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Jallikattu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ethanaiyo Kanni Ponnu

From Jallikattu · 1987

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Mano, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Jallikattu
Movie release year
1987
Lyrics added on
29 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Eththanaiyo kanni ponnu
Naattil irukku
Aththanaikkum ovvoruththan
Poranthirukuraan
Hae eththanaiyo kanni ponnu
Naattil irukku
Aththanaikkum ovvoruththan
Poranthirukuraan
Ada yaarukkuththaan yaaro
Adhai yaaru Solluvaaro
Ada yaarukkuththaan yaaro
Adhai yaaru Solluvaaro
Therinjukittaa kalyaanamthaan
Female :Adhukappuramaa kummaalamthaan
Eththanaiyo kanni ponnu
Naattil irukku
Aththanaikkum ovvoruththan
Poranthirukuraan
Panakkaara ponnuyinnu onna nenachchu
Paaththalum paththaanae palla ilichchu
Male Chorus :Hihihi
Female :Panamillaa ponnuyinnu therinjathumae
Paakkaama ponaanae mogam sulichchu
Female Chorus :Hhoom
Kadhal vanthaa aanum pennum
Female :Pedham illa onnuthaan
Male Chorus :Aamaa
Male :Theriyalannaa neeyumkooda
Female :Theramai illaa mannuthaan
Female Chorus :Aamaa
Vantha varai laabaminnu
Vaazhugira perum undu
Vanthathellam theenthathunnaa vera vazhithaan
Panamirunthaa kannadichchu kai pudichchu
Female Chorus :Kadhai mudichchu
Male :Kadhai mudinjaa thunda vittu thuniya vittu
Male Chorus :Oduravan
Velaikaarikeththa nalla velakkaaran
Male Chorus :Katchithamaa maattikkittaandaa
Female Chorus :Ippa malaiyaththaan maaththikittaandaa
Ha eththanaiyo kanni ponnu
Naattil irukku
Aththanaikkum ovvoruththan
Poranthirukuraan hae
Eththanaiyo vaalibargal ingirukallaam
Aththanaikkum ovvoruththi
Poranthirukkalaam
………………
Jaadikeththa moodiyinnu solluvaanga
Intha moodikkoru jaadiya naan kandu pudichchen
Male Chorus :Aamaa
Female :Kodi kodi kalyana jodiyila
Intha sevalukku kozhi onna saeththu mudichchen
Female Chorus :Kokkarakko
Jeevan donu vaangi thaaraen
Female :Odamba nallaa thaeththunga
Male Chorus :Mm…
Male :Onnu rendu peththu pottu
Female :Kanna pola paarunga
Female Chorus :Mm…
Yaezhaiyinnu vaazhuvathu bhoomiyila paavamilla
Kozhaiyinnu vaazhnthirunthaa paavam varundaa
Therunjukanum nallathellaam arinjukanum
Female Chorus :Purunjukanum
Male :Theramai ellaam thavanaiyila ponnu kitta
Male Chorus :Kaattikkanum
Kadhlukku jadhiyilla baedhmmilla
Male Chorus :Jodi rendu saenthukiruchchu
Female Chorus :Ippo sonthathula poonthukiruchchu
Ha eththanaiyo kanni ponnu
Naattil irukku
Aththanaikkum ovvoruththan
Poranthirukuraan
Ada yaarukkuththaan yaaro
Adhai yaaru Solluvaaro
Ada yaarukkuththaan yaaro
Adhai yaaru Solluvaaro
Therinjukittaa kalyaanamthaan
Female :Adhukappuramaa kummaalamthaan
So many young girls
are there in this country,
and for every single one,
a man is born!
Hey, so many young girls
are there in this country,
and for every single one,
a man is born!
Oh, who is meant for whom?
Who can ever tell?
Oh, who is meant for whom?
Who can ever tell?
Once you figure it out, it's a wedding!
Female: And after that, it's pure celebration!
So many young girls
are there in this country,
and for every single one,
a man is born!
Thinking you were a rich girl,
he grinned from ear to ear whenever he saw you!
Male Chorus: Hee-hee-hee!
Female: But the moment he learned you had no money,
he made a face and walked away without even looking!
Female Chorus: Hmph!
When love arrives, a man and a woman...
Female: ...are equal, with no differences between them!
Male Chorus: That's right!
Male: If you don't understand that, even you...
Female: ...are just useless clay!
Female Chorus: That's right!
"Whatever comes is pure profit"—
there are people who live like that.
When everything runs out, they slip away on another path!
As long as there's money, he winks, holds hands,
Female Chorus: ...and closes the deal!
Male: And once the game is over, dropping all shame and clothes,
Male Chorus: ...he's the type to run!
A broom-sweeping boy just right for this housemaid!
Male Chorus: He got caught fair and square!
Female Chorus: And now they've exchanged wedding garlands!
Ha, so many young girls
are there in this country,
and for every single one,
a man is born, hey!
There may be so many young men here,
and for every single one,
a woman might be born!
...
They say there is a matching lid for every jar,
and for this lid, I have found the right jar!
Male Chorus: That's right!
Female: Out of millions of wedded pairs,
I have matched a hen for this rooster!
Female Chorus: Cock-a-doodle-doo!
I'll buy you Jeevan Tone (a health tonic),
Female: build up your strength and health!
Male Chorus: Mmm...
Male: Have one or two children,
Female: and care for them like the apple of your eye!
Female Chorus: Mmm...
Living poor in this world is no sin,
but living as a coward will bring you shame!
You must learn and know what is good,
Female Chorus: ...and understand it well!
Male: And show all your skills to your woman,
Male Chorus: ...step by step!
Love has no caste and no division,
Male Chorus: the two have joined as a pair,
Female Chorus: and entered into family ties!
Ha, so many young girls
are there in this country,
and for every single one,
a man is born.
Oh, who is meant for whom?
Who can ever tell?
Oh, who is meant for whom?
Who can ever tell?
Once you figure it out, it's a wedding!
Female: And after that, it's pure celebration!
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This upbeat folk duet from the film Jallikattu (1987), written by Gangai Amaran, celebrates destiny, matchmaking, and love across social divides. The song humorously addresses the realities of human relationships—how people often chase wealth or status, but true love looks past material wealth to unite compatible souls. It uses colloquial idioms and cheerful banter between male, female, and chorus voices to convey that every person has a matching partner made for them by fate. The lyricist emphasizes that poverty is not a sin, but cowardice is, encouraging young couples to face life courageously, support each other's health and well-being, and build a loving family together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)

Eththanaiyo kanni ponnu / Aththanaikkum ovvoruththan

The second consonant 'thth' matches across consecutive lines, creating traditional Tamil rhythmic cadence.

Proverbial Metaphor

Jaadikeththa moodiyinnu solluvaanga

Uses the popular Tamil proverb 'Jaadikeththa moodi' (a lid made for the jar) as a metaphor for perfectly matched romantic partners.

Anaphora / Repetition

Ada yaarukkuththaan yaaro / Adhai yaaru Solluvaaro

Repetition of interrogative forms ('yaaro', 'yaaru') adds a catchy, rhythmic structure to the chorus refrain.

Did you know?

Trivia

Jallikattu (1987) stars Sivaji Ganesan, Sathyaraj, and Radha, with music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja. The lyrics were penned by Gangai Amaran, known for his ability to weave playful folk banter and practical life wisdom smoothly into Tamil cinema songs.

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