Engengo Kaalgal Sellum
From Nandha · 2001
- Lyricist
- Pulamaipithan
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Nandha2001
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engengo kaalgal sellum | Wherever your feet may carry you, |
| Paadhaiyil pogindraai | You keep walking on that path. |
| Yedhedho naalai endra | In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow, |
| Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai | You live with endless desire. |
| Male | |
| Un sondham ingu yaar yaaro | Who here is truly your kin? |
| Nee solli kolla yaar yaaro | Who is really yours to claim? |
| Nee vaazhum vaazhvil | In this life that you live, |
| Artham enna endrae nee sollu | Tell me, what is its true meaning? |
| Male | |
| Engengo kaalgal sellum | Wherever your feet may carry you, |
| Paadhaiyil pogindraai | You keep walking on that path. |
| Yedhedho naalai endra | In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow, |
| Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai | You live with endless desire. |
| Male | |
| Kaadhilla oosiyumae | Even an eyeless needle |
| Kadaisi varaikkum varaathae | Will not follow you till the final journey, |
| Pattinathaar sonnaanae | Saint Pattinathar proclaimed so |
| Paattu ondru appothae | In a philosophical song back then. |
| Male | |
| Edhanaikondu naam vanthom | What did we bring when we came? |
| Edhanai kondu pogindrom | What will we carry when we leave? |
| Odum ponnum ondraai | Viewing a broken tile and gold as equal, |
| Ennum idhayam vendumae…ae… | We need a heart that holds such wisdom... |
| Male | |
| Engengo kaalgal sellum | Wherever your feet may carry you, |
| Paadhaiyil pogindraai | You keep walking on that path. |
| Yedhedho naalai endra | In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow, |
| Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai | You live with endless desire. |
| Male | |
| Kaatrukku yaar ingae | Who taught the wind |
| Paattu solli thanthaaro | To sing its songs here? |
| Aatrukku yaar ingae | Who carved out a path |
| Paadhai pottu thanthaaro | For the flowing river here? |
| Male | |
| Vaazhkai engu poi serum | Where will life eventually end up? |
| Kaalam seiyum theermaanam | Time alone makes that decision. |
| Ennai unnai ketta | Without asking you or me, |
| Vaazhkai payanam poguthu…uuu… | Life's journey simply moves on... |
| Male | |
| Engengo kaalgal sellum | Wherever your feet may carry you, |
| Paadhaiyil pogindraai | You keep walking on that path. |
| Yedhedho naalai endra | In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow, |
| Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai | You live with endless desire. |
| Male | |
| Un sondham ingu yaar yaaro | Who here is truly your kin? |
| Nee solli kolla yaar yaaro | Who is really yours to claim? |
| Nee vaazhum vaazhvil | In this life that you live, |
| Artham enna endrae nee sollu | Tell me, what is its true meaning? |
எங்கெங்கோ கால்கள் செல்லும்
பாதையில் போகின்றாய்
ஏதேதோ நாளை என்ற
ஆசையில் வாழ்கின்றாய்
Wherever your feet may carry you,
You keep walking on that path.
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
You live with endless desire.
உன் சொந்தம் இங்கு யார் யாரோ
நீ சொல்லிக்கொள்ள யார் யாரோ
நீ வாழும் வாழ்வில்
அர்த்தம் என்ன என்றே நீ சொல்லு
Who here is truly your kin?
Who is really yours to claim?
In this life that you live,
Tell me, what is its true meaning?
எங்கெங்கோ கால்கள் செல்லும்
பாதையில் போகின்றாய்
ஏதேதோ நாளை என்ற
ஆசையில் வாழ்கின்றாய்
Wherever your feet may carry you,
You keep walking on that path.
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
You live with endless desire.
காதில்லா ஊசியுமே
கடைசி வரைக்கும் வாராதே
பட்டினத்தார் சொன்னானே
பாட்டு ஒன்று அப்போதே
Even an eyeless needle
Will not follow you till the final journey,
Saint Pattinathar proclaimed so
In a philosophical song back then.
எதனை கொண்டு நாம் வந்தோம்
எதனை கொண்டு போகின்றோம்
ஓடும் பொன்னும் ஒன்றாய்
எண்ணும் இதயம் வேண்டுமே
What did we bring when we came?
What will we carry when we leave?
Viewing a broken tile and gold as equal,
We need a heart that holds such wisdom...
எங்கெங்கோ கால்கள் செல்லும்
பாதையில் போகின்றாய்
ஏதேதோ நாளை என்ற
ஆசையில் வாழ்கின்றாய்
Wherever your feet may carry you,
You keep walking on that path.
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
You live with endless desire.
காற்றுக்கு யார் இங்கே
பாட்டு சொல்லி தந்தாரோ
ஆற்றுக்கு யார் இங்கே
பாதை போட்டு தந்தாரோ
Who taught the wind
To sing its songs here?
Who carved out a path
For the flowing river here?
வாழ்க்கை எங்கு போய் சேரும்
காலம் செய்யும் தீர்மானம்
என்னை உன்னை கேட்டா
வாழ்க்கை பயணம் போகுது
Where will life eventually end up?
Time alone makes that decision.
Without asking you or me,
Life's journey simply moves on...
எங்கெங்கோ கால்கள் செல்லும்
பாதையில் போகின்றாய்
ஏதேதோ நாளை என்ற
ஆசையில் வாழ்கின்றாய்
Wherever your feet may carry you,
You keep walking on that path.
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
You live with endless desire.
உன் சொந்தம் இங்கு யார் யாரோ
நீ சொல்லிக்கொள்ள யார் யாரோ
நீ வாழும் வாழ்வில்
அர்த்தம் என்ன என்றே நீ சொல்லு
Who here is truly your kin?
Who is really yours to claim?
In this life that you live,
Tell me, what is its true meaning?
Engengo kaalgal sellum
Wherever your feet may carry you,
Paadhaiyil pogindraai
You keep walking on that path.
Yedhedho naalai endra
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai
You live with endless desire.
Un sondham ingu yaar yaaro
Who here is truly your kin?
Nee solli kolla yaar yaaro
Who is really yours to claim?
Nee vaazhum vaazhvil
In this life that you live,
Artham enna endrae nee sollu
Tell me, what is its true meaning?
Engengo kaalgal sellum
Wherever your feet may carry you,
Paadhaiyil pogindraai
You keep walking on that path.
Yedhedho naalai endra
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai
You live with endless desire.
Kaadhilla oosiyumae
Even an eyeless needle
Kadaisi varaikkum varaathae
Will not follow you till the final journey,
Pattinathaar sonnaanae
Saint Pattinathar proclaimed so
Paattu ondru appothae
In a philosophical song back then.
Edhanaikondu naam vanthom
What did we bring when we came?
Edhanai kondu pogindrom
What will we carry when we leave?
Odum ponnum ondraai
Viewing a broken tile and gold as equal,
Ennum idhayam vendumae…ae…
We need a heart that holds such wisdom...
Engengo kaalgal sellum
Wherever your feet may carry you,
Paadhaiyil pogindraai
You keep walking on that path.
Yedhedho naalai endra
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai
You live with endless desire.
Kaatrukku yaar ingae
Who taught the wind
Paattu solli thanthaaro
To sing its songs here?
Aatrukku yaar ingae
Who carved out a path
Paadhai pottu thanthaaro
For the flowing river here?
Vaazhkai engu poi serum
Where will life eventually end up?
Kaalam seiyum theermaanam
Time alone makes that decision.
Ennai unnai ketta
Without asking you or me,
Vaazhkai payanam poguthu…uuu…
Life's journey simply moves on...
Engengo kaalgal sellum
Wherever your feet may carry you,
Paadhaiyil pogindraai
You keep walking on that path.
Yedhedho naalai endra
In hopes of some uncertain tomorrow,
Aasaiyil vaazhgindraai
You live with endless desire.
Un sondham ingu yaar yaaro
Who here is truly your kin?
Nee solli kolla yaar yaaro
Who is really yours to claim?
Nee vaazhum vaazhvil
In this life that you live,
Artham enna endrae nee sollu
Tell me, what is its true meaning?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a deeply philosophical contemplation on the fleeting nature of human existence, material wealth, and worldly relationships. It questions the illusion of human control, emphasizing that life is an uncertain journey governed by time and fate rather than individual will. By evoking timeless metaphors of natural freedom—like the wind and the river—it encourages detachment and self-realization.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second letter rhyming)
“Kaatrukku yaar ingae / Aatrukku yaar ingae”
The second consonant sound 't' (ட்) matches between 'Kaatrukku' and 'Aatrukku', creating a natural Tamil poetic rhythm.
Allusion (Illakkiya Kurippu)
“Kaadhilla oosiyumae kadaisi varaikkum varaathae / Pattinathaar sonnaanae”
Direct reference to the famous lines of 10th-century Tamil saint Pattinathar ('Kadhuthattha oosiyum vaaraadhu kaan kadaivazhikke'), highlighting the philosophy that even an eyeless needle cannot be carried beyond death.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Edhanaikondu naam vanthom / Edhanai kondu pogindrom”
Both consecutive lines end with rhyming verbs ('vanthom' / 'pogindrom') emphasizing the balance of birth and death.
Rhetorical Question
“Kaatrukku yaar ingae paattu solli thanthaaro / Aatrukku yaar ingae paadhai pottu thanthaaro”
Questions are asked not to gain an answer, but to illustrate the unwritten, inherent laws of nature.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although the music director for the movie 'Nandha' (2001) was Yuvan Shankar Raja, this soulful philosophical track was uniquely sung by his father, Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics penned by Pulamaipithan subtly echo ancient Siddhar literature and Pattinathar's ascetic philosophy.
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