Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Enge Naan

From Kallum Kaniyagum · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
Kallum Kaniyagum1968

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Paadugiren ennuyiraeI sing, oh my dear soul!
Male
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Paatellaam unakkaagaAll these songs are for you,
Paadugiren ennaalumI sing every single day.
Paadugiren ennuyiraeI sing, oh my dear soul!
Male
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Male
Inimai konjum ilamai nenjilIn a youthful heart overflowing with sweetness,
Ulagam ellaam kaanugirenI see the whole world.
Nilavum vaanum kadalum engeWhere are the moon, sky, and sea?
Ulagam endraal naanugirenWhen spoken of as the world, I feel shy.
Ulagam endraal naanugirenWhen spoken of as the world, I feel shy.
Male
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Male
Siragu illa paravai polaeLike a wingless bird,
Uravu thedi odi vandhenI ran seeking a relationship.
Siragu illa paravai polaeLike a wingless bird,
Uravu thedi odi vandhenI ran seeking a relationship.
Ilandha siragai inaikka enniWishing to reattach the lost wings,
Unadhu kaiyai neetugiraaiYou extend your hand.
Unadhu kaiyai neetugiraaiYou extend your hand.
Male
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Male
Manidhan enge manidhan engeWhere is humanity? Where is a true human?
Iraivanai naan kettirundhenI had asked God.
Padaithu vaithum kidaikkavillaiThough created, none were to be found,
Avanum inge thedugirenEven He is searching for one here.
Mazhalai unnai kattugirenI embrace you like a child.
Mazhalai unnai kattugirenI embrace you like a child.
Male
Enge naan vaazhndhaalumWherever I may live,
Ennuyiroo paadalilaeMy very life resides in song.
Paatellaam unakkaagaAll these songs are for you,
Paadugiren ennaalumI sing every single day.
Paadugiren ennuyiraeI sing, oh my dear soul!
Male
Enge naan.. vaazhndhaalumWherever I... may live,
Ennuyiroo …paadalilaeMy very life... resides in song.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Enge Naan Vaazhndhaalum' from the film Kallum Kaniyagum (1968) is a deeply poignant track celebrating music as the soul's true dwelling place. The protagonist expresses that regardless of where life takes him or what hardships he endures, his spirit lives entirely within his songs. Through music, he connects to love, finds peace, and perceives the world with childlike innocence and beauty. Kannadasan's lyrics blend philosophical introspections with tender emotion. Metaphorically describing himself as a wingless bird searching for belonging, the protagonist finds solace in a loving embrace. The song also offers a philosophical critique of humanity, suggesting that true humanness is so rare that even the Almighty searches for real human goodness on earth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Siragu illa paravai polae

Compares the protagonist's lost, yearning state to a wingless bird using the explicit comparative word 'polae' (like).

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Inimai konjum ilamai nenjil

The initial vowel 'I' sound is repeated in 'Inimai' and 'ilamai'.

Personification / Philosophical Paradox

Manidhan enge manidhan enge / Iraivanai naan kettirundhen / Padaithu vaithum kidaikkavillai / Avanum inge thedugiren

Gives God human actions (searching for true human beings on Earth), highlighting the rarity of genuine human compassion.

Did you know?

Trivia

Kallum Kaniyagum (1968) is notable for featuring legendary playback singer T. M. Soundarajan (TMS) playing one of the lead onscreen roles alongside A. L. Raghavan, in addition to rendering the songs composed by M. S. Vishwanathan.

Keep listening

More from Kallum Kaniyagum