Engal Dheivam Anna
From Then Koodu · 1984
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singers
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
- Music director
- Ghantasala Vijayakumar
- Details
- Then Koodu1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo | Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother? |
| Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae | May you live forever, just as you do today! |
| Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkirom | In you, we see a father's deep love, |
| Thambigal unnaal vaazhgirom | We younger brothers thrive because of you. |
| Female | |
| Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo | Aren't you our beloved divine deity? |
| Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo | Aren't you the mother who protects us forever? |
| Mangal mangai punnagai | The smiling grace of this auspicious woman |
| Engalukellaam nankodai… | Is a precious gift to all of us... |
| Male | |
| Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo | Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother? |
| Female :Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo | Female: Aren't you the mother who protects us forever? |
| Male | |
| Uruvam vevaeru aanaalum | Even though our physical forms are different, |
| Ullaththaal ondraanom | We have become united as one in heart. |
| Female :Oru naal naamingu vaazhnthaalum | Female: Even if we live here for just a single day, |
| Ondraaga naam vaazhvom | We shall live together united as one. |
| Male | |
| Raththathin raththangal enddraana sothangal | Kinsfolk who are called the blood of our blood, |
| Female :Ennaalum maaraathu poiyaagi pogaathu | Female: Will never change across days nor turn out to be false. |
| Male :Nee vantha naalai kondaadum vaelai | Male: This is the moment to celebrate the day you arrived, |
| Idhu saththiyam…… | This is the solemn truth... |
| Female | |
| Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo | Aren't you our beloved divine deity? |
| Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae | May you live forever, just as you do today! |
| Male | |
| Annaa nee seitha thiyaagangal ennaalum maaraathu | Elder brother, the sacrifices you made will never fade with time, |
| Female :Annai nee seitha saevaikku kaimmaaru vaeraethu | Female: What recompense could ever match the motherly service you render? |
| Male :Ellorum un pillai neeyindri naam illai | Male: Everyone is your child, without you we do not exist. |
| Female :Ellaarkkum nee annai kuraiyaedhum ingillai | Female: You are a mother to everyone, there is no grievance here. |
| All :Iru kangalaaga needoozhi vaazhga dheivangalae | All: May you divine beings live a long life like two protective eyes! |
| Male | |
| Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo | Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother? |
| Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae | May you live forever, just as you do today! |
| Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkirom | In you, we see a father's deep love, |
| Thambigal unnaal vaazhgirom | We younger brothers thrive because of you. |
| Female | |
| Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo | Aren't you our beloved divine deity? |
| Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo | Aren't you the mother who protects us forever? |
| Mangal mangai punnagai | The smiling grace of this auspicious woman |
| Engalukellaam nankodai… | Is a precious gift to all of us... |
எங்கள் தெய்வம் அண்ணா நீயல்லவோ
இன்று போல என்றும் நீ வாழ்கவே
தந்தையின் அன்பை பார்க்கிறோம்
தம்பிகள் உன்னால் வாழ்கிறோம்
Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
May you live forever, just as you do today!
In you, we see a father's deep love,
We younger brothers thrive because of you.
எங்கள் அன்பு தெய்வம் நீயல்லவோ
என்றும் எம்மை காக்கும் தாயல்லவோ
மங்கல மங்கை புன்னகை
எங்களுக்கெல்லாம் நன்கொடை.....
Aren't you our beloved divine deity?
Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
The smiling grace of this auspicious woman
Is a precious gift to all of us...
எங்கள் தெய்வம் அண்ணா நீயல்லவோ
என்றும் எம்மை காக்கும் தாயல்லவோ...
Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Female: Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
உருவம் வெவ்வேறு ஆனாலும்
உள்ளத்தால் ஒன்றானோம்
ஒரு நாள் நாமிங்கு வாழ்ந்தாலும்
ஒன்றாக நாம் வாழ்வோம்
Even though our physical forms are different,
We have become united as one in heart.
Female: Even if we live here for just a single day,
We shall live together united as one.
ரத்தத்தின் ரத்தங்கள் என்றான சொந்தங்கள்
எந்நாளும் மாறாது பொய்யாகி போகாது
நீ வந்த நாளை கொண்டாடும் வேளை
இது சத்தியம்.....
Kinsfolk who are called the blood of our blood,
Female: Will never change across days nor turn out to be false.
Male: This is the moment to celebrate the day you arrived,
This is the solemn truth...
எங்கள் அன்பு தெய்வம் நீயல்லவோ
இன்று போல என்றும் நீ வாழ்கவே....
Aren't you our beloved divine deity?
May you live forever, just as you do today!
அண்ணா நீ செய்த தியாகங்கள் எந்நாளும் மாறாது
அன்னை நீ செய்த சேவைக்கு கைம்மாறு வேறேது
எல்லோரும் உன் பிள்ளை நீயின்றி நாம் இல்லை
எல்லார்க்கும் நீ அன்னை குறையேதும் இங்கில்லை
அனைவரும் :
இருக் கண்களாக நீடூழி வாழ்க தெய்வங்களே
Elder brother, the sacrifices you made will never fade with time,
Female: What recompense could ever match the motherly service you render?
Male: Everyone is your child, without you we do not exist.
Female: You are a mother to everyone, there is no grievance here.
All: May you divine beings live a long life like two protective eyes!
எங்கள் தெய்வம் அண்ணா நீயல்லவோ
இன்று போல என்றும் நீ வாழ்கவே
தந்தையின் அன்பை பார்க்கிறோம்
தம்பிகள் உன்னால் வாழ்கிறோம்
Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
May you live forever, just as you do today!
In you, we see a father's deep love,
We younger brothers thrive because of you.
எங்கள் அன்பு தெய்வம் நீயல்லவோ
என்றும் எம்மை காக்கும் தாயல்லவோ
மங்கல மங்கை புன்னகை
எங்களுக்கெல்லாம் நன்கொடை.....
Aren't you our beloved divine deity?
Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
The smiling grace of this auspicious woman
Is a precious gift to all of us...
எங்கள் தெய்வம் அண்ணா நீயல்லவோ
இன்று போல என்றும் நீ வாழ்கவே
Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo
Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae
May you live forever, just as you do today!
Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkirom
In you, we see a father's deep love,
Thambigal unnaal vaazhgirom
We younger brothers thrive because of you.
Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo
Aren't you our beloved divine deity?
Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo
Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
Mangal mangai punnagai
The smiling grace of this auspicious woman
Engalukellaam nankodai…
Is a precious gift to all of us...
Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo
Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Female :Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo
Female: Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
Uruvam vevaeru aanaalum
Even though our physical forms are different,
Ullaththaal ondraanom
We have become united as one in heart.
Female :Oru naal naamingu vaazhnthaalum
Female: Even if we live here for just a single day,
Ondraaga naam vaazhvom
We shall live together united as one.
Raththathin raththangal enddraana sothangal
Kinsfolk who are called the blood of our blood,
Female :Ennaalum maaraathu poiyaagi pogaathu
Female: Will never change across days nor turn out to be false.
Male :Nee vantha naalai kondaadum vaelai
Male: This is the moment to celebrate the day you arrived,
Idhu saththiyam……
This is the solemn truth...
Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo
Aren't you our beloved divine deity?
Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae
May you live forever, just as you do today!
Annaa nee seitha thiyaagangal ennaalum maaraathu
Elder brother, the sacrifices you made will never fade with time,
Female :Annai nee seitha saevaikku kaimmaaru vaeraethu
Female: What recompense could ever match the motherly service you render?
Male :Ellorum un pillai neeyindri naam illai
Male: Everyone is your child, without you we do not exist.
Female :Ellaarkkum nee annai kuraiyaedhum ingillai
Female: You are a mother to everyone, there is no grievance here.
All :Iru kangalaaga needoozhi vaazhga dheivangalae
All: May you divine beings live a long life like two protective eyes!
Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo
Aren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae
May you live forever, just as you do today!
Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkirom
In you, we see a father's deep love,
Thambigal unnaal vaazhgirom
We younger brothers thrive because of you.
Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo
Aren't you our beloved divine deity?
Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo
Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
Mangal mangai punnagai
The smiling grace of this auspicious woman
Engalukellaam nankodai…
Is a precious gift to all of us...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song is a heartfelt hymn of gratitude and love dedicated to an elder brother and a mother figure who serve as the pillars of a family. The lyrics equate the elder brother's guidance to fatherly love and selflessness, while honoring the maternal figure for her protective and nurturing nature. It emphasizes that despite physical differences, the family members share an unbreakable bond of blood and spirit. The emotional core of the track lies in celebrating unity, sacrifice, and unconditional devotion. The family members express that their existence and happiness are entirely tied to these figures, wishing them a long and blessed life as two guiding eyes protecting the household like a hive ('Then Koodu').
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavo / Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavae”
The second consonant sound 'ng' in 'Engal' rhymes with 'nd' in 'Indru' establishing a rhythmic Tamil cadence.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkirom / Thambigal unnaal vaazhgirom”
The initial letter 'Tha' is repeated in 'Thanthaiyin' and 'Thambigal'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavo / Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavo”
The line endings 'neeyallavo' and 'thaaiyallavo' create a harmonious end-rhyme scheme.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Iru kangalaaga needoozhi vaazhga dheivangalae”
The elder figures in the family are metaphorically compared to two eyes ('Iru kangal') essential for guidance and vision.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song is penned by the eminent Tamil poet Pulamaipithan for the 1984 film 'Then Koodu' (meaning Honeycomb), which centers on family values, togetherness, and domestic harmony. Pulamaipithan was renowned for his rich classical vocabulary and ability to weave deep emotional and familial bonds into popular cinema songs.
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