- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Movie name
- Ponnu Veettukkaran
- Movie release year
- 1999
- Lyrics added on
- 19 Apr 2020
Lyrics & meaning
♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Maadaa ozhaippaan odaa ezhaippaan
Eedaaga yevanum illae
Kaalil sakkaram illaiyae
Ivan veenaa suthuvadhillaiyae
Iravum pagalum vandhu pogum
Ivanukku kaala naeram kanakkillae
Edutha kaariyam mudiya venum
Eppozhudhum vetri ivan pakkathula
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Thangam maatru koranjaalum
Ivanukku maatru kuraiyaadhu
Bandham paasam illaadha edhuvum
Manasu ariyaadhu
Hae sorgam naalu suvathukkullae irukku
Vaeru kidaiyaadhu
Soodhu vaadhu kabadam ivan irukkum
Pakkam thirumbaadhu
Hae anbulla or aan pillai
Adakka mudiyaadhu
Hae kaasaalae adichu paaru
Madakka mudiyaadhu
Ivan polae kidaikkumaa veettukkoru pillai
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Pallikkoodam paartthadhae illai
Dhinamum pala paadam
Koyil kulangal ponadhae illai
Veedu ivan koyil
Ho kudumbam ennum koottilae vaazhum
Kuruvi ivan thaanae
Kottum anbai muthaaga pozhiyum
Aruvi ivan thaanae
Ho uzhaippukku uruvam irukku
Ivana paatthukko
Hae pizhaippukku uzhaikkavillai
Perumai kaettukko
Ivan polae kidaikkumaa veettukkoru pillai
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Maadaa ozhaippaan odaa yelaippaan
Maadaa ozhaippaan odaa ezhaippaan
Eedaaga yevanum illae
Kaalil sakkaram illaiyae
Ivan veenaa suthuvadhillaiyae
Iravum pagalum vandhu pogum
Ivanukku kaala naeram kanakkillae
Edutha kaariyam mudiya venum
Eppozhudhum vetri ivan pakkathula
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
Annan ivan kannan illae
Mannai aala vandha mannan illae
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
He works like a bull and wears himself to the bone,
There is no one who can match him.
He has no wheels on his feet,
Yet he never wanders around in vain.
Night and day keep coming and going,
He never keeps track of time.
Whatever task he takes up must be finished,
And success is always by his side.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
Even if the purity of gold declines,
His true worth will never fade.
Anything without love and affection,
His heart simply does not know.
Hey, heaven lies within these four walls,
It exists nowhere else.
Cunning, deceit, and malice,
Will never turn toward his side.
Hey, he is a man filled with love,
Whom no one can ever hold back.
Hey, try tempting him with money,
You can never make him bend.
Can any home find a son like him?
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
He has never stepped inside a school,
Yet every day brings many lessons.
He has never visited temples and sacred ponds,
His home is his temple.
Ho, living in the nest called family,
He is the caring sparrow.
Showering endless love like pearls,
He is the flowing waterfall.
Ho, hard work has taken human form,
Just look at him!
Hey, he does not work merely for a living,
Hear about his greatness!
Can any home find a son like him?
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
He works like a bull and wears himself to the bone,
He works like a bull and wears himself to the bone,
There is no one who can match him.
He has no wheels on his feet,
Yet he never wanders around in vain.
Night and day keep coming and going,
He never keeps track of time.
Whatever task he takes up must be finished,
And success is always by his side.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
This brother is no Lord Krishna,
Nor is he a king born to rule the land.
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Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song is a glowing tribute to an elder brother who serves as the backbone of his family. Although he is neither a divine figure nor a king, his selfless dedication, integrity, and relentless hard work make him extraordinary. He finds sacredness in his own home and family, prioritising love and duty over unearned wealth or superficial piety.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhyme / Monorhyme (Iyaiputh Thodai)
“Annan ivan kannan illae / Mannai aala vandha mannan illae”
Repetition of ending sound '-illae' across lines creating melodic symmetry.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Veedu ivan koyil / Kudumbam ennum koottilae vaazhum kuruvi ivan thaanae”
Comparing the home to a temple and the protagonist to a bird in the family nest.
Simile / Comparison (Uwamai)
“Maadaa ozhaippaan odaa ezhaippaan”
Comparing his relentless hard work to that of a bullock ('Maadaa ozhaippaan').
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1999 Tamil film 'Ponnu Veettukkaran', starring Sathyaraj. The track highlights traditional Tamil cultural themes celebrating brotherly love and familial sacrifice.
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