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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Kangal Endrum

From Tripura Sundari · 1978

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Tripura Sundari1978

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En kangal endrum un meethuMy eyes are always fixed on you
Un kangal nooru penn meethuWhile your eyes are on a hundred other women
Engu sendraalum enna seithaalumWherever you go, whatever you do
Unnai vidamaatten….I will never let you go...
Female
En kangal endrum un meethuMy eyes are always fixed on you
Female
Yaanaigalai madakkum maathargalil oruththiOne among the women who can tame wild elephants
paadugindraal araiyilae ennaalumIs singing inside her room every single day
Kaalam varum varaikkum kaaththirunthaalShe waited patiently until the right time arrived
Mudivil vanthuvittaal arugilae annaalilAnd in the end, she has arrived close to you on that destined day
Female
Mannan thannai penthaanae niyaayam kettaalWas it not a woman who stood up and demanded justice from the king himself?
Mannan thannai penthaanae niyaayam kettaalWas it not a woman who stood up and demanded justice from the king himself?
Unnai maranthu sendru pirintha ullam purinthathaaDid you comprehend the heart that parted after trying to forget you?
Aval ezhunthu vanthu thudiththa nindraal therinthathaaDid you realize when she rose up and stood trembling with rage?
Female
En kangal endrum un meethuMy eyes are always fixed on you
Female
Aadaigalai piriththu aasaigalai mudiththuStripping clothes away and ending desires
Maathargalai virattalaam un polaeMen like you may torment and chase women away
Paavigalai mudiththa devathaigal pirappuYet the incarnation of goddesses who destroy sinners
Ippozhuthum nadakkalaam thannaalae….Can happen naturally even in the present time...
Female
Sollum saethi theeyaaga parakkum endruSaying that the news will spread like flying fire
Sollum saethi theeyaaga parakkum endruSaying that the news will spread like flying fire
Andru oru puraththai paarththa kangal allavaaAre these not the eyes that witnessed the city in those ancient times?
Indru thiripuraththai eriththa kangal paaraadaaWon't the eyes that burned down Tripura be celebrated today?
Female
En kangal endrum un meethuMy eyes are always fixed on you
Un kangal nooru penn meethuWhile your eyes are on a hundred other women
Engu sendraalum enna seithaalumWherever you go, whatever you do
Unnai vidamaatten….I will never let you go...
Female
En kangal endrum un meethuMy eyes are always fixed on you
Un kangal nooru penn meethu….While your eyes are on a hundred other women...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This intense track expresses a woman's unwavering vigilance, warning, and righteous anger toward a philandering man. She reminds him that despite his unfaithfulness and attempts to mistreat women, female power and justice cannot be suppressed forever. She draws parallels to historical and mythological figures, warning him that her eyes will continually track his every move. By referencing epic tales such as Kannagi demanding justice from the Pandyan King and the mythological legend of Tripura Sundari burning down cities of evil, the song transitions from a personal grievance into a grand assertion of feminine power and retribution against moral transgressors.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Aadaigalai piriththu aasaigalai mudiththu

Matching second consonants across lines to create rhythmic flow, seen in 'Aadaigalai' and 'Maathargalai'.

Monaai (Alliteration)

En kangal endrum un meethu

Repetition of initial vowels/consonants in 'En', 'endrum', creating internal rhythm.

Allusion (Mythological and Literary)

Mannan thannai penthaanae niyaayam kettaal

Reference to Kannagi demanding justice from King Nedunchezhiyan ('Mannan thannai penthaanae niyaayam kettaal') and Goddess Tripura Sundari burning the three cities ('Indru thiripuraththai eriththa kangal').

Did you know?

Trivia

The song from the 1978 film 'Tripura Sundari' features iconic lyrics by Kannadasan set to music by Ilayaraja. sung brilliantly by S. Janaki, the track combines classical Tamil poetic imagery with dramatic cinematic themes of feminine vengeance and divine power.

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