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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Arumai Selvangal

From Vaazhkai · 1984

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Vaazhkai1984

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anbirukkum ullangalaeOh loving hearts
En arumai selvangalaeMy precious treasures
Inba chumai endhan tholilaeA joyful burden upon my shoulders
Enna kurai endhan vaazhvilaeWhat deficiency is there in my life?
Paasathil maalai katti podungalWeave a garland out of affection and put it on
Paattodu thaalam thatti aadungalClap to the rhythm with song and dance
Chorus
Hae paasathil maalai katti podungalHey, weave a garland out of affection and put it on
Paattodu thaalam thatti aadungalClap to the rhythm with song and dance
Male
Anbirukkum ullangalae selvangalaeOh loving hearts, my treasures
Male
Maalaiyil thendral varumIn the evening, the breeze will come
Vaasalai kootti vidumIt will sweep the doorway clean
Malligai pookkal vizhumJasmine flowers will fall
Vaasanai kolam idumCreating a fragrant kolam pattern
Female
Maalaiyil thendral varumIn the evening, the breeze will come
Vaasalai kootti vidumIt will sweep the doorway clean
Malligai pookkal vizhumJasmine flowers will fall
Vaasanai kolam idumCreating a fragrant kolam pattern
Male
Aaghaayam yeval seiyumThe sky will do my bidding
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :Engum aanandha chaaral vizhumMale: A shower of bliss will fall everywhere
Female :Haan haaFemale: Haan haa
Male
Pon naalenbadhu…What was spoken of as a golden day...
Innaal vandhadhu haaHas arrived today, haa!
Female :En vaanathilumFemale: In my sky too
Pon meen vandhadhuA golden fish/star has arrived
Male :En kannil inba eeramMale: Moisture of joy in my eyes
En nenjil anbu baaramA weight of love in my heart
En veedengum naal thorumThroughout my house every day
Sandhosha sangeethamIs happy music
Male
Anbirukkum ullangalae selvangalaeOh loving hearts, my treasures
Male
Kaigalum thaazhndhadhillaiMy hands have never bowed down
Kaalgalum sorndhadhillaiMy legs have never grown tired
Male
Yaasagam kettadhillaiI have never asked for alms
Boomiyai paarthadhillaiI have never looked down in shame
Female
Kaigalum thaazhndhadhillaiMy hands have never bowed down
Kaalgalum sorndhadhillaiMy legs have never grown tired
Yaasagam kettadhillaiI have never asked for alms
Boomiyai paarthadhillaiI have never looked down in shame
Male
Maanathil maanaanavanHe who stands highest in honor
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male :Thalai yaarukkum saayaadhavanMale: He whose head bows before no man
Female :AahaaFemale: Aahaa
Male
En aasaigalai…My desires...
En thevaigalai…My needs...
En vervaigalaalWith my own sweat
Naan theerkkindravanI fulfill them myself
Female
En nenjil undu thangamThere is gold inside my heart
En kannil undu vairamThere is a diamond in my eyes
Male :En raajaangam en veeduMale: My house is my kingdom
Ingundu simmaasanamThere is a throne right here
Male
Anbirukkum ullangalaeOh loving hearts
En arumai selvangalaeMy precious treasures
Inba chumai endhan tholilaeA joyful burden upon my shoulders
Enna kurai endhan vaazhvilaeWhat deficiency is there in my life?
Paasathil maalai katti podungalWeave a garland out of affection and put it on
Paattodu thaalam thatti aadungalClap to the rhythm with song and dance
Chorus
Hae paasathil maalai katti podungalHey, weave a garland out of affection and put it on
Paattodu thaalam thatti aadungalClap to the rhythm with song and dance
Male
Anbirukkum ullangalae selvangalaeOh loving hearts, my treasures

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song expresses profound happiness, family warmth, and self-respect. The protagonist looks at his loved ones as his true wealth and regards familial responsibilities not as a strain, but as a sweet burden ('inba chumai'). He reflects proudly on his life of hard work, noting that he has earned everything through his own sweat without compromising his dignity or begging from anyone. The song turns the humble home into a regal kingdom built on affection, hard work, and contentment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Anbirukkum ullangalae / En arumai selvangalae

The repetition of initial 'A' sound in 'Anbirukkum' (line 1) and 'Arumai' (line 2).

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

Maalaiyil thendral varum / Vaasalai kootti vidum / Malligai pookkal vizhum / Vaasanai kolam idum

Consistent rhyming endings in lines 10-13 with '-um' endings: 'varum', 'vidum', 'vizhum', 'idum'.

Oxymoron / Metaphor

Inba chumai endhan tholilae

'Inba chumai' (joyful burden) combines contrasting ideas of pleasure and burden to express fulfilling familial duties.

Imagery

Malligai pookkal vizhum / Vaasanai kolam idum

Poetic visual and sensory imagery of the evening breeze sweeping the doorway and jasmine blossoms creating a scented pattern.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Vaazhkai' (1984) starred Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan, Ambika, and Jaishankar. The film's musical score was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics written by renowned poet Pulamaipithan.

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