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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Engey En Kadhali

From Devathai · 1997

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singer
Karthik Raja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Devathai
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
24 Jun 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Engae en poongodi
Engae engae} (2)
Kaathirukkum vaalibam…
Kelvi ondru ketkuthu…
Unmelae aasai vechen
Ada unakaaga meesai vechen
Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Engae en poongodi
Engae engae
Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Veenaaga poguthadi
Beachu kaathu
Adhu kaathu kaathu
Urundu purandu paadum
Jodi karayil urasi thedum
Poothenna laabamadi
Lovers parku
Adhu waste waste
Ilamai kulungum malargal
Angae idhayam irardu thedum
Five star hotelukku
Solli vaitha table pottu
Unnai ennai thedatho
Table mela candle onnu
Unnai ennai thedi thedi
Mezhugaai urugaatho
Oh ilagum ilamaikku
Velai illaya
Eh iranghi enai cherum
Idhayam illaya
Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Engae en poongodi
Engae engae….
…………………………
Kanavukkul ichu ichu
Kettu kettu
Orr naalum pochu
Urakam paranthu pochu
Nenachi
Iravum pagalum aachu
Imaikkaamal kotta kotta
Paarthu paarthu
Kannu poothu pochu
Labakku dabakku thudikkum
Idhayam pudichi pudichi
Adikkum
Ingae enaku endru
Engo piranthirukkum
Anbae nee engae
Siragai virithu vinnil
Paranthu paranthu
En mun vanthaal aagatho
Oru teen age-in thaangatha
Pulambalgal
Un kaathoram nenjoram
Ketkavillaiyaa….
Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Engae en poongodi
Engae engae
Engae en kaadhali
Engae engae
Engae…
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
Where is my slender beauty,
where, oh where?
This waiting youth of mine...
is asking a question...
I fell in love with you,
and hey, I grew a moustache just for you!
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
Where is my slender beauty,
where, oh where?
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
It is all going to waste, girl,
this cool beach breeze!
Tired of waiting and waiting,
it rolls, tumbles, and sings,
brushing the shore looking for lovers.
What is the use of blooming
in Lovers' Park?
It is all a waste, a total waste!
Flowers swaying with youthful charm
search there for two hearts to unite.
In a five-star hotel,
at a table reserved in advance,
won't it look for you and me?
A single candle on the table,
searching endlessly for you and me,
won't it melt away like wax?
Oh, for this tender youth,
is there no purpose?
Hey, isn't there a heart
that will step down and join mine?
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
Where is my slender beauty,
where, oh where?
...
Hearing sweet kisses
in my dreams,
another day has gone by,
and my sleep has flown away!
Constantly thinking of you,
night has turned into day!
Staring wide-eyed without blinking,
watching and searching,
my eyes have grown tired of waiting!
Beating wildly, pit-a-pat,
catching its breath,
my heart pounds hard!
Meant only for me,
born somewhere out there,
my love, where are you?
Spreading your wings in the sky,
flying through the air,
won't you appear right before me?
A teenager's unbearable
cries of longing—
near your ears and in your heart,
haven't you heard them?
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
Where is my slender beauty,
where, oh where?
Where is my lover,
where, oh where?
Where...?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Engae En Kaadhali' from the movie Devathai (1997) is a playful, romantic solo expressing the intense yearning and restless imagination of a young man searching for his soulmate. The protagonist laments that all romantic settings—such as the gentle beach breeze, vibrant public parks, and candle-lit tables at fancy hotels—are going completely to waste because he does not yet have a lover to share them with. As the song unfolds, he describes how his romantic longings keep him up through sleepless nights, leaving him daydreaming endlessly until his eyes grow weary. He calls out to his destined soulmate, asking where she is in the world and pleading with her to appear in his life to answer his teenage heart's desperate calls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Unmelae aasai vechen / Ada unakaaga meesai vechen”

The lines end with rhyming sound-alikes 'aasai vechen' and 'meesai vechen', adding a catchy, lighthearted rhythm.

Personification

“Beachu kaathu... Urundu purandu paadum”

The ocean breeze is personified as a entity that waits, rolls on the shore, and sings while searching for lovers.

Idiom / Metaphor

“Kannu poothu pochu”

Literally translates to 'eyes blossomed', a popular Tamil idiom meaning 'eyes grew exhausted/tired from waiting endlessly'.

Onomatopoeia

“Labakku dabakku thudikkum”

'Labakku dabakku' is an echoic word mimicking the rapid, nervous pounding beat of an anxious heart.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Devathai' (1997) is a Tamil fantasy-drama film directed by Nassar, who also starred in it alongside Vineeth and Keerthi Reddy. The film's soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyricist Arivumathi penning this lighthearted track that blends youthful colloquialisms with pop-inspired rhythms.

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