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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enge En Punnagai

From Thaalam · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Shoba Shankar, S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Thaalam1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
…………………………….Where is my smile?
Chorus
Engae en punnagaiWho carried it away?
Evar kondu ponadhuWhere is my smile?
Engae en punnagaiWho carried it away?
Evar kondu ponadhuLike a cloud caught on fire,
Thee patta meghamaaiMy heart has become.
En nenju aanadhuTo extinguish this cloud fire,
Megha thee anaikkaCome, come, come, come!
Va va va vaaWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaaWhere is my smile?..oh
Chorus
Engae en punnagai..ohWho carried it away?..oh
Evar kondu ponadhu..ohLike a cloud caught on fire..ha
Thee patta meghamaai..haMy heart has become..ha
En nenju aanadhu..haTo extinguish this cloud fire,
Megha thee anaikkaCome, come, come, come!
Va va va vaaWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaa{Is my body in rainwater
Female
{Mazhai neeril dhegamoDrenched like a raft?
Theppam pol nanaindhadhuBeing drenched like a raft,
Theppam pol nanaindhadhilWhy did my shyness dissolve?} (2)
Vetkam yen karaindhadhu} (2)Just like my pulse,
Female
En naadi polavaeMy heart softened and melted.
En nenjam kulaindhadhuThe playful games played by water,
Neer seiyum leelaiyaeMy heart longs to meet them directly.
Ner seiya manam yengudhuThat which was drenched like a cloud,
Female
Muhilaayam nanaindhadhaiDry it up with your kisses.
Muththathaal kaayavaiMy solitude,
Endhan thanimaiyaiShall I take it upon my shoulders?..ohhh
Thoal seiyavaa..ohhhWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Chorus
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaaA sun shedding dew,
Male
Pani sindhum sooriyanIs that your gaze?
Adhu undhan paarvaiyoAn army of flowers,
Pookkalin raanuvamIs that your body?
Adhu undhan meniyoMy love, is your heart
Kannae un nenjamoAs deep as the ocean?
Kadal konda aazhamoWill our relationship come together?
Nam sondham koodumoWill light become a shadow?
Oliyin nizhal aagumoWill the rain of love shower down?
Male
Kaadhal mazhai pozhiyumoWill it overflow with tears?
Kanneeril niranbumoIsn't that the end of time?..ohh
Adhu kaalathin mudivallavo..ohhWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaaWhere is my smile?..oh
Chorus
Engae en punnagai..ohWho carried it away?..oh
Evar kondu ponadhu..ohLike a cloud caught on fire..ha
Thee patta meghamaai..haMy heart has become..ha
En nenju aanadhu..haTo extinguish this cloud fire,
Megha thee anaikkaCome, come, come, come!
Va va va vaaWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaaWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Chorus
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaaWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaaWill you join in this rhythm? Oh
Thaalathil nee seravaa ohShall I sing the song of rhythm?
Thaalisai naan paadavaa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures intense passion, emotional vulnerability, and romantic longing. The protagonist compares their aching heart to a burning cloud on fire and calls upon their beloved to extinguish the flames through love and unity. The imagery of rain, water, and melting shyness highlights how love dismantles defenses and brings emotional awakening. As the lyric progresses, the protagonist marvels at the beloved's beauty, comparing their gaze to a sun shedding dew and their soft body to an army of flowers. Through poetic questions, the song expresses a deep yearning for union, questioning whether their connection will blossom into everlasting love or end in tears of intense emotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Thee patta meghamaai En nenju aanadhu

Compares the burning passion and turmoil in the heart to a cloud caught on fire.

Simile (Upamai)

Theppam pol nanaindhadhu

Compares the drenched body in the rain to a floating raft using 'pol'.

Metaphor

Pookkalin raanuvam Adhu undhan meniyo

Compares the beloved's soft and radiant body to an army made of flowers.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Thaalathil nee seravaa oh / Thaalisai naan paadavaa

Rhyming sound '-avaa' at the end of consecutive lines creates musical rhythm.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Pani sindhum sooriyan / Adhu undhan paarvaiyo

Repetition of the 'P' sound ('Pani', 'paarvaiyo') enhances the acoustic appeal.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Thaalam' (1999) is the Tamil dubbed version of Subhash Ghai's blockbuster Hindi musical film 'Taal'. The original iconic soundtrack was composed by A. R. Rahman, with Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu adapting the Hindi lyrics into Tamil. This specific track corresponds to 'Ishq Bina' / 'Gaya Gaya' from the original Hindi score.

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