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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennada Life Idhu

From Oh My Kadavule · 2019

Lyricist
Ko Sesha
Singer
Santhosh Narayanan
Music director
Leon James
Details
Oh My Kadavule2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Alarm kaadhukkullaInside the ear, the alarm
Ooonu sangu oodhaBlares like a funeral conch
Thallaadi bed-ah vittuStumbling out of bed
Mabbaaga ezhundhu pogaWaking up feeling groggy and dazed
Male
Toilet kulla koodaEven inside the toilet
To do list mind-il odaThe to-do list runs in the mind
Mokka poduthaeIt is so boring and tedious
Indha vaazhkaiyaeThis life of mine
Male
Naasthaava thattil pottuSlapping breakfast onto the plate
Fast-aaga kottikkittuGulping it down super fast
Bike oda sandai pottuWrestling with the bike
Kick start-ah panni vittuKick-starting it to get moving
Male
One way-il wrong-ah poondhuEntering a one-way street from the wrong direction
O word-il thittu vaangiGetting cursed with obscene words
Mokka poduthaeIt is so boring and tedious
Indha vaazhkaiyaeThis life of mine
Male
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Oh stuck aagi nikkudhuOh, it stands completely stuck
Oh stuck aagi nikkudhuOh, it stands completely stuck
Male
Oh ennadaa life idhuOh, what kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Vidivu kaalam porakka thaanFor better times to dawn
Break the cycle-uBreak the cycle!
Male
Cabin kulla boss-uInside the cabin, the boss
Kooptu vachi senjiCalls us in and gives us a tough time
Kevla padithi naalumEven though he humilitates us
Cool-ah sirikkiromWe just smile coolly
Male
Increment-ah kettaWhen we ask for an increment
Next year undu"You will get it next year"
HR solla kettuListening to what HR says
Suththi alaiyaromWe wander around aimlessly
Male
Healthu gone-u gone-uHealth is completely gone and ruined
BMI-um kenjaEven the BMI begs for mercy
Wealth enga maamuWhere is the wealth, my friend?
EMI-ah minjaThe EMI exceeds everything
Male
9 to 6 lifeuA regular 9 to 6 life
Nachchu pannum wifeuA nagging wife
Rendum onnu dhaanBoth are just the same
Oosi pona bunnu naanI am like a spoiled, stale bun
Male
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Aa…aa..oh ohhhAa…aa..oh ohhh
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Oh stuck aagi nikkudhuOh, it stands completely stuck
Aa…aa..oh ohhhAa…aa..oh ohhh
Male
Oh ennadaa life idhuOh, what kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Aa…aa..oh ohhhAa…aa..oh ohhh
Vidivu kaalam porakka thaanFor better times to dawn
Break the cycle-uBreak the cycle!
Male
Neruppu maadhiriLike fire
Velai seivom kumaaruWe will work, Kumaru!
Thyagam thaan unnai uyarthumOnly sacrifice will elevate you
(Dialogue)(Dialogue)
Male
Enna enna enna enna..What, what, what, what..
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Male
Indha vethu job ini seiyaTo do this useless job anymore
Vaalu aattum dog-u naan illaI am not a dog that wags its tail
Rosham yerum neramJust when self-respect and anger surge
Phone-ah paathaaLooking at the phone
Female :Your salary has been creditedFemale voice: Your salary has been credited
Male
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Aa…aa..oh ohhhAa…aa..oh ohhh
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Oh stuck aagi nikkudhuOh, it stands completely stuck
Aa…aa..oh ohhhAa…aa..oh ohhh
Male
Oh ennadaa life idhuOh, what kind of life is this, man?
Ennadaa life idhuWhat kind of life is this, man?
Aa…aa..oh ohhhAa…aa..oh ohhh
Vidivu kaalam porakka thaanFor better times to dawn
Break the cycle-uBreak the cycle!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ennada Life Idhu' from 'Oh My Kadavule' captures the humorous yet frustrating daily rat race experienced by an average corporate employee. From annoying morning alarms, rushed breakfasts, and traffic hassles to demanding bosses, unfulfilled salary promises, health problems, and endless EMIs, the lyrics paint a vivid, relatable picture of modern working-class struggles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile

Oosi pona bunnu naan

Compares the protagonist's exhausted state to a stale, spoiled bun.

Metaphor

Ooonu sangu oodha

Metaphorically compares the sound of a loud morning alarm clock to the blare of a death/funeral conch shell.

Metaphor

Vaalu aattum dog-u naan illa

Compares an overly subservient corporate employee to a tail-wagging dog.

Iyaipu (Rhyme)

Healthu gone-u gone-u / BMI-um kenja / Wealth enga maamu / EMI-ah minja

Internal and end-rhyming patterns between words like health, wealth, kenja, and minja across successive lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as Unknown in the prompt, the music for 'Oh My Kadavule' was composed by Leon James, and this popular track 'Ennada Life Idhu' was sung by the acclaimed composer-singer Santhosh Narayanan. The lyrics were penned by Ko Sesha, capturing young corporate culture with widespread popularity.

Keep listening

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