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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Inbam Enbathu

From Annavin Aasai · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Annavin Aasai
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
15 Jan 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Kovil gopura silaigalilum
Konjum naattiya kalaiyinilum
Female :Pettrathuthaana inbam endru
Avan pennidam kannaal kettaanaam
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Female :Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Kadhal suvai oru vadivaaga
Kanmani selvam uruvaaga
Male :Aasai thalaivan kanivaaga
Andrae arinthaan inbaththai thelivaaga
Thaththuvam mazhalai mozhigalilae
Thalirmaeni sevvaai idhazhgalilae
Male :Inbam piranthathai avan arinthaan
Antha iraivanum andrae athai arinthaan
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Someone asked God,
what happiness really is.
Saying He did not know, that God
asked my beloved man.
Male: And the man asked his beloved woman!
Someone asked God,
what happiness really is.
Saying He did not know, that God
asked my beloved man.
Male: And the man asked his beloved woman!
Is it found in the temple tower sculptures,
or in the enchanting art of dance?
Female: Wondering if that is where joy lies,
he asked the woman with his eyes.
Someone asked God,
what happiness really is.
Female: Saying He did not know, that God
asked my beloved man.
Male: And the man asked his beloved woman!
As the sweetness of love took shape,
and a precious child was born as their treasure,
Male: the loving man, with gentle warmth,
clearly understood what joy was that day.
In the wisdom hidden in a baby's babble,
in that tender body and rosy red lips,
Male: he realised that true joy was born,
and that day, even God understood it too.
Someone asked God,
what happiness really is.
Saying He did not know, that God
asked my beloved man.
Male: And the man asked his beloved woman!
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This iconic Tamil song from Annavin Aasai explores the philosophical query regarding the true definition of happiness (Inbam). Rather than finding bliss in divine abstractness, grand temple architecture, or classical dance, the lyrics reveal that true happiness is experienced through romantic union and the blessing of parenthood. Through a charming narrative exchange, even God directs the seeker to human love to understand joy, emphasizing that true divine bliss manifests in marital love and the innocent babble of a newborn child.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kovil gopura silaigalilum / Konjum naattiya kalaiyinilum”

Repetition of the initial 'K' sound in 'Kovil' and 'Konjum' creates a rhythmic musicality in the line.

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Thaththuvam mazhalai mozhigalilae / Thalirmaeni sevvaai idhazhgalilae”

Rhyming of the second consonant sound 'th' in 'Thaththuvam' and 'Thalirmaeni'.

Anaphora / Refrain

“Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan / Iraivanai kettaanaam”

The thematic repetition of 'Inbam enbathu enna' reinforces the central philosophical question of the song.

Did you know?

Trivia

Annavin Aasai (1966) features timeless compositions by K. V. Mahadevan with deep philosophical lyricism by Kannadasan. The song captures a uniquely Tamil literary tradition of finding spiritual truths within householder love (Aham literature).

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From the same album

More songs from Annavin Aasai

View album
Thunbam Enbathu (Sad)1966
Annavin AasaiContemplative
Pooppol Malara1966
Annavin AasaiRomantic
Paattezhuthattum Paruvam1966
Annavin AasaiRomantic
Kovilile Veedu Katti1966
Annavin AasaiTender

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