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Lyrics & meaning

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 neeyallavoAren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavaeMay you live forever, just as you do today!
Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkiromIn you, we see a father's deep love,
Thambigal unnaal vaazhgiromWe younger brothers thrive because of you.
Female
Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavoAren't you our beloved divine deity?
Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavoAren't you the mother who protects us forever?
Mangal mangai punnagaiThe smiling grace of this auspicious woman
Engalukellaam nankodai…Is a precious gift to all of us...
Male
Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavoAren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Female :Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavoFemale: Aren't you the mother who protects us forever?
Male
Uruvam vevaeru aanaalumEven though our physical forms are different,
Ullaththaal ondraanomWe have become united as one in heart.
Female :Oru naal naamingu vaazhnthaalumFemale: Even if we live here for just a single day,
Ondraaga naam vaazhvomWe shall live together united as one.
Male
Raththathin raththangal enddraana sothangalKinsfolk who are called the blood of our blood,
Female :Ennaalum maaraathu poiyaagi pogaathuFemale: Will never change across days nor turn out to be false.
Male :Nee vantha naalai kondaadum vaelaiMale: This is the moment to celebrate the day you arrived,
Idhu saththiyam……This is the solemn truth...
Female
Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavoAren't you our beloved divine deity?
Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavaeMay you live forever, just as you do today!
Male
Annaa nee seitha thiyaagangal ennaalum maaraathuElder brother, the sacrifices you made will never fade with time,
Female :Annai nee seitha saevaikku kaimmaaru vaeraethuFemale: What recompense could ever match the motherly service you render?
Male :Ellorum un pillai neeyindri naam illaiMale: Everyone is your child, without you we do not exist.
Female :Ellaarkkum nee annai kuraiyaedhum ingillaiFemale: You are a mother to everyone, there is no grievance here.
All :Iru kangalaaga needoozhi vaazhga dheivangalaeAll: May you divine beings live a long life like two protective eyes!
Male
Engal dheivam annaa neeyallavoAren't you our divine deity, elder brother?
Indru pola endrum nee vaazhgavaeMay you live forever, just as you do today!
Thanthaiyin anbai paarkkiromIn you, we see a father's deep love,
Thambigal unnaal vaazhgiromWe younger brothers thrive because of you.
Female
Engal anbu dheivam neeyallavoAren't you our beloved divine deity?
Endrum emmai kaakkum thaaiyallavoAren't you the mother who protects us forever?
Mangal mangai punnagaiThe 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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