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Dharmam Vellum album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ennathukku Enna Pethaa

From Dharmam Vellum · 1989

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Dharmam Vellum
Movie release year
1989
Lyrics added on
20 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ennathukku enna pethaa aathaa
Appanoda sanda podavaa
Ellaathaiyum ippa enni paathaa
En vidhiya kutham kooravaa
Thaayaa thaan kaakkum pilla
Thandhaikku aagala
Onnumae puriyala rendum kettaan em paadu
Ennathukku enna pethaa aathaa
Appanoda sanda podavaa
Mothathila naanum ippo
Mathalatha pola thaan
Rendu pakkam vaangum adi
En udambu mela thaan
Dharmathukku kaaval ninnae
Thaayin pakkam vaazhuren
Sattathukku kaaval nikkum
Appan kitta modhuren
Yaaraal vandha saabam idhu
Eppo senja paavam
Naanae kettu naanae vaaduren
Sonnaa romba vekkam
Idha sollaatti en dhukkam
Naatta vittu kaattil vaazhuren
Poraadi paakka poren
Yaarunnu kaatta poren
Veeram ulla nenjam ingae thaan ….aaaan
Ennathukku enna pethaa aathaa
Appanoda sanda podavaa
Thaali potta purushan kaiyae
Thookku poda thudikkudhu
Thaai manasu pilla kitta
Kaaranatha maraikkudhu
Than vizhiya kai viralae
Kuthi vida paakkudhu
Ennennavo nadakkudhingae
Marmamaai irukkudhu
Podaa enna vaazhkka
Naan pottu paathaen kanakka
Moonum moonu dhikkil nikkidhu
Pattaal theriyum saami
Idhu pollaadhavan boomi
Needhi nyaayam thookkil thongudhu
Yaedhaedho satta thittam ellaamae romba mattam
Solli cholli kanneer vittaachu…..uuu….
Ennathukku enna pethaa aathaa
Appanoda sanda podavaa
Ellaathaiyum ippa enni paathaa
En vidhiya kutham kooravaa
Thaayaa thaan kaakkum pilla
Thandhaikku aagala
Onnumae puriyala rendum kettaan em paadu
Ennathukku enna pethaa aathaa
Appanoda sanda podavaa
Ellaathaiyum ippa enni paathaa
En vidhiya kutham kooravaa
Why did you give birth to me, Mother?
Just to fight with my father?
When I think about everything now,
Should I blame my fate?
The son who protects his mother
Cannot get along with his father.
I don't understand anything; caught in the middle, what a plight!
Why did you give birth to me, Mother?
Just to fight with my father?
In the end, right now,
I am just like a double-headed drum,
Taking beatings from both sides,
Right upon my body!
Standing guard for righteousness,
I live on my mother's side.
Standing guard for the law,
I clash with my father!
Whose curse brought this upon me?
When was this sin committed?
I ask myself and wither in grief.
If I speak of it, it brings great shame;
If I don't, it is my own sorrow.
Leaving the town behind, I live in the wild.
I am going to fight and see,
I am going to show who I am!
A brave heart beats right here!
Why did you give birth to me, Mother?
Just to fight with my father?
The very hand of the husband who tied the thaali (sacred marriage thread)
Is eager to hang her from the noose!
The mother's heart, from her child,
Hides the true reason.
One's own finger
Tries to poke out one's own eye!
So many strange things happen here,
Everything is a mystery!
Damn it, what a life this is!
I tried to add up the math,
But all three stand in three different directions.
You only know the pain when you suffer it, Lord!
This is a land of wicked men!
Justice and fairness are hanging from the gallows!
All these laws and rules are completely rotten,
Talking about them, I have shed all my tears...
Why did you give birth to me, Mother?
Just to fight with my father?
When I think about everything now,
Should I blame my fate?
The son who protects his mother
Cannot get along with his father.
I don't understand anything; caught in the middle, what a plight!
Why did you give birth to me, Mother?
Just to fight with my father?
When I think about everything now,
Should I blame my fate?
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This emotional song portrays the internal turmoil of a son caught in a tragic conflict between his mother and father. He laments his fate, feeling like a drum struck from both sides as he defends his mother against his father, who represents the law. The protagonist struggles with the hidden mysteries of his family's past, questioning why destiny has placed him in a position where he must fight his own father to uphold justice.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Mathalatha pola thaan / Rendu pakkam vaangum adi

The speaker compares his plight to a 'mathalam' (two-headed drum) getting hit on both sides, symbolizing being caught between father and mother.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Than vizhiya kai viralae kuthi vida paakkudhu

Using 'Than vizhiya kai viralae kuthi vida paakkudhu' (one's own fingers trying to poke out one's eyes) as a metaphor for self-destructive family conflict.

Rhyme (Edhukai / Monai)

Sonnaa romba vekkam / Idha sollaatti en dhukkam

Second letter rhyming across adjacent lines such as 'Sonnaa' and 'Idha sollaatti', or 'Poraadi' and 'Yaarunnu'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dharmam Vellum (1989) stars Vijayakanth and Gautami. The music for the film was composed by Ilaiyaraaja, with impactful lyrics written by the veteran poet Vaali depicting intense familial conflict.

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