi!
If one is a man,
Chorus: he sports a mustache!
Female: And with it comes love,
Chorus: and desire too!
Bearing the sweet name of a flower,
a young woman has come to you;
tasting her honey and touching her cheek,
won't you become a real man?
Floating in the clouds of passion,
sheltered by the edge of my saree,
if I give you sweet kisses,
won't your longing be quenched?
Into this mud of worldly pleasure,
don't push me, don't push me!
All this cheap lust,
don't speak of it, don't speak of it!
Into this mud of worldly pleasure,
Chorus: don't push me, don't push me!
Male: All this cheap lust,
Chorus: don't speak of it, don't speak of it!
Without any family,
those who live without bonds of love,
like a withered, barren tree,
will simply dry up and perish, sir!
Without any family,
those who live without bonds of love,
like a withered, barren tree,
will simply dry up and perish, sir!
Look, your way is different,
and my way is different;
let us not argue, no, let us not!
If one is a true man,
he possesses noble self-control;
if you rein in your desires,
there lies true greatness!
Do not fall into love,
do not harbour desires,
do not search for a partner,
do not play romantic games!
When true wisdom arrives
and fills you, it is pure heaven!
When you sink into this fire of lust,
it brings only sorrow, utter sorrow!
In the songs of the Siddhars (realized sages),
lies sacred guidance;
those who understand it will find
the highest bliss!
Look at the Buddha, girl,
listen to what he taught;
seek the righteous path,
and you will find joy!
In the songs of poet Bharathi,
Chorus: we are the modern women he envisioned!
Female: All the poetry of Kalidasa,
Chorus: doesn't it speak only of love?
If you let your youth blossom like a rich harvest,
Chorus: you will taste the sweet joy of a youthful girl!
Female: Even a tiny sparrow has feelings,
Chorus: and builds a nest to live happily!
Chasing after family
and worldly attachments,
all those who fall
like a dry, fallen tree,
will wither away, my dear girl!
Chasing after family
and worldly attachments,
all those who fall
like a dry, fallen tree,
will wither away, my dear girl!
Look, you and I
are made for each other;
come, oh come, let us share our love!
If one is a man,
Female: he sports a mustache!
Chorus: And with it comes love,
Female: and desire too!
Do not fall into love,
Chorus: do not harbour desires!
Male: Do not search for a partner,
Chorus: do not play romantic games!
Keeping just this mustache,
what is it for?
Chorus: Tell me, tell me!
Female: Wrap yourself in saffron robes,
and towards Kasi,
Chorus: go away, go away!
If one is a true man,
he possesses noble self-control;
if you rein in your desires,
there lies true greatness!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Chorus
Female
Chorus
Male
Female
Male
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
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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