Edhu Nijam Edhu Poi
From Ivan Avanethan · 1960
- Lyricist
- M. S. Subramaniyam
- Singers
- S. C. Krishnan, M. S. Rajeswari
- Music director
- M. Ranga Rao
- Details
- Ivan Avanethan1960
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Tell me what is true and what is a lie. |
| Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie! |
| Male :Soldren | Male: I will tell. |
| Female :Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Female: Tell me what is true and what is a lie. |
| Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie! |
| Female | |
| Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum | If marriage happens, madness will go away. |
| Male :Heehim | Male: Mmm-hmm. |
| Female :Paiththiyam ponaa kalyaanam aagum | Female: Once madness goes away, marriage can happen! |
| Male :Aang…mm… | Male: Ah... mm... |
| Female | |
| Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum | If marriage happens, madness will go away. |
| Paiththiyam ponaa kalyaanam aagum | Once madness goes away, marriage can happen! |
| Female | |
| Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Tell me what is true and what is a lie. |
| Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie! |
| Female | |
| Hahaa hahaa naan soldren | Haha haha, I will tell. |
| Inthaa sollipputten | Here, I have said it! |
| Female | |
| Pattikaattu pen | The village girl, |
| Unakku pidikkalaiyaa | Don't you like her? |
| Male | |
| Heem….heem….heehim…heehim.. | Mmm... mmm... hmm-hmm... hmm-hmm... |
| Female | |
| Pattanaththu pennai | The city girl, |
| Innum marakkalaiyaa | Haven't you forgotten her yet? |
| Male :Aahahaa aahaahaa aahaa aahaa | Male: Ahahaha aahaahaa aahaa aahaa |
| Female | |
| Pattikkaattu penn | The village girl, |
| Unakku pidikkalaiyaa | Don't you like her? |
| Pattanaththu pennai | The city girl, |
| Innum marakkalaiyaa | Haven't you forgotten her yet? |
| Female | |
| Kaariyam kai koodaathathinaalae | Because things didn't turn out as planned, |
| Kavalaiyaal paiththiyamaa | Are you driven mad by worry? |
| Neeyoru kaariya paiththiyamaa | Or are you someone obsessed with achieving your goals? |
| Male | |
| Aiyaiyaa appaavukku paiththiyam | Oh dear, father has gone mad! |
| Annanukku paththiyam | Brother is on a dietary regimen! |
| Vaiththiyarukku paiththiyam | The doctor himself is mad! |
| Ellorukkum paiththiyam | Everyone is mad! |
| Female | |
| Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Tell me what is true and what is a lie. |
| Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie! |
| Female | |
| Unakku penn ini yaar koduppaanga | Who will give you a bride anymore? |
| Male :Heem kodukka maattaangalo | Male: Mmm, won't they give one? |
| Female :Enakku anni yaar varuvaanga | Female: Who will come as my sister-in-law? |
| Female | |
| Unakku penn ini yaar koduppaanga | Who will give you a bride anymore? |
| Enakku anni yaar varuvaanga | Who will come as my sister-in-law? |
| Female | |
| Manam vittu ullathai sollaathu ponaa | If you don't open your heart and express what is inside, |
| Paiththiyam thelinjidumaa | Will your madness ever clear up? |
| Marunthaal gunamum aagidumaa | Can it be cured by medicine alone? |
| Male | |
| Aiyaiyaiya paiththiyam | Oh dear, oh dear, madness! |
| Female | |
| Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Tell me what is true and what is a lie. |
| Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie! |
| Female | |
| Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum | If marriage happens, madness will go away. |
| Male :Ooh | Male: Ooh! |
| Female :Paiththiyam pona kalyaanam aagum | Female: Once madness goes away, marriage can happen! |
| Male :Ooh enakku kalyaanam kalyaanam | Male: Ooh, marriage for me, marriage! |
| Female | |
| Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum | If marriage happens, madness will go away. |
| Paiththiyam pona kalyaanam aagum | Once madness goes away, marriage can happen! |
| Female | |
| Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Tell me what is true and what is a lie. |
| Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu | Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie! |
எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
அண்ணா நீ எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
சொல்றேன்
எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
அண்ணா நீ எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Male: I will tell.
Female: Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
கல்யாணம் ஆனா பைத்தியம் போகும்
ஹூஹீம்....
பைத்தியம் போனா கல்யாணம் ஆகும்
ஆங்...ம்ம்...
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Male: Mmm-hmm.
Female: Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
Male: Ah... mm...
கல்யாணம் ஆனா பைத்தியம் போகும்
பைத்தியம் போனா கல்யாணம் ஆகும்
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
அண்ணா நீ எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
ஹஹா ஹஹா நான் சொல்றேன்
இந்தா சொல்லிப்புட்டேன்
Haha haha, I will tell.
Here, I have said it!
பட்டிக்காட்டுப் பெண்
உனக்குப் பிடிக்கலையா...
The village girl,
Don't you like her?
ஹூம்....ஹூம்....ஹீஹிம்...ஹீஹிம்
Mmm... mmm... hmm-hmm... hmm-hmm...
பட்டணத்துப் பெண்ணை
இன்னும் மறக்கலையா
ஆஹாஹா ஆஹாஹா ஆஹா ஆஹா
The city girl,
Haven't you forgotten her yet?
Male: Ahahaha aahaahaa aahaa aahaa
பட்டிக்காட்டுப் பெண்
உனக்குப் பிடிக்கலையா...
பட்டணத்துப் பெண்ணை
இன்னும் மறக்கலையா
The village girl,
Don't you like her?
The city girl,
Haven't you forgotten her yet?
காரியம் கை கூடாததினாலே
கவலையால் பைத்தியமா
நீயொரு காரிய பைத்தியமா
Because things didn't turn out as planned,
Are you driven mad by worry?
Or are you someone obsessed with achieving your goals?
அய்யய்ய அப்பாவுக்கு பைத்தியம்
அண்ணனுக்கு பைத்தியம்
வைத்தியருக்குப் பைத்தியம்
எல்லோருக்கும் பைத்தியம்
Oh dear, father has gone mad!
Brother is on a dietary regimen!
The doctor himself is mad!
Everyone is mad!
எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
அண்ணா நீ எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
உனக்குப் பெண் இனி யார் கொடுப்பாங்க
ஹூம் கொடுக்க மாட்டாங்களோ
எனக்கு அண்ணி யார் வருவாங்க
Who will give you a bride anymore?
Male: Mmm, won't they give one?
Female: Who will come as my sister-in-law?
உனக்குப் பெண் இனி யார் கொடுப்பாங்க
எனக்கு அண்ணி யார் வருவாங்க
Who will give you a bride anymore?
Who will come as my sister-in-law?
மனம் விட்டு உள்ளதைச் சொல்லாது போனா
பைத்தியம் தெளிஞ்சிடுமா
மருந்தால் குணமும் ஆகிடுமா.......
If you don't open your heart and express what is inside,
Will your madness ever clear up?
Can it be cured by medicine alone?
அய்யய்ய பைத்தியம்...
Oh dear, oh dear, madness!
எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
அண்ணா நீ எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
கல்யாணம் ஆனா பைத்தியம் போகும்
ஓஹ்
பைத்தியம் போனா கல்யாணம் ஆகும்
ஓஹ் எனக்கு கல்யாணம் கல்யாணம்
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Male: Ooh!
Female: Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
Male: Ooh, marriage for me, marriage!
கல்யாணம் ஆனா பைத்தியம் போகும்
பைத்தியம் போனா கல்யாணம் ஆகும்
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
அண்ணா நீ எது நிஜம் எது பொய் சொல்லு
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Male :Soldren
Male: I will tell.
Female :Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Female: Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Male :Heehim
Male: Mmm-hmm.
Female :Paiththiyam ponaa kalyaanam aagum
Female: Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
Male :Aang…mm…
Male: Ah... mm...
Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Paiththiyam ponaa kalyaanam aagum
Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Hahaa hahaa naan soldren
Haha haha, I will tell.
Inthaa sollipputten
Here, I have said it!
Pattikaattu pen
The village girl,
Unakku pidikkalaiyaa
Don't you like her?
Heem….heem….heehim…heehim..
Mmm... mmm... hmm-hmm... hmm-hmm...
Pattanaththu pennai
The city girl,
Innum marakkalaiyaa
Haven't you forgotten her yet?
Male :Aahahaa aahaahaa aahaa aahaa
Male: Ahahaha aahaahaa aahaa aahaa
Pattikkaattu penn
The village girl,
Unakku pidikkalaiyaa
Don't you like her?
Pattanaththu pennai
The city girl,
Innum marakkalaiyaa
Haven't you forgotten her yet?
Kaariyam kai koodaathathinaalae
Because things didn't turn out as planned,
Kavalaiyaal paiththiyamaa
Are you driven mad by worry?
Neeyoru kaariya paiththiyamaa
Or are you someone obsessed with achieving your goals?
Aiyaiyaa appaavukku paiththiyam
Oh dear, father has gone mad!
Annanukku paththiyam
Brother is on a dietary regimen!
Vaiththiyarukku paiththiyam
The doctor himself is mad!
Ellorukkum paiththiyam
Everyone is mad!
Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Unakku penn ini yaar koduppaanga
Who will give you a bride anymore?
Male :Heem kodukka maattaangalo
Male: Mmm, won't they give one?
Female :Enakku anni yaar varuvaanga
Female: Who will come as my sister-in-law?
Unakku penn ini yaar koduppaanga
Who will give you a bride anymore?
Enakku anni yaar varuvaanga
Who will come as my sister-in-law?
Manam vittu ullathai sollaathu ponaa
If you don't open your heart and express what is inside,
Paiththiyam thelinjidumaa
Will your madness ever clear up?
Marunthaal gunamum aagidumaa
Can it be cured by medicine alone?
Aiyaiyaiya paiththiyam
Oh dear, oh dear, madness!
Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Male :Ooh
Male: Ooh!
Female :Paiththiyam pona kalyaanam aagum
Female: Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
Male :Ooh enakku kalyaanam kalyaanam
Male: Ooh, marriage for me, marriage!
Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum
If marriage happens, madness will go away.
Paiththiyam pona kalyaanam aagum
Once madness goes away, marriage can happen!
Edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Tell me what is true and what is a lie.
Annaa nee edhu nijam edhu poi sollu
Brother, tell me what is true and what is a lie!
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful duet features a sister teasing her brother about his mental state and his marriage prospects. She brings up the classic Tamil paradox: people say marriage cures madness, but nobody marries off a madman until he is cured. She humorously questions if his madness is caused by love sorrow over a city girl or a village girl, or simply obsession with achieving his ambitions. She jestingly concludes that everyone—from father to doctor—has lost their mind.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Paradox / Catch-22 Logic
“Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam pogum / Paiththiyam ponaa kalyaanam aagum”
Presents a famous circular dilemma in Tamil folk wisdom where marriage requires sanity, yet sanity is said to require marriage.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Aiyaiyaa appaavukku paiththiyam / Vaiththiyarukku paiththiyam / Ellorukkum paiththiyam”
Repeated end rhymes using the suffix 'paiththiyam' to create rhythmic humor.
Monaibham (Initial Alliteration / Contrast)
“Pattikaattu pen... / Pattanaththu pennai...”
Contrasting two opposing concepts (Pattikaattu - village vs Pattanaththu - city) starting with similar phonetic sounds.
Did you know?
Trivia
The famous proverb 'Kalyaanam aanaa paiththiyam therum, paiththiyam thernthaa kalyaanam aagum' is a classic Tamil Catch-22 phrase often referenced in literature and cinema to highlight circular logic.
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