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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Per Unnai Nambi

From Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar · 1990

Lyricist
Piraisoodan
Singer
K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Ennaalum pan paaduForever our culture
ThanmaanamAnd self-respect
Nee ingu vaaraamal ennaagumWhat will happen if you do not come here?
Ye un moochu un pechuHey, your breath and your speech
Endhan vaazhvilaeIn my life
Ennaalum un aatchi engal nenjilaeForever your reign is in our hearts
Female
Thalaivaa nee vara vendumLeader, you must come
Oru nyaayam thara vendumYou must render justice
Thalaivaa nee vara vendumLeader, you must come
Oru nyaayam thara vendumYou must render justice
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Pagai thannai mudithidavaeTo put an end to enmity
Thuyar thannai azhithidavaeTo destroy all sorrow
Nimirndhu ezhundhu varuga varugaStand tall, rise and come, welcome
Azhagiya thirumaganaeO handsome divine son
Female
Thadaigalai udaithidavaeTo break all obstacles
Padai thannai jeyithidavaeTo conquer the army
Viraindhu ezhundhu varuga varugaHasten, rise and come, welcome
Ilamaiyin thalai maganaeO eldest son of youth
Female
Penn maanum thavithaalIf a woman's honor suffers
KanneerilaeIn tears
Theeyorai azhippaai senneerilaeYou will destroy the evil ones in blood
En kovilae en dheivamaeMy temple, my deity
Nee vandhu kaatchi koduCome and grant us your sight
Theemai ingae neeyum engaeEvil is here, where are you?
Ezhaikku vaazhvu koduGive a life to the poor
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Nari ondru sirikkiradhaeA fox is laughing
Valai ondrai virikkiradhaeSpreading out a net
Inimai kodiyil irukkum kaniyaiThe fruit that hangs on the sweet vine
Parithida ninaikkiradhaeIt intends to pluck
Female
Puli ondru padhungidudhaeA tiger is crouching
Puyal ingu thodarndhidudhaeA storm continues here
Kodumai pidiyil niruthiHolding in the grip of cruelty
Malarai parithida ninaikkiradhaeIt intends to pluck the flower
Female
Nallorgal thudithaal ennaavadhuWhat will happen if good people suffer?
Illaadhor thavithaal pollaadhadhuIt is terrible if the destitute suffer
En kovilae en dheivamaeMy temple, my deity
Nee vandhu kaatchi koduCome and grant us your sight
Theemai ingae neeyum engaeEvil is here, where are you?
Ezhaikku vaazhvu koduGive a life to the poor
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Ennaalum pan paaduForever our culture
ThanmaanamAnd self-respect
Female
Nee ingu vaaraamal ennaagumWhat will happen if you do not come here?
Female
Ye un moochu un pechuHey, your breath and your speech
Endhan vaazhvilaeIn my life
Female :Ennaalum un aatchi engal nenjilaeForever your reign is in our hearts
Female
Thalaivaa nee vara vendumLeader, you must come
Oru nyaayam thara vendumYou must render justice
Female :Thalaivaa nee vara vendumLeader, you must come
Oru nyaayam thara vendumYou must render justice
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king
Female
Ethanai perHow many people
Unnai nambi raasaaTrusting you, O king
Dhinam enni enniDaily counting the days
Kann thirandhom raasaaOpened our eyes, O king

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song serves as an earnest, emotional plea from a community calling upon their leader and protector to return and bring justice. The lyrics highlight the suffering of the innocent and vulnerable under evil forces, comparing the oppressors to a laughing fox setting traps and a crouching tiger threatening a fragile flower. The people view the leader as their deity and savior, whose presence is vital for preserving their honor, culture, and livelihood. The repeating chorus underscores the deep trust and anxious waiting of the masses who long for his arrival to restore righteousness and alleviate their pain.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nari ondru sirikkiradhae... Malarai parithida ninaikkiradhae

The lyrics metaphorically represent the enemy as a cunning fox (Nari) and a lurking tiger (Puli), while comparing the innocent victims to a sweet fruit and delicate flower.

Adukkuthodar (Repetition for emphasis)

Dhinam enni enni

Words like 'enni enni' and 'varuga varuga' are repeated consecutively to convey urgency, deep anticipation, and emotional intensity.

Edhugai (Second letter rhyming)

Pagai thannai mudithidavae / Thuyar thannai azhithidavae

Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across consecutive lines ('Pagai' and 'Thuyar' / 'Nimirndhu' and 'Azhagiya').

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Piraisoodan, 'Sirayil Pootha Chinna Malar' (1990) features narrative-driven lyrics characteristic of political and heroic appeal songs popular in Tamil cinema during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

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