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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Engae Vandhe Engae

From Jamboo · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
Vani Jairam, T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Details
Jamboo1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaiyaarae…ae…..Oh Thaiyaarae… ae…
Thaiya thaiya thaiya thaiyaaraeThaiya thaiya thaiya thaiyaarae
Thaiyaarae….ae…..thaiyaarae….Oh Thaiyaarae… ae… thaiyaarae…
Thaiyaarae….ae…..thaiyaarae…..Oh Thaiyaarae… ae… thaiyaarae…
Male
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthaeWhy, girl, where did you come from?
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthae….Why, girl, where did you come from?
Female
En kadhaiya solla vanthaenI came to tell my story
Aeroplane melaeHigh up on an aeroplane
Unga sangathiya kettu kondaenI learned about your affairs
Santhichcha pinnaalaeOnly after meeting you
Male :AangkMale: Ah
Female
En kadhaiya solla vanthaenI came to tell my story
Aeroplane melaeHigh up on an aeroplane
Unga sangathiya kettu kondaenI learned about your affairs
Santhichcha pinnaalaeOnly after meeting you
Male :Aahaan….Male: Aahaa…
Male
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthaeWhy, girl, where did you come from?
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthae….Why, girl, where did you come from?
Female
En kadhaiya solla vanthaenI came to tell my story
Aeroplane melaeHigh up on an aeroplane
Unga sangathiya kettu kondaenI learned about your affairs
Santhichcha pinnaalaeOnly after meeting you
Male :Aahaan….Male: Aahaa…
Male
Manalilae meththaiyittuMaking a bed upon the sand
Madiyilae thaalaattuLulling to sleep on the lap
Manalilae meththaiyittuMaking a bed upon the sand
Madiyilae thaalaattuLulling to sleep on the lap
Female
Iduppa pootti vaikkaTo embrace tight around the waist
Enakkum aasa undaachchuI too felt a deep desire
Iduppa pootti vaikkaTo embrace tight around the waist
Enakkum aasa undaachchuI too felt a deep desire
Female
Nee enna enna kurumbu seiveWhat playful mischief you would do
Idhu varaikkum kandaachchuI have witnessed it all until now
Enna enna kurumbu seiveWhat playful mischief you would do
Idhu varaikkum kandaachchuI have witnessed it all until now
Male
Ammaadi…..en rasathi…Oh my dear… my queen…
Ammaadi…..en rasathi…Oh my dear… my queen…
Male
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthaeWhy, girl, where did you come from?
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthae….Why, girl, where did you come from?
Female
En kadhaiya solla vanthaenI came to tell my story
Aeroplane melaeHigh up on an aeroplane
Unga sangathiya kettu kondaenI learned about your affairs
Santhichcha pinnaalaeOnly after meeting you
Male :Yaehaei…..Male: Yeah…
Female
Anbilae neechchalittuSwimming in love
Male :HaanMale: Yeah
Female :Azhagaiyae neeraattuFemale: Bathe the beauty
Male :Oho…..Male: Oho…
Female
Anbilae neechchalittuSwimming in love
Azhagaiyae neeraattuBathe the beauty
Male
Nadukkadalil muththu irukkuThere is a pearl deep in the sea
Melae onnum thonaathuNothing is visible on the surface
Nadukkadalil muththu irukkuThere is a pearl deep in the sea
Melae onnum thonaathuNothing is visible on the surface
Male
Nalla muththai eduppatharkeTo dive and retrieve that fine pearl
Naalu romba aagaathuIt won't take many days
Nalla muththai eduppatharkeTo dive and retrieve that fine pearl
Naalu romba aagaathuIt won't take many days
Female
Aiyyaavae…..en rasa nee…..Oh sir… you are my king…
Aiyyaavae…..en rasa nee…..Oh sir… you are my king…
Male
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthaeWhy, girl, where did you come from?
Engae vanthae engae vanthaeWhere did you come from, where did you come from?
Yaenadi nee engae vanthae….Why, girl, where did you come from?
Female
En kadhaiya solla vanthaenI came to tell my story
Aeroplane melaeHigh up on an aeroplane
Unga sangathiya kettu kondaenI learned about your affairs
Santhichcha pinnaalaeOnly after meeting you
Male :Ohhoi…..Male: Ohhoi…

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie Jamboo (1980) is a lively and romantic folk-style duet characterized by playful teasing between two lovers. The male lead inquisitively asks where the female lead has arrived from, while she playfully responds that she traveled by aeroplane to share her story and get to know him better. The back-and-forth exchange is filled with flirtatious folk chants and energetic musical flourishes. As the song progresses, the imagery shifts to tender romantic expressions—resting on sand beds, cradling on one's lap, and diving for deep-sea pearls as a metaphor for discovering true love and intimacy. Calling each other affectionate titles like 'Rasathi' (queen) and 'Rasa' (king), the lovers express their mutual longing, joy, and playful companionship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nadukkadalil muththu irukku / Melae onnum thonaathu

The pearl lying in the deep sea symbolizes deep-seated love and affection that remains hidden under the surface until one dives deep to retrieve it.

Ethugai (Second-letter assonance)

Manalilae meththaiyittu / Madiyilae thaalaattu

The second consonant sound ('na' / 'di' tapping rhythm) aligns across consecutive lines to create a smooth melodic rhythm.

Monai (Initial sound alliteration)

Nalla muththai eduppatharke / Naalu romba aagaathu

The repetition of the 'Na' sound at the beginning of 'Nalla' and 'Naalu' provides rhythmic emphasis in Tamil poetry.

Anaphora / Repetition

Engae vanthae engae vanthae / Yaenadi nee engae vanthae

The repetitive questioning adds emphasis, playfulness, and a rhythmic folk hook to the track.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Jamboo' (1980) is a Tamil action-adventure movie directed and produced by M. Karnan, featuring actor Jaishankar in the lead role. The lyrics for this song were penned by the veteran lyricist Kannadasan, who incorporated colloquial rhythm words like 'Thaiyaarae' alongside modern references such as 'Aeroplane' to give it a unique urban-folk mix.

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