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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Anbe Anbe

From Unnai Thedi Varuven · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
S. Janaki, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Unnai Thedi Varuven1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En anbe anbeMy love, my love
En manam un vasamMy heart is in your possession
Male :Nee sonnaal pothumMale: If you just say the word, it's enough
Sammatham sammathamConsent, consent
Female
Un kadhal maligaiYour palace of love
Naan allavo…oo….Am I not that... oo...
Male :Un raga maaligaiMale: Your palace of musical melodies
Naan allavo….oo…..Am I not that... oo...
Female
En anbe anbeMy love, my love
En manam un vasamMy heart is in your possession
Male :Nee sonnaal pothumMale: If you just say the word, it's enough
Sammatham sammathamConsent, consent
Female
Poompaavaai manam simmaasanam mannamaeThis flower-like maiden's heart is your throne, my king
Idazhgal poonthaen tharum pirunthaavanam kannanaeHer lips offering flower honey make a Vrindavan, my Krishna
Male :Un piraemaayanam paaraayanam seigiraenMale: I devoutly chant your epic of love
Dhinamum kadhal kili geethaanjali solgiraenEvery day, as a love-bird, I offer a musical tribute
Female
Kaamaasthiram nee podaWhen you shoot the arrow of desire
Romaanjanam naan kaanaSo that I experience goosebumps of joy
Male :Chanthirothayam neeyaagaMale: As you shine like the rising moon
Sorkkalayam naan kaanaSo that I behold a temple of heavenly bliss
Female
Kannaa un kai vannamOh Krishna, the touch of your hands
Kaanaatha vaipogamIs an unseen, divine celebration
Male :Anbe un singaaram azhagaana sriraagamMale: Love, your adornment is a beautiful Sriragam raga
Female :Oo…..anbe anbe anbe vaa….Female: Oh... my love, my love, my love, come...
Male
En anbe anbeMy love, my love
En manam un vasamMy heart is in your possession
Female :Nee sonnaal pothumFemale: If you just say the word, it's enough
Sammatham sammathamConsent, consent
Male
Nee vaaraamalae pozhuthaayiram ponathuWithout you arriving, thousands of moments passed away
Azhagae pala raaththiri sivaraaththiri aanathuOh beautiful one, many nights turned into sleepless Shivaratri nights
Female :Vaa naan paaduven neelaampari keerththanamFemale: Come, I will sing a hymn in Neelambari raga
Iravil thoongaathathu neengaathathu pen manamWithout sleep at night, a woman's longing heart never strays
Male
Un male oru kannaagaKeeping my watchful eye on you
Unnodu naan onnaagaBecoming united as one with you
Female :Ennaagumo en paaduFemale: What will happen to my state?
Yaedhaagumo penn paaduWhat will become of a woman's predicament?
Male
medhuvaaga thottaalumEven if touched gently
Padhamaaga pattalumEven if caressed softly
Female :Pudhu meani nogaathoFemale: Will this tender body feel pain?
Punnaagi pogaathoWill it become wounded?
Male :Oo…..anbe anbe anbe vaa….Male: Oh... my love, my love, my love, come...
Female
En anbe anbeMy love, my love
En manam un vasamMy heart is in your possession
Male :Nee sonnaal pothumMale: If you just say the word, it's enough
Sammatham sammathamConsent, consent
Female
Un kadhal maligaiYour palace of love
Naan allavo…oo….Am I not that... oo...
Male :Un raga maaligaiMale: Your palace of musical melodies
Naan allavo….oo…..Am I not that... oo...
Female
En anbe anbeMy love, my love
En manam un vasamMy heart is in your possession
Male :Nee sonnaal pothumMale: If you just say the word, it's enough
Sammatham sammathamConsent, consent

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

En Anbe Anbe is a romantic duet expressing deep romantic adoration, passion, and emotional surrender between two lovers. The lovers metaphorically elevate their affection into sacred and artistic realms, comparing their bond to palaces of love, ragas, Krishna's Vrindavan, and heavenly sanctuaries. Through lyrical imagery, they convey the yearning felt during separation and the delicate intimacy of union.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Un kadhal maligai / Naan allavo

The speaker compares herself directly to a 'palace of love' (kadhal maligai) and 'palace of melody' (raga maaligai).

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Kaamaasthiram nee poda / Romaanjanam naan kaana

The second consonant sound matches across lines, providing acoustic harmony ('ma' in Kaamaasthiram and Romaanjanam).

Alliteration (Moonaai)

Poompaavaai manam simmaasanam mannamae

The repetition of the 'P' sound at the beginning of words creates rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song is featured in the 1985 Tamil film 'Unnai Thedi Varuven', directed by C. V. Sridhar. Lyricist Gangai Amaran weaves classical musical ragas like Sriragam and Neelambari into the lyrics to emphasize the classical aesthetic of love.

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