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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ennai Yaar Endru

From Palum Pazhamum · 1961

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
M. S. Viswanathan Ramamoorthy
Details
Palum Pazhamum1961

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{Ennai yaarendru enni enniThinking who I am, thinking repeatedly,
Nee paarkkiraaiyou look at me.
Idhu yaar paadum paadalendruAsking whose song this is that is being sung,
Nee ketkiraai} (2)you ask.
Male
Naan aval perai dhinam paadumAm I not the cuckoo bird that daily sings her name,
Kuyilallavaa…aaais that not so?
En paadal aval thanthaIs not my song the very language
Mozhiyallavaa…that she bestowed upon me?
Male
Ennai yaarendru enni enniThinking who I am, thinking repeatedly,
Nee paarkkiraaiyou look at me.
Idhu yaar paadum paadalendruAsking whose song this is that is being sung,
Nee ketkiraaiyou ask.
Female
{Endrum silaiyaanaForever turned to stone,
Un deivam pesaathaiyaayour deity will not speak, sir.
Sarugaana malar meendumA flower that has withered into dry leaves
Malaraathaiyaa} (2)will not bloom again, sir.
Female
Kanavaana kadhai meendumA story that became a dream
Thodaraathaiyaawill not continue again, sir.
Kanavaana kadhai meendumA story that became a dream
Thodaraathaiyaawill not continue again, sir.
Kaatraana aval vaazhvuHer life, which turned into the wind,
Thirumbaathaiyaa…..will not return, sir...
Female
Ennai yaarendru enni enniThinking who I am, thinking repeatedly,
Nee paarkkiraaiyou look at me.
Idhu yaar paadum paadalendruAsking whose song this is that is being sung,
Nee ketkiraaiyou ask.
Ennai yaarendru enni enniThinking who I am, thinking repeatedly,
Nee paarkkiraai….you look at me...
Male
{Enthan mana kovil silaiyaagaAs a statue in the temple of my heart,
Valarnthaalammaashe grew up, madam.
Malarodu malaraagaAs a flower alongside other flowers,
Malarnthaalammaa} (2)she bloomed, madam.
Male
Kanavennum thaer yeriRiding on a chariot made of dreams,
Paranthaalammaashe flew away, madam.
Kanavennum thaer yeriRiding on a chariot made of dreams,
Paranthaalammaashe flew away, madam.
Kaatrodu kaatraagaMerging with the wind as wind itself,
Kalanthaalammaa…she dissolved, madam...
Male
Ennai yaarendru enni enniThinking who I am, thinking repeatedly,
Nee paarkkiraaiyou look at me.
Idhu yaar paadum paadalendruAsking whose song this is that is being sung,
Nee ketkiraaiyou ask.
Female
Indru unakkaaga uyir vaazhumToday, living her life only for you,
Thunaiyillaiyaais there not a companion?
Aval oli veesum ezhil kondaIs she not a radiant and beautiful
Silaiyillaiyaastatue of grace?
Female
Aval vaazhvu nee thandhaHer present life is a blessing given by you,
Varamallavaais it not?
Aval vaazhvu nee thandhaHer present life is a blessing given by you,
Varamallavaais it not?
Anbodu avaloduWith love, alongside her,
Magizhvaai aiyaa….live happily, sir...
Female
Ennai yaarendru enni enniThinking who I am, thinking repeatedly,
Nee paarkkiraai….aaa…aa…you look at me...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Ennai Yaarendru Enni Enni' from the classic 1961 film 'Palum Pazhamum' is a soulful, philosophical lament on love, loss, and acceptance. Sung from the perspective of a wandering singer or observer who understands the deep emotional turmoil of the protagonist, the lyrics compare lost love to a flower that has withered, a statue that cannot speak, or a dream that cannot be resumed once ended. Kannadasan's profound verses urge the listener to let go of dead memories that have dissolved like the wind and instead embrace the living companion who stands before them. The song moves from tragic mourning for a lost past to a gentle plea for emotional healing and moving forward with life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Enthan mana kovil silaiyaaga

Compares the heart to a temple ('mana kovil') where the loved one resides as an enshrined deity.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Sarugaana malar meendum malaraathaiyaa

Compares lost love/life to a withered flower ('sarugaana malar') that can never bloom again.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Valarnthaalammaa / Malarnthaalammaa / Paranthaalammaa / Kalanthaalammaa

Consistent end-rhyming using the suffix '-aalammaa' across consecutive lines creates a rhythmic, song-like cadence.

Personification

Kaatraana aval vaazhvu thirumbaathaiyaa

Personifies a person's departed life as the intangible wind ('kaatraana aval vaazhvu') that cannot return.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Palum Pazhamum' (1961) is a celebrated Tamil drama directed by A. Bhimsingh, starring Sivaji Ganesan, B. Saroja Devi, and Sowcar Janaki. The music was composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy, with lyrics by Kannadasan. This particular track, sung powerfully by T. M. Soundararajan (TMS), is renowned for its haunting melody and poignant philosophy about accepting reality over past heartbreak.

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