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Enna Petha Raasa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ellorakkum Nallavana

From Enna Petha Raasa · 1989

Lyricist
Ilaiyaraja
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Enna Petha Raasa
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
18 Dec 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaehae yae…..yaehae yae…..
Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae ehae
Yaehae yaehae yaehae yaehae ehae hae
Ellaarukkum nallavanaa pera vaanganum
Antha pera vachchu pinnaala nee oora vaanganum
Padum paatta paaru naatta paaru veetta paaru road-ta paaru
Sinthichchu paaththidanum
Nalla singaara thambigalaa
Yaarum thottaalae suttupudum
Ilam minsaara kambigalaa
Ellaarukkum nallavanaa pera vaanganum
Antha pera vachchu pinnaala nee oora vaanganum
………………
Enna peththa raasa endru
Unnai konjum thaaya paaru
Kai mulaichchu kaal mulaichchu
Pesum dheivam edhu veru
Raththam madha paalaakki
Thanthathu thaaithaandaa
Peththu ava podaatti
Illaiyael saeithaandaa
Kandapadi thaayai pesum
Kaavaaliyum ulla ooru
Antha vazhi neeyum ponaal
Repair aagum untha peru
Paatta paaru naatta paaru veetta paaru road-ta paaru
Sinthichchu paaththidanum
Nalla singaara thambigalaa
Yaarum thottaalae suttupudum
Ilam minsaara kambigalaa
Ellaarukkum nallavanaa pera vaanganum
Antha pera vachchu pinnaala nee oora vaanganum
………………
Kuppai mela kuppaiyaththaan
Kottaathae nee ooru naarum
Thappu mela thappu senjaa
Thaayaththaanae poyi serum
Paaraiyil neer odum
Yaeru mattum yaeraathu
Paasam vitta perodum
Sonna sollu yaeraathu
Puththi solli eththanaiyo
Paadiputtaen nooru nooru
Paarai pola mandaiyila
Yaeralaiyae bore-u bore-u
Paatta paaru naatta paaru veetta paaru road-ta paaru
Sinthichchu paaththidanum
Nalla singaara thambigalaa
Yaarum thottaalae suttupudum
Ilam minsaara kambigalaa
Ellaarukkum nallavanaa pera vaanganum
Antha pera vachchu pinnaala nee oora vaanganum
Hey hey... hey hey...
Hey hey hey hey hey
Hey hey hey hey hey hey
You must earn a good name with everyone,
and with that name, you should later win over the whole town!
Look at the suffering, look at the country, look at your home, look at the street!
You must stop and think about it,
my fine, spirited young brothers!
You who can shock anyone who dares touch you,
my vibrant young electric wires!
You must earn a good name with everyone,
and with that name, you should later win over the whole town!
...
Calling you her precious little king,
look at the mother who dotes on you!
With hands and legs grown on it,
what other living god is there?
Turning her own blood into milk,
it was your mother who fed you.
If she hadn't given birth and raised you,
there would be no child here today!
There are rogues in this town
who speak disrespectfully to their mothers.
If you walk down that same path,
your good name will be ruined!
Look at the suffering, look at the country, look at your home, look at the street!
You must stop and think about it,
my fine, spirited young brothers!
You who can shock anyone who dares touch you,
my vibrant young electric wires!
You must earn a good name with everyone,
and with that name, you should later win over the whole town!
...
Don't keep dumping garbage upon garbage,
or the entire town will begin to stink.
If you keep committing mistake after mistake,
the blame will only fall upon your mother!
Water may flow over a hard rock,
but a plough cannot till through it.
For people who have lost all love and feeling,
good advice will never sink in.
To share wisdom and teach good sense,
I have sung hundreds and hundreds of songs.
Yet into minds as hard as stone,
it never enters—what a tiresome struggle!
Look at the suffering, look at the country, look at your home, look at the street!
You must stop and think about it,
my fine, spirited young brothers!
You who can shock anyone who dares touch you,
my vibrant young electric wires!
You must earn a good name with everyone,
and with that name, you should later win over the whole town!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This energetic philosophical song serves as moral guidance directed towards young men. The narrator advises the youth to build an honorable character, respect their mothers, and live a life that earns the trust and love of their community. It highlights the irreplaceable sacrifices of a mother, urging youngsters not to follow bad company or commit repeated mistakes that bring shame to their parents. Using vivid everyday metaphors—such as electric wires, rocks, and waste management—the song cautions against stubbornness and disregard for wisdom. It encourages thoughtful reflection on the state of society, urging young people to harness their high energy constructively and maintain a good name that endures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Ilam minsaara kambigalaa

Compares energetic young men to 'ilam minsaara kambigalaa' (young electric wires) that burn anyone who touches them.

Metaphor (Uruvakam)

Pesum dheivam edhu veru

Refers to mother as 'pesum dheivam' (a speaking/living deity).

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhukai)

Padum paatta paaru naatta paaru veetta paaru road-ta paaru

Rhyming of second letters across adjacent lines ('Paatta', 'Sinthichchu').

Metaphor (Uruvakam)

Paarai pola mandaiyila

Compares a stubborn and unreceptive mind to a rock ('paarai').

Keep listening

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From the same album

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View album

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