Engal Veettu Pillai
From Nadodi Raja · 1982
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Nadodi Raja1982
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa | You are indeed the child of our home, sir. |
| Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa | I am the one to say that you are my elder brother. |
| Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu | I have a duty to be your leader. |
| Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal | Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother. |
| Male | |
| Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa | You are indeed the child of our home, sir. |
| Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa | I am the one to say that you are my elder brother. |
| Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu | I have a duty to be your leader. |
| Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal | Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother. |
| Male | |
| Nee naadodiyaanaalum thirudaathae thambi | Even if you become a nomad, do not steal, my brother. |
| Needhikku thalai vanangu | Bow your head to justice. |
| Nal kaanji thalaivan sonnathu polae | Just as the good leader of Kanchi said, |
| Nallavan vaazhvaan ingu | The good man will prosper here. |
| Male | |
| Endrum oorukku uzhaippavan thozhilaali | The one who always works for the town is a worker. |
| Kadal neerukkul uzhaippavan padakotti | The one who works inside the sea waters is a boatman. |
| Endrum oorukku uzhaippavan thozhilaali | The one who always works for the town is a worker. |
| Kadal neerukkul uzhaippavan padakotti | The one who works inside the sea waters is a boatman. |
| Male | |
| Atha uzhaikkum karangal aththanai perukkum | So, for all those hardworking hands, |
| Kalangarai vilakkam neeyaagu | May you become a guiding lighthouse. |
| Kalangarai vilakkam neeyaagu | May you become a guiding lighthouse. |
| Male | |
| Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa | You are indeed the child of our home, sir. |
| Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa | I am the one to say that you are my elder brother. |
| Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu | I have a duty to be your leader. |
| Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal | Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother. |
| Male | |
| Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa | You are indeed the child of our home, sir. |
| Male | |
| Un idhaya veenaithaan paasam endroru | May the veena of your heart... |
| Raagam paada vendum nee | ...sing a melody called affection. |
| Ulagam suttrum vaalipan polae | Like a globe-trotting young man, |
| Siriththu vaazha vendum | You should live happily with a smile. |
| Male | |
| Dhinam naan yaen piranthaen ena ennu | Ponder every day, 'Why was I born?' |
| Ingu unnaal uyaranum nam naadu | Through you, our country must rise here. |
| Dhinam naan yaen piranthaen ena ennu | Ponder every day, 'Why was I born?' |
| Ingu unnaal uyaranum nam naadu | Through you, our country must rise here. |
| Male | |
| Nee indru pol endrum vaazhga | May you live forever just as you do today. |
| Seitha dharmam thalaikaakkum maravaathae | Never forget that the charity you do will protect you. |
| Seitha dharmam thalaikaakkum maravaathae | Never forget that the charity you do will protect you. |
| Male | |
| Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa | You are indeed the child of our home, sir. |
| Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa | I am the one to say that you are my elder brother. |
| Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu | I have a duty to be your leader. |
| Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal | Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother. |
எங்கள் வீட்டு பிள்ளை நீதானய்யா
நீ என் அண்ணன் என்று சொல்ல நான்தானய்யா
உன் தலைவன் என்று என் கடமை உண்டு
நாம் நேற்று இன்று நாளை கூட ஒரு தாய் மக்கள்
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
I have a duty to be your leader.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
எங்கள் வீட்டு பிள்ளை நீதானய்யா
நீ என் அண்ணன் என்று சொல்ல நான்தானய்யா
உன் தலைவன் என்று என் கடமை உண்டு
நாம் நேற்று இன்று நாளை கூட ஒரு தாய் மக்கள்
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
I have a duty to be your leader.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
நீ நாடோடியானாலும் திருடாதே தம்பி
நீதிக்கு தலை வணங்கு
நல் காஞ்சித்தலைவன் சொன்னது போலே
நல்லவன் வாழ்வான் இங்கு
Even if you become a nomad, do not steal, my brother.
Bow your head to justice.
Just as the good leader of Kanchi said,
The good man will prosper here.
என்றும் ஊருக்கு உழைப்பவன் தொழிலாளி
கடல் நீருக்குள் உழைப்பவன் படகோட்டி
என்றும் ஊருக்கு உழைப்பவன் தொழிலாளி
கடல் நீருக்குள் உழைப்பவன் படகோட்டி
The one who always works for the town is a worker.
The one who works inside the sea waters is a boatman.
The one who always works for the town is a worker.
The one who works inside the sea waters is a boatman.
அந்த உழைக்கும் கரங்கள் அத்தனை பேர்க்கும்
கலங்கரை விளக்கம் நீயாகு....
கலங்கரை விளக்கம் நீயாகு....
So, for all those hardworking hands,
May you become a guiding lighthouse.
May you become a guiding lighthouse.
எங்கள் வீட்டு பிள்ளை நீதானய்யா
நீ என் அண்ணன் என்று சொல்ல நான்தானய்யா
உன் தலைவன் என்று என் கடமை உண்டு
நாம் நேற்று இன்று நாளை கூட ஒரு தாய் மக்கள்
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
I have a duty to be your leader.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
எங்கள் வீட்டு பிள்ளை நீதானய்யா
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
உன் இதயவீணைதான் பாசம் என்றொரு
ராகம் பாட வேண்டும் நீ
உலகம் சுற்றும் வாலிபன் போலே
சிரித்து வாழ வேண்டும்
May the veena of your heart...
...sing a melody called affection.
Like a globe-trotting young man,
You should live happily with a smile.
தினம் நான் ஏன் பிறந்தேன் என எண்ணு
இங்கு உன்னால் உயரணும் நம் நாடு
தினம் நான் ஏன் பிறந்தேன் என எண்ணு
இங்கு உன்னால் உயரணும் நம் நாடு
Ponder every day, 'Why was I born?'
Through you, our country must rise here.
Ponder every day, 'Why was I born?'
Through you, our country must rise here.
நீ இன்று போல் என்றும் வாழ்க
செய்த தர்மம் தலைக்காக்கும் மறவாதே...
செய்த தர்மம் தலைக்காக்கும் மறவாதே...
May you live forever just as you do today.
Never forget that the charity you do will protect you.
Never forget that the charity you do will protect you.
எங்கள் வீட்டு பிள்ளை நீதானய்யா
நீ என் அண்ணன் என்று சொல்ல நான்தானய்யா
உன் தலைவன் என்று என் கடமை உண்டு
நாம் நேற்று இன்று நாளை கூட ஒரு தாய் மக்கள்
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
I have a duty to be your leader.
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu
I have a duty to be your leader.
Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu
I have a duty to be your leader.
Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
Nee naadodiyaanaalum thirudaathae thambi
Even if you become a nomad, do not steal, my brother.
Needhikku thalai vanangu
Bow your head to justice.
Nal kaanji thalaivan sonnathu polae
Just as the good leader of Kanchi said,
Nallavan vaazhvaan ingu
The good man will prosper here.
Endrum oorukku uzhaippavan thozhilaali
The one who always works for the town is a worker.
Kadal neerukkul uzhaippavan padakotti
The one who works inside the sea waters is a boatman.
Endrum oorukku uzhaippavan thozhilaali
The one who always works for the town is a worker.
Kadal neerukkul uzhaippavan padakotti
The one who works inside the sea waters is a boatman.
Atha uzhaikkum karangal aththanai perukkum
So, for all those hardworking hands,
Kalangarai vilakkam neeyaagu
May you become a guiding lighthouse.
Kalangarai vilakkam neeyaagu
May you become a guiding lighthouse.
Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu
I have a duty to be your leader.
Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
Un idhaya veenaithaan paasam endroru
May the veena of your heart...
Raagam paada vendum nee
...sing a melody called affection.
Ulagam suttrum vaalipan polae
Like a globe-trotting young man,
Siriththu vaazha vendum
You should live happily with a smile.
Dhinam naan yaen piranthaen ena ennu
Ponder every day, 'Why was I born?'
Ingu unnaal uyaranum nam naadu
Through you, our country must rise here.
Dhinam naan yaen piranthaen ena ennu
Ponder every day, 'Why was I born?'
Ingu unnaal uyaranum nam naadu
Through you, our country must rise here.
Nee indru pol endrum vaazhga
May you live forever just as you do today.
Seitha dharmam thalaikaakkum maravaathae
Never forget that the charity you do will protect you.
Seitha dharmam thalaikaakkum maravaathae
Never forget that the charity you do will protect you.
Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa
You are indeed the child of our home, sir.
Nee en annan endru solla naanthaanaiyyaa
I am the one to say that you are my elder brother.
Un thalaivan endru en kadamai undu
I have a duty to be your leader.
Naam nettru indru naalai kooda oru thaai makkal
Yesterday, today, and tomorrow, we are children of one mother.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a iconic meta-lyrical creation penned by lyricist Vaali for the film Nadodi Raja (1982), composed by Shankar-Ganesh and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. The entire lyric is cleverly constructed by weaving together the titles of famous movies starring the legendary Tamil actor and politician M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). Despite being composed of movie titles, the lines flow smoothly into a cohesive moral narrative. Thematically, the song serves as an inspiring anthem celebrating hard work, honesty, brotherhood, and devotion to the nation. It encourages individuals to bow down to justice, serve the working class, live with affection, and perform charitable deeds that ultimately protect one's honor and legacy.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Intertextuality / Title Woven Lyricism
“Engal veettu pillai needhaanaiyyaa... Kalangarai vilakkam neeyaagu”
Vaali uses titles of classic MGR movies (Engal Veettu Pillai, En Annan, Thirudaathae, Padagotti, Kalangarai Vilakkam, Ulagam Sutrum Valiban, etc.) as full thematic units to build meaningful poetic lines.
Metaphor
“Un idhaya veenaithaan paasam endroru Raagam paada vendum nee”
Compares the human heart to a musical instrument (Veena) capable of playing a melody of love and affection.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Nee naadodiyaanaalum thirudaathae thambi”
Repetition of the 'N' sound in initial syllables ('Nee', 'Naadodiyaanaalum') creating rhythmic harmony.
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Trivia
This entire lyric is a brilliant stylistic feat by Vaali, composed almost entirely using movie titles starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR). Movie titles featured include: 'Engal Veettu Pillai', 'En Annan', 'Un Thalaivan', 'Nettru Indru Naalai', 'Oru Thaai Makkal', 'Naadodi', 'Thirudaathae', 'Needhikku Thalaivanangu', 'Kaanji Thalaivan', 'Nallavan Vaazhvaan', 'Oorukku Uzhaippavan', 'Thozhilali', 'Padagotti', 'Uzhaikkum Karangal', 'Kalangarai Vilakkam', 'Idhaya Veena', 'Ulagam Sutrum Valiban', 'Naan Yaen Piranthan', 'Nam Naadu', 'Indru Pol Endrum Vaazhga', and 'Dharmam Thalaikaakkum'.
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