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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Engethaan Povaai

From Pasamum Nesamum · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Pasamum Nesamum1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Poo..poo…Go... go...
Poo..poo…Go... go...
Poo…poo….Go... go...
Female
Enge thaan povaaiWhere indeed will you go?
Nee enge thaan povaaiWhere indeed will you go?
Nee pogum idam ellaam naanum varuvenWherever you go, I will follow too.
Poo..poo…poo..Go... go... go...
Poo..poo…poo..Go... go... go...
Female
Thanimaiyilae nee pogindraaiYou walk away in solitude,
Ennai thavikkavitta nee pogindraaiLeaving me yearning, you go away.
Thanimaiyilae nee pogindraaiYou walk away in solitude,
Ennai thavikkavitta nee pogindraaiLeaving me yearning, you go away.
En uyirai eduthae parakkindraaiTaking my life force, you fly away,
En ullathil nindrae sirikkindraaiStanding in my heart, you smile.
En uyirai eduthae parakkindraaiTaking my life force, you fly away,
En ullathil nindrae sirikkindraaiStanding in my heart, you smile.
Engae thaan povaaiWhere indeed will you go?
Female
Kaalgal nadanthu sendru vidumFeet can walk away,
Kannum kaatchiyum maarividumEyes and the scenery can change.
Kaalgal nadanthu sendru vidumFeet can walk away,
Kannum kaatchiyum maarividumEyes and the scenery can change.
Ullam engae odividumWhere can the heart run away to?
Adhil uruvam eppadi maarividumHow can the image inside it change?
Ullam engae odividumWhere can the heart run away to?
Adhil uruvam eppadi maarividumHow can the image inside it change?
Female
Enge thaan povaaiWhere indeed will you go?
Nee enge thaan povaaiWhere indeed will you go?
Nee pogum idam ellaam naanum varuvenWherever you go, I will follow too.
Poo..poo…poo..Go... go... go...
Poo..poo…poo..Go... go... go...
Female
Chinnanchiru idhayathilaeIn this tiny, tiny heart,
Naan sertha ennam pala kodiThe thoughts I gathered are tens of millions.
Chinnanchiru idhayathilaeIn this tiny, tiny heart,
Naan sertha ennam pala kodiThe thoughts I gathered are tens of millions.
Adhu sidharividaamal azhindhu vidaamalWithout letting them scatter or get destroyed,
Thirumbhi varuven unnai thaediI will come back searching for you.
Adhu sidharividaamal azhindhu vidaamalWithout letting them scatter or get destroyed,
Thirumbhi varuven unnai thaediI will come back searching for you.
Thirumbhi varuven unnai thaediI will come back searching for you.
Thirumbhi varuven unnai thaediI will come back searching for you.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Enge thaan povaai' is a deeply emotional Tamil song about love, emotional attachment, and the inescapable connection between two souls. The female protagonist speaks to her beloved as he tries to leave or distance himself. She asserts that physical distance cannot break spiritual unity—wherever he strays, her devotion and love will inevitably follow.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

En uyirai eduthae parakkindraai / En ullathil nindrae sirikkindraai

The line endings 'parakkindraai' and 'sirikkindraai' rhyme with identical suffixes, creating a rhythmic cadence.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaalgal nadanthu sendru vidum / Kannum kaatchiyum maarividum

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kaalgal' and 'Kannum' across consecutive lines.

Hyperbole

Naan sertha ennam pala kodi

Claiming to have gathered 'tens of millions of thoughts' in a tiny heart hyperbolically emphasizes the depth of her love.

Metaphor

En uyirai eduthae parakkindraai

Describing the beloved's departure as 'taking my life and flying away' serves as a poetic metaphor for acute emotional grief.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song 'Enge thaan povaai' from the 1964 film 'Pasamum Nesamum' features music composed by S. Vedhachalam with lyrics penned by the legendary poet Kannadasan. Sung exquisitely by P. Susheela, it is celebrated for its haunting vocal delivery and classic 1960s Tamil cinema orchestration.

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