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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanai Sugam

From Nee Vazha Vendum · 1977

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
L. R. Eswari
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Nee Vazha Vendum
Movie release year
1977
Lyrics added on
22 Jan 2024

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ethanai sugam
Aadavum paadavum koodavum konjavum
Aayiram kalanthu magizhnthu
Virunthu kodththu aadavae
Ethanai sugam
Aadavum paadavum koodavum konjavum
Aayiram kalanthu magizhnthu
Virunthu kodththu aadavae
Kadhal maaligai mannan seithathu
Raaniyin nyapaga chinnam
Kavithai maaligai kamban seithathu
Devan deviyin vannam
Ninaikka ninaikka inikkum
Karpanai oviyam iam i correct ok
Ninaiththaal namakkathu madhippu
Nadakkum unakkadhil sirippu
Irukkum idaththil irukka irukka sugamae
I am i correct proceed
Irunthaal koduththa kai manakkum
Koduththaal irandu kai vanangum
Ethanai sugam
Aadavum paadavum koodavum konjavum
Aayiram kalanthu magizhnthu
Virunthu kodththu aadavae
What great pleasure it is!
To dance, to sing, to come together, and to caress,
To mingle in a thousand ways and rejoice,
To offer a feast and dance with joy!
What great pleasure it is!
To dance, to sing, to come together, and to caress,
To mingle in a thousand ways and rejoice,
To offer a feast and dance with joy!
The palace of love was built by an emperor,
As a monument in memory of his queen.
The palace of poetry was crafted by Kamban,
Portraying the beauty of the god and goddess.
The more one thinks of it, the sweeter it tastes,
A portrait drawn from imagination—am I correct? Okay!
Thinking of it brings us honor,
And as it unfolds, it brings a smile to you.
There is such happiness in staying right where we belong!
Am I correct? Proceed!
If one has wealth and gives, the giving hand smells fragrant,
And when you give, two hands will fold in gratitude.
What great pleasure it is!
To dance, to sing, to come together, and to caress,
To mingle in a thousand ways and rejoice,
To offer a feast and dance with joy!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Ethanai Sugam from the film Nee Vazha Vendum (1977) is an exuberant, festive song celebrating the joys of life, art, love, and philanthropy. The singer revels in the pleasures of music, dance, togetherness, and hospitality. Lyricist Kannadasan draws poetic parallels between grand architecture created out of love (such as Shah Jahan's Taj Mahal) and classic literature crafted by great poets like Kamban. The song conveys a deep philosophical lesson on contentment and charity, asserting that staying true to one's station brings peace, and the hand that gives to others will always be blessed, revered, and remembered with fragrance.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyeppu (End Rhyme)

Aadavum paadavum koodavum konjavum

The repetitive '-avum' verbal suffix creates a brisk, musical end-rhyme across consecutive action verbs.

Ethukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kadhal maaligai mannan seithathu / Kavithai maaligai kamban seithathu

The second consonant sound 'dha' (த) rhymes across the lines 'Kadhal' and 'Kavithai'.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Kadhal maaligai mannan seithathu Raaniyin nyapaga chinnam

References the Taj Mahal metaphorically as a 'palace of love' and literary epic poetry as a 'palace of poetry'.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Ninaikka ninaikka inikkum

Repetition of the initial 'Ni' syllable creates melodic flow and rhythmic emphasis.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan and rendered by L. R. Eswari, this track features Eswari's iconic conversational English ad-libs ('Am I correct, ok? / Proceed') integrated seamlessly into Kannadasan's Tamil lyrics, a signature style of 1970s Tamil cinema dance tracks.

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