Enge Selkindaraai
From Marutha Nattu Veeran · 1961
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- S. V. Venkatraman
- Details
- Marutha Nattu Veeran1961
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Kallirukkum mullirukkum… | There are stones, there are thorns... |
| Karunaaga paambirukkum… | There are venomous black cobras... |
| Thollai tharum boomiyilae… | In this earth that only causes distress... |
| Thooya manam kondavalae… | Oh woman possessed of a pure heart... |
| Male | |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Male | |
| Engae selgindraai appaa | Where are you going, father? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Engae selgindraai appaa | Where are you going, father? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Male | |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Male | |
| Azhugindraayaa azhudhu vidu | If you are crying, go ahead and cry it out, |
| Alaigindraayaa alaindhu vidu | If you are wandering, go ahead and wander, |
| Azhugindraayaa azhudhu vidu | If you are crying, go ahead and cry it out, |
| Alaigindraayaa alaindhu vidu | If you are wandering, go ahead and wander, |
| Mazhalai sumandha mayilae ulagil | Oh peacock bearing a young child, in this world, |
| Mazhalai sumandha mayilae ulagil | Oh peacock bearing a young child, in this world, |
| Karunaiyai mattum marandhu vidu | Just forget about expected mercy. |
| Male | |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Male | |
| Vaalum valivum irundhaalum | Even if you possess a sword and physical strength, |
| Un manadhinil urudhi niraindhaalum | Even if your mind is filled with resolve, |
| Vaalum valivum irundhaalum | Even if you possess a sword and physical strength, |
| Un manadhinil urudhi niraindhaalum | Even if your mind is filled with resolve, |
| Soozhum vanjaga soozhchiyil undhan | In the face of surrounding treacherous conspiracies, |
| Soozhum vanjaga soozhchiyil undhan | In the face of surrounding treacherous conspiracies, |
| Tholum vaalum en seiyum | What can your strong shoulders and sword accomplish? |
| Male | |
| Engae selgindraai appaa | Where are you going, father? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Male | |
| Kottai irundhum arasillai… | Though there is a fort, there is no rule... |
| Konjum kiliyidam mozhi illai… | Though there is a prattling parrot, it has no speech... |
| Paadal pirandhum isai illai… | Though a song is born, there is no melody... |
| Valar paavai unakkum thunai illai… | Oh growing maiden, there is no companion for you either... |
| Male | |
| Engae selgindraai ammaa | Where are you going, mother? |
| Engae selgindraai | Where are you going? |
| Male | |
| Ovvoru iravum vidiyumadaa… | Every night will surely dawn, my dear... |
| Ovvoru thadaiyum azhiyumadaa… | Every obstacle will surely be destroyed, my dear... |
| Ulla thunivum muyarchiyum konda | With inner courage and persistent effort, |
| Uthama vaazhvum malarumadaa… | A noble life will surely blossom, my dear... |
| Male | |
| Kannilae kaanbadhellaam | Even if everything seen by your eyes, |
| Kavalaigalaai valarndhaalum | Grows into overwhelming worries, |
| Unmai malarum oli pirakkum kalangaadhae… | Truth will blossom and light will be born, do not lose heart... |
கல்லிருக்கும் முள்ளிருக்கும்...
கருநாகப் பாம்பிருக்கும்...
தொல்லை தரும் பூமியிலே...
தூய மனம் கொண்டவளே...
There are stones, there are thorns...
There are venomous black cobras...
In this earth that only causes distress...
Oh woman possessed of a pure heart...
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அப்பா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அப்பா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Where are you going, father?
Where are you going?
Where are you going, father?
Where are you going?
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
அழுகின்றாயா அழுது விடு
அலைகின்றாயா அலைந்து விடு
அழுகின்றாயா அழுது விடு
அலைகின்றாயா அலைந்து விடு
மழலை சுமந்த மயிலே உலகில்
மழலை சுமந்த மயிலே உலகில்
கருணையை மட்டும் மறந்து விடு
If you are crying, go ahead and cry it out,
If you are wandering, go ahead and wander,
If you are crying, go ahead and cry it out,
If you are wandering, go ahead and wander,
Oh peacock bearing a young child, in this world,
Oh peacock bearing a young child, in this world,
Just forget about expected mercy.
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
வாளும் வலிவும் இருந்தாலும்
உன் மனதினில் உறுதி நிறைந்தாலும்
வாளும் வலிவும் இருந்தாலும்
உன் மனதினில் உறுதி நிறைந்தாலும்
சூழும் வஞ்சக சூழ்ச்சியில் உந்தன்
சூழும் வஞ்சக சூழ்ச்சியில் உந்தன்
தோளும் வாளும் என் செய்யும்
Even if you possess a sword and physical strength,
Even if your mind is filled with resolve,
Even if you possess a sword and physical strength,
Even if your mind is filled with resolve,
In the face of surrounding treacherous conspiracies,
In the face of surrounding treacherous conspiracies,
What can your strong shoulders and sword accomplish?
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Where are you going, father?
Where are you going?
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
கோட்டை இருந்தும் அரசில்லை...
கொஞ்சும் கிளியிடம் மொழி இல்லை...
பாடல் பிறந்தும் இசை இல்லை...
வளர் பாவை உனக்கும் துணை இல்லை
Though there is a fort, there is no rule...
Though there is a prattling parrot, it has no speech...
Though a song is born, there is no melody...
Oh growing maiden, there is no companion for you either...
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய் அம்மா
எங்கே செல்கின்றாய்
Where are you going, mother?
Where are you going?
ஒவ்வொரு இரவும் விடியுமடா
ஒவ்வொடு தடையும் அழியுமடா
உள்ளத் துணிவும் முயற்சியும் கொண்ட
உத்தம வாழ்வும் மலருமடா...
Every night will surely dawn, my dear...
Every obstacle will surely be destroyed, my dear...
With inner courage and persistent effort,
A noble life will surely blossom, my dear...
கண்ணிலே காண்பதெல்லாம்
கவலைகளாய் வளர்ந்தாலும்
உண்மை மலரும் ஒளி பிறக்கும் கலங்காதே...
Even if everything seen by your eyes,
Grows into overwhelming worries,
Truth will blossom and light will be born, do not lose heart...
Kallirukkum mullirukkum…
There are stones, there are thorns...
Karunaaga paambirukkum…
There are venomous black cobras...
Thollai tharum boomiyilae…
In this earth that only causes distress...
Thooya manam kondavalae…
Oh woman possessed of a pure heart...
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Engae selgindraai appaa
Where are you going, father?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Engae selgindraai appaa
Where are you going, father?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Azhugindraayaa azhudhu vidu
If you are crying, go ahead and cry it out,
Alaigindraayaa alaindhu vidu
If you are wandering, go ahead and wander,
Azhugindraayaa azhudhu vidu
If you are crying, go ahead and cry it out,
Alaigindraayaa alaindhu vidu
If you are wandering, go ahead and wander,
Mazhalai sumandha mayilae ulagil
Oh peacock bearing a young child, in this world,
Mazhalai sumandha mayilae ulagil
Oh peacock bearing a young child, in this world,
Karunaiyai mattum marandhu vidu
Just forget about expected mercy.
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Vaalum valivum irundhaalum
Even if you possess a sword and physical strength,
Un manadhinil urudhi niraindhaalum
Even if your mind is filled with resolve,
Vaalum valivum irundhaalum
Even if you possess a sword and physical strength,
Un manadhinil urudhi niraindhaalum
Even if your mind is filled with resolve,
Soozhum vanjaga soozhchiyil undhan
In the face of surrounding treacherous conspiracies,
Soozhum vanjaga soozhchiyil undhan
In the face of surrounding treacherous conspiracies,
Tholum vaalum en seiyum
What can your strong shoulders and sword accomplish?
Engae selgindraai appaa
Where are you going, father?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Kottai irundhum arasillai…
Though there is a fort, there is no rule...
Konjum kiliyidam mozhi illai…
Though there is a prattling parrot, it has no speech...
Paadal pirandhum isai illai…
Though a song is born, there is no melody...
Valar paavai unakkum thunai illai…
Oh growing maiden, there is no companion for you either...
Engae selgindraai ammaa
Where are you going, mother?
Engae selgindraai
Where are you going?
Ovvoru iravum vidiyumadaa…
Every night will surely dawn, my dear...
Ovvoru thadaiyum azhiyumadaa…
Every obstacle will surely be destroyed, my dear...
Ulla thunivum muyarchiyum konda
With inner courage and persistent effort,
Uthama vaazhvum malarumadaa…
A noble life will surely blossom, my dear...
Kannilae kaanbadhellaam
Even if everything seen by your eyes,
Kavalaigalaai valarndhaalum
Grows into overwhelming worries,
Unmai malarum oli pirakkum kalangaadhae…
Truth will blossom and light will be born, do not lose heart...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant track from Marutha Nattu Veeran reflects deep emotional turmoil, abandonment, and existential crisis faced by a family amidst political upheaval and conspiracy. The lyricist addresses parents ('ammaa' and 'appaa') lost in wandering, warning them of the cruel hazards of the world—metaphorically described as thorns, stones, and cobras—where even pure hearts and brave swords are powerless against deceit.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Mazhalai sumandha mayilae ulagil”
Compares a mother carrying her infant child to a graceful peacock carrying its young.
Imagery / Symbolism
“Kallirukkum mullirukkum / Karunaaga paambirukkum”
Stones, thorns, and black cobras are used as vivid symbols representing the hidden dangers, moral hazards, and treacherous enemies in society.
Iyaipu (Rhyming)
“Ovvoru iravum vidiyumadaa… / Ovvoru thadaiyum azhiyumadaa…”
The repetitive ending suffix '-adaa' creates a rhythmic, comforting poetic cadence (Iyaipu).
Monai (Alliteration)
“Azhugindraayaa azhudhu vidu / Alaigindraayaa alaindhu vidu”
Initial letter 'A' is repeated across consecutive lines to give a poetic flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by the legendary lyricist Kannadasan, this song showcases his signature philosophical outlook. Even when depicting dire tragedy and betrayal, the song transitions into a powerful message of hope and resilience in the final stanzas ('Ovvoru iravum vidiyumadaa').
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