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Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Enna Desamo

From Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
K. J. Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
13 Sept 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Enna dhesamo
Idhu enna dhesamo
Ingu poigal koodiyae
Oru niyaayam pesumo
Dharmam thongi pogumo
Needhi vellumo ingu naeraagumo
Enna dhesamo
Idhu enna dhesamo
Inba thunbam enbathu
Iravu pagalai pondrathu
Kaalam naalai maaralaam
Kaayam ellam aaralaam
Kaalam naalai maaralaam
Kaayam ellam aaralaam
Sogam enna thozhanae
Soozhchchi velvaai veeraanae
Edhirththu nindru poridu
Indru ooivedu nee indru ooivedu
Enna dhesamo
Idhu enna dhesamo
Pirakkum podhum perillai
Irakkum pothum perillai
Idaiyil thaanae kuzhappangal
Vaazhkkaiyodu vazhakkugal
Idaiyil thaanae kuzhappangal
Vaazhkkaiyodu vazhakkugal
Jeyikka pogum maanidaa
Mayakkam ingae yaenadaa
Uruthiyodu keladaa
Unmai neeyadaa oo unmai neeyadaa
Enna dhesamo
Idhu enna dhesamo
Ingu poigal koodiyae
Oru niyaayam pesumo
Dharmam thongi pogumo
Needhi vellumo ingu naeraagumo
Enna dhesamo
Idhu enna dhesamo
What kind of land is this?
Oh, what kind of land is this?
Can lies gather together here
and preach about justice?
Will righteousness fall asleep?
Will justice triumph, or will it take time here?
What kind of land is this?
Oh, what kind of land is this?
Joy and sorrow
are like night and day.
Times may change tomorrow,
and every wound may heal.
Times may change tomorrow,
and every wound may heal.
Why this grief, my friend?
You will defeat their schemes, brave one!
Stand firm and fight back,
take rest today, just rest for today.
What kind of land is this?
Oh, what kind of land is this?
We have no name when we are born,
we have no name when we die.
The confusion is only in between,
along with our struggles against life.
The confusion is only in between,
along with our struggles against life.
O human destined to win,
why are you feeling lost?
Listen with steady conviction:
you are the truth, oh, you are the truth!
What kind of land is this?
Oh, what kind of land is this?
Can lies gather together here
and preach about justice?
Will righteousness fall asleep?
Will justice triumph, or will it take time here?
What kind of land is this?
Oh, what kind of land is this?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Enna Dhesamo' is a poignant, socially reflective song from the 1985 movie 'Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal'. Written by Vairamuthu, the song acts as a philosophical critique of societal injustice, questioning a corrupt world where lies gather to lecture on righteousness and justice appears endangered. It functions both as an existential commentary on the human condition and as a source of solace for a protagonist facing systemic betrayal. Narratively, the song offers profound comfort and motivation to a grieving hero. It reassures him that suffering is transient like night giving way to day, and that time heals all emotional wounds. By highlighting that humans arrive in this world nameless and leave nameless, the lyrics urge the protagonist not to be paralyzed by temporary legal battles and deceit, but to rise with courage and realize his own intrinsic truth and capacity for triumph.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Inba thunbam enbathu / Iravu pagalai pondrathu

The lyrics compare the alternating cycle of pleasure and pain to the natural transition of night and day using the explicit comparative word 'pondrathu' (like).

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Kaalam naalai maaralaam / Kaayam ellam aaralaam

The second letter 'la' (ல) / 'ya' (ய) sound rhythmically matches across lines while maintaining an identical long initial vowel 'Kaa' (கா).

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Pirakkum podhum perillai / Irakkum pothum perillai

Both consecutive lines end with the exact same phrase 'perillai' (no name), creating an echoing end rhyme.

Muran (Antithesis)

Inba thunbam / Iravu pagalai

Uses contrasting antonym pairs—joy/sorrow (Inba/Thunbam) and night/day (Iravu/Pagalai)—to highlight the dualities of life.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in 'Un Kannil Neer Vazhindal' (1985), a film directed by Balu Mahendra starring Rajinikanth and Ambika. Though the film's music was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, the track carries a deeply contemplative tone typical of the director-composer duo's collaborations. Lyricist Vairamuthu's lines skillfully blend philosophical existentialism with the dramatic needs of a story centered on legal and social injustice.

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