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Lyrics & meaning

En Thaayenum Kovilai

From Aranmanai Kili · 1993

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Aranmanai Kili1993

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Enn thaayennum kovilai{ The temple that is my mother
Kaakka maranthittaI forgot to protect,
Paaviyadi kiliyae..I am a sinner, oh parrot..
Enn vaayum vairaiyumMy mouth and stomach
pottri valarthittaShe nurtured and raised with care,
Paaviyadi kiliyae..} (2)I am a sinner, oh parrot..} (2)
Male
Enna thottaalum paarthaalumEven if someone touches or looks at me,
Thoshamadi kiliyaeIt brings a curse, oh parrot.
Enakku ezhezhu jenmathilumFor me, across seven lifetimes,
Motcham illai kiliyaeThere is no salvation, oh parrot.
Male
Enn thaayennum kovilaiThe temple that is my mother
Kaakka maranthittaI forgot to protect,
Paaviyadi kiliyae..I am a sinner, oh parrot..
Enn vaayum vairaiyumMy mouth and stomach
pottri valarthittaShe nurtured and raised with care,
Paaviyadi kiliyae…I am a sinner, oh parrot…
Male
{Buththimathi sollayilae{When she gave me good counsel,
Thatti sendra paaviyadiI brushed it off and walked away, a sinner.
Vittuvittu ponapinnaeNow that she has departed and left me,
Veguthu enn aaviyadi} (2)My soul burns within me, dear} (2)
Male
Ododi paadupattenI ran around and worked endlessly
Naalellaam yaar yaarkkoDay in and day out for random strangers,
Seraamal ponathadiIt never came to any good,
Serththathu thaayaarkkoDid I ever gather anything for my mother?
Male
Peththa manamA mother's loving heart,
Ennavendru thonaliyaeI failed to comprehend its true value.
Pogaiyilae sollivittu pogaliyaeWhen leaving, she didn't even say goodbye.
Ini aatridavum thettridavumTo comfort and soothe me now,
Annai pola yaaruWho else is there like a mother?
Male
Enn thaayennum kovilaiThe temple that is my mother
Kaakka maranthittaI forgot to protect,
Paaviyadi kiliyae..I am a sinner, oh parrot..
Enn vaayum vairaiyumMy mouth and stomach
pottri valarthittaShe nurtured and raised with care,
Paaviyadi kiliyae…I am a sinner, oh parrot…
Male
{Than vayira pattini pottu{By starving her own stomach,
Enn uyira valaththavalaeShe nourished my life,
Thannanthaniyaa irunthuStaying all alone,
Enna karai serththavalae} (2)She guided me safely to the shore} (2)
Male
Noyaalae naan paduththaWhen I lay sick,
Nonbirukkum aaththaaMother would fast for my recovery.
Theemoondu theernthidumaaBy lighting her funeral pyre, can it settle
Namm kanakku aaththaaThe endless debt between us, mother?
Male
Peththavala thallivachaFor pushing away the mother who gave me life,
PaavaththukkaeFor that terrible sin,
Pakkamvanthu kollivaikka koodaliyaeI couldn't even stand beside her to perform the final rites.
Ennai aatridavum thettridavumTo comfort and soothe me now,
Annai pola yaaruWho else is there like a mother?
Male
Enn thaayennum kovilaiThe temple that is my mother
Kaakka maranthittaI forgot to protect,
Paaviyadi kiliyae..I am a sinner, oh parrot..
Enn vaayum vairaiyumMy mouth and stomach
pottri valarthittaShe nurtured and raised with care,
Paaviyadi kiliyae….I am a sinner, oh parrot….
Male
{Enna thottaalum paarthaalum{Even if someone touches or looks at me,
Thoshamadi kiliyaeIt brings a curse, oh parrot.
Enakku ezhezhu jenmathilumFor me, across seven lifetimes,
Motcham illai kiliyae} (2)There is no salvation, oh parrot} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a heart-wrenching lamentation from the film 'Aranmanai Kili' expressing agonizing guilt and remorse over neglecting one's mother. The protagonist compares his mother to a sacred temple and laments that despite her starving herself and making endless sacrifices to raise him, he failed to care for her in her old age or be there to perform her final rites.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Enn thaayennum kovilai

Compares the mother to a holy temple ('Enn thaayennum kovilai'), establishing her divine, worship-worthy status.

Apostrophe (Munnilai Paraval)

Paaviyadi kiliyae..

Addressing a parrot ('kiliyae') as a poetic confidante to express grief and confess moral guilt.

Hyperbole & Cultural Allusion

Enakku ezhezhu jenmathilum Motcham illai kiliyae

Refers to the concept of 'seven births' (ezhezhu jenmam) to exaggerate the magnitude of guilt, claiming that no salvation is possible even across seven lifetimes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Aranmanai Kili (1993) was written, directed, and produced by Rajkiran, featuring music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The soundtrack became a massive hit in rural Tamil Nadu, with this song highlighting themes of maternal love, filial regret, and repentance.

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