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Isaimozhi
Kasi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

En Mana Vaanil

From Kasi · 2001

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Kasi
Movie release year
2001
Lyrics added on
18 Aug 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
En mana vaanil siragai virikkum
Vanna paravaigalae
En kadhaiyai kettaal
Ungal siragugal thannaal moodikkollum
En mana vaanil siragai virikkum
Vanna paravaigalae
En kadhaiyai kettaal
Ungal siragugal thannaal moodikkollum
Kalakala kalavena thulli kudhiththidum
Chinnanjiru alaiyae
En nilaiyai kettaal
Ungal thullalum thaanaai adangividum
Ungalai pola siragugal virikka
Naanum aasai kondaen
Siragugal indri vaanaththil paranthu
Dhinam dhinam thirumbi vanathaen
Oru paattu pothumo eduththu kooravae
Idhayam thaangumo nee kooru
En mana vaanil siragai virikkum
Vanna paravaigalae
En kadhaiyai kettaal
Ungal siragugal thannaal moodikkollum
Kalakala kalavena thulli kudhiththidum
Chinnanjiru alaiyae
En nilaiyai kettaal
Ungal thullalum thaanaai adangividum
Iraivanidam varangal kettaen
Swarangalai avanae koduththaan
Manitharil…..idhai yaarum arivaaro
Naan paadum paadal ellaam
Naan patta paadae andro
Bhoomiyil…idhai yaarum unarvaaro
Manathilae maaligai vaasam
Kidaiththatho mara nizhal nesam
Edharkkum naan kalangiyathillai
Ingae raagam undu thaalam undu
Ennai naanae thattikolvaen
En nenjil unmaiyundu
Verenna vendum
En mana vaanil siragai virikkum
Vanna paravaigalae
En kadhaiyai kettaal
Ungal siragugal thannaal moodikkollum
Kalakala kalavena thulli kudhiththidum
Chinnanjiru alaiyae
En nilaiyai kettaal
Ungal thullalum thaanaai adangividum
Porulukkaai paattai sonnaal
Porulattra paattae aagum
Paadinaen adhai naalum naalum
Porulillaa paattaanaalum
Porulaiyae pottu selvaar
Pottrumae en nenjam nenjam
Manamullor ennai paarpaar
Manathinil avarai parppaen
Maranthidaa raagam idhu thaanae
Vaazhkkai enum maedaithanil
Nadagangal ooraayiram
Paarkka vaathaen naanum paarvai indri…ee…
En mana vaanil siragai virikkum
Vanna paravaigalae
En kadhaiyai kettaal
Ungal siragugal thannaal moodikkollum
Kalakala kalavena thulli kudhiththidum
Chinnanjiru alaiyae
En nilaiyai kettaal
Ungal thullalum thaanaai adangividum..
Spreading your wings in the sky of my mind,
O colourful birds,
if you hear my story,
your wings will close on their own.
Spreading your wings in the sky of my mind,
O colourful birds,
if you hear my story,
your wings will close on their own.
Leaping and dancing with cheerful laughter,
O tiny little waves,
if you hear of my plight,
your bounce will quietly calm down on its own.
To spread wings just like you,
I too longed with all my heart.
Flying across the sky without wings,
I returned back down day after day.
Is one song enough to tell it all?
Can a heart bear it? You tell me...
Spreading your wings in the sky of my mind,
O colourful birds,
if you hear my story,
your wings will close on their own.
Leaping and dancing with cheerful laughter,
O tiny little waves,
if you hear of my plight,
your bounce will quietly calm down on its own.
I asked God for blessings,
but He gave me musical notes instead.
Among humans... does anyone know this?
Every song that I sing,
isn't it just the hardship I have suffered?
On this earth... does anyone realise this?
In my mind, dreams of living in a palace,
yet what I received was the comfort of a tree's shade.
I have never lost heart over anything.
Here there is melody, here there is rhythm,
I encourage myself,
there is truth in my heart,
what more do I need?
Spreading your wings in the sky of my mind,
O colourful birds,
if you hear my story,
your wings will close on their own.
Leaping and dancing with cheerful laughter,
O tiny little waves,
if you hear of my plight,
your bounce will quietly calm down on its own.
If a song is sung only for money,
it becomes a song without meaning.
I sang it day after day,
and even if it was a song with no worth,
people would toss some money and move on.
My heart will always cherish them.
Those with kind hearts will look at me,
and with my heart, I will look at them.
Isn't this an unforgettable melody...?
On this stage called life,
there are a thousand dramas playing out.
I too came to watch, without any sight...
Spreading your wings in the sky of my mind,
O colourful birds,
if you hear my story,
your wings will close on their own.
Leaping and dancing with cheerful laughter,
O tiny little waves,
if you hear of my plight,
your bounce will quietly calm down on its own.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the inner anguish and resilient spirit of a visually impaired singer who addresses nature—birds and ocean waves—to share his deeply moving life story. He reflects on how his painful life experiences translate directly into his soulful music, viewing his artistic gift as a divine response to his prayers despite his physical blindness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamanai/Uvamai)

En mana vaanil siragai virikkum

'Mana vaanil' compares the speaker's mind to a vast sky where colorful birds fly.

Personification

Ungal siragugal thannaal moodikkollum

Addressing birds and waves as empathetic listeners who would fold their wings or cease bouncing upon hearing his grief.

Onomatopoeia (Erattai Kilavi)

Kalakala kalavena thulli kudhiththidum

'Kalakala kalavena' captures the rhythmic, joyful sound of rippling waves.

Wordplay / Polysemy (Sledai)

Naan paadum paadal ellaam / Naan patta paadae andro

Playing with 'paadal' (song) and 'patta paadu' (sufferings endured).

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Mu. Metha, 'En Mana Vaanil' is a landmark track from the film 'Kasi' (2001), starring Vikram as a blind village singer. The song features male and female renditions, notably sung by Hariharan and K.J. Yesudas in different album versions, and won critical acclaim for its deep emotional depth and poetic lyrical imagery.

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