Engal Kathai
From Palaivana Solai · 1981
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Sankar Ganesh
- Details
- Palaivana Solai1981
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Saalai engal paadasaalai | The street is our school |
| Velai thaedal engal velai hoo vaalibamae | Searching for work is our job, oh youth! |
| Tea kadaiyae aalaiyamae | The tea stall is our temple |
| Male | |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Haa haa aaa aa | Haa haa aaa aa |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Male | |
| Naangal vidum pugaimandalam | The smoke clouds that we blow |
| Megangalaai aagathoo | Will they not become real clouds? |
| Oru pattam vaanginom | We obtained a degree |
| adhil pattam vidugirom | And we fly kites with it |
| Pudhu sattam idugirom paarungal | Look, we are making new rules! |
| Male | |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Male | |
| Azhuvadhum vizhuvadhum | Crying and falling |
| Ezhuvadhum thozhuvadhum | Rising and praying |
| Pazhaiyavar parambaraigal | Are the traditions of the older generation |
| Irupathai edupathum | Taking whatever is available |
| Siripathum kodupathuum | Laughing and sharing |
| Pudhu yuga varamuraigal | Are the customs of the new era |
| Singangalae serungalaen | Oh lions, gather together! |
| Singangalae serungalaen | Oh lions, gather together! |
| Kanavin nuraigal vadiyattumae | Let the foam of dreams drain away |
| Male | |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Male | |
| Ponnulagin maaligai thirakkum | The palace of the golden world will open |
| Poongaatru neendhi varum | A pleasant breeze will come floating by |
| Poomaalai vaangi varum | Bringing along flower garlands |
| Dhesam engum aadungal | Dance all across the nation |
| Raajaraagam paadungal | Sing the royal melody |
| Eduppom sabatham mudippom | We will take an oath and fulfill it |
| Male | |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai | This is our story, this is your story |
| Saalai engal paadasaalai | The street is our school |
| Velai thaedal engal velai hoo vaalibamae | Searching for work is our job, oh youth! |
| Tea kadaiyae aalaiyamae | The tea stall is our temple |
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
சாலை எங்கள் பாடச்சாலை
வேலை தேடல் எங்கள் வேலை ஹோ வாலிபமே
டீக்கடையே ஆலயமே........
This is our story, this is your story
This is our story, this is your story
The street is our school
Searching for work is our job, oh youth!
The tea stall is our temple
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
ஹா ஹா ஆஆ ஆ
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
This is our story, this is your story
Haa haa aaa aa
This is our story, this is your story
நாங்கள் விடும் புகைமண்டலம்
மேகங்களாய் ஆகாதோ
ஒரு பட்டம் வாங்கினோம்
அதில் பட்டம் விடுகிறோம்
புது சட்டம் இடுகிறோம் பாருங்கள்
The smoke clouds that we blow
Will they not become real clouds?
We obtained a degree
And we fly kites with it
Look, we are making new rules!
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
This is our story, this is your story
This is our story, this is your story
அழுவதும் விழுவதும்
எழுவதும் தொழுவதும்
பழையவர் பரம்பரைகள்
இருப்பதை எடுப்பதும்
சிரிப்பதும் கொடுப்பதும்
புது யுக வரைமுறைகள்
சிங்கங்களே.......சேருங்களேன்......
கனவில் நுரைகள் வடியட்டும்......
Crying and falling
Rising and praying
Are the traditions of the older generation
Taking whatever is available
Laughing and sharing
Are the customs of the new era
Oh lions, gather together!
Oh lions, gather together!
Let the foam of dreams drain away
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
ஹா எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
This is our story, this is your story
This is our story, this is your story
பொன்னுலகின் மாளிகை திறக்கும்
பூங்காற்று நீந்தி வரும்
பூமாலை வாங்கி வரும்
தேசமெங்கும் ஆடுங்கள்
ராஜராகம் பாடுங்கள்
எடுப்போம் சபதம் முடிப்போம்....
The palace of the golden world will open
A pleasant breeze will come floating by
Bringing along flower garlands
Dance all across the nation
Sing the royal melody
We will take an oath and fulfill it
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
எங்கள் கதை இது உங்களின் கதை
சாலை எங்கள் பாடச்சாலை
வேலை தேடல் எங்கள் வேலை ஹோ வாலிபமே
டீக்கடையே ஆலயமே........
This is our story, this is your story
This is our story, this is your story
The street is our school
Searching for work is our job, oh youth!
The tea stall is our temple
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Saalai engal paadasaalai
The street is our school
Velai thaedal engal velai hoo vaalibamae
Searching for work is our job, oh youth!
Tea kadaiyae aalaiyamae
The tea stall is our temple
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Haa haa aaa aa
Haa haa aaa aa
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Naangal vidum pugaimandalam
The smoke clouds that we blow
Megangalaai aagathoo
Will they not become real clouds?
Oru pattam vaanginom
We obtained a degree
adhil pattam vidugirom
And we fly kites with it
Pudhu sattam idugirom paarungal
Look, we are making new rules!
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Azhuvadhum vizhuvadhum
Crying and falling
Ezhuvadhum thozhuvadhum
Rising and praying
Pazhaiyavar parambaraigal
Are the traditions of the older generation
Irupathai edupathum
Taking whatever is available
Siripathum kodupathuum
Laughing and sharing
Pudhu yuga varamuraigal
Are the customs of the new era
Singangalae serungalaen
Oh lions, gather together!
Singangalae serungalaen
Oh lions, gather together!
Kanavin nuraigal vadiyattumae
Let the foam of dreams drain away
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Ponnulagin maaligai thirakkum
The palace of the golden world will open
Poongaatru neendhi varum
A pleasant breeze will come floating by
Poomaalai vaangi varum
Bringing along flower garlands
Dhesam engum aadungal
Dance all across the nation
Raajaraagam paadungal
Sing the royal melody
Eduppom sabatham mudippom
We will take an oath and fulfill it
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Engal kadhai idhu ungalin kadhai
This is our story, this is your story
Saalai engal paadasaalai
The street is our school
Velai thaedal engal velai hoo vaalibamae
Searching for work is our job, oh youth!
Tea kadaiyae aalaiyamae
The tea stall is our temple
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Engal Kadhai Idhu Ungalin Kadhai from Palaivana Solai (1981) serves as an energetic anthem for unemployed youth during the 1980s. Written by Vairamuthu, the song vividly describes the everyday reality of educated young men who hang around tea stalls and street corners searching for employment. Rather than giving in to despair, they treat their struggles with humor and camaraderie, turning their unused university degrees into metaphorical kites and establishing new social values centered on sharing, laughter, and solidarity. The track captures a spirit of resilience, calling upon youth to unite like lions, let go of passive daydreams, and take dynamic action to shape a prosperous future for themselves and the country.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Tea kadaiyae aalaiyamae”
The tea stall is metaphorically equated to a temple, portraying it as a sacred sanctuary of friendship for unemployed youth.
Pun / Wordplay
“Oru pattam vaanginom adhil pattam vidugirom”
Plays on the dual meaning of 'pattam', referring both to an academic degree earned and a paper kite flown to pass time.
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)
“Azhuvadhum vizhuvadhum / Ezhuvadhum thozhuvadhum”
The second consonant 'zha' rhymes across successive lines, creating a rhythmic cadence.
Metaphor
“Singangalae serungalaen”
Refers to the young men as 'lions', evoking strength and collective courage.
Did you know?
Trivia
Palaivana Solai (1981) was a acclaimed film directed by the duo Robert-Rajasekar, featuring music composed by Shankar-Ganesh. The song famously highlights the 1980s social theme of educated youth unemployment in Tamil Nadu through satirical lyricism.
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