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Ilaiyavan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

En Jeevanin

From Ilaiyavan · 2000

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ilaiyavan
Movie release year
2000
Lyrics added on
13 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
Pon veenai theru mannil veezha
Naan viduvaeno
Unakkaaga uyir pogum podhilum
Varuvaeno
Dhevadhai un vaasalae sannidhi
Kaadhalil kannai moodinaal nimmadhi
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
Aahaahaa… ohohoho… aahaahaa…
Kayal vizhiyinil yenai oru murai
Azhaithidu thaenae
Puyal mazhaiyinil nanaigira
Udamberiyudhu maanae
Idhu varaiyinil mana kadhavinai
Adaithadhu podhum
Anu anuvena oru manadhinai
Udaithadhu podhum
Ennai enni vaazhavillai
Unnai enni vaazhgiren
Unnai meendum vaazha vaikka
Vaazhum podhae saagiren
Ilai udhirndhu pogalaam
Vasantham meendum thondralaam
Kaalam maarum podhu
Neeyum maara koodaadhaa
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
Aahaa aahaa aahaa aahaa
Ilamaiyil oru azhagiya malar
Karugidalaamaa
Udalodu uyir mezhugena
Dhinam urugidalaamaa
Pazhamaiyai udai
Pudhumaigal padai
Ezhundhiru pennae
Siraiyinai vidu sudhandhiramodu
Parandhidu kannae
Naetru pona thaaliyodu
Vaazhkkai ellaam ponadhaa
Vaeru thaali vaeru maalai
Dhosham ingae aanadhaa
Meendum maalai soodalaam
Naalai neeyum vaazhalaam
Kaadhal illaa jeevan
Indha mannil engunduuu
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
Pon veenai theru mannil veezha
Naan viduvaeno
Unakkaaga uyir pogum podhilum
Varuvaeno
Dhevadhai un vaasalae sannidhi
Kaadhalil kannai moodinaal nimmadhi
En jeevanin paadalai keladi
En pechilum moochilum neeyadi
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Should a golden veena fall into the street dust,
would I ever allow it?
Even if it costs my life for your sake,
wouldn't I come for you?
O angel, your doorway is a sacred shrine.
Closing my eyes in love brings peace.
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Aahaaha… Ohohoho… Aahaaha…
With your fish-shaped eyes, just once,
call out to me, my sweetheart.
Though drenched in this stormy rain,
my body burns with longing, my dear.
Closing the door of your heart
until now is enough.
Breaking a tender heart piece by piece,
atom by atom, is enough.
I do not live thinking of myself;
I live only thinking of you.
To make you live your life again,
I am dying every moment while I live.
Leaves may wither and fall,
yet spring can blossom again.
When time itself is changing,
can you not change as well?
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Aaha aaha aaha aaha
In the days of youth, should a beautiful flower
wither and scorch away?
Like wax melting away,
should your body and soul melt every day?
Break the old traditions,
create new beginnings,
rise up, young woman!
Break out of this prison, and with freedom,
fly high, my darling!
Just because the thali (sacred wedding thread) was lost yesterday,
has your whole life come to an end?
Has wearing another thali and another garland
become a sin here?
You can wear a wedding garland again,
you can live happily tomorrow.
A life without love—
where does such a soul exist on this earth?
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Should a golden veena fall into the street dust,
would I ever allow it?
Even if it costs my life for your sake,
wouldn't I come for you?
O angel, your doorway is a sacred shrine.
Closing my eyes in love brings peace.
Listen to the song of my soul, my dear.
You are in my words and in my breath.
Male
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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