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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

En Peru Padayappa

From Padaiyappa · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Padaiyappa1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Singa nadai potuWalk with a lion's stride
Sigaraththil yeruClimb to the peak
Sigaraththai adainthaalOnce you reach the peak
Vaanaththil yeruClimb into the sky
Female
Hey who r u manHey, who are you, man?
Male
En peru padaiyappaMy name is Padaiyappa
Ilavatta nadaiyappaI walk with youthful vigor
Ennoda ullathellaamDeep within my heart, it's all
Ilansinga padaiyappaAn army of young lions
Male
Nenjil aaru padaiyappaIn my heart are six holy abodes
Pinaal nooru padaiyappaBehind me are a hundred armies
Yutham onnu varugayilWhen a war arrives
Paththu viral padaiyappaMy ten fingers become an army
Padaiyappa padaiyappa padaiyappaPadaiyappa, Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Male
Paasamulla manithanappaI am a man filled with affection
Naan meesavecha kuzhandaiyappaI am a child with a mustache
Endrum nalla thambi naan appaI am always a good brother
Nandri ulla aal appaI am a person of gratitude
Thaalaati valarththathuWhat rocked me to sleep and raised me
Tamizhnaatu mannappa…Is the soil of Tamil Nadu...
Male
Singa nadai pottuWalk with a lion's stride
Sigaraththil yeru…Climb to the peak...
Chorus :Padaiyappa padaiyappaChorus: Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Padaiyappa padaiyappaPadaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Male
En peru padaiyappaMy name is Padaiyappa
Ilavatta nadaiyappaI walk with youthful vigor
Ennoda ullathellaamDeep within my heart, it's all
Ilansinga padaiyappaAn army of young lions
Male
Nenjil aaru padaiyappaIn my heart are six holy abodes
Pinaal nooru padaiyappaBehind me are a hundred armies
Yutham onnu varugayilWhen a war arrives
Paththu viral padaiyappaMy ten fingers become an army
Male
Paasamulla manithanappaI am a man filled with affection
Naan meesavecha kuzhandaiyappaI am a child with a mustache
Male
Paththu maadi veedu kondaI don't need a ten-story house
Soththu sugam vendaamNor wealth and luxury
Pattangalai vaangi tharumI don't need positions
Pathaviyum vendaamThat confer grand titles
Male
Maalaigal idavendamNo need to place garlands on me
Thanga magudamum tharavendamNor give me a golden crown
Tamizhthaai naadu thanthaThe love bestowed by
Anbu pothumaeMother Tamil's land is enough
Male
En oru thuli viyarvaikkuFor every single drop of my sweat
Oru pavun thanga kaasuA sovereign gold coin
Koduththathu tamizh allava…Tamil gave me, didn't it?
En udal porul aaviyaiMy body, wealth, and soul
Thamizhukkum thamizharkkumTo the Tamil language and Tamil people
Koduppadhu murai allava…Isn't it right to dedicate?
Male
Singa nadai pottuWalk with a lion's stride
Sigaraththil yeru…Climb to the peak...
Chorus :Padaiyappa padaiyappaChorus: Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Male
En peru padaiyappaMy name is Padaiyappa
Ilavatta nadaiyappaI walk with youthful vigor
Ennoda ullathellaamDeep within my heart, it's all
Ilansinga padaiyappaAn army of young lions
Male
Nenjil aaru padaiyappaIn my heart are six holy abodes
Pinaal nooru padaiyappaBehind me are a hundred armies
Yutham onnu varugayilWhen a war arrives
Paththu viral padaiyappaMy ten fingers become an army
Padaiyappa padaiyappa padaiyappaPadaiyappa, Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Male
Paasamulla manithanappaI am a man filled with affection
Naan meesavecha kuzhandaiyappaI am a child with a mustache
Male
Unn kaiyai nanbiBelieving in your own hands
Uyarnthida paaruStrive to rise high
Unakkena ezhuthuWrite for yourself
Oru varalaaruA history of your own
Male
Unakkullae sakthi irukkuPower resides within you
Adhai usuppida vazhi paaruFind a way to awaken it
Subha velai naalaiTomorrow at an auspicious time
Maalai soodiduWear the garland of victory
Male
Ada evanukku enna gunamHey, who possesses what character
Evanukku enna balamWho possesses what strength
Kandathillai oruvarumaeNo one has ever truly seen
Oru vithaikul adaipattaConfined inside a single seed
Aalamaram kan vizhikkumA grand banyan tree will wake up
Adhuvarai poru manamae….Until then, be patient, my heart...
Male
Singa nadai pottuWalk with a lion's stride
Sigaraththil yeruClimb to the peak
Sigaraththai adainthaalOnce you reach the peak
Vaanaththil yeru…Climb into the sky...
Chorus :Padaiyappa padaiyappaChorus: Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Padaiyappa padaiyappaPadaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Male
En peru padaiyappaMy name is Padaiyappa
Ilavatta nadaiyappaI walk with youthful vigor
Ennoda ullathellaamDeep within my heart, it's all
Ilansinga padaiyappaAn army of young lions
Chorus :Padaiyappa padaiyappa padaiyappaChorus: Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Male
Nenjil aaru padaiyappaIn my heart are six holy abodes
Pinaal nooru padaiyappaBehind me are a hundred armies
Yutham onnu varugayilWhen a war arrives
Paththu viral padaiyappaMy ten fingers become an army
Chorus :Padaiyappa padaiyappa padaiyappaChorus: Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa, Padaiyappa
Chorus
Paasamulla manithanappaI am a man filled with affection
Male :Naan meesavecha kuzhandaiyappaMale: I am a child with a mustache
Endrum nalla thambi naan appaI am always a good brother
Nandriulla aal appaI am a person of gratitude
Chorus :Thaalaati valarththathuChorus: What rocked me to sleep and raised me
Tamizhnaatu mannappa…Is the soil of Tamil Nadu...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song serves as the grand hero introduction for Rajinikanth's character in the blockbuster movie 'Padaiyappa' (1999). It sets a tone of majestic confidence combined with deep humility. The protagonist, Padaiyappa, describes himself as a self-reliant, affectionate man who carries the innocence of a child despite his adult stature. He rejects material luxuries like multi-story mansions, titles, and golden crowns, declaring that the love of the Tamil people and the soil of Tamil Nadu are more than enough reward for his labor. Beyond character establishment, the lyrics offer a motivational message to the listener. Vairamuthu weaves philosophical advice urging individuals to trust their own hard work, awaken their latent inner power, and remain patient during times of struggle—metaphorically comparing human potential to a majestic banyan tree waiting to burst forth from a tiny seed.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Singa nadai potu

Comparing a majestic walk to a lion's stride ('Singa nadai') to signify majesty, strength, and courage.

Oxymoron / Paradoxical Imagery

Naan meesavecha kuzhandaiyappa

'Meesavecha kuzhandaiyappa' (a child with a mustache) creates a vivid contrast between adult physical maturity and childlike innocence of heart.

Mōnai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Paththu maadi veedu konda / Pattangalai vaangi tharum

Matching initial consonant sounds in consecutive lines ('Paththu' and 'Pattangalai').

Extended Metaphor

Oru vithaikul adaipatta / Aalamaram kan vizhikkum

Comparing hidden human capability to a giant banyan tree dormant inside a small seed awaiting the right time to awaken.

Did you know?

Trivia

'En Peru Padaiyappa' was composed by A. R. Rahman and sung by legendary playback singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, whose voice became synonymous with Rajinikanth's hero introduction tracks. The line 'En oru thuli viyarvaikku oru pavun thanga kaasu koduththathu tamizh allava' directly addresses Rajinikanth's real-life fans, acknowledging their immense support and love over his multi-decade film career.

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