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Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai

From Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai · 1982

Lyricist
Jayakanthan
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, Chorus
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ethanai Konam Ethanai Parvai1982

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!
Yaettil ezhuthil naattil nadappilIn books, in writing, in the country's daily practice,
Paattil padathil naam kaattum unmaiyilIn the truth we display through songs and pictures,
Chorus
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!
Male
Mootta sumappavanga mudhugelumbu ullavangaThose who carry heavy loads are those with real backbones,
Male
Mootta sumappavanga mudhugelumbu ullavangaThose who carry heavy loads are those with real backbones,
Naattukkuzhaippavanga narambu mandalangaThose who toil for the nation are its nervous system,
Chorus
Naattukkuzhaippavanga narambu mandalangaThose who toil for the nation are its nervous system,
Male
Naalum valaranunga namma naadum sezhikkanungaThey should grow daily, and our country must flourish.
Chorus
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!
Male
Kaatti koduppavanga kalla kanakkanungaBetrayers and deceitful accountants,
Male
Kaatti koduppavanga kalla kanakkanungaBetrayers and deceitful accountants,
Vaatti vadhaippavanga vatti karappavangaThose who torment, oppress, and milk us through interest,
Vargam ozhiyanunga namma vaazhkkai maaranungaTheir class system must end, and our life must change!
Chorus
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!
Male
Malaiya pelappavanga maanam kaappavangaThose who break mountains and preserve self-respect,
Male
Malaiya pelappavanga maanam kaappavangaThose who break mountains and preserve self-respect,
Kalaiya valappavanga kalaiyum eduppavangaThose who nurture arts and weed out the unwanted,
Chorus
Kalaiya valappavanga kalaiyum eduppavangaThose who nurture arts and weed out the unwanted,
Male
Kadavul uruvamunga avanga kaiyil ulagamungaThey are the image of God, and the world lies in their hands!
Chorus
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!
Male
Udalam eduthavang uyirai valarkkanungaThose who have taken bodily form must nurture life,
Male
Udalam eduthavang uyirai valarkkanungaThose who have taken bodily form must nurture life,
Kadalai kadappavanga vaanai kaiyil valaippavangaThose who cross oceans and bend the sky into their hands,
Kavalai valarkkalaamoShould they keep growing worries?
Manidha karuvai azhikkalaamoShould they destroy the human fetus?
Male
Varumai ozhiyanunga vandhadhu valaranungaPoverty must end, and whatever progress has come must grow,
Varum mun kaakkanunga vazhiyum irukkudhendraalIf there is a way to prevent troubles before they arrive,
Chorus
Neengal porumai azhithadhaagaClaiming that you have lost all patience—
Kadhaigal sollalaamoCan such stories be told?
Chorus
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!
Male
Yaettil ezhuthil naattil nadappilIn books, in writing, in the country's daily practice,
Paattil padathil naam kaattum unmaiyilIn the truth we display through songs and pictures,
Chorus
Ethanai konam ethanai paarvaiHow many angles, how many perspectives!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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