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Sujatha album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Engiruntho Vandha

From Sujatha · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Sujatha
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
14 Apr 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae
Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae
Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae
Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae
Sonthamillaatha uravugalae
Thodarattum namathu ninaivugalae
Sonthamillaatha uravugalae
Thodarattum namathu ninaivugalae
Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae
Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae
Vaalipamae mangalamae naalai evvidamo
Vaazhkkai ennum sannithiyil yaarum yaarudano
Vaalipamae mangalamae naalai evvidamo
Vaazhkkai ennum sannithiyil yaarum yaarudano
Anbinil yaavarum saernthirupom
Aadiyum paadiyum vaazhnthirupom
Aayiram ennangal valarththirunthom
Aayinum pirinthae odugindrom
Aayinum pirinthae odugindrom
Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae
Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae
Bedhaigalaai nyaanamindri ingu vanthenna
Medhaigalaai nyaanigalaai indru sovathenna
Naalaiya ulagam nam vasamae
Nallathum theeyathum nammidamae
Yaezhigalum ini selvargalae
Yaeruvathellaam irakkamillai
Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae
Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae
Aasaiyilo kadhalilo nooril ondrirandu
Annan ena thangai ena naamum vaazhnthathundu
Kambanai pol oru annan undu
Kavithaiyil solvaar mannar endru
Ennugiraen avan mugaththai indru
Yaengugiren avan pirivu kandu
Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae
Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae
O birds that flew in from somewhere,
So many joyful dreams!
O birds that flew in from somewhere,
So many joyful dreams!
Bonds of love with no ties of blood,
May our memories live on!
Bonds of love with no ties of blood,
May our memories live on!
O birds that flew in from somewhere,
So many joyful dreams!
O youth and grace, where will we be tomorrow?
In the shrine of life, who will end up with whom?
O youth and grace, where will we be tomorrow?
In the shrine of life, who will end up with whom?
We all came together in love,
We lived our days dancing and singing,
We nurtured a thousand thoughts and dreams,
Yet now we are parting and going our own ways,
Yet now we are parting and going our own ways.
O birds that flew in from somewhere,
So many joyful dreams!
We came here as innocent and unknowing souls,
And look how we leave today, wise and learned!
Tomorrow's world will be in our hands,
Both the good and the bad lie with us.
Even the poor will now be rich,
Not everything that rises has to fall!
O birds that flew in from somewhere,
So many joyful dreams!
In desire and romance, only one or two in a hundred remain,
Yet we lived together as brother and sister.
I have a brother who is like the poet Kamban,
Whom people praise as a king of verse.
I think of his face today,
And my heart aches over our parting.
O birds that flew in from somewhere,
So many joyful dreams!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song uses the metaphor of migratory birds arriving from distant lands to reflect on human relationships, fleeting youth, and the inevitability of parting ways. The singer reminisces about precious moments spent with companions who, despite having no blood relation, formed deep emotional ties. The lyrics express philosophical reflections on life's unpredictable trajectory, questioning who truly belongs to whom as time moves forward.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagandhu)

Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae

Human beings coming together temporarily in life are poetically metaphorized as migratory birds arriving from unknown places.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae / Eththanaiyo inba kanavugalae

The matching end suffixes ('-gae' / '-alae') create a lyrical rhythm typical of classical Tamil songwriting.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Bedhaigalaai nyaanamindri ingu vanthenna / Medhaigalaai nyaanigalaai indru sovathenna

The second consonant 'dha' (da) rhymes across both lines ('Bedhaigalaai' and 'Medhaigalaai').

Allusion (Kurippani)

Kambanai pol oru annan undu

Refers to Kamban, the legendary medieval Tamil poet who wrote the Kamba Ramayanam, to elevate the status and nobility of the elder brother figure.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Engiruntho vantha paravaigalae' features music by M. S. Viswanathan and lyrics by Kannadasan, a celebrated duo in Tamil cinema history. Sung expressively by P. Susheela, the song captures Kannadasan's signature philosophical style where deep life lessons are integrated seamlessly into personal nostalgia.

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