Enna Satham Indha Neram
From Punnagai Mannan · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Punnagai Mannan1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life? |
| Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river? |
| Kiligal mutham tharudhaa | Are the parrots kissing each other? |
| Adhanaal satham varudhaa…adadaa…aa.. | Is that why this sound is coming... ah... |
| Male | |
| Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life? |
| Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river? |
| Male | |
| Kannathil muthathin eeram adhu kaayavilaiyae | The wetness of the kiss on her cheek hasn't dried yet. |
| Kangalil enn andha kanneer adhu yaaraalae | Why are there tears in those eyes, and because of whom? |
| Kanniyin kazhuthai paarthaal manamagavilaiyae | Looking at the maiden's neck, she hasn't become a bride yet. |
| Kaadhalan madiyil poothaal oru poopolae | She bloomed like a flower on her lover's lap. |
| Male | |
| Mannavanae un vizhiyaal pen vizhiyai moodu | Oh beloved, cover the maiden's eyes with your gaze. |
| Aadharavaai saaindhuvitaal aariraroo paadu | She has leaned on you for support, sing her a lullaby. |
| Aariraroo ivar yaar evaroo badhil solvaar yaaroo | A lullaby... who are these lovers, and who will answer? |
| Male | |
| Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life? |
| Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river? |
| Kiligal mutham tharudhaa | Are the parrots kissing each other? |
| Adhanaal satham varudhaa…adadaa…aa.. | Is that why this sound is coming... ah... |
| Male | |
| Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life? |
| Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river? |
| Male | |
| Koondhalil nuzhindha kaigal oru kolam podudhoo | Are the hands running through her hair drawing a decorative pattern? |
| Thannilai marandha penmai adhai thaangadhoo | Can womanhood, having forgotten itself, bear this feeling? |
| Udhattil thudikkum vaarthai adhu ularndhu ponadhoo | Did the word quivering on the lips dry up? |
| Ullangal thudikkum oosai isai aagaadhoo | Won't the sound of beating hearts turn into music? |
| Male | |
| Mangaiyival vaaithirandhaal malligaippoo vaasam | If this young woman opens her mouth, it smells of jasmine flowers. |
| Odaiyellaam pen peyarai uchcharithae pesum | All the streams speak by pronouncing the young woman's name. |
| Yaar ivargal iru poonguyilgal ilam kaadhal maangal | Who are they? Two sweet songbirds, young deer in love. |
| Male | |
| Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life? |
| Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river? |
| Kiligal mutham tharudhaa | Are the parrots kissing each other? |
| Adhanaal satham varudhaa…adadaa…aa.. | Is that why this sound is coming... ah... |
| Male | |
| Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life? |
| Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa…. | What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?... |
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த
நேரம் உயிரின் ஒளியா
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த நேரம்
நதியின் ஒளியா கிளிகள்
முத்தம் தருதா அதனால்
சத்தம் வருதா அடடா ஆ
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Are the parrots kissing each other?
Is that why this sound is coming... ah...
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த
நேரம் உயிரின் ஒளியா
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த நேரம்
நதியின் ஒளியா
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
கன்னத்தில்
முத்தத்தின் ஈரம் அது
காயவில்லையே கண்களில்
ஏன் அந்த கண்ணீர் அது யாராலே
கன்னியின் கழுத்தை பார்த்தால்
மணமாகவில்லையே காதலன்
மடியில் பூத்தாள் ஒரு பூ போலே
The wetness of the kiss on her cheek hasn't dried yet.
Why are there tears in those eyes, and because of whom?
Looking at the maiden's neck, she hasn't become a bride yet.
She bloomed like a flower on her lover's lap.
மன்னவனே உன்
விழியால் பெண் விழியை
மூடு ஆதரவாய் சாய்ந்து
விட்டால் ஆரிராரோ பாடு
ஆரிராரோ இவர் யார் எவரோ
பதில் சொல்வார் யாரோ
Oh beloved, cover the maiden's eyes with your gaze.
She has leaned on you for support, sing her a lullaby.
A lullaby... who are these lovers, and who will answer?
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த
நேரம் உயிரின் ஒளியா
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த நேரம்
நதியின் ஒளியா கிளிகள்
முத்தம் தருதா அதனால்
சத்தம் வருதா அடடா ஆ
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Are the parrots kissing each other?
Is that why this sound is coming... ah...
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த
நேரம் உயிரின் ஒளியா
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த நேரம்
நதியின் ஒளியா
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
கூந்தலில் நுழைந்த
கைகள் ஒரு கோலம் போடுதோ
தன்னிலை மறந்த பெண்மை
அதை தாங்காதோ உதட்டில்
துடிக்கும் வார்த்தை அது உலர்ந்து
போனதோ உள்ளங்கள் துடிக்கும்
ஓசை இசை ஆகாதோ
Are the hands running through her hair drawing a decorative pattern?
Can womanhood, having forgotten itself, bear this feeling?
Did the word quivering on the lips dry up?
Won't the sound of beating hearts turn into music?
மங்கையிவள் வாய்
திறந்தால் மல்லிகை பூ வாசம்
ஓடையெல்லாம் பெண் பெயரை
உச்சரித்தே பேசும் யார் இவர்கள்
இரு பூங்குயில்கள் இளம் காதல்
மான்கள்
If this young woman opens her mouth, it smells of jasmine flowers.
All the streams speak by pronouncing the young woman's name.
Who are they? Two sweet songbirds, young deer in love.
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த
நேரம் உயிரின் ஒளியா
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த நேரம்
நதியின் ஒளியா கிளிகள்
முத்தம் தருதா அதனால்
சத்தம் வருதா அடடா ஆ
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Are the parrots kissing each other?
Is that why this sound is coming... ah...
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த
நேரம் உயிரின் ஒளியா
என்ன சத்தம் இந்த நேரம்
நதியின் ஒளியா
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?...
Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Kiligal mutham tharudhaa
Are the parrots kissing each other?
Adhanaal satham varudhaa…adadaa…aa..
Is that why this sound is coming... ah...
Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Kannathil muthathin eeram adhu kaayavilaiyae
The wetness of the kiss on her cheek hasn't dried yet.
Kangalil enn andha kanneer adhu yaaraalae
Why are there tears in those eyes, and because of whom?
Kanniyin kazhuthai paarthaal manamagavilaiyae
Looking at the maiden's neck, she hasn't become a bride yet.
Kaadhalan madiyil poothaal oru poopolae
She bloomed like a flower on her lover's lap.
Mannavanae un vizhiyaal pen vizhiyai moodu
Oh beloved, cover the maiden's eyes with your gaze.
Aadharavaai saaindhuvitaal aariraroo paadu
She has leaned on you for support, sing her a lullaby.
Aariraroo ivar yaar evaroo badhil solvaar yaaroo
A lullaby... who are these lovers, and who will answer?
Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Kiligal mutham tharudhaa
Are the parrots kissing each other?
Adhanaal satham varudhaa…adadaa…aa..
Is that why this sound is coming... ah...
Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Koondhalil nuzhindha kaigal oru kolam podudhoo
Are the hands running through her hair drawing a decorative pattern?
Thannilai marandha penmai adhai thaangadhoo
Can womanhood, having forgotten itself, bear this feeling?
Udhattil thudikkum vaarthai adhu ularndhu ponadhoo
Did the word quivering on the lips dry up?
Ullangal thudikkum oosai isai aagaadhoo
Won't the sound of beating hearts turn into music?
Mangaiyival vaaithirandhaal malligaippoo vaasam
If this young woman opens her mouth, it smells of jasmine flowers.
Odaiyellaam pen peyarai uchcharithae pesum
All the streams speak by pronouncing the young woman's name.
Yaar ivargal iru poonguyilgal ilam kaadhal maangal
Who are they? Two sweet songbirds, young deer in love.
Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?
Kiligal mutham tharudhaa
Are the parrots kissing each other?
Adhanaal satham varudhaa…adadaa…aa..
Is that why this sound is coming... ah...
Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of life?
Enna satham indha neram nadhiyin oliyaa….
What is this sound at this moment? Is it the sound of the river?...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Enna Satham Indha Neram' is a hauntingly poignant and romantic song from the movie 'Punnagai Mannan'. The track captures a serene yet tragic moment between two young lovers who have chosen to take a extreme step due to societal pressure blocking their union. The lyrics blend the sounds of nature—rivers flowing, birds chirping, gentle breezes—with the deep, intimate emotional world of the couple. Written with poetic delicacy by Vairamuthu, the song poses gentle, reflective questions about life, love, and fate. It depicts innocence and vulnerable romance in the lap of nature, masking an underlying melancholy as the lovers share what feels like their final tender moments together. The song beautifully balances tenderness with an overarching sense of destiny and tragic beauty.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Kannathil muthathin eeram / Kangalil enn andha kanneer”
The second consonant sound 'n' (ன/ண்) rhymes across the consecutive lines, establishing Tamil rhythmic flow.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Kaadhalan madiyil poothaal oru poopolae”
The woman resting on her lover's lap is explicitly compared to a flower blooming ('oru poopolae').
Metaphor (Uvagam)
“Yaar ivargal iru poonguyilgal ilam kaadhal maangal”
The lovers are directly metaphorized as two singing cuckoos ('poonguyilgal') and young deer in love ('ilam kaadhal maangal').
Rhetorical Question
“Enna satham indha neram uyirin oliyaa”
The song opens with poetic inquiry, questioning whether the sound heard is that of nature, a river, or life itself.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Enna Satham Indha Neram' is composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung brilliantly by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam. In the film 'Punnagai Mannan' directed by K. Balachander, this song accompanies a dramatic opening sequence where Kamal Haasan and Rekha play tragic lovers jumping off a waterfall. The track is renowned for its lush orchestration, peaceful acoustic guitar work, and memorable flute preludes, making it one of the most iconic romantic lullabies in Tamil cinema history.
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