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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enai Nee Paadathae

From Maragatha Veenai (1986) · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Maragatha Veenai (1986)1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Aa…..aaa…..aaa….aaa….aa….Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah...
Aa…..aaa…..aaa….aaa….aa….Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah...
Female
Enai nee paadaathae thalaivaa naan un paattallaDo not sing of me, my beloved, for I am not your song.
Enai nee thedaathae naan un paattin porulallaDo not search for me, for I am not the meaning of your song.
Naan paadum paamaalai unai seralaamThe song garland I sing may reach you,
Naan soodum poomaalai idam maaralaamBut the flower garland I wear may change its place.
Female
Enai nee paadaathae thalaivaa naan un paattallaDo not sing of me, my beloved, for I am not your song.
Thalaivaa naan un paattallaMy beloved, I am not your song.
Female
Naanoru kaaviri kadal sera vanthaenI came like the Cauvery river seeking to join the sea,
Naayagan nee endru nizal thedi nindraenBelieving you were my hero, I stood seeking your shade.
Aayinum vidhi ingu anai poda kandaenYet I saw fate building a dam here,
Aandavan thiruvullam dhisai maari sendraenBy God's divine will, I have moved in a different direction.
Female
Yaar vasam yaar endru yaar solvathoWho can say who belongs to whom?
Oorvalam edhuvendru thaer solvathoWho can say which way the temple chariot procession goes?
Oomai naanthaanI am mute,
Sogamo raagamaai keerthanam aagaAs my sorrow turns into a raga and a sacred song.
Female
Enai nee paadaathae thalaivaa naan un paattallaDo not sing of me, my beloved, for I am not your song.
Enai nee thedaathae naan un paattin porulallaDo not search for me, for I am not the meaning of your song.
Female
Kalyaana aasai kaikoodum endruHoping my desire for marriage would be fulfilled,
Poomaalai ondru thoduthaenI wove a garland of flowers.
Paathai maaraatha payanamthaan endruBelieving this to be an unswerving journey,
Kadhal sangeetham padiththaenI learned the music of love.
Female
Kalyaana aasai kaikoodum endruHoping my desire for marriage would be fulfilled,
Poomaalai ondru thoduthaenI wove a garland of flowers.
Paathai maaraatha payanamthaan endruBelieving this to be an unswerving journey,
Kadhal sangeetham padiththaenI learned the music of love.
Female
Naan konda ninaivu theigindra nilavuThe memories I held are like a waning moon,
Nee thantha uravu naan kanda kanavuThe bond you gave was a dream I saw.
Anbil inainthathu aadi mudinthathuUnited in love, the dance is over,
Paadal piranthathu paadi mudinthathu ammammaaThe song was born, and its singing is over, alas!
Female
Aa….aaa….aaa….aaa….aa….Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah...
Aa….aa….aa….aa….aa….aaa….aa…..Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah... Ah...
Enai nee paadaathae…Do not sing of me...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Enai Nee Paadaathae from Maragatha Veenai (1986) is a deeply emotional ballad expressing the pain of tragic separation. The protagonist addresses her beloved, pleading with him to stop singing about her or searching for her, as fate has altered her destiny. She reflects on how she once sought to merge her life with his like the Cauvery river seeking the ocean, but circumstances intervened like a dam blocking the flow. She resigns herself to her sorrow, viewing her past dreams of love and marriage as a beautiful yet fleeting vision that has now drawn to a close.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani/Uvameyam)

Naanoru kaaviri kadal sera vanthaen / Aayinum vidhi ingu anai poda kandaen

The protagonist compares her journey of love to the Cauvery river flowing to meet the ocean, and fate to a dam obstructing her path.

Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Enai nee paadaathae thalaivaa naan un paattalla / Enai nee thedaathae naan un paattin porulalla

The second letter 'na' matches across consecutive lines, creating melodic continuity.

Metaphor

Naan konda ninaivu theigindra nilavu

Memories are poetically compared to a waning moon, signifying love that gradually diminished due to circumstances.

Did you know?

Trivia

Maragatha Veenai (1986) features an iconic soundtrack composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. Lyricist Vaali ingeniously uses musical imagery such as 'paattalla', 'keerthanam', 'raaga', and 'kadhal sangeetham' to reflect the musical essence of the movie's title.

Keep listening

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