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Lyrics & meaning

Ettu Thikkum Yetti Vida

From Paartha Gnabagam Illayo · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Paartha Gnabagam Illayo
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
27 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ettu thikkum etti vida
Rettai thavil saththam vara
Ezhunthathu naayana osai
Thaala saththangalum santhangalum
Ennangalai thattivida
Piranthathu naatiya aasai
Intha layamum isai nayamum
Enthan uyiril endrum irukkum
Intha layamum isai nayamum
Enthan uyiril endrum irukkum
Ettu thikkum etti vida
Rettai thavil saththam vara
Ezhunthathu naayana osai
Thanjai bhoomiyil senthamizharathu vazhakkam
Pandai naatgalil evvidamum idhu olikkum
Thanjai bhoomiyil senthamizharathu vazhakkam
Pandai naatgalil evvidamum idhu olikkum
Kalai muzhakkam karai kadakkum
Thalai naraikkum varaiyil ninaivirukkum
………………
Ettu thikkum etti vida
Rettai thavil saththam vara
Ezhunthathu naayana osai
Kaanam paadiyae than kavalaigalai marakkum
Vaanampaadi pol en kavithai manam parakkum
Kaanam paadiyae than kavalaigalai marakkum
Vaanampaadi pol en kavithai manam parakkum
Madal virikkum malar sirikkum
Puviyanaiththum ini pudhu vasanthanm
Ettu thikkum etti vida
Rettai thavil saththam vara
Ezhunthathu naayana osai
Thaala saththangalum santhangalum
Ennangalai thattivida
Piranthathu naatiya aasai
Intha layamum isai nayamum
Enthan uyiril endrum irukkum
Intha layamum isai nayamum
Enthan uyiril endrum irukkum
Reaching out to all eight directions,
As the sound of twin thavils resounds,
The music of the nadaswaram arose!
The rhythmic beats and musical rhymes
Awaken my inner thoughts,
And a desire to dance is born!
This rhythm and musical beauty
Will live in my soul forever!
This rhythm and musical beauty
Will live in my soul forever!
Reaching out to all eight directions,
As the sound of twin thavils resounds,
The music of the nadaswaram arose!
In the land of Thanjavur, this is the tradition of the Tamils,
In ancient times, this echoed everywhere!
In the land of Thanjavur, this is the tradition of the Tamils,
In ancient times, this echoed everywhere!
The celebration of art overflows all boundaries,
And will be remembered until our hair turns grey...
...
Reaching out to all eight directions,
As the sound of twin thavils resounds,
The music of the nadaswaram arose!
Forgetting its worries by singing melodies,
Like a skylark, my poetic heart takes flight!
Forgetting its worries by singing melodies,
Like a skylark, my poetic heart takes flight!
Petals open up and flowers smile,
A fresh spring arrives across the entire world...
Reaching out to all eight directions,
As the sound of twin thavils resounds,
The music of the nadaswaram arose!
The rhythmic beats and musical rhymes
Awaken my inner thoughts,
And a desire to dance is born!
This rhythm and musical beauty
Will live in my soul forever!
This rhythm and musical beauty
Will live in my soul forever!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song is a grand celebration of traditional Tamil music, dance, and cultural heritage, particularly honoring the artistic legacy of the Thanjavur region. The lyricist captures how the powerful synergy of traditional instruments like the thavil and nadaswaram awakens an irresistible passion for dance and poetry within the performer's soul.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyming)

“Ettu thikkum etti vida / Rettai thavil saththam vara”

The second consonant 'tt' (ட்) matches across both lines ('Ettu' and 'Rettai').

Upamai Ani (Simile)

“Vaanampaadi pol en kavithai manam parakkum”

The singer's soaring poetic mind is explicitly compared to a skylark ('vaanampaadi pol') flying freely.

Personification

“Madal virikkum malar sirikkum”

Flowers are given the human attribute of smiling ('malar sirikkum').

Monai (Initial Rhyme)

“Thanjai bhoomiyil senthamizharathu vazhakkam”

The initial sound harmony is used to establish rhythm across classical lyric structures.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie title 'Paartha Gnabagam Illayo' (1985) borrows its name from the legendary 1964 song from 'Puthiya Paravai', composed by the duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy. In this 1985 film, M.S. Viswanathan compositions showcase a traditional blend of Tamil folk and classical instruments like the nadaswaram and thavil, delivered with high energy by S.P. Balasubrahmanyam.

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