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Valli album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Enna Enna Kanavu

From Valli · 1993

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Ilayaraja, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Valli
Movie release year
1993
Lyrics added on
30 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Enna enna kanavu
Kandaaiyo saami
Vaazhkai oru kanavudhaan
Aiyaa saami
Ondrai undhan manam
Kettadhu andha
Ondrum veru idam ponadhu
Kaiyil varum ena
Paarththadhu indru
Kai nazhuvi yen ponadhu
Enna enna kanavu
Kandaaiyo saami
Vaazhkai oru kanavudhaan aiyaa
Odai kulir odai ena
Maangal nambi odum
Velai adhu kodai ezhum
Kaanal endru maarum
Nenjodu thondrugindra
Nesam yaavum
Nillaamal oodugindra neer vegam
Kannodu kaanugindra
Kolam yaavum
Thanneeril pottu vaiththa kodaagum
Vazhikku vandhadhu thunaiyaa
Illai vazhukki vittidum vinaiyaa
Idhai ennendru solvadhu
Siththira padhumaiyae
Enna enna kanavu
Kandaaiyo maanae
Vaazhkai oru kanavudhaanadi
Om… om…om om..(2)
Ommm ooommm omm ooommm
Omm ommm oommm ooommm ..(2)
Kaalai andhi maalai
Indha paavai seiyum yaagam
Chorus :Om… om…om om
Naalai nalla velai
Vandhu sera nirai verum
Chorus :Om… om…om om
Pollaadhu bhoomiyilae
Pennin paavam
Naalaana podhum adhu theeraadhu
Vellaadhu ponadhillai
Pennin nyaayam
Undaana needhi ingu maaraadhu
Varattum endringu iruppaal
Chorus :Om… om…
Male :Dharmam jaikkum
Endrival poruppaal
Chorus :Om… om…
Male :Indha uththama pathini
Thathuvam thavarumo
Enna enna kanavu
Kandaaiyo maanae
Vaazhkai oru kanavudhaanadi
Maanae
Seidha thavam mudivaanadhu
Maanae
Naliravum vidivaanadhu
Unmai ingu thelivaanadhu maanae
Poimai indru veliyaanadhu
Enna enna kanavu
Kandaaiyo maanae
Vaazhkai oru kanavudhaanadi
What kind of dreams
did you dream, my friend?
Life is just a dream,
oh dear friend.
Your heart longed
for one thing, but
that went somewhere else.
What you expected
to reach your hands today,
why did it slip through your fingers?
What kind of dreams
did you dream, my friend?
Life is just a dream, oh friend.
Believing it to be a cool stream,
the deer runs in hope,
only for it to turn into
a summer mirage.
All the love
that arises in the heart
is like rushing water that never stays.
All the sights
that the eyes behold
are merely lines drawn on water.
Was what walked with you a true companion,
or a fate that makes you stumble and fall?
How do I even explain this,
oh painted doll?
What kind of dreams
did you dream, my gentle deer?
Life is just a dream, girl.
Om… Om… Om Om..
Ommm Ooommm Ommm Ooommm
Ommm Oommm Ooommm Ooommm ..
Morning, dusk, and evening,
the prayer this maiden performs,
Chorus: Om… Om… Om Om
tomorrow, when the right time comes,
will surely be fulfilled.
Chorus: Om… Om… Om Om
On this earth, terrible is
the sin committed against a woman;
even as days go by, it never goes away.
It has never failed to win—
the rightful justice of a woman;
the true justice here will never change.
She will wait here saying, 'Let whatever comes arrive';
Chorus: Om… Om…
Male: Believing righteousness will triumph,
she will endure patiently.
Chorus: Om… Om…
Male: Can the truth and virtue
of this noble woman ever fail?
What kind of dreams
did you dream, my gentle deer?
Life is just a dream, girl.
My gentle deer,
the penance you did has reached its end.
My gentle deer,
the chilly night has broken into dawn.
The truth has become clear here, my gentle deer,
and the falsehood has been exposed today.
What kind of dreams
did you dream, my gentle deer?
Life is just a dream, girl.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Enna Enna Kanavu from the movie Valli (1993) is a deeply philosophical song exploring themes of unfulfilled desires, impermanence, and the ultimate victory of righteousness (Dharma). The song begins by comparing human dreams and expectations to fleeting illusions—such as a mirage pursued by thirsty deer or lines drawn on water that vanish instantly. It reflects on how life's promises can slip away unexpectedly, leaving one questioning fate and companionship. In the second half, the tone shifts toward hope, patience, and divine justice. It highlights a woman's silent endurance and spiritual penance (yaagam) against hardship. Emphasizing that truth and justice for a righteous woman will never fail, the song concludes triumphantly as darkness gives way to dawn, exposing falsehoods and establishing the ultimate truth.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vaazhkai oru kanavudhaan”

Compares life directly to a dream to highlight its temporary and unpredictable nature.

Simile (Uvamai Ani)

“Thanneeril pottu vaiththa kodaagum”

Compares human hopes and visions to lines drawn on water, symbolizing fleeting and temporary reality.

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Pollaadhu bhoomiyilae / Vellaadhu ponadhillai”

The second consonant sound 'll' (ல்) rhymes across lines 40 and 43.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“mudivaanadhu / vidivaanadhu / thelivaanadhu / veliyaanadhu”

The recurring '-aanadhu' ending creates a rhythmic, melodic structure across lines 57 to 61.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie Valli (1993) holds special historical significance in Tamil cinema as it was written and produced by Superstar Rajinikanth, marking his screenwriting debut. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by legendary lyricist Vaali.

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