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Enga Ooru Kavalkaran album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Enga Ooru Kaavalkaaran

From Enga Ooru Kavalkaran · 1998

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Enga Ooru Kavalkaran
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
25 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Ullukkulla pongi varum
Paasaththula nesaththula
Oorai ellaam katti izhuppaan
Nalla perai ellaam thatti eduppaan
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Oorum perum pottrum
Muga raasi thaan
Onna peththu pottaa
Magaraasi thaan
Oorum perum pottrum
Muga raasi thaan
Onna peththu pottaa
Magaraasi thaan
Vittaanunnaa oru kaattu paattu
Mottaana poovum malarum
Kattaayamaa oru thaalam pottu
Ponnaana neram pularum
Sindhugira sindhu thaan
Mannan ivan sondham thaan
Sindhugira sindhu thaan
Mannan ivan sondham thaan
Yaelaelo paatta eduppaan
Namma elloraiyum izhuppaan
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Raagam thaalam yedhum theriyaadhaiyaa
Veedum oorum naadum puriyaadhaiyaa
Raagam thaalam yedhum theriyaadhaiyaa
Veedum oorum naadum puriyaadhaiyaa
Gummaanguththu ivan pottu pottu
Eppodhum sanda pudippaan
Dappaanguththu vachu paattu pottu
Toppaaga cholli tharuvaan
Paatteduththu kattuvaan
Paamarana thattuvaan
Paatteduththu kattuvaan
Paamarana thattuvaan
Paadaadha raagam illae
Ivan paakkaadha oorum illae
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Ullukkulla pongi varum
Paasaththula nesaththula
Oorai ellaam katti izhuppaan
Nalla perai ellaam thatti eduppaan
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa
Nuni mookku mela kovakkkaaraa
Enga ooru kaavakkaaraa….aahaa…aaa…
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
Overflowing from deep within,
with his affection and love,
he wins over the entire village,
and earns all the good name!
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
Praised and renowned across the land,
his very face brings good fortune!
The mother who gave birth to you
is truly a blessed woman!
Praised and renowned across the land,
his very face brings good fortune!
The mother who gave birth to you
is truly a blessed woman!
If he lets out a wild rustic song,
even a tight bud will bloom into a flower!
Keeping strictly to the rhythm,
a bright golden dawn will break!
The folk tunes that flow from him
belong rightfully to this king!
The folk tunes that flow from him
belong rightfully to this king!
He will belt out a rhythmic folk chant,
and draw every one of us along!
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
He knows no formal melody or rhythm, sir,
nor does he care for home, town, or country!
He knows no formal melody or rhythm, sir,
nor does he care for home, town, or country!
Throwing heavy punches all around,
he is always ready for a brawl!
Setting it to a fiery street-dance beat,
he teaches it in first-class style!
He crafts songs on the spot,
and awakens the common folk!
He crafts songs on the spot,
and awakens the common folk!
There is no tune he hasn't sung,
and no town he hasn't seen!
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
Overflowing from deep within,
with his affection and love,
he wins over the entire village,
and earns all the good name!
He is our village guardian!
A short-tempered man with anger on the tip of his nose!
He is our village guardian... aha... aa...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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