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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennada Pandi

From Valmiki · 2009

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Valmiki2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
{Mudichavukki mollamaariPickpocket and scoundrel,
Mosam pogum poyappidhuThis deceitful life will end in ruin!
Katti vecha kallara koodaEven a constructed tomb
Unna kandu sirikkudhu} (2)Laughs at you! (2)
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
Oyachu setha kaasat thaanThe money saved through hard labor,
Osai illaama uruvuna..uruvunaYou quietly snatched away... snatched away!
Adutha vayithil adichittuDepriving others of their meal,
On vayitha kazhuvuna…kazhuvunaYou fed your own stomach... fed yourself!
Male
Appanum irundhirundhaaIf your father had been around,
Nalla vazhi poyiruppaYou would have walked the good path.
Eppadiyo aayi ippaSomehow, now,
Thappu vazhi poyittiyaeYou have gone down the wrong path!
Male
Unnaala ethanaiyoBecause of you, so many people's
Manaserinju ponadhadaaHearts have burned in pain!
Innaalil athanaiyumWill all those sins today
Summaa unna vittidumaaJust let you go freely?
Senja thavara ellaam ippoAll the mistakes made,
Thirumbi poyi yaarumThere is no news in this world of anyone
Sari senjuputtu thiruthi vandhaGoing back and fixing them,
Saedhi olagil illaTo return completely reformed!
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
Nimmadhiyaa vaazha thaanJust to live peacefully,
Ellaarumae ozhaikkiraan..ozhaikkiraanEveryone works hard... works hard!
Neenda naalu nilaikka thaanTo last for a long time,
Ner vazhiyil sekkuraan..sekkuraanThey earn through righteous means... righteousness!
Male
Irundhaalum dhukkam varumYet sorrow arrives,
Ellaaraiyum suthi suthiCircling around everyone.
Nammaala maaridumaa nallavanukkaeCan we change fate? Even for good people,
Indha gadhiThis is the plight!
Male
Unnoda sangadhi thaanLook at all your misdeeds,
Onnaa rendaa ennippuduAre they just one or two? Count them!
Unnaiyae unakku thaanDo you even like
Pudichirukkaa sollippuduYour own self? Tell me!
Innum irukku vayasuYou still have youth on your side,
Ada ippavaachum thirundhuHey, reform at least now!
Ippa vittupputtaa kettuduvaeIf you miss this chance now, you will be ruined,
Kutti chuvara keluAsk a ruined wall!
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?
Ethanaiyo panniHaving done so many things,
Innaatha nee kandaWhat did you really gain?
Male
{Mudichavukki mollamaariPickpocket and scoundrel,
Mosam pogum poyappidhuThis deceitful life will end in ruin!
Katti vecha kallara koodaEven a constructed tomb
Unna kandu sirikkudhu} (2)Laughs at you! (2)
Male
Ennadaa paandiHey Paandi, what's up?
Innaa panna poraWhat are you going to do?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ennadaa Paandi' from the 2009 movie Valmiki serves as a philosophical reflection and moral questioning directed at the protagonist, Paandi, who lives a life of petty crime and deception. Written in Chennai's colloquial street slang (Madras Baashai), the lyrics address the vanity and ultimate futility of stealing from hard-working people and causing distress to others. The song questions the protagonist's life choices, urging him to reflect on his past mistakes before it is too late. It emphasizes that while time cannot be reversed to undo past sins, there is still an opportunity for personal redemption if he chooses to reform his ways immediately.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Personification

Katti vecha kallara kooda unna kandu sirikkudhu

Attributing human emotions (laughing) to a tomb stone to highlight the absurdity and futility of the protagonist's misdeeds.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Mudichavukki / Mosam

The second consonant 'da/sa' sound pattern creates rhythmic flow between lines in Tamil poetic tradition.

Madras Baashai (Dialect / Idiom)

Innaa panna pora

Use of Chennai local street slang ('Innaa' for 'Enna') to grounds the song in authentic local characterization.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie 'Valmiki' (2009) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by legendary lyricist Vaali. The song uses Chennai's local dialect (Madras Baashai) to realistically portray the world of the protagonist, who is a petty thief.

Keep listening

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