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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ingae Naan Kandaen

From Saadhanai · 1986

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
Vani Jairam, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Saadhanai1986

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Anaarkali…anaarkali…anaarkalii…anaarkaliiiAnarkali... Anarkali... Anarkali... Anarkali...
Female
Engae naan kaanbenWhere will I find...
En kaadhalan...my beloved lover,
Ennathai meettum isai paadaganThe musical singer who plucks the strings of my thoughts?
Poovai pol poovai puyal kaattrilaeLike a flower tossed in a stormy wind,
Theevai pol thogai nadu aattrilaeLike a peacock stranded on an island in the middle of a river.
Male
Ingae naan kandenHere I have found...
Kadhai naayagi...the heroine of the story,
Endrendrum vaazhum anaarkaliThe eternally living Anarkali.
Female
Aa….aaa…aa…aaa…aaa…aa…Ah... Ah... Ah...
Aaa…aa…aaa..aaa..aaa..aa..Ah... Ah... Ah...
Aaa…aaa…aa…aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa..aaa…Ah... Ah... Ah...
Female
Nillungal neengalStop, all of you...
Mazhai megangalae...O rain clouds!
Kelungal ingae naan paadum paadalListen to the song I sing here.
Sollungal neengal ival sogangalaiConvey her sorrows...
Ennai pol poraadum mannan kaadhil...into the ears of the king who struggles like me.
Vaaraadhadhaen poomagal kaadhalanWhy hasn't the flower-like maiden's lover arrived?
Vaaraadhadhaen poomagal kaadhalanWhy hasn't the flower-like maiden's lover arrived?
Podhaadho innum indhaIs it not enough, even now...
Paavai ilamaiyil thavippadhu...for this young maiden to suffer in her youth?
Female
Engae naan kaanbenWhere will I find...
En kaadhalan...my beloved lover,
Ennathai meettum isai paadaganThe musical singer who plucks the strings of my thoughts?
Female
Aa….aaa…aa…Ah... Ah... Ah...
Aaa…aa…aaa..aaa..Ah... Ah... Ah...
Aaa…aaa…aa…aaa..Ah... Ah... Ah...
Haa..aaa..aaa..aaa….Ha... Ah... Ah...
Male
Kaalangal thorumThrough all ages...
Unai vaazha vaippen...I will make you live forever.
Pennellaam pennalla unnai polaeNo other woman is a true woman like you.
Kaadhal thaan vaedham ena paadi vaippenI will sing declaring that love itself is the sacred scripture.
Baedhangal saagattum mannin melaeLet all social divisions perish on this earth!
Nee thaanammaa naan thozhum naayagiYou alone, my lady, are the heroine I worship.
Nee thaanammaa naan thozhum naayagiYou alone, my lady, are the heroine I worship.
Neengaamal nenjil nindruWithout ever leaving, remaining in the heart,
Vaazhum adhisaya ilakkiyamA miraculous piece of living literature!
Male
Ingae naan kandenHere I have found...
Kadhai naayagi...the heroine of the story,
Endrendrum vaazhum anaarkaliThe eternally living Anarkali.
Poovai pol poovai puyal kaattrilaeLike a flower tossed in a stormy wind,
Theevai pol thogai nadu aattrilaeLike a peacock stranded on an island in the middle of a river.
Male
Ingae naan kandenHere I have found...
Kadhai naayagi...the heroine of the story,
Endrendrum vaazhum anaarkaliThe eternally living Anarkali.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song draws a poignant parallel between the protagonist's deep romantic plight and the legendary tragic saga of Anarkali. The singer searches for their beloved musician whose melodies resonate with their soul, describing the maiden's vulnerability using evocative imagery—such as a helpless flower caught in a storm or a peacock isolated on an island in a rushing river. In a moment of dramatic emotional plea, the singer addresses the passing rain clouds, urging them to act as messengers and carry the tale of agony to the lover's ears. The lyrics celebrate love as a timeless, divine truth that transcends societal divides and elevates the beloved to an immortal status in living literature. Lyricist Vaali masterfully blends classical tragic motifs with grand poetic devotion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Poovai pol poovai puyal kaattrilae / Theevai pol thogai nadu aattrilae

Compares the helpless state of the maiden to a flower caught in a storm and a peacock stranded on a river island.

Personification

Nillungal neengal mazhai megangalae / Kelungal ingae naan paadum paadal

Addresses the rain clouds as living messengers, asking them to stop and listen to the song of agony.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Neengaamal nenjil nindru vaazhum adhisaya ilakkiyam

Refers to the beloved Anarkali as an eternal piece of literature living in the heart.

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Trivia

'Saadhanai' (1986) featured music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali. The film starred legendary actor Sivaji Ganesan alongside Prabhu and K. R. Vijaya.

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