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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Kangal Endrum

From Thiripura Sundari · 1978

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

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En kangal endrum un meedhuMy eyes are always on you
Un kangal nooru pen meedhuYour eyes are on a hundred other women
Engu sendraalum enna seidhaalumWherever you go, whatever you do
Unnai vida maattaen…I will not let you go...
Female
En kangal endrum un meedhuMy eyes are always on you
Female
Yanaigalai madakkum maadhargalilAmong women who can subdue even elephants
Oruthi aaduginraal sabaiyilae ennalumOne woman dances in the court every day
Kaalam varum varaikkum kaathirundhalShe waited patiently until the time arrived
Mudivil vandhu vittaal arugilae annaalilIn the end, she came close on that day
Mannan thannai pen thaanae nyaayam kaetppaalIs it not a woman who demands justice from the king himself?
Mannan thannai pen thaanae nyaayam kaetppaalIs it not a woman who demands justice from the king himself?
Unnai marandhu sendru vizhundha vellam purindhadhaaDid you understand the flood that flowed, forgetting you?
Aval ezhundhu vandhu thudithu nindraal therindhadhaa…Did you realize when she rose up and stood trembling with rage?
Female
En kangal endrum un meedhuMy eyes are always on you
Female
Aadaigalai virithu aasaigalai mudithuSpreading garments and fulfilling lustful desires
Maadhargalai virattalaam un polaeMen like you may torment and chase women
Paavigalai mudikka dhaevadhaigal pirappuGoddesses are born to destroy such sinners
Ippozhudhum nadakkalaam kannaalaeEven now, that can happen right before your eyes
Sollum saedhi theeyaaga parakkum indruThe news being delivered will spread like fire today
Sollum saedhi theeyaaga parakkum indruThe news being delivered will spread like fire today
Andru oru purathai paartha kangal allavaaAren't those the eyes that once looked at Tripura?
Indru thiruppurathai yeritha kangal paaradaa…Look today, those eyes have burned Tripura to ashes!
Female
En kangal endrum un meedhuMy eyes are always on you
Un kangal nooru pen meedhuYour eyes are on a hundred other women
Engu sendraalum enna seidhaalumWherever you go, whatever you do
Unnai vida maattaen…I will not let you go...
Female
En kangal endrum un meedhuMy eyes are always on you
Un kangal nooru pen meedhuYour eyes are on a hundred other women

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This powerful song from 'Thiripura Sundari' features a woman confronting a deceitful, womanizing man or ruler with intense vigilance and fierce warning. She asserts that while his eyes wander endlessly toward other women, her eyes remain fixed on him to hold him accountable. She references mythological and historical precedents where women demanded justice from kings and subdues powerful forces. Through vivid imagery of divine wrath, she warns him that goddesses descend to eliminate sinners. Her gaze, once gentle, now carries the destructive power of divine fire that burned Tripura, promising that retribution is swift and inescapable no matter where he tries to hide.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second letter rhyming)

En kangal endrum un meedhu / Un kangal nooru pen meedhu

Matching second consonants across lines create rhythmic harmony, seen in 'En kangal' and 'Un kangal'.

Monai (First letter rhyming)

Aadaigalai virithu aasaigalai mudithu

Assonance and initial letter matching seen in 'Aadaigalai' and 'Aasaigalai'.

Allusion / Mythological Metaphor

Andru oru purathai paartha kangal allavaa / Indru thiruppurathai yeritha kangal paaradaa…

Direct mythological reference to Lord Shiva burning Tripura (the three demon cities), used here as a metaphor for divine feminine wrath destroying evil.

Did you know?

Trivia

The mythological allusion to burning 'Tripura' directly ties into the film's title 'Thiripura Sundari' (1978), utilizing Kannadasan's signature style of combining classical puranic metaphors with intense dramatic confrontation in film song lyrics.

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