En Jeevanin
From Ilaiyavan · 2000
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ilaiyavan2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
| Pon veenai theru mannil veezha | Will I let a golden veena fall into the street dirt? |
| Naan viduvaeno | Would I allow that to happen? |
| Unakkaaga uyir pogum podhilum | Even if my life departs for your sake, |
| Varuvaeno | Will I not return? |
| Dhevadhai un vaasalae sannidhi | Oh goddess, your doorway is a sacred sanctum. |
| Kaadhalil kannai moodinaal nimmadhi | Closing one's eyes in love brings ultimate peace. |
| Male | |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Aahaahaa… ohohoho… aahaahaa… | Aahaahaa… ohohoho… aahaahaa… |
| Kayal vizhiyinil yenai oru murai | With your fish-like eyes, just once, |
| Azhaithidu thaenae | Call out to me, my sweet honey. |
| Puyal mazhaiyinil nanaigira | Soaked in the storm and rain, |
| Udamberiyudhu maanae | My body burns, my dear deer-like lady. |
| Male | |
| Idhu varaiyinil mana kadhavinai | Up to now, keeping the door of your heart closed, |
| Adaithadhu podhum | That is enough. |
| Anu anuvena oru manadhinai | Breaking a heart atom by atom, |
| Udaithadhu podhum | That is enough. |
| Male | |
| Ennai enni vaazhavillai | I am not living for my own sake; |
| Unnai enni vaazhgiren | I live only thinking of you. |
| Unnai meendum vaazha vaikka | To make you live happily again, |
| Vaazhum podhae saagiren | I am dying even while living. |
| Ilai udhirndhu pogalaam | Leaves may fall off from trees, |
| Vasantham meendum thondralaam | Yet spring can appear again. |
| Kaalam maarum podhu | When time changes, |
| Neeyum maara koodaadhaa | Should you not change as well? |
| Male | |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
| Male | |
| Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa | Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa |
| Ilamaiyil oru azhagiya malar | In youth, should a beautiful flower |
| Karugidalaamaa | Be allowed to wither away? |
| Udalodu uyir mezhugena | Like wax, should life and body |
| Dhinam urugidalaamaa | Melt away every single day? |
| Male | |
| Pazhamaiyai udai | Break the old regressive traditions! |
| Pudhumaigal padai | Create new pathways! |
| Ezhundhiru pennae | Arise, oh woman! |
| Siraiyinai vidu sudhandhiramodu | Escape your prison and with freedom, |
| Parandhidu kannae | Fly away, my beloved! |
| Male | |
| Naetru pona thaaliyodu | Just because yesterday's sacred thread is gone, |
| Vaazhkkai ellaam ponadhaa | Has your entire life come to an end? |
| Vaeru thaali vaeru maalai | Wearing another sacred thread and another garland, |
| Dhosham ingae aanadhaa | Has that become a sin here? |
| Meendum maalai soodalaam | You can adorn a garland once again, |
| Naalai neeyum vaazhalaam | You can live a new life tomorrow. |
| Kaadhal illaa jeevan | A life without love, |
| Indha mannil engunduuu | Where does it exist on this earth? |
| Male | |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
| Pon veenai theru mannil veezha | Will I let a golden veena fall into the street dirt? |
| Naan viduvaeno | Would I allow that to happen? |
| Unakkaaga uyir pogum podhilum | Even if my life departs for your sake, |
| Varuvaeno | Will I not return? |
| Dhevadhai un vaasalae sannidhi | Oh goddess, your doorway is a sacred sanctum. |
| Kaadhalil kannai moodinaal nimmadhi | Closing one's eyes in love brings ultimate peace. |
| Male | |
| En jeevanin paadalai keladi | Listen to the song of my life, my dear. |
| En pechilum moochilum neeyadi | You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear. |
என் ஜீவனின் பாடலை கேளடி
என் பேச்சிலும் மூச்சிலும் நீயடி
என் ஜீவனின் பாடலை கேளடி
என் பேச்சிலும் மூச்சிலும் நீயடி
பொன் வீணை தெரு மண்ணில் வீழ
நான் விடுவேனோ
உனக்காக உயிர் போகும் போதிலும்
வருவேனோ
தேவதை உன் வாசலே சன்னிதி
காதலில் கண்ணை மூடினால் நிம்மதி
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Will I let a golden veena fall into the street dirt?
Would I allow that to happen?
Even if my life departs for your sake,
Will I not return?
Oh goddess, your doorway is a sacred sanctum.
Closing one's eyes in love brings ultimate peace.
என் ஜீவனின் பாடலை கேளடி
என் பேச்சிலும் மூச்சிலும் நீயடி
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
ஆஹாஹா... ஓஹோஹோஹோ...
ஆஹாஹா.......
கயல் விழியினில் எனை ஒரு முறை
அழைத்திடு தேனே
புயல் மழையினில் நனைகிற
உடம்பெரியுது மானே
Aahaahaa… ohohoho… aahaahaa…
With your fish-like eyes, just once,
Call out to me, my sweet honey.
Soaked in the storm and rain,
My body burns, my dear deer-like lady.
இது வரையினில் மனக் கதவினை
அடைத்தது போதும்
அணு அணுவென ஒரு மனதினை
உடைத்தது போதும்
Up to now, keeping the door of your heart closed,
That is enough.
Breaking a heart atom by atom,
That is enough.
என்னை எண்ணி வாழவில்லை
உன்னை எண்ணி வாழ்கிறேன்
உன்னை மீண்டும் வாழ வைக்க
வாழும் போதே சாகிறேன்
இலை உதிர்ந்து போகலாம்
வசந்தம் மீண்டும் தோன்றலாம்
காலம் மாறும் போது
நீயும் மாறக் கூடாதா
I am not living for my own sake;
I live only thinking of you.
To make you live happily again,
I am dying even while living.
Leaves may fall off from trees,
Yet spring can appear again.
When time changes,
Should you not change as well?
என் ஜீவனின் பாடலை கேளடி
என் பேச்சிலும் மூச்சிலும் நீயடி
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
ஆஹா ஆஹா ஆஹா ஆஹா
இளமையில் ஒரு அழகிய மலர்
கருகிடலாமா
உடலோடு உயிர் மெழுகென
தினம் உருகிடலாமா
Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa
In youth, should a beautiful flower
Be allowed to wither away?
Like wax, should life and body
Melt away every single day?
பழமையை உடை
புதுமையை படை
எழுந்திரு பெண்ணே
சிறையினை விடு சுதந்திரமோடு
பறந்திடு கண்ணே
Break the old regressive traditions!
Create new pathways!
Arise, oh woman!
Escape your prison and with freedom,
Fly away, my beloved!
நேற்று போன தாலியோடு
வாழ்க்கை எல்லாம் போனதா
வேறு தாலி வேறு மாலை
தோஷம் இங்கே ஆனதா
மீண்டும் மாலை சூடலாம்
நாளை நீயும் வாழலாம்
காதல் இல்லா ஜீவன்
இந்த மண்ணில் எங்குண்டு
Just because yesterday's sacred thread is gone,
Has your entire life come to an end?
Wearing another sacred thread and another garland,
Has that become a sin here?
You can adorn a garland once again,
You can live a new life tomorrow.
A life without love,
Where does it exist on this earth?
என் ஜீவனின் பாடலை கேளடி
என் பேச்சிலும் மூச்சிலும் நீயடி
பொன் வீணை தெரு மண்ணில் வீழ
நான் விடுவேனோ
உனக்காக உயிர் போகும் போதிலும்
வருவேனோ
தேவதை உன் வாசலே சன்னிதி
காதலில் கண்ணை மூடினால் நிம்மதி
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Will I let a golden veena fall into the street dirt?
Would I allow that to happen?
Even if my life departs for your sake,
Will I not return?
Oh goddess, your doorway is a sacred sanctum.
Closing one's eyes in love brings ultimate peace.
என் ஜீவனின் பாடலை கேளடி
என் பேச்சிலும் மூச்சிலும் நீயடி
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Pon veenai theru mannil veezha
Will I let a golden veena fall into the street dirt?
Naan viduvaeno
Would I allow that to happen?
Unakkaaga uyir pogum podhilum
Even if my life departs for your sake,
Varuvaeno
Will I not return?
Dhevadhai un vaasalae sannidhi
Oh goddess, your doorway is a sacred sanctum.
Kaadhalil kannai moodinaal nimmadhi
Closing one's eyes in love brings ultimate peace.
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Aahaahaa… ohohoho… aahaahaa…
Aahaahaa… ohohoho… aahaahaa…
Kayal vizhiyinil yenai oru murai
With your fish-like eyes, just once,
Azhaithidu thaenae
Call out to me, my sweet honey.
Puyal mazhaiyinil nanaigira
Soaked in the storm and rain,
Udamberiyudhu maanae
My body burns, my dear deer-like lady.
Idhu varaiyinil mana kadhavinai
Up to now, keeping the door of your heart closed,
Adaithadhu podhum
That is enough.
Anu anuvena oru manadhinai
Breaking a heart atom by atom,
Udaithadhu podhum
That is enough.
Ennai enni vaazhavillai
I am not living for my own sake;
Unnai enni vaazhgiren
I live only thinking of you.
Unnai meendum vaazha vaikka
To make you live happily again,
Vaazhum podhae saagiren
I am dying even while living.
Ilai udhirndhu pogalaam
Leaves may fall off from trees,
Vasantham meendum thondralaam
Yet spring can appear again.
Kaalam maarum podhu
When time changes,
Neeyum maara koodaadhaa
Should you not change as well?
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa
Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa
Ilamaiyil oru azhagiya malar
In youth, should a beautiful flower
Karugidalaamaa
Be allowed to wither away?
Udalodu uyir mezhugena
Like wax, should life and body
Dhinam urugidalaamaa
Melt away every single day?
Pazhamaiyai udai
Break the old regressive traditions!
Pudhumaigal padai
Create new pathways!
Ezhundhiru pennae
Arise, oh woman!
Siraiyinai vidu sudhandhiramodu
Escape your prison and with freedom,
Parandhidu kannae
Fly away, my beloved!
Naetru pona thaaliyodu
Just because yesterday's sacred thread is gone,
Vaazhkkai ellaam ponadhaa
Has your entire life come to an end?
Vaeru thaali vaeru maalai
Wearing another sacred thread and another garland,
Dhosham ingae aanadhaa
Has that become a sin here?
Meendum maalai soodalaam
You can adorn a garland once again,
Naalai neeyum vaazhalaam
You can live a new life tomorrow.
Kaadhal illaa jeevan
A life without love,
Indha mannil engunduuu
Where does it exist on this earth?
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Pon veenai theru mannil veezha
Will I let a golden veena fall into the street dirt?
Naan viduvaeno
Would I allow that to happen?
Unakkaaga uyir pogum podhilum
Even if my life departs for your sake,
Varuvaeno
Will I not return?
Dhevadhai un vaasalae sannidhi
Oh goddess, your doorway is a sacred sanctum.
Kaadhalil kannai moodinaal nimmadhi
Closing one's eyes in love brings ultimate peace.
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
Listen to the song of my life, my dear.
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
You are in my speech and in my breath, my dear.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
En Jeevanin Paadalai is an emotionally charged and socially progressive Tamil song from the movie Ilaiyavan (2000), penned by veteran lyricist Pulamaipithan. The song features a male protagonist comforting a grieving woman who has suffered tragic loss and heartbreak, urging her to break free from rigid social taboos and embrace a second chance at love and life. The protagonist uses nature metaphors—such as fallen leaves yielding to spring—to argue that change and renewal are natural and necessary. Beyond romantic devotion, the lyrics carry a strong reformist message advocating for widow remarriage and women's liberation, encouraging the woman to cast off archaic norms ('pazhamaiyai udai') and live with freedom and dignity.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Pon veenai theru mannil veezha”
Compares the beloved lady to a precious golden musical instrument ('pon veenai'), highlighting her intrinsic worth and objecting to her being degraded by circumstances.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Udalodu uyir mezhugena / Dhinam urugidalaamaa”
Compares the ongoing mental pain and physical deterioration of grieving to wax melting away daily ('mezhugena urugidalaamaa').
Second-letter Rhyme (Edhugai)
“Pazhamaiyai udai / Pudhumaigal padai”
The second letters 'zha' and 'dhu' in adjacent lines create rhythmic Tamil poetic agreement ('Pazhamaiyai' / 'Pudhumaigal').
Traditional Epithets / Imagery (Kayal Vizhi)
“Kayal vizhiyinil yenai oru murai / Azhaithidu thaenae”
Uses classical Tamil Sangam poetic imagery describing eyes shaped like fish ('kayal vizhi') and comparing a woman to a gentle deer ('maane').
Did you know?
Trivia
The lyrics for this song were written by the renowned scholar and lyricist Pulamaipithan, famous for blending classical Tamil poetic sensibilities with progressive socio-political themes. The film 'Ilaiyavan' (2000) starred Sathyan and Kousalya, featuring music composed by Deva.
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