Engenge Engenge
From Nerrukku Ner · 1997
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Hariharan, Asha Bhosle
- Music director
- Deva
- Details
- Nerrukku Ner1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| ………………………………. | |
| Female | |
| Engengae engengae engae | Where, oh where, oh where? |
| Inbam ullathendru thedi kolladhae | Do not go searching for where happiness lies. |
| Oh thallipo thallipo intha | Oh stay away, stay away! |
| Panju nenjam pathikollum varadhae | This soft cotton heart will catch fire, do not come near! |
| Naan oru kumizhi nee oru kaatru | I am a bubble, you are a gust of wind. |
| Thodadhae nee thodadhae | Do not touch me, do not touch me! |
| Male | |
| Nee oru kilithaan naan unthan kilaithaan | You are a parrot, and I am your branch. |
| Selaadhae thalli selaadhae | Do not go away, do not move away! |
| Oh ennama ennama unthan | Oh dear, oh dear, what is this? |
| Nenjil ulla vali enna ennama | What is this pain residing in your heart, oh dear? |
| Male | |
| Aaaa …… aaaa …….. aaaaaaaaa | Aaaa... aaaa... aaaaaaaaa |
| Male | |
| En thookathil en uthadugal | In my sleep, my lips |
| Un per solli puzhambum puzhambum oore ezhumbum | Mutter your name repeatedly, waking up the whole town! |
| Female | |
| En kaalgalil pon kolusugal | The golden anklets on my feet |
| Un per solli olikum olikum uyirai edukum | Chime your name repeatedly, taking my very breath away! |
| Male | |
| Poo polae iruntha manam indru mungilpol | My heart that was once gentle like a flower, today like dry bamboo |
| Vedikuthadi sakiyae sakiyae sakiyae | Is bursting open, my friend, my friend, my friend! |
| Idhayam thudikum udalin veliyae | My heart is throbbing outside of my body. |
| Female | |
| ……………………………………… | |
| Female | |
| Engengae engengae engae | Where, oh where, oh where? |
| Inbam ullathendru thedi kolladhae | Do not go searching for where happiness lies. |
| Male | |
| ………………………………………… | |
| Female | |
| ……………………………………….. | |
| Female | |
| En veethiyil un kaaladi en raavelam | On my street, the sound of your footsteps all night long |
| Olikum olikum idhayam thudikum | Resonates repeatedly, making my heart beat rapidly. |
| Male | |
| Un aadaiyin pon noolilae en jeevanum | Entangled in the golden thread of your garment, my life force |
| Thudikum thudikum uyire valikum | Trembles repeatedly, causing pain to my soul. |
| Female | |
| Naan unnai thurathiyadipathum | Me chasing and teasing you, |
| Nee enthan thookam paripathuvum sariya muraiya | And you stealing away my sleep, is this fair or proper? |
| Kaadhal piranthaal idhudhaan gathiya | When love is born, is this the inevitable destination? |
| Female | |
| ………………………………………. | |
| Female | |
| Engengae engengae engae | Where, oh where, oh where? |
| Inbam ullathendru thedi kolladhae | Do not go searching for where happiness lies. |
| Oh thallipo thallipo intha | Oh stay away, stay away! |
| Panju nenjam pathikollum varadhae | This soft cotton heart will catch fire, do not come near! |
| Naan oru kumizhi nee oru kaatru | I am a bubble, you are a gust of wind. |
| Thodadhae nee thodadhae | Do not touch me, do not touch me! |
| Male | |
| Nee oru kilithaan naan unthan kilaithaan | You are a parrot, and I am your branch. |
| Selaadhae thalli selaadhae | Do not go away, do not move away! |
| Ennama ennama unthan | Oh dear, oh dear, what is this? |
| Nenjil ulla vali enna ennama | What is this pain residing in your heart, oh dear? |
..........................
எங்கெங்கே
எங்கெங்கே எங்கே
இன்பம் உள்ளதென்று
தேடிக் கொல்லாதே
ஓ தள்ளிப்போ தள்ளிப்போ
இந்தப் பஞ்சு நெஞ்சம்
பத்திக்கொள்ளும் வராதே
நான் ஒரு குமிழி நீ ஒரு
காற்று தொடாதே நீ
தொடாதே
Where, oh where, oh where?
Do not go searching for where happiness lies.
Oh stay away, stay away!
This soft cotton heart will catch fire, do not come near!
I am a bubble, you are a gust of wind.
Do not touch me, do not touch me!
நீ ஒரு கிளிதான்
நான் உந்தன் கிளைதான்
செல்லாதே தள்ளிச்
செல்லாதே ஓ என்னம்மா
என்னம்மா உந்தன் நெஞ்சில்
உள்ள வலி என்ன என்னம்மா
You are a parrot, and I am your branch.
Do not go away, do not move away!
Oh dear, oh dear, what is this?
What is this pain residing in your heart, oh dear?
......................................
Aaaa... aaaa... aaaaaaaaa
என் தூக்கத்தில்
என் உதடுகள் உன் பேர்
சொல்லிப் புலம்பும்
புலம்பும் ஊரே எழும்பும்
In my sleep, my lips
Mutter your name repeatedly, waking up the whole town!
என் கால்களில்
பொன் கொலுசுகள் உன்
பேர் சொல்லி ஒலிக்கும்
ஒலிக்கும் உயிரை எடுக்கும்
The golden anklets on my feet
Chime your name repeatedly, taking my very breath away!
பூப்போல இருந்த
மனம் இன்று மூங்கில்போல்
வெடிக்குதடி சகியே சகியே
சகியே இதயம் துடிக்கும்
உடலின் வெளியே
My heart that was once gentle like a flower, today like dry bamboo
Is bursting open, my friend, my friend, my friend!
My heart is throbbing outside of my body.
......................................
எங்கெங்கே
எங்கெங்கே எங்கே
இன்பம் உள்ளதென்று
தேடிக் கொல்லாதே
Where, oh where, oh where?
Do not go searching for where happiness lies.
......................................
......................................
என் வீதியில்
உன் காலடி என்
ராவெல்லாம் ஒலிக்கும்
ஒலிக்கும் இதயம் துடிக்கும்
உன் ஆடையின்
பொன் நுாலிலே என்
ஜீவனும் துடிக்கும்
துடிக்கும் உயிரே வலிக்கும்
On my street, the sound of your footsteps all night long
Resonates repeatedly, making my heart beat rapidly.
நான் உன்னை
துரத்தியடிப்பதும் நீ
எந்தன் தூக்கம்
பறிப்பதுவும் சரியா
முறையா காதல்
பிறந்தால் இதுதான்
கதியா
Entangled in the golden thread of your garment, my life force
Trembles repeatedly, causing pain to my soul.
......................................
Me chasing and teasing you,
And you stealing away my sleep, is this fair or proper?
When love is born, is this the inevitable destination?
எங்கெங்கே
எங்கெங்கே எங்கே
இன்பம் உள்ளதென்று
தேடிக் கொல்லாதே
ஓ தள்ளிப்போ தள்ளிப்போ
இந்தப் பஞ்சு நெஞ்சம்
பத்திக்கொள்ளும் வராதே
நான் ஒரு குமிழி நீ ஒரு
காற்று தொடாதே நீ
தொடாதே
நீ ஒரு கிளிதான்
நான் உந்தன் கிளைதான்
செல்லாதே தள்ளிச்
செல்லாதே ஓ என்னம்மா
என்னம்மா உந்தன் நெஞ்சில்
உள்ள வலி என்ன என்னம்மா
Where, oh where, oh where?
Do not go searching for where happiness lies.
Oh stay away, stay away!
This soft cotton heart will catch fire, do not come near!
I am a bubble, you are a gust of wind.
Do not touch me, do not touch me!
You are a parrot, and I am your branch.
Do not go away, do not move away!
Oh dear, oh dear, what is this?
What is this pain residing in your heart, oh dear?
……………………………….
Engengae engengae engae
Where, oh where, oh where?
Inbam ullathendru thedi kolladhae
Do not go searching for where happiness lies.
Oh thallipo thallipo intha
Oh stay away, stay away!
Panju nenjam pathikollum varadhae
This soft cotton heart will catch fire, do not come near!
Naan oru kumizhi nee oru kaatru
I am a bubble, you are a gust of wind.
Thodadhae nee thodadhae
Do not touch me, do not touch me!
Nee oru kilithaan naan unthan kilaithaan
You are a parrot, and I am your branch.
Selaadhae thalli selaadhae
Do not go away, do not move away!
Oh ennama ennama unthan
Oh dear, oh dear, what is this?
Nenjil ulla vali enna ennama
What is this pain residing in your heart, oh dear?
Aaaa …… aaaa …….. aaaaaaaaa
Aaaa... aaaa... aaaaaaaaa
En thookathil en uthadugal
In my sleep, my lips
Un per solli puzhambum puzhambum oore ezhumbum
Mutter your name repeatedly, waking up the whole town!
En kaalgalil pon kolusugal
The golden anklets on my feet
Un per solli olikum olikum uyirai edukum
Chime your name repeatedly, taking my very breath away!
Poo polae iruntha manam indru mungilpol
My heart that was once gentle like a flower, today like dry bamboo
Vedikuthadi sakiyae sakiyae sakiyae
Is bursting open, my friend, my friend, my friend!
Idhayam thudikum udalin veliyae
My heart is throbbing outside of my body.
………………………………………
Engengae engengae engae
Where, oh where, oh where?
Inbam ullathendru thedi kolladhae
Do not go searching for where happiness lies.
…………………………………………
………………………………………..
En veethiyil un kaaladi en raavelam
On my street, the sound of your footsteps all night long
Olikum olikum idhayam thudikum
Resonates repeatedly, making my heart beat rapidly.
Un aadaiyin pon noolilae en jeevanum
Entangled in the golden thread of your garment, my life force
Thudikum thudikum uyire valikum
Trembles repeatedly, causing pain to my soul.
Naan unnai thurathiyadipathum
Me chasing and teasing you,
Nee enthan thookam paripathuvum sariya muraiya
And you stealing away my sleep, is this fair or proper?
Kaadhal piranthaal idhudhaan gathiya
When love is born, is this the inevitable destination?
……………………………………….
Engengae engengae engae
Where, oh where, oh where?
Inbam ullathendru thedi kolladhae
Do not go searching for where happiness lies.
Oh thallipo thallipo intha
Oh stay away, stay away!
Panju nenjam pathikollum varadhae
This soft cotton heart will catch fire, do not come near!
Naan oru kumizhi nee oru kaatru
I am a bubble, you are a gust of wind.
Thodadhae nee thodadhae
Do not touch me, do not touch me!
Nee oru kilithaan naan unthan kilaithaan
You are a parrot, and I am your branch.
Selaadhae thalli selaadhae
Do not go away, do not move away!
Ennama ennama unthan
Oh dear, oh dear, what is this?
Nenjil ulla vali enna ennama
What is this pain residing in your heart, oh dear?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Engengae Engengae' portrays a bittersweet romantic duet expressing the intense angst, fragility, and overwhelming emotions that accompany young love. The lovers exchange contrasting metaphors of distance and closeness—comparing themselves to fragile bubbles vulnerable to wind, yet also as inseparable as a parrot and its perch. They confess how love has disturbed their peace, making them whisper names in sleep and feel their hearts throb outside their bodies. The lyricist Vairamuthu weaves vivid imagery of cotton catching fire and bamboo bursting to symbolize how serene minds turn turbulent under the spell of romantic yearning. Ultimately, the song captures the paradox of love: a painful yet inescapable plight that both lures and terrifies the lovers.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Panju nenjam pathikollum varadhae”
Compares the delicate heart to soft cotton ('Panju') that easily catches fire when drawn too close to love.
Metaphor
“Naan oru kumizhi nee oru kaatru”
Compares the speaker to a fragile water bubble and the lover to wind, emphasizing delicacy and risk of destruction.
Simile
“Poo polae iruntha manam indru mungilpol”
Uses explicit comparative words 'polae' (like a flower) and 'pol' (like bamboo) to show the transformation of a gentle heart into something cracking under heat/pressure.
Anaphora / Repetition (Iyaipu/Adukkuthodar)
“Thodadhae nee thodadhae”
Repeats 'Thodadhae' for dramatic emphasis, conveying frantic emotional vulnerability.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film 'Nerrukku Ner' (1997) was produced by Mani Ratnam and directed by Vasanth. It featured the soundtrack composed by Deva, with 'Engengae' being a standout duet rendered by Asha Bhosle and Hariharan. The film marked the acting debut of Suriya alongside Vijay.
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