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Ethir Kaatru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Ingu Irukkum

From Ethir Kaatru · 1990

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Uma Ramanan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ethir Kaatru
Movie release year
1990
Lyrics added on
8 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
Vaiyamae kel … vaanamae kel
Thendralae en .. gaanamae kel
Maandhar thammai paadum
Paavalan naanae
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
Vaiyamae kel vaanamae kel
Thendralae en gaanamae kel
Maandhar thammai paadum
Paavalan naanae
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
Maan tharum pon thooralil
Maamalai poonjaaralil
Sugam yena naan nanaigiren
O raathiri nilaavinil
Poothidum kanaavinil
Kavidhaigal naan punaigiren
Thennangeetrum thennisai kaatrum
Anbin vedham kooraadhaa
Anbin vedham kettadhanaalae
Thunbam yaavum theeraadhaa
Pagaivarukkum vaazhvu kodukkum
Manidhanukkul jeevan vaazhndhaal
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
Vaiyamae kel vaanamae kel
Thendralae en gaanamae kel
Maandhar thammai paadum
Paavalan naanae
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
Dhesamae en poo vanam
Paasamae en keerthanam
Ulagamae en uravinam
O vervaiyum kanneeraiyum
Paarkkaiyil yev velaiyum
Urugumae en ila manam
Vaenir kaalam vandhadhu endru
Vaanam paadi paadaadho
Vaasal thaedi veyilum vandhu
Vanna kolam podaadho
Oru nimisham vaazhdha pozhudhum
Pala varusham pesa vendum
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
Vaiyamae kel vaanamae kel
Thendralae en gaanamae kel
Maandhar thammai paadum
Paavalan naanae
Ingu irukkum kaalam varaikkum
Indha paravai paattu padikkum
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
Listen, O Earth! Listen, O Sky!
O gentle breeze, listen to my song!
Singing for all humanity,
I am the poet.
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
Listen, O Earth! Listen, O Sky!
O gentle breeze, listen to my song!
Singing for all humanity,
I am the poet.
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
In the golden drizzle,
and on the flowering mountain slopes,
I happily drench myself.
Oh, under the night moonlight,
in the dreams that bloom,
I compose my poems.
Won't the coconut fronds and the southern breeze
speak the sacred message of love?
Once that message of love is heard,
won't all sorrow come to an end?
It will grant life even to enemies,
if true humanity lives within a person.
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
Listen, O Earth! Listen, O Sky!
O gentle breeze, listen to my song!
Singing for all humanity,
I am the poet.
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
This land is my flower garden,
pure love is my sacred song,
and the whole world is my family.
Oh, whenever I see
sweat and tears,
my tender heart melts.
Welcoming the arrival of summer,
won't the skylark sing?
Reaching our doorstep, won't the sunlight
draw colourful patterns of light?
Even if we live for just a single minute,
the world should speak of it for years.
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
Listen, O Earth! Listen, O Sky!
O gentle breeze, listen to my song!
Singing for all humanity,
I am the poet.
As long as I live in this world,
this bird will keep singing its song.
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Male
Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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