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Lyrics & meaning

Enga Ooru Kaavalkaaran

From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran · 1998

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Enga Ooru Kavalkaran1998

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Male
Ullukkulla pongi varumOverflowing deep inside his heart,
Paasaththula nesaththulaWith affection and true love,
Oorai ellaam katti izhuppaanHe unites and captivates the entire village,
Nalla perai ellaam thatti eduppaanHe wins a great name and fame,
Male
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Male
Oorum perum pottrumPraised by the whole town and famous,
Muga raasi thaanHe has a blessed and fortunate face,
Onna peththu pottaaThe mother who gave birth to you,
Magaraasi thaanIs truly a blessed queen,
Male
Oorum perum pottrumPraised by the whole town and famous,
Muga raasi thaanHe has a blessed and fortunate face,
Onna peththu pottaaThe mother who gave birth to you,
Magaraasi thaanIs truly a blessed queen,
Male
Vittaanunnaa oru kaattu paattuIf he belt out a wild rural song,
Mottaana poovum malarumEven a tight flower bud will blossom,
Kattaayamaa oru thaalam pottuBy tapping a steady rhythmic beat,
Ponnaana neram pularumA golden dawn will emerge,
Male
Sindhugira sindhu thaanThe folk tune that flows from him,
Mannan ivan sondham thaanIs the personal treasure of this king,
Sindhugira sindhu thaanThe folk tune that flows from him,
Mannan ivan sondham thaanIs the personal treasure of this king,
Yaelaelo paatta eduppaanHe starts singing a sailor's rhythmic chant,
Namma elloraiyum izhuppaanAnd pulls all of us toward him,
Male
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Male
Raagam thaalam yedhum theriyaadhaiyaaHe doesn't care for formal music rules or beats, sir,
Veedum oorum naadum puriyaadhaiyaaHe doesn't worry about home, town, or country, sir,
Raagam thaalam yedhum theriyaadhaiyaaHe doesn't care for formal music rules or beats, sir,
Veedum oorum naadum puriyaadhaiyaaHe doesn't worry about home, town, or country, sir,
Male
Gummaanguththu ivan pottu pottuSetting an energetic folk dance rhythm,
Eppodhum sanda pudippaanHe gets into playful fights constantly,
Dappaanguththu vachu paattu pottuPlaying loud local beats and songs,
Toppaaga cholli tharuvaanHe teaches everyone in a top-notch way,
Male
Paatteduththu kattuvaanHe composes songs on the spot,
Paamarana thattuvaanHe touches and awakens the common man,
Paatteduththu kattuvaanHe composes songs on the spot,
Paamarana thattuvaanHe touches and awakens the common man,
Paadaadha raagam illaeThere is no raga he hasn't sung,
Ivan paakkaadha oorum illaeThere is no town he hasn't seen,
Male
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Male
Ullukkulla pongi varumOverflowing deep inside his heart,
Paasaththula nesaththulaWith affection and true love,
Oorai ellaam katti izhuppaanHe unites and captivates the entire village,
Nalla perai ellaam thatti eduppaanHe wins a great name and fame,
Male
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraaOh guard of our village,
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraaHe gets angry at the tip of his nose,
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa….aahaa…aaa…Oh guard of our village... aha... ah...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This celebratory folk song praises the protagonist, a beloved guardian and musician of the village. Though quick-tempered on the surface, he possesses a heart full of warmth, affection, and loyalty that unites the entire community. His charismatic presence, golden voice, and innate talent for music make him a cherished figure whose singing can figuratively make buds bloom and brighten the day.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyming)

Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa / Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa

The second letter 'nga' / 'ni' follows rhythmic repetition and flow, pairing 'kaavakkaaraa' with 'kovakkkaaraa'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Sindhugira sindhu thaan / Mannan ivan sondham thaan

Both lines end with the rhyming sound 'thaan'.

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Mottaana poovum malarum

Exaggerating the power of the hero's voice, claiming that his raw music can make flower buds bloom immediately.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Gangai Amaran, 'Enga Ooru Kaavakkaaran' (1988) featured Ramarajan and Gautami. The film's music was composed by Ilaiyaraaja and featured iconic rural folk melodies that became hugely popular across Tamil Nadu.

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