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Enga Ooru Kannagi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Adi Aathi Adi Kanne

From Enga Ooru Kannagi · 1981

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
L. R. Eswari, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Enga Ooru Kannagi
Movie release year
1981
Lyrics added on
3 Apr 2026

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Adi aathi….adi kannae sokki…..!
Adi aathi….adi kannae sokki…..!
Oru manipuraa thanneerilae neendhudhadi
Idhu kalikaalama enna kalyaanamoo kalyaanam
Idhu kalikaalama kalyaanamoo kalyaanam
Poongodi pol irundhadhadi azhagaana udambhu
Ippa poomaram pol aanadhenna aathangarai karumbhu
Idhu yaarukkaana virundhu……
Poongodi pol irundhadhadi azhagaana udambhu
Ippa poomaram pol aanadhenna aathangarai karumbhu
Idhu yaarukkaana virundhu……
Adutha jenmam naan porandhaa
Aambalaiyaa porappen
Nee ippadiyae porandhu vandhaa
Onnaidhaandi manapaen
Naan un koodavae iruppaen
Jaathagathil edam irundhaaa
Un nenappu nadanthu vidum
Naanum vaazhndhiruppen kannae sokkaayii
Jaadhagatha maattri vaippom
Sadhagamaa mudithu vaippom
Kaalam thunai irukkum kannae raakkaayi……
Kaakkai kooda jaadhi sollum
Manushanoda saerndhaa
Adiyae kaathu kooda baedham paarkkum
Manushan mela vizhundha
Yaaru nyaayam paarthu nadantha…..!
Eppa avan ezhudhi vechaan
Inna inna jaathiyinnu
Kaalam maarudhadi kannae raakkaayii
Vandiyilae ponadhellaam
Vaanathilae parakkuthadi
Naamum parandhu paarppom kannae sokkaayii
Oh goodness... oh my darling Chokki...!
Oh goodness... oh my darling Chokki...!
A lovely dove is swimming in the water!
Is this the modern age, or what a wondrous wedding this is?
Is this the modern age, or what a grand celebration!
Your lovely body used to be like a tender flowering vine,
How did it become a blossoming tree, sweet sugarcane of the riverbank?
For whom is this feast prepared...?
Your lovely body used to be like a tender flowering vine,
How did it become a blossoming tree, sweet sugarcane of the riverbank?
For whom is this feast prepared...?
If I am born in my next life,
I will be born as a man!
If you are born again just like this,
it is you I will surely marry!
I will always stay right beside you!
If our horoscopes allow it,
your wish will certainly come true,
and I too will live with you, my dear Chokkayi!
We will rewrite the horoscopes,
and make everything work in our favor!
Time will stand by our side, my dear Rakkayi...!
Even a crow would start talking of caste
if it kept company with humans!
Girl, even the wind would learn to discriminate
once it brushed against humans!
Who has ever lived by true justice...?
When did God ever write down
which person belongs to which caste?
Times are changing, my dear Rakkayi!
What used to travel only by cart
is now flying through the sky!
Let us also spread our wings and fly, my dear Chokkayi!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Enga Ooru Kannagi' (1981) is a playful yet thought-provoking folk duet between two rural women, Sokki and Raakkaayi. Through affectionate teasing and witty banter, they reflect on youth, womanhood, and deep friendship, playfully promising to marry each other if reborn as man and woman in the next life. As the song progresses, the dialogue shifts toward sharp social critique. Kannadasan's lyrics highlight the foolishness of human caste discrimination and artificial social barriers, contrasting human bias with the non-discriminatory nature of animals and elements of nature. The song concludes on an optimistic note, celebrating social progress and modern changes, encouraging women to break free from old rigid traditions and aim high.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Poongodi pol irundhadhadi azhagaana udambhu

Compares a woman's slender frame to a flowering vine ('poongodi pol') and a riverside sugarcane ('aathangarai karumbhu').

Personification (Uruvagarn / Personification)

Adiyae kaathu kooda baedham paarkkum

Attributes human prejudice to wind ('kaathu kooda baedham paarkkum'), poetically emphasizing how bias infects everything humans touch.

Contrast / Metaphor

Vandiyilae ponadhellaam / Vaanathilae parakkuthadi

Contrasts slow ground transport ('vandiyilae ponadhellaam') with modern aviation ('vaanathilae parakkuthadi') to symbolize social progress and changing times.

Did you know?

Trivia

The track stands out as a rare, highly energetic folk duet bringing together two legendary playback singers of Tamil cinema, L. R. Eswari and Vani Jayaram, set to the tune of M. S. Vishwanathan and insightful social lyrics by Kannadasan.

Keep listening

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