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Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai

From Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai · 1982

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

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
Yaettil ezhuthil naattil nadappil
Paattil padathil naam kaattum unmaiyil
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
Mootta sumappavanga mudhugelumbu ullavanga
Mootta sumappavanga mudhugelumbu ullavanga
Naattukkuzhaippavanga narambu mandalanga
Naattukkuzhaippavanga narambu mandalanga
Naalum valaranunga namma naadum sezhikkanunga
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
Kaatti koduppavanga kalla kanakkanunga
Kaatti koduppavanga kalla kanakkanunga
Vaatti vadhaippavanga vatti karappavanga
Vargam ozhiyanunga namma vaazhkkai maaranunga
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
Malaiya pelappavanga maanam kaappavanga
Malaiya pelappavanga maanam kaappavanga
Kalaiya valappavanga kalaiyum eduppavanga
Kalaiya valappavanga kalaiyum eduppavanga
Kadavul uruvamunga avanga kaiyil ulagamunga
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
Udalam eduthavang uyirai valarkkanunga
Udalam eduthavang uyirai valarkkanunga
Kadalai kadappavanga vaanai kaiyil valaippavanga
Kavalai valarkkalaamo
Manidha karuvai azhikkalaamo
Varumai ozhiyanunga vandhadhu valaranunga
Varum mun kaakkanunga vazhiyum irukkudhendraal
Neengal porumai azhithadhaaga
Kadhaigal sollalaamo
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
Yaettil ezhuthil naattil nadappil
Paattil padathil naam kaattum unmaiyil
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvai
How many angles, how many perspectives!
In books, in writing, across the nation, in real life,
In songs, in films, in the truth we show,
How many angles, how many perspectives!
Those who carry heavy loads are the ones with real backbone.
Those who carry heavy loads are the ones with real backbone.
Those who toil for the country are its very life force.
Those who toil for the country are its very life force.
They must grow every day, and our nation must prosper!
How many angles, how many perspectives!
Those who betray others are crooked cheats.
Those who betray others are crooked cheats.
Those who torment the poor are greedy moneylenders.
Class divide must end, and our lives must change!
How many angles, how many perspectives!
Those who split mountains are the ones who protect our honor.
Those who split mountains are the ones who protect our honor.
They nurture the arts and weed out the bad.
They nurture the arts and weed out the bad.
They are the image of God; the world rests in their hands!
How many angles, how many perspectives!
Having taken human birth, one must protect and nurture life.
Having taken human birth, one must protect and nurture life.
Those who cross oceans and bend the sky in their hands,
Should they give room to sorrow?
Should they destroy the human seed?
Poverty must end, and what has begun must grow.
When there is a way to prevent misery before it strikes,
Claiming that you are wiping out poverty,
Can you just spin empty tales?
How many angles, how many perspectives!
In books, in writing, across the nation, in real life,
In songs, in films, in the truth we show,
How many angles, how many perspectives!
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Ethanai Konam Ethanai Paarvai' serves as a profound socialist philosophical commentary on human existence, social hierarchy, and artistic representation. It explores how reality is interpreted through various angles and perspectives across literature, art, cinema, and society. The lyrics champion the working class—the physical laborers who haul heavy loads, break mountains, and build the nation—referring to them as the true backbone and nervous system of the country and the literal manifestation of God. Simultaneously, the song sharply criticizes financial exploiters, corrupt accountants, and oppressive capitalist classes, calling for an end to class disparity. It encourages resilience, proactive problem-solving, and the preservation of human life and dignity rather than surrendering to poverty or despair.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Naattukkuzhaippavanga narambu mandalanga

Comparing the working class directly to the 'nervous system' (narambu mandalam) of the nation, highlighting their indispensability.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Mootta sumappavanga mudhugelumbu ullavanga

Repetition of the 'Mu' sound at the beginning of 'Mootta' and 'mudhugelumbu'.

Ethugai (Second-letter Assonance)

Kaatti koduppavanga / Vaatti vadhaippavanga

The second consonant sound 'tt' matches in 'Kaatti' and 'Vaatti'.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Kavalai valarkkalaamo / Manidha karuvai azhikkalaamo

Both lines end with the rhyming suffix '-laamo', creating a rhythmic questioning tone.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song is from the 1982 film 'Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai', which was directed by acclaimed film editor B. Lenin and based on a novel written by the legendary Tamil author Jayakanthan. Jayakanthan himself penned the lyrics for this track, infusing it with his characteristic socialist ideology, literary depth, and focus on working-class empowerment.

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