Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Anne Anne

From Poovizhi Vasalile · 1987

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singer
Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Poovizhi Vasalile1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Annae annaeO brother, O brother
Nee ennaa sonnaeWhat did you say?
Ada ennai paarththuHey, looking at me
Enga poga sonnaeWhere did you tell me to go?
Male
Yaar veettu thottaththukkuFor whose house's garden
Yaar ingae kaavalkaaranWho is the watchman here?
Ooraarin thottaththukkuFor the townspeople's garden
Yaar yaaro sonthakkaaranVarious random people claim ownership
Yaar veettu thottamunnu theriyumaaDo you know whose house garden this is?
Ingae yaar yaaru aadurathunnu puriyumaaDo you understand who is playing games here?
Male
Ada annae annaeHey brother, O brother
Nee ennaa sonnaeWhat did you say?
Ada neeyum oru naalHey, you too one day
Verum mannae mannae…ae….Will turn into mere dust and dirt...
Male
Koyila katti vachchu saamiya kumpittomWe built a temple and worshipped God
Kulangalai vetti vetti thanni niraichchuttomWe dug ponds and filled them with water
Koyila katti vachchu saamiya kumpittomWe built a temple and worshipped God
Kulangalai vetti vetti thanni niraichchuttomWe dug ponds and filled them with water
Male
Paavaththa panni nee koyila kattunaaIf you commit sins and then build a temple
Kovichchu saami anga illaama poyidumGod will get angry and disappear from there
Koyilgal kattuvathu paavangal pogaththaanTemples are built so that sins are absolved
Paavangal pogaavittaal koyilgal yaenappaaIf sins are not absolved, why build temples, brother?
Male
Sonnatha yosichchuThink about what was said
Nallathai ennununnaeAlways cherish good thoughts, brother
Kettathai pattunnu vittutunnaeInstantly abandon evil things, brother
Male
Annae annaeO brother, O brother
Nee ennaa sonnaeWhat did you say?
Ada ennai paarththuHey, looking at me
Enga poga sonnaeWhere did you tell me to go?
Male
Yaar veettu thottaththukkuFor whose house's garden
Yaar ingae kaavalkaaranWho is the watchman here?
Ooraarin thottaththukkuFor the townspeople's garden
Yaar yaaro sonthakkaaranVarious random people claim ownership
Yaar veettu thottamunnu theriyumaaDo you know whose house garden this is?
Ingae yaar yaaru aadurathunnu puriyumaaDo you understand who is playing games here?
Male
Chittu kuruvi pola rekkaiyai virichchukkoSpread your wings like a little sparrow
Katta avuththuvittu nallaa paranthukkoUntie your bonds and fly freely
Chittu kuruvi pola rekkaiyai virichchukkoSpread your wings like a little sparrow
Katta avuththuvittu nallaa paranthukkoUntie your bonds and fly freely
Male
Vaanaththai paarththukkoLook up at the sky
Kaaththapol veesikkoBlow freely like the wind
Thaanaththom thanthaanaa pottuStrike the rhythm 'Thaanaththom Thanthaanaa'
Paattonnu paadikkoAnd sing a song
Male
Naan sollum saththiyaththaiThe truth that I speak
Naan nampa maattaenaeEven I won't believe
Nee enga ketkka poraWhen are you ever going to listen?
Pollaatha annae neeYou stubborn brother
Male
Unamaigal ellaamaeEven after knowing all the truths
Therinjum ennennaeWhy is it like this, brother?
Ellaarum solvathu poithaana annaeIsn't everything people say a lie, brother?
Male
Annae annaeO brother, O brother
Nee ennaa sonnaeWhat did you say?
Ada ennai paarththuHey, looking at me
Enga poga sonnaeWhere did you tell me to go?
Male
Yaar veettu thottaththukkuFor whose house's garden
Yaar ingae kaavalkaaranWho is the watchman here?
Ooraarin thottaththukkuFor the townspeople's garden
Yaar yaaro sonthakkaaranVarious random people claim ownership
Yaar veettu thottamunnu theriyumaaDo you know whose house garden this is?
Ingae yaar yaaru aadurathunnu puriyumaaDo you understand who is playing games here?
Male
Ada annae annaeHey brother, O brother
Nee ennaa sonnaeWhat did you say?
Ada neeyum oru naalHey, you too one day
Verum mannae mannae…ae….Will turn into mere dust and dirt...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic philosophical track from Poovizhi Vasalile (1987) uses playful satire to critique human greed, superficial religiosity, and societal hypocrisy. The song questions who truly owns anything in this world, reminding the listener that ultimately all human vanity ends in dust. It encourages breaking free from worldly burdens, living freely like a sparrow, and letting go of deceit and wicked thoughts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Chittu kuruvi pola rekkaiyai virichchukko

Comparing living freely and spreading wings to a sparrow (chittu kuruvi).

End Rhyme (Eyaibu)

Nee ennaa sonnae / Verum mannae mannae

Rhyming end sounds across lines (sonnae / mannae).

Repetition (Adukkuthodar)

Kulangalai vetti vetti thanni niraichchuttom

Repetition of words for emphasis and rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track was a major breakthrough for singer Mano, serving as one of his early iconic hit songs composed by Ilaiyaraaja. The song features lively folk rhythm patterns combined with thought-provoking existential lyrics.

Keep listening

More from Poovizhi Vasalile