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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enakkenna Manakkavalai

From Sorgathil Thirumanam · 1974

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sorgathil Thirumanam
Movie release year
1974
Lyrics added on
31 Mar 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
……………..
Enakkenna manakkavalai
Enakkenna manakkavalai
Inippillai kasappum illai
Idhu thuravu nilai
Mazhaiyilae nanaigiraen
Veyyilil kaaigiraen
No mother no father we don’t bother
Thaayennum panbu thavariya pinbu
Thaayena solvathu paavam
Annai enna pillai enna
Panthamaa paasamaa yaavumae naadagam
Enakkenna manakkavalai
Inippillai kasappum illai
Idhu thuravu nilai
Mazhaiyilae nanaigiraen
Veyyilil kaaigiraen
…………….
Kadhalan endrum kadhali endrum
Konjiyathaal enna laabam
Micham enna meetham enna
Aangalae pengalae kadhal orr kaanalae
Where we begin where we end
Then and there we have no friend
Yaarengu povaar yaarukku theriyum
Yaar vazhai yaar vara koodum
Kelvi illai vidaiyum illai
Karuvarai kallarai irandilum thanimaithaan
Enakkenna manakkavalai
Inippillai kasappum illai
Idhu thuravu nilai
Mazhaiyilae nanaigiraen
Veyyilil kaaigiraen
...
Why should I have any worries?
Why should I have any worries?
There is no sweetness, nor any bitterness;
this is a state of complete detachment.
I get drenched in the rain,
and I dry out in the sun.
No mother, no father, we don't bother.
Once the virtue of motherhood is lost,
it is a sin to even call her a mother.
What is a mother, and what is a child?
Bonds and affection? It is all just a drama!
Why should I have any worries?
There is no sweetness, nor any bitterness;
this is a state of complete detachment.
I get drenched in the rain,
and I dry out in the sun.
...
Calling each other lovers,
what was gained from all that sweet talk?
What is left behind? What remains?
O men and women, love is just a mirage!
Where we begin, where we end,
then and there, we have no friend.
Who goes where? Who really knows?
Who can truly follow whose path?
There is no question, and there is no answer.
In the womb and in the tomb, we are entirely alone.
Why should I have any worries?
There is no sweetness, nor any bitterness;
this is a state of complete detachment.
I get drenched in the rain,
and I dry out in the sun.
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Chorus
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song portrays a profound philosophical awakening and spiritual detachment from worldly life. The protagonist expresses a state of complete indifference ('thuravu nilai' or renunciation) where emotional dualities like joy and sorrow, sweetness and bitterness, cease to matter. Motherhood, romantic love, and family ties are depicted as transient stage plays ('naadagam') and mirages ('kaanal') rather than enduring truths. Through Kannadasan's sharp philosophical phrasing, the song underscores the absolute existential truth of human solitude from birth to death ('karuvarai kallarai irandilum thanimaithaan'). Enduring external hardships like rain and heat with equanimity, the speaker accepts the solitary nature of human existence without expectations, attachments, or regrets.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

“Inippillai kasappum illai”

Juxtaposes contrasting concepts like sweetness and bitterness ('inippu' vs 'kasappu') and rain and sun ('mazhai' vs 'veyyil') to symbolize emotional neutrality.

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

“Aangalae pengalae kadhal orr kaanalae”

Directly compares romantic love to a mirage ('kaanal'), highlighting its illusory and deceptive nature.

Initial Alliteration (Monaai)

“Karuvarai kallarai irandilum thanimaithaan”

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound in 'Karuvarai' and 'Kallarai', creating a poetic link between womb and tomb.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“Kelvi illai vidaiyum illai”

Repetition of the ending term 'illai' emphasizing non-existence and philosophical negation.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh for the 1974 film 'Sorgathil Thirumanam', this song is renowned for Kannadasan's detached philosophical lyrics which blend English and Tamil lines effortlessly. Singer Vani Jairam delivered the track with a calm, meditative tone that perfectly captures the mood of renunciation.

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