Engu Pirandhadhu
From Vishwa Thulasi · 2004
- Lyricist
- Isaignani Ilayaraja
- Music directors
- M. S. Vishwanathan, Ilayaraja
- Details
- Vishwa Thulasi2004
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Engu pirandhadhu | Where was it born? |
| Engu valarndhadhu | Where did it grow? |
| Sippi thandha muthukkal | The pearls gifted by the shell, |
| Female | |
| Indru thoduthadhu | Strung together today, |
| Endru thodarndhadhu | Since when did it continue, |
| Anbu ennum kattukkul | Within the tight bond of love? |
| Male | |
| Indha maalai seiyum kazhuthu | The neck that adorns this garland, |
| Yaar ezhudhi vaitha ezhuthu | Whose pre-destined script is this? |
| Solladi solladi kannammaa | Tell me, oh tell me, my dear Kannamma! |
| Female | |
| Kaiyil kidaithadhu | That which was received in hand, |
| Yaar idhai korthadhu | Who threaded this together? |
| Ennendru solluvadhu | How does one even describe it? |
| Male | |
| Indru nadappadhu | That which is happening today, |
| Enna vilangudhu | What can be understood from it? |
| Kaalathin kelvi idhu | This is a question posed by time itself. |
| Female | |
| Nalla vairam koorum manigalil | Among the gems declaring fine diamonds, |
| Engum mangalam paadum oligalil | In the sounds echoing auspiciousness everywhere. |
எங்கு பிறந்தது
எங்கு வளர்ந்தது
சிப்பி தந்த முத்துக்கள்
Where was it born?
Where did it grow?
The pearls gifted by the shell,
இன்று தொடுத்தது
என்று தொடர்ந்தது
அன்பு என்னும் கட்டுக்குள்
Strung together today,
Since when did it continue,
Within the tight bond of love?
இந்த மாலை சேரும் கழுத்து
யார் எழுதி வைத்த எழுத்து
சொல்லடி சொல்லடி கண்ணம்மா
The neck that adorns this garland,
Whose pre-destined script is this?
Tell me, oh tell me, my dear Kannamma!
கையில் கிடைத்தது
யார் இதை கோர்த்தது
என்னென்று சொல்லுவது
That which was received in hand,
Who threaded this together?
How does one even describe it?
இன்று நடப்பது
என்ன விளங்குது
காலத்தின் கேள்வி இது
That which is happening today,
What can be understood from it?
This is a question posed by time itself.
நல்ல வைரம் கூறும் மணிகளில்
எங்கும் மங்கலம் பாடும் ஒலிகளில்
Among the gems declaring fine diamonds,
In the sounds echoing auspiciousness everywhere.
இது என்னடி என்னடி கண்ணம்மா.......
Engu pirandhadhu
Where was it born?
Engu valarndhadhu
Where did it grow?
Sippi thandha muthukkal
The pearls gifted by the shell,
Indru thoduthadhu
Strung together today,
Endru thodarndhadhu
Since when did it continue,
Anbu ennum kattukkul
Within the tight bond of love?
Indha maalai seiyum kazhuthu
The neck that adorns this garland,
Yaar ezhudhi vaitha ezhuthu
Whose pre-destined script is this?
Solladi solladi kannammaa
Tell me, oh tell me, my dear Kannamma!
Kaiyil kidaithadhu
That which was received in hand,
Yaar idhai korthadhu
Who threaded this together?
Ennendru solluvadhu
How does one even describe it?
Indru nadappadhu
That which is happening today,
Enna vilangudhu
What can be understood from it?
Kaalathin kelvi idhu
This is a question posed by time itself.
Nalla vairam koorum manigalil
Among the gems declaring fine diamonds,
Engum mangalam paadum oligalil
In the sounds echoing auspiciousness everywhere.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song reflects on the mysterious and divine nature of love and destiny. Using the imagery of pearls created in shells and strung into a beautiful garland, the narrator marvels at how two lives are brought together under the sacred bond of love. The lyrics ask deep philosophical questions about where love originates, how it matures, and who writes the script of human fate. Addressing 'Kannamma' affectionately, the speaker ponders the events unfolding in the present as eternal questions posed by time. Set against an auspicious backdrop of traditional celebrations, the song captures a feeling of wonderment at the pre-ordained connections that shape human relationships.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Engu pirandhadhu / Engu valarndhadhu”
The repetition of the initial word/sound 'Engu' at the beginning of consecutive lines creates a rhythmic musical start.
Ethugai (Second Letter Assonance)
“Indru thoduthadhu / Endru thodarndhadhu”
The second consonant sound 'ndru' matches across the lines, providing a classical Tamil poetic rhyme scheme.
Metaphor
“Sippi thandha muthukkal... Anbu ennum kattukkul”
Comparing precious life moments and bonds of affection to rare pearls originating from shells, bound together into a necklace.
Rhetorical Question
“Yaar ezhudhi vaitha ezhuthu / Kaalathin kelvi idhu”
Posing questions about who wrote fate and framing life events as queries from Time itself to emphasize mysterious destiny.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Vishwa Thulasi' (2004) is a notable art-house film starring Mammootty and Nandita Das, directed by Sumathy Ram. The film is famous in Tamil cinema music history because it features music composed jointly by both legends M. S. Viswanathan and Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics for this soulful track were penned by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja himself.
Keep listening
More from Vishwa Thulasi
Vishwa Thulasi
Vishwa Thulasi
Vishwa Thulasi
Vishwa Thulasi
Vishwa Thulasi
Vishwa Thulasi