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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ellam Theriyum Enakku

From Puthir · 1986

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Puthir1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Thagathuga thagathuga thagathuga thagathugaRhythmic beats (Thagathuga thagathuga...)
Happy birth dayHappy birthday
Thagathuga thagathuga thagathuga thagathugaRhythmic beats (Thagathuga thagathuga...)
Happy birth dayHappy birthday
Male
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakku haei haeiHey girl, what do you want? Hey hey
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakkuHey girl, what do you want?
Male
Sandai podavum duet paadavumTo pick a fight and to sing a duet
Ila meaniyil isai meettavumTo play music on a youthful body
Kadhal seithu kaattavum aalai maattravumTo demonstrate love and to transform a person
Male
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakku haei haeiHey girl, what do you want? Hey hey
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakkuHey girl, what do you want?
Male
Ennai paarththu enna kettaaiWhat did you ask after looking at me?
Naanthaan antha mummoorththiI am that supreme Trinity itself!
Pennae neeyum bedhaithaanaeOh woman, aren't you just a simpleton?
Pillai sollum en keerththiEven a child speaks of my renown!
Male
Naan thumminaal sangeethamaeEven if I sneeze, it becomes sweet music!
Aagaayamum pinvaangumaeEven the sky itself will step back in awe!
Naan thumminaal sangeethamaeEven if I sneeze, it becomes sweet music!
Aagaayamum pinvaangumaeEven the sky itself will step back in awe!
Male
Pattini kidakkaiyilum panjamum pirakkumaeEven in starvation, a famine of sound will be born!
Sikkalil irunthu oru sangathi pirakkumaeOut of a complex situation, a musical nuance will emerge!
En gaanam ennaalum iniyathu ilaiyathuMy song is forever sweet and timelessly young
Viralai madakku thimirai adakku kiliyaeFold your fingers and tame your arrogance, my little parrot!
Male
Aattangal nillaathadiThe playful games will not cease, girl
Unthan aattangal sollaathadiYour antics will not work here, girl
Kalloorum mullai kodiA honeyed jasmine vine
Enthan kai pattaal thaangaathadiCannot withstand the touch of my hands, girl
Male
Yaar endru paar ippothuLook at who I am right now
Nee paai poduthal eppothuWhen are you laying out the bed mat?
Yaar endru paar ippothuLook at who I am right now
Nee paai poduthal eppothuWhen are you laying out the bed mat?
Penmaiyae nee unmai endraalOh womanhood, if you are true to your nature
Oru naanam vendumaeYou ought to possess modesty!
Male
Kanniyae nee karvam kondaalOh maiden, if you hold pride within you
Adhai theerkka vendumaeIt must be shattered and settled!
Anbodum panbodum vaazhgindraA woman living with love and fine character
Pen thannai dheivangal kondaadumaeWill be celebrated even by the gods!
Male
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakku haei haeiHey girl, what do you want? Hey hey
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakkuHey girl, what do you want?
Male
Sandai podavum duet paadavumTo pick a fight and to sing a duet
Ila meaniyil isai meettavumTo play music on a youthful body
Kadhal seithu kaattavum aalai maattravumTo demonstrate love and to transform a person
Male
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakku haei haeiHey girl, what do you want? Hey hey
Ellaam theriyum enakkuI know everything
Adi enna venum unakkuHey girl, what do you want?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic song from 'Puthir' (1986) portrays a confident, boastful protagonist asserting his supreme artistic skill, charm, and wisdom to a young woman. He hyperbolically claims that even his sneeze creates melody and that his glory is universally acknowledged. He playfully challenges her arrogance, urging her to embrace modesty and virtue while asserting his mastery in both love and conflict.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navirtchi Ani)

Naan thumminaal sangeethamae / Aagaayamum pinvaangumae

Exaggerating the protagonist's musical talent to mythological proportions where even a sneeze creates music.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naanthaan antha mummoorththi

Directly equating himself to the holy Trinity ('mummoorththi') to highlight supreme confidence.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Ellaam theriyum enakku / Adi enna venum unakku

Matching end sounds ('enakku' and 'unakku') creating a catchy, rhythmic structure.

Alliteration & Internal Rhyme (Monai / Edhugai)

Viralai madakku thimirai adakku kiliyae

Rhythmic pairing of words ending with matching cadence ('madakku' / 'adakku').

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. J. Yesudas, this song showcases Yesudas's rare upbeat, theatrical vocal style paired with Vairamuthu's playful Tamil lyrics in the mid-1980s.

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