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Lyrics & meaning

En Kann Irandum

From Yaarukkum Vetkamillai · 1975

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
G. K. Venkatesh
Details
Yaarukkum Vetkamillai1975

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
En kannirandum seidha paavam paarthathuThe sin my two eyes committed was looking at him.
En kani idhazhgal seidha paavam sirithathuThe sin my sweet lips committed was smiling.
En idhayam angu seidha paavam ninaithathuThe sin my heart committed there was thinking of him.
Andha iraivan angu seidha paavam inaithadhuThe sin that God committed there was joining us together.
Female
En kannirandum seidha paavam paarthathuThe sin my two eyes committed was looking at him.
En kani idhazhgal seidha paavam sirithathuThe sin my sweet lips committed was smiling.
En idhayam angu seidha paavam ninaithathuThe sin my heart committed there was thinking of him.
Andha iraivan angu seidha paavam inaithadhuThe sin that God committed there was joining us together.
Female
Aasai konda siriya ullam azhaithathuMy small, desire-filled heart called out.
Endrum adangi nindra penmai ullam maruthathuMy ever-modest womanly mind refused.
Female
Aasai konda siriya ullam azhaithathuMy small, desire-filled heart called out.
Endrum adangi nindra penmai ullam maruthathuMy ever-modest womanly mind refused.
Uravu kolla maalai ondru kettadhuIt asked for a garland to form a relationship.
Avan urudhi solla aanandhathil thilaithadhuWhen he gave his word, it revelled in bliss.
Female
En kannirandum seidha paavam paarthathuThe sin my two eyes committed was looking at him.
En kani idhazhgal seidha paavam sirithathuThe sin my sweet lips committed was smiling.
En idhayam angu seidha paavam ninaithathuThe sin my heart committed there was thinking of him.
Andha iraivan angu seidha paavam inaithadhuThe sin that God committed there was joining us together.
Female
Aalayathil kaigal seidha sammadhamIn the temple, hands expressed consent.
Avan anbu vaitha modhirathin sangamamIt was a union sealed with the ring of his love.
Female
Aalayathil kaigal seidha sammadhamIn the temple, hands expressed consent.
Avan anbu vaitha modhirathin sangamamIt was a union sealed with the ring of his love.
Manaivi endru naan anaindha kungumamI embraced the sacred vermilion as a wife.
Manaivi endru naan anaindha kungumamI embraced the sacred vermilion as a wife.
En maanam poga vandha serndha mangalamIt became an auspicious union that arrived only to take away my dignity.
En maanam poga vandha serndha mangalamIt became an auspicious union that arrived only to take away my dignity.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses a woman's tragic reflection on her past love and marriage. Framed through the lens of deep regret, she views every step of her romance—looking, smiling, longing, and even God's divine act of uniting them—as fateful 'sins' (paavam) that ultimately led to her undoing. Kannadasan brilliantly employs tragic irony by contrasting holy marital rites such as temple vows, rings, and auspicious vermilion with the agonizing loss of her self-respect and honor.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Irony (முரண்)

En maanam poga vandha serndha mangalam

The poet uses tragic irony by categorizing innocent acts of love and divine union as 'paavam' (sin), and calling the marriage an auspicious union ('mangalam') that resulted in losing dignity ('maanam poga').

Metaphor (உவமை / உருவகம்)

En kani idhazhgal seidha paavam sirithathu

'Kani idhazhgal' compares lips to sweet fruit, conveying warmth and innocence.

Anaphora and Structural Parallelism (அடுக்குத் தொடர்)

En kannirandum seidha paavam paarthathu

The repetitive phrasing 'En ... seidha paavam' creates a rhythmic cadence and highlights a cascading sequence of personal regrets.

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Trivia

The film 'Yaarukkum Vetkamillai' (1975) was directed by Cho Ramaswamy and based on his famous political/social satire play of the same name. Maestro Ilaiyaraaja worked closely under composer G. K. Venkatesh as an assistant composer and guitarist during the creation of this soundtrack.

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