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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ettu Thesa

From Custody · 2023

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Yuvan Shankar Raja, Vijay Yesudas
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Custody2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ettu dhesa ellaamIn all eight directions,
Enga kadha paesumPeople will talk about our story.
Patti thotti engumIn every village and hamlet,
Paatu manam veesumThe fragrance of our song will spread.
Male
Otti porandhaBorn attached to each other,
Retta piravi poalLike conjoined twins,
Katti poranduRolling around together,
Kalanthu magizhalamLet us unite and rejoice.
Male
Vittu pogum sondham illaiThis isn't a relationship that will abandon us,
Idhu dhaan saami aasiThis is truly God's blessing.
Male
Ettu dhesa ellaamIn all eight directions,
Enga kadha paesumPeople will talk about our story.
Enga kadha paesumPeople will talk about our story.
Male
Ezhezhu jenmam porandhaalumEven if we are born across seven times seven births,
Innum konjang kaeppomWe will still ask for a bit more.
Namma thaai vaithila dhaanRight in our mother's womb,
Onnaa porakka thavamiruppoamWe will perform penance to be born together.
Male
Onna vittu onnum illaWithout one, the other is nothing,
Othumaiyaa aavomWe will stay united.
Kai irandum saendhapadiWith hands joined together,
Kadaisi vara povomWe will walk together till the very end.
Male
Oorulagil nammai pola yaaruWho in this whole world is like us?
Unamaiyilla engum illiyaeTruly, there is no one anywhere.
Male
Ettu dhesa ellaamIn all eight directions,
Enga kadha paesumPeople will talk about our story.
Patti thotti engumIn every village and hamlet,
Paatu manam veesumThe fragrance of our song will spread.
Male
Otti porandhaBorn attached to each other,
Retta piravi poalLike conjoined twins,
Katti poranduRolling around together,
Kalanthu magizhalamLet us unite and rejoice.
Male
Vittu pogum sondham illaiThis isn't a relationship that will abandon us,
Idhu dhaan saami aasiThis is truly God's blessing.
Male
Ettu dhesa ellaamIn all eight directions,
Enga kadha paesumPeople will talk about our story.
Enga kadha paesumPeople will talk about our story.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This energetic folk-style song celebrates an unbreakable bond of brotherhood and deep companionship. The lyrics reflect a devotion and loyalty between two people that goes beyond a single lifetime, declaring that their story will be sung across all eight directions and in every small town and village.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Otti porandha / Retta piravi poal

Compares the closeness of their bond to conjoined twins using the comparative word 'poal'.

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Ettu dhesa ellaam / Patti thotti engum

The second consonant sound 'tti' matches in 'Ettu' and 'Patti', creating rhythmic harmony across lines.

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

Patti thotti engum / Paatu manam veesum

The repetition of the initial 'Pa' sound in 'Patti' and 'Paatu' establishes initial alliteration.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Othumaiyaa aavom / Kadaisi vara povom

The end of both lines share the rhyming suffix '-om' ('aavom', 'povom').

Did you know?

Trivia

This song from 'Custody' (2023) brings together multiple generations of the iconic Ilaiyaraaja musical family: the master Ilaiyaraaja composed the music, his brother Gangai Amaran wrote the lyrics, and his son Yuvan Shankar Raja sang the track alongside Vijay Yesudas.

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