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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ingu Irukkum

From Ethir Kaatru · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Ethir Kaatru1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.
Vaiyamae kel … vaanamae kelHear me, O Earth... hear me, O Sky!
Thendralae en .. gaanamae kelO Gentle Breeze, hear my song!
Maandhar thammai paadumI am the poet
Paavalan naanaeWho sings about humankind.
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.
Vaiyamae kel vaanamae kelHear me, O Earth... hear me, O Sky!
Thendralae en gaanamae kelO Gentle Breeze, hear my song!
Maandhar thammai paadumI am the poet
Paavalan naanaeWho sings about humankind.
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.
Male
Maan tharum pon thooralilIn the golden drizzle brought by the earth,
Maamalai poonjaaralilIn the floral rain shower of the great mountain,
Sugam yena naan nanaigirenI drench myself happily.
O raathiri nilaavinilOh, in the night moonlight,
Poothidum kanaavinilIn the dreams that blossom,
Kavidhaigal naan punaigirenI weave poetry.
Female
Thennangeetrum thennisai kaatrumThe coconut fronds and the sweet musical breeze,
Anbin vedham kooraadhaaWon't they recite the scripture of love?
Anbin vedham kettadhanaalaeBy listening to the scripture of love,
Thunbam yaavum theeraadhaaWon't all sorrows come to an end?
Pagaivarukkum vaazhvu kodukkumIf a soul lives within a human
Manidhanukkul jeevan vaazhndhaalWho grants life even to enemies...
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.
Vaiyamae kel vaanamae kelHear me, O Earth... hear me, O Sky!
Thendralae en gaanamae kelO Gentle Breeze, hear my song!
Maandhar thammai paadumI am the poet
Paavalan naanaeWho sings about humankind.
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.
Female
Dhesamae en poo vanamThe country is my flower garden,
Paasamae en keerthanamAffection is my anthem,
Ulagamae en uravinamThe world is my kin.
O vervaiyum kanneeraiyumOh, sweat and tears,
Paarkkaiyil yev velaiyumWhenever I see them,
Urugumae en ila manamMy young heart melts.
Female
Vaenir kaalam vandhadhu endruSaying that the summer season has arrived,
Vaanam paadi paadaadhoWon't the skylark sing?
Vaasal thaedi veyilum vandhuSeeking the doorway, even the sunlight comes,
Vanna kolam podaadhoWon't it draw a colorful rangoli?
Oru nimisham vaazhdha pozhudhumEven if I live for just a single minute,
Pala varusham pesa vendumIt should be spoken about for many years!
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.
Vaiyamae kel vaanamae kelHear me, O Earth... hear me, O Sky!
Thendralae en gaanamae kelO Gentle Breeze, hear my song!
Maandhar thammai paadumI am the poet
Paavalan naanaeWho sings about humankind.
Female
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkumAs long as I am here,
Indha paravai paattu padikkumThis bird will sing its song.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Ingu Irukkum Kaalam Varaikkum from Ethir Kaatru (1990) is a deeply philosophical and uplifting song about a poet's dedication to humanity, nature, and love. The protagonist compares himself to a free bird whose soul purpose is to sing songs of empathy and universal brotherhood for as long as he lives. He calls upon the earth, sky, and breeze to bear witness to his passion, expressing how he finds joy in nature and pain in the suffering of others. The song delivers a powerful message about living a impactful, compassionate life, suggesting that even a brief life lived with love and goodwill can leave a legacy that reverberates for generations.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

Indha paravai paattu padikkum

The poet metaphorically refers to himself as a bird ('Indha paravai') to symbolise freedom, innocence, and unceasing artistic expression.

Personification

Vaasal thaedi veyilum vandhu / Vanna kolam podaadho

Sunlight is personified as a visitor walking up to the doorstep to draw colorful rangoli (kolam) patterns.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Vaiyamae kel … vaanamae kel

Repetition of the initial 'Va' sound in 'Vaiyamae' and 'vaanamae' creates a melodic cadence.

Emonai / Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Dhesamae en poo vanam / Paasamae en keerthanam / Ulagamae en uravinam

End-rhyme matching in 'poo vanam', 'keerthanam', and 'uravinam' enhances the rhythmic flow of the stanza.

Did you know?

Trivia

Ethir Kaatru is a 1990 Tamil drama starring Karthik and Kanaka. Although the user query lists music and singer as unknown, the soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vaali, and this track is sung by Mano.

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