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Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Enna Vithiyasam

From Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai · 1982

Lyricist
Jayakanthan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Gangai Amaran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
23 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam …haa
Aanukkum ponnukkum enna vithiyaasam
Aandavan padaippinilae chinna vithiyaasam
Anbukkum veruppukkum enna vithiyaasam
Anubavithu sollugiren chinna vithiyaasam mandu
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Inbathukkum thunbathukkum enna vithiyaasam
Idhayam iruppavarkku chinna vithiyaasam
Edadhukkum valadhukkum enna vithiyaasam
Indha pakkam andha pakkam chinna vithiyaasam
Hmm hmm
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam epdi daa
Porappukkum yerappukkum enna vithiyaasam
Ponavar varuvadhu pol chinna vithiyaasam
Samsaarikkum sanniyaasikkum enna vithiyaasam
Sandhaanam illai endraal chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam mela po
Amangalikkum sumangalikkum enna vithiyaasam
Azhagaaga pottu vechaa chinna vithiyaasam
Enakkum ungalukkum enna vithiyaasam
Irukkum idan thanilae chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
Enna vithiyaasam
Chinna vithiyaasam
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference... ha...
What is the difference between a man and a woman?
In God's creation, a small difference.
What is the difference between love and hate?
I speak from experience, a small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference between joy and sorrow?
For those with a heart, a small difference.
What is the difference between left and right?
This side and that side, a small difference.
Hmm hmm
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference, how is that, buddy?
What is the difference between birth and death?
Like the one who departed returning, a small difference.
What is the difference between a family man and a monk?
If there are no children, a small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference, keep going!
What is the difference between a widow and a married woman?
Just wearing a bindi nicely, a small difference.
What is the difference between you and me?
In the place where we stand, a small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
What is the difference?
A small difference.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This philosophical song from 'Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai', penned by the acclaimed Tamil writer Jayakanthan, ponders the nature of duality in human life. Through a repetitive Q&A structure ('Enna vithiyaasam' / 'Chinna vithiyaasam'), the song lightheartedly yet deeply dismantles fundamental human dichotomies: man and woman, love and hatred, joy and sorrow, left and right, birth and death, family man and ascetic, and even social standing.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

“Inbathukkum thunbathukkum enna vithiyaasam / Idhayam iruppavarkku chinna vithiyaasam”

The second letter 'dha/tha' creates a rhythmic harmony between lines.

Muran (Antithesis)

“Aanukkum ponnukkum enna vithiyaasam”

Contrasts opposites like man and woman, love and hate, birth and death throughout the song.

Repetition / Refrain

“Enna vithiyaasam / Chinna vithiyaasam”

Used consistently to reinforce the overarching philosophical theme of minimal distinction between apparent opposites.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai (1982) is a film based on the celebrated novel of the same name written by Jayakanthan. The legendary writer wrote the lyrics himself for this film, infusing his signature philosophical pragmatism and social commentary into the song.

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