Engey En Kadhali
From Devathai · 1997
- Lyricist
- Arivumathi
- Singer
- Karthik Raja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Devathai1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| {Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Engae en poongodi | Where is my flower-like beloved, |
| Engae engae} (2) | Where, oh where? (x2) |
| Male | |
| Kaathirukkum vaalibam… | My waiting youth... |
| Kelvi ondru ketkuthu… | Asks a single question... |
| Unmelae aasai vechen | I fell in love with you, |
| Ada unakaaga meesai vechen | Hey, I even grew a mustache for you! |
| Male | |
| Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Engae en poongodi | Where is my flower-like beloved, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Male | |
| Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Male | |
| Veenaaga poguthadi | It is all going to waste, girl, |
| Beachu kaathu | The beach breeze, |
| Adhu kaathu kaathu | As it waits and waits, |
| Urundu purandu paadum | Rolling around and singing, |
| Jodi karayil urasi thedum | Searching along the shore for a couple to brush past. |
| Male | |
| Poothenna laabamadi | What is the point of being open, girl, |
| Lovers parku | The lovers' park? |
| Adhu waste waste | It is a complete waste, waste! |
| Ilamai kulungum malargal | The flowers swaying with youth, |
| Angae idhayam irardu thedum | Searching for two hearts there. |
| Male | |
| Five star hotelukku | At a five-star hotel, |
| Solli vaitha table pottu | Setting up a reserved table, |
| Unnai ennai thedatho | Won't it look for you and me? |
| Male | |
| Table mela candle onnu | A single candle on the table, |
| Unnai ennai thedi thedi | Searching endlessly for you and me, |
| Mezhugaai urugaatho | Wouldn't it melt away like wax? |
| Male | |
| Oh ilagum ilamaikku | Oh, for this tender youth, |
| Velai illaya | Is there no purpose? |
| Eh iranghi enai cherum | Hey, isn't there a heart, |
| Idhayam illaya | That will come down and join me? |
| Male | |
| Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Male | |
| Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Engae en poongodi | Where is my flower-like beloved, |
| Engae engae…. | Where, oh where?... |
| Chorus | |
| ………………………… | .................... |
| Male | |
| Kanavukkul ichu ichu | Kissing in dreams, |
| Kettu kettu | Asking again and again, |
| Orr naalum pochu | Another day has passed! |
| Male | |
| Urakam paranthu pochu | Sleep has flown away, |
| Nenachi | Just thinking about it, |
| Iravum pagalum aachu | Day has turned into night and night into day. |
| Male | |
| Imaikkaamal kotta kotta | Staring wide-eyed without blinking, |
| Paarthu paarthu | Watching and watching, |
| Kannu poothu pochu | My eyes have grown weary waiting. |
| Male | |
| Labakku dabakku thudikkum | Thumping with a heavy beat, |
| Idhayam pudichi pudichi | Holding onto the heart, |
| Adikkum | It beats away. |
| Male | |
| Ingae enaku endru | Born somewhere out there for me, |
| Engo piranthirukkum | Meant specifically for me, |
| Anbae nee engae | My love, where are you? |
| Male | |
| Siragai virithu vinnil | Spreading wings in the sky, |
| Paranthu paranthu | Flying and flying, |
| En mun vanthaal aagatho | Why don't you appear right before me? |
| Male | |
| Oru teen age-in thaangatha | Can't you hear the unbearable, |
| Pulambalgal | Yearning ramblings of a teenager, |
| Un kaathoram nenjoram | Beside your ears and inside your heart, |
| Ketkavillaiyaa…. | Haven't you heard them?... |
| Male | |
| Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Engae en poongodi | Where is my flower-like beloved, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Male | |
| Engae en kaadhali | Where is my lover, |
| Engae engae | Where, oh where? |
| Engae… | Where...? |
{ எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
எங்கே என் பூங்கொடி
எங்கே எங்கே } (2)
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Where, oh where? (x2)
காத்திருக்கும்
வாலிபம் கேள்வி ஒன்று
கேட்குது உன்மேலே ஆசை
வச்சேன் அட உனக்காக
மீசை வச்சேன்
My waiting youth...
Asks a single question...
I fell in love with you,
Hey, I even grew a mustache for you!
எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
எங்கே என் பூங்கொடி
எங்கே எங்கே
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Where, oh where?
எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
வீணாக போகுதடி
பீச்சு காத்து அது காத்து
காத்து உருண்டு புரண்டு
பாடும் ஜோடி கரையில்
உரசி தேடும்
It is all going to waste, girl,
The beach breeze,
As it waits and waits,
Rolling around and singing,
Searching along the shore for a couple to brush past.
பூத்தென்ன
லாபமடி லவ்வர்ஸ்
பார்க்கு அது வேஸ்ட்
வேஸ்ட் இளமை குலுங்கும்
மலர்கள் அங்கே இதயம்
இரடு தேடும்
What is the point of being open, girl,
The lovers' park?
It is a complete waste, waste!
The flowers swaying with youth,
Searching for two hearts there.
பைவ் ஸ்டார்
ஹோட்டல்க்கு சொல்லி
வைத்த டேபிள் போட்டு
உன்னை என்னை தேடாதோ
At a five-star hotel,
Setting up a reserved table,
Won't it look for you and me?
டேபிள் மேல
கேண்டில் ஒன்னு
உன்னை என்னை தேடி
தேடி மெழுகாய் உருகாதோ
A single candle on the table,
Searching endlessly for you and me,
Wouldn't it melt away like wax?
ஓ இளம் இளமைக்கு
வேலை இல்லையா ஏ
இறங்கி என்னை சேரும்
இதயம் இல்லையா
Oh, for this tender youth,
Is there no purpose?
Hey, isn't there a heart,
That will come down and join me?
எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
எங்கே என் பூங்கொடி
எங்கே எங்கே
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Where, oh where?...
.......................
....................
கனவுக்குள்
இச்சு இச்சு கேட்டு
கேட்டு ஓர் நாளும்
போச்சு
Kissing in dreams,
Asking again and again,
Another day has passed!
உறக்கம் பறந்து
போச்சு நெனச்சி இரவும்
பகலும் ஆச்சு
Sleep has flown away,
Just thinking about it,
Day has turned into night and night into day.
இமைக்காமல்
கொட்ட கொட்ட பார்த்து
பார்த்து கண்ணு பூத்து
போச்சு
Staring wide-eyed without blinking,
Watching and watching,
My eyes have grown weary waiting.
லபக்கு டபக்கு
துடிக்கும் இதயம் புடிச்சு
புடிச்சு அடிக்கும்
Thumping with a heavy beat,
Holding onto the heart,
It beats away.
இங்கே எனக்கு
என்று எங்கோ பிறந்திருக்கும்
அன்பே நீ எங்கே
Born somewhere out there for me,
Meant specifically for me,
My love, where are you?
சிறகை விரித்து
விண்ணில் பறந்து பறந்து
என் முன் வந்தால் ஆகாதோ
Spreading wings in the sky,
Flying and flying,
Why don't you appear right before me?
ஒரு டீன் ஏஜ் இன்
தாங்காத புலம்பல்கள்
உன் காதோரம் நெஞ்சோரம்
கேட்கவில்லையா
Can't you hear the unbearable,
Yearning ramblings of a teenager,
Beside your ears and inside your heart,
Haven't you heard them?...
எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
எங்கே என் பூங்கொடி
எங்கே எங்கே
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Where, oh where?
எங்கே என்
காதலி எங்கே எங்கே
எங்கே
Where is my lover,
Where, oh where?
Where...?
{Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en poongodi
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Engae engae} (2)
Where, oh where? (x2)
Kaathirukkum vaalibam…
My waiting youth...
Kelvi ondru ketkuthu…
Asks a single question...
Unmelae aasai vechen
I fell in love with you,
Ada unakaaga meesai vechen
Hey, I even grew a mustache for you!
Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en poongodi
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Veenaaga poguthadi
It is all going to waste, girl,
Beachu kaathu
The beach breeze,
Adhu kaathu kaathu
As it waits and waits,
Urundu purandu paadum
Rolling around and singing,
Jodi karayil urasi thedum
Searching along the shore for a couple to brush past.
Poothenna laabamadi
What is the point of being open, girl,
Lovers parku
The lovers' park?
Adhu waste waste
It is a complete waste, waste!
Ilamai kulungum malargal
The flowers swaying with youth,
Angae idhayam irardu thedum
Searching for two hearts there.
Five star hotelukku
At a five-star hotel,
Solli vaitha table pottu
Setting up a reserved table,
Unnai ennai thedatho
Won't it look for you and me?
Table mela candle onnu
A single candle on the table,
Unnai ennai thedi thedi
Searching endlessly for you and me,
Mezhugaai urugaatho
Wouldn't it melt away like wax?
Oh ilagum ilamaikku
Oh, for this tender youth,
Velai illaya
Is there no purpose?
Eh iranghi enai cherum
Hey, isn't there a heart,
Idhayam illaya
That will come down and join me?
Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en poongodi
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Engae engae….
Where, oh where?...
…………………………
....................
Kanavukkul ichu ichu
Kissing in dreams,
Kettu kettu
Asking again and again,
Orr naalum pochu
Another day has passed!
Urakam paranthu pochu
Sleep has flown away,
Nenachi
Just thinking about it,
Iravum pagalum aachu
Day has turned into night and night into day.
Imaikkaamal kotta kotta
Staring wide-eyed without blinking,
Paarthu paarthu
Watching and watching,
Kannu poothu pochu
My eyes have grown weary waiting.
Labakku dabakku thudikkum
Thumping with a heavy beat,
Idhayam pudichi pudichi
Holding onto the heart,
Adikkum
It beats away.
Ingae enaku endru
Born somewhere out there for me,
Engo piranthirukkum
Meant specifically for me,
Anbae nee engae
My love, where are you?
Siragai virithu vinnil
Spreading wings in the sky,
Paranthu paranthu
Flying and flying,
En mun vanthaal aagatho
Why don't you appear right before me?
Oru teen age-in thaangatha
Can't you hear the unbearable,
Pulambalgal
Yearning ramblings of a teenager,
Un kaathoram nenjoram
Beside your ears and inside your heart,
Ketkavillaiyaa….
Haven't you heard them?...
Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en poongodi
Where is my flower-like beloved,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae en kaadhali
Where is my lover,
Engae engae
Where, oh where?
Engae…
Where...?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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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