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Oru Thalai Ragam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

En Kathai Mudiyum Neram

From Oru Thalai Ragam · 1980

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. Rajendar
Movie name
Oru Thalai Ragam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
En kadhai mudiyum neram idhu
Enpathai sollum raagam idhu
En kadhai mudiyum neram idhu
Enpathai sollum raagam idhu
Anbinil vaazhum ullam idhu
Anaiyae illaa vellam idhu
Anbinil vaazhum ullam idhu
Anaiyae illaa vellam idhu
Idhayaththil ragasiyam irukkindrathu
Adhu idhazhinil piranthida thavikkindrathu
Ulagaththai en manam verukkindrathu
Adhil uravendru avalai ninaikindrathu
Ulagaththai en manam verukkindrathu
Adhil uravendru avalai ninaikindrathu
Bedhamai nirainthathu en vaazhvu
Adhil pedhaiyum varainthathu sila kodu
Piththendru sirippathu ull ninaivu
Adhan viththondru pottathu aval uravu
Piththendru sirippathu ull ninaivu
Adhan viththondru pottathu aval uravu
Uravugal valaranthathu enakkullae
Adhil pirivugal enbathu irukkaathae
Oliyaai therivathu verum kanavu
Adhan uruvaai erivathu en manathu
Oliyaai therivathu verum kanavu
Adhan uruvaai erivathu en manathu
Rayil payanaththin thunaiyaai aval vanthaal
Uyir payanaththin mudivaai aval nindraal
Thuyil ninaivinai marakkum vizhi thanthaal
Thuyar kadalinai padaikkum neer thanthaal
Thuyil ninaivinai marakkum vizhi thanthaal
Thuyar kadalinai padaikkum neer thanthaal
Rayil payanaththin thunaiyaai aval vanthaal
Uyir payanaththin mudivaai aval nindraal
This is the time my story comes to an end,
and this is the melody that tells it.
This is the time my story comes to an end,
and this is the melody that tells it.
This is a heart that lives on love,
a flood with no dam to hold it back.
This is a heart that lives on love,
a flood with no dam to hold it back.
There is a secret in my heart,
struggling to be born on my lips.
My heart despises this world,
yet sees her as its only bond.
My heart despises this world,
yet sees her as its only bond.
My life was full of naive innocence,
and that girl drew some lines upon it.
My inner mind laughs at my madness,
and her bond was the seed that planted it.
My inner mind laughs at my madness,
and her bond was the seed that planted it.
Affection grew deep within me,
where separation was never meant to be.
What appears as light is only a dream,
and what burns in its shape is my heart.
What appears as light is only a dream,
and what burns in its shape is my heart.
She came as a companion on a train journey,
and stood as the end of my life's journey.
She gave me eyes that forgot all thought of sleep,
she gave me tears that create an ocean of grief.
She gave me eyes that forgot all thought of sleep,
she gave me tears that create an ocean of grief.
She came as a companion on a train journey,
and stood as the end of my life's journey.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the deep pain of unrequited love and the emotional climax of a young man's life journey. The protagonist reflects on his life story coming to a sad conclusion, describing his heart as a flood of love uncontained by any barrier. He struggles with unexpressed feelings—a secret he could never voice to his beloved. The girl he met casually during a train journey became the central force of his existence, but the heartbreak transformed his affection into unbearable grief and sleepless despair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Anaiyae illaa vellam idhu”

Love is compared to an uncontainable flood ('Anaiyae illaa vellam') and grief to an expansive ocean ('Thuyar kadal').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Thuyil ninaivinai marakkum vizhi thanthaal / Thuyar kadalinai padaikkum neer thanthaal”

Matching initial consonants 'Thuy' in consecutive lines ('Thuyil' and 'Thuyar') creating rhythmic symmetry.

Contrast / Parallelism

“Rayil payanaththin thunaiyaai aval vanthaal / Uyir payanaththin mudivaai aval nindraal”

Contrasting a temporary physical train journey ('Rayil payanam') with the ultimate end of life's journey ('Uyir payanam').

Did you know?

Trivia

Oru Thalai Ragam (1980) was a blockbuster cult romantic tragedy that established T. Rajendar as a multi-talented force in Tamil cinema, serving as composer, lyricist, and writer. Sung by legendary playback singer T. M. Soundararajan, this song remains an iconic anthem for unrequited love in Tamil pop culture.

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