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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Endha Kathai Solla

From Thaimel Aanai · 1988

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, M. S. Rajeswari
Music director
Chandrabose
Details
Thaimel Aanai1988

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
………………
Male
Entha kadhai solla naanWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhai sollaWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhaiyum theriyaathuI don't know any other story,
Sontha kadhaithaan theriyumI only know my own story.
Male
Entha kadhai solla naanWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhai sollaWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhaiyum theriyaathuI don't know any other story,
Sontha kadhaithaan theriyumI only know my own story.
Male
Adhil kanneerodu raththam konjamIn that story, along with tears, a bit of blood
Kalanthiruppathu puriumis mixed, as you will understand.
Adhil kanneerodu raththam konjamIn that story, along with tears, a bit of blood
Kalanthiruppathu puriumis mixed, as you will understand.
Male
Entha kadhai solla naanWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhai sollaWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhaiyum theriyaathuI don't know any other story,
Sontha kadhaithaan theriyumI only know my own story.
Male
Kayil andru ottiya raththamThe blood that stained my hands back then,
Kannae innum kaayavillaimy dear, has not dried up yet.
Kazhugai pidiththu kazhuththai thirugumTo catch the vulture and wring its neck,
Kadama innum oyavillaimy duty has not ended yet.
Male
Paadhi kadhai theriyum kannaeOnly half the story is known, my dear,
Meedhi kadhai mudiyavillaithe rest of the story hasn't ended.
Mullai mullaal edupathandriOther than removing a thorn with another thorn,
Veru vazhi theriyavillaiI see no other way.
Male
Mullai mullaal eduppathaagaClaiming to remove a thorn with a thorn,
Munainthu neeyum odugiraaiyou are eagerly rushing forward.
Kannil vizhuntha mullai edukkaTo remove a thorn that fell into the eye,
Kadappaarai thedugiraaiyou are searching for a crowbar!
Male
Vettai aadiya kazhgukkellaamFor all the vultures that went hunting,
Veda ullaan thandikkaGod the hunter is there to punish them.
Vedanpol nee vedamittaalIf you disguise yourself as a hunter,
Sattam ullathu kandikkathe law is there to condemn you.
Male
Naalai edhuvum nadakkumAnything can happen tomorrow,
Adhilum nanmai irukkumand good will come out of it too.
Naalai edhuvum nadakkumAnything can happen tomorrow,
Adhilum nanmai irukkumand good will come out of it too.
Male
Entha kadhai solla naanWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhai sollaWhich story should I tell?
Sontha kdhaiyo entha kadhaiyoBe it my own story or any story,
Enakkuththaanae puriyumonly I can truly understand it.
Male
Oru vidukathaiyai vilangi kondaenI understood a riddle,
Vidaiyum enakku theriyumand I know the answer too.
Oru vidukathaiyai vilangi kondaenI understood a riddle,
Vidaiyum enakku theriyumand I know the answer too.
Female
Idhu kathaiyalla uncle idhu kathaiyalaaThis is not a story, uncle, isn't this not a story?
Idhu kathaiyalla daddy idhu kathaiyallaThis is not a story, daddy, this is not a story.
Idhu kathaiyalla uncle idhu kathaiyalaaThis is not a story, uncle, isn't this not a story?
Idhu kathaiyalla daddy idhu kathaiyallaThis is not a story, daddy, this is not a story.
Female
Vidukathaiyaa poda sonnaenI asked you to pose a riddle
Pirantha naalu enakkubecause today is my birthday.
Ungal vidukathaiyai vilangi kollaTo understand your deep riddle,
Vayasu illai enakkuI am not old enough yet.
Ungal vidukathaiyai vilangi kollaTo understand your deep riddle,
Vayasu illai enakkuI am not old enough yet.
Male
Entha kadhai solla naanWhich story should I tell?
Entha kdhai sollaWhich story should I tell?
Sontha kdhaiyo entha kadhaiyoBe it my own story or any story,
Enakkuththaanae puriyumonly I can truly understand it.
Male
Adhil kanneerodu raththam konjamIn that story, along with tears, a bit of blood
Kalanthiruppathu puriyumis mixed, as you will understand.
Adhil kanneerodu raththam konjamIn that story, along with tears, a bit of blood
Kalanthiruppathu puriyumis mixed, as you will understand.
Male
Entha kadhai solla naanWhich story should I tell?
Entha kadhai sollaWhich story should I tell?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Thaimel Aanai' is a dramatic, multi-voiced philosophical dialogue that explores themes of revenge, justice, trauma, and innocence. The central character reflects on a painful past soaked in tears and blood, viewing revenge ('taking out a thorn with a thorn') as an unfinished duty against ruthless enemies whom he compares to vultures.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Proverbial Metaphor / Idiom

Mullai mullaal edupathandri

Refers to the popular Tamil proverb 'Mullai mullaal edukkanum' (removing a thorn with a thorn), symbolizing using violence to counter violence or fighting fire with fire.

Hyperbole / Metaphor

Kannil vizhuntha mullai edukka Kadappaarai thedugiraai

A vivid hyperbolic metaphor warning against extreme, destructive methods—using a crowbar to pick out a tiny thorn stuck in a delicate eye.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Paadhi kadhai theriyum kannae / Meedhi kadhai mudiyavillai

The second letters of both lines ('dhi' in Paadhi and Meedhi) rhyme, creating classical Tamil ethugai structure.

Metaphor

Kazhugai pidiththu kazhuththai thirugum

Describing ruthless and predatory enemies metaphorically as 'kazhugu' (vultures).

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features a iconic vocal collaboration combining the legends K. J. Yesudas and S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside veteran singer M. S. Rajeswari (who frequently sang for child characters in classic Tamil cinema). The music was composed by Chandrabose, with lyrics written by Vairamuthu for the 1988 film 'Thaimel Aanai'.

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