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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

En Thaayenum Kovilai

From Aranmanai Kili · 1993

Lyricist: Lyricist Not Known
Singer: Ilayaraja
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Aranmanai Kili
Movie release year: 1993
Lyrics added on: 9 Jun 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

{Enn thaayennum kovilai

Kaakka maranthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae..

Enn vaayum vairaiyum

pottri valarthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae..} (2)

Enna thottaalum paarthaalum

Thoshamadi kiliyae

Enakku ezhezhu jenmathilum

Motcham illai kiliyae

Enn thaayennum kovilai

Kaakka maranthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae..

Enn vaayum vairaiyum

pottri valarthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae…

{Buththimathi sollayilae

Thatti sendra paaviyadi

Vittuvittu ponapinnae

Veguthu enn aaviyadi} (2)

Ododi paadupatten

Naalellaam yaar yaarkko

Seraamal ponathadi

Serththathu thaayaarkko

Peththa manam

Ennavendru thonaliyae

Pogaiyilae sollivittu pogaliyae

Ini aatridavum thettridavum

Annai pola yaaru

Enn thaayennum kovilai

Kaakka maranthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae..

Enn vaayum vairaiyum

pottri valarthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae…

{Than vayira pattini pottu

Enn uyira valaththavalae

Thannanthaniyaa irunthu

Enna karai serththavalae} (2)

Noyaalae naan paduththa

Nonbirukkum aaththaa

Theemoondu theernthidumaa

Namm kanakku aaththaa

Peththavala thallivacha

Paavaththukkae

Pakkamvanthu kollivaikka koodaliyae

Ennai aatridavum thettridavum

Annai pola yaaru

Enn thaayennum kovilai

Kaakka maranthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae..

Enn vaayum vairaiyum

pottri valarthitta

Paaviyadi kiliyae….

{Enna thottaalum paarthaalum

Thoshamadi kiliyae

Enakku ezhezhu jenmathilum

Motcham illai kiliyae} (2)

The temple that was my mother,

I forgot to protect her;

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

She fed my mouth and belly

and raised me with loving care—

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

Even if someone touches or looks at me,

it brings a curse, oh parrot!

Even across seven lifetimes,

there is no salvation for me, oh parrot!

The temple that was my mother,

I forgot to protect her;

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

She fed my mouth and belly

and raised me with loving care—

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

When she gave me good advice,

I brushed it aside and walked away, what a sinner I am!

Now that she has left me and gone,

my very soul burns in agony!

I ran around and laboured hard

all day long for all kinds of people,

yet none of what I earned

ever reached my mother!

A mother's loving heart—

I failed to understand it!

When she departed this world, she did not even say goodbye!

From now on, to comfort and console me,

who is there like a mother?

The temple that was my mother,

I forgot to protect her;

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

She fed my mouth and belly

and raised me with loving care—

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

Starving her own belly,

she nurtured my life and raised me!

Standing all alone,

she guided me safely through life!

Whenever I fell sick in bed,

my mother would fast and pray!

Will burning in the funeral fire

ever settle our score, mother?

For the sin of pushing away

the mother who gave birth to me,

I was not even able to come near and light her funeral pyre!

To comfort and console me now,

who is there like a mother?

The temple that was my mother,

I forgot to protect her;

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

She fed my mouth and belly

and raised me with loving care—

I am such a sinner, oh parrot!

Even if someone touches or looks at me,

it brings a curse, oh parrot!

Even across seven lifetimes,

there is no salvation for me, oh parrot!

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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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