Ingu Naam Kaanum
From Poi Mugangal · 1986
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Details
- Poi Mugangal1986
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ingu naam kaanum paasam | The affection we see here |
| Ellamae vesham | Is all a disguise |
| Sondhangal kalainthodum | Relationships scatter and run away |
| Pagal megangal | Like daytime clouds |
| Ingu naam kaanum paasam | The affection we see here |
| Ellamae vesham | Is all a disguise |
| Sondhangal kalainthodum | Relationships scatter and run away |
| Pagal megangal | Like daytime clouds |
| Male | |
| Vaazhvin paathirangal | The characters of life |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
| Vaazhvin paathirangal | The characters of life |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
| Hoo ooo ooo ooo | Hoo ooo ooo ooo |
| Hoo ooo oo ooo oo | Hoo ooo oo ooo oo |
| Male | |
| Ingu naam kaanum paasam | The affection we see here |
| Ellamae vesham | Is all a disguise |
| Sondhangal kalainthodum | Relationships scatter and run away |
| Pagal megangal | Like daytime clouds |
| Male | |
| Erigindra dheepam oli tharum podhum | Even when a burning lamp gives light |
| Vilakkin adiyil irul vattam podum | Darkness forms a circle beneath the lamp |
| Erigindra dheepam oli tharum podhum | Even when a burning lamp gives light |
| Vilakkin adiyil irul vattam podum | Darkness forms a circle beneath the lamp |
| Dheebathirkkae irandu mugangal | The lamp itself has two faces |
| Manidharkku ingae ethanaiyo | How many do humans have here? |
| Sondham bandham enbathu ellaam | Are all kinships and bonds |
| Kanavukullae karpanaiyo | Just imaginations within a dream? |
| Kaanal neeril meengalai | Searching for fish in a mirage |
| Thaedum indha vaazhkaiyoo oo | Is this life like that? |
| Kaanal neeril meengalai | Searching for fish in a mirage |
| Thaedum indha vaazhkaiyoo oo | Is this life like that? |
| Male | |
| Hoo ooo ooo ooo | Hoo ooo ooo ooo |
| Hoo ooo oo ooo oo | Hoo ooo oo ooo oo |
| Male | |
| Ingu naam kaanum paasam | The affection we see here |
| Ellamae vesham | Is all a disguise |
| Sondhangal kalainthodum | Relationships scatter and run away |
| Pagal megangal | Like daytime clouds |
| Vaazhvin paathirangal | The characters of life |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
| Male | |
| Karuvarai kooda kallarai thaanae | Even the womb is a tomb, after all |
| Kallarai kooda karuvarai thaanae | Even the tomb is a womb, after all |
| Karuvarai kooda kallarai thaanae | Even the womb is a tomb, after all |
| Kallarai kooda karuvarai thaanae | Even the tomb is a womb, after all |
| Vaazhvum saavum ondrae endraal | If life and death are one and the same |
| Sogam ingae vaaraadhu | Sorrow will not come here |
| Vaazhum bodhu soozhum suttram | The relatives who surround us while living |
| Saavil vandhu seraadhu | Will not join us in death |
| Vandhu vaazhndha vaazhkaiyai | The life that was lived |
| Vaanavillai pondrathu oo | Is like a rainbow |
| Vandhu vaazhndha vaazhkaiyai | The life that was lived |
| Vaanavillai pondrathu | Is like a rainbow |
| Male | |
| Hoo ooo ooo ooo | Hoo ooo ooo ooo |
| Hoo ooo oo ooo oo | Hoo ooo oo ooo oo |
| Male | |
| Ingu naam kaanum paasam | The affection we see here |
| Ellamae vesham | Is all a disguise |
| Sondhangal kalainthodum | Relationships scatter and run away |
| Pagal megangal | Like daytime clouds |
| Vaazhvin paathirangal | The characters of life |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
| Vaazhvin paathirangal | The characters of life |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
| Ellam poi mugangal | All have false faces |
இங்கு நாம் காணும் பாசம்
எல்லாமே வேஷம்
சொந்தங்கள் கலைந்தோடும்
பகல் மேகங்கள்
இங்கு நாம் காணும் பாசம்
எல்லாமே வேஷம்
சொந்தங்கள் கலைந்தோடும்
பகல் மேகங்கள்
The affection we see here
Is all a disguise
Relationships scatter and run away
Like daytime clouds
The affection we see here
Is all a disguise
Relationships scatter and run away
Like daytime clouds
வாழ்வின் பாத்திரங்கள்
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்
வாழ்வின் பாத்திரங்கள்
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்..
ஓஓஓஓஓஓ ஓஓஓஓஓஓஒ...
The characters of life
All have false faces
The characters of life
All have false faces
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
இங்கு நாம் காணும் பாசம்
எல்லாமே வேஷம்
சொந்தங்கள் கலைந்தோடும்
பகல் மேகங்கள்
The affection we see here
Is all a disguise
Relationships scatter and run away
Like daytime clouds
எரிகின்ற தீபம் ஒளி தரும் போதும்
விளக்கின் அடியில் இருள் வட்டம் போடும்
எரிகின்ற தீபம் ஒளி தரும் போதும்
விளக்கின் அடியில் இருள் வட்டம் போடும்
தீபத்திற்கே இரண்டு கண்கள்
மனிதர்க்கிங்கே எத்தனையோ
சொந்தம் பந்தம் என்பது எல்லாம்
கனவுக்குள்ளே கற்பனையோ
கானல் நீரில் மீன்களை
தேடும் இந்த வாழ்க்கையோ..ஓஓஒ..
கானல் நீரில் மீன்களை
தேடும் இந்த வாழ்க்கையோ..ஓஓஒ...
ஓஓஓஓஓஓ ஓஓஓஓஓஓஒ...
Even when a burning lamp gives light
Darkness forms a circle beneath the lamp
Even when a burning lamp gives light
Darkness forms a circle beneath the lamp
The lamp itself has two faces
How many do humans have here?
Are all kinships and bonds
Just imaginations within a dream?
Searching for fish in a mirage
Is this life like that?
Searching for fish in a mirage
Is this life like that?
இங்கு நாம் காணும் பாசம்
எல்லாமே வேஷம்
சொந்தங்கள் கலைந்தோடும்
பகல் மேகங்கள்
வாழ்வின் பாத்திரங்கள்
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்..
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
கருவறை கூட கல்லறை தானே
கல்லறை கூட கருவறை தானே
கருவறை கூட கல்லறை தானே
கல்லறை கூட கருவறை தானே
வாழ்வும் சாவும் ஒன்றே என்றால்
சோகம் இங்கே வாராது
வாழும் போது சூழும் சுற்றம்
சாவில் வந்து சேராது
வந்து வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கையே
வானவில்லை போன்றது...ஓஓஒ.....
வந்து வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கையே
வானவில்லை போன்றது...ஓஓஒ.....
ஓஓஓஓஓஓ ஓஓஓஓஓஓஒ...
The affection we see here
Is all a disguise
Relationships scatter and run away
Like daytime clouds
The characters of life
All have false faces
இங்கு நாம் காணும் பாசம்
எல்லாமே வேஷம்
சொந்தங்கள் கலைந்தோடும்
பகல் மேகங்கள்
வாழ்வின் பாத்திரங்கள்
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்
வாழ்வின் பாத்திரங்கள்
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்..
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்
எல்லாம் பொய் முகங்கள்....
Even the womb is a tomb, after all
Even the tomb is a womb, after all
Even the womb is a tomb, after all
Even the tomb is a womb, after all
If life and death are one and the same
Sorrow will not come here
The relatives who surround us while living
Will not join us in death
The life that was lived
Is like a rainbow
The life that was lived
Is like a rainbow
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
The affection we see here
Is all a disguise
Relationships scatter and run away
Like daytime clouds
The characters of life
All have false faces
The characters of life
All have false faces
All have false faces
All have false faces
Ingu naam kaanum paasam
The affection we see here
Ellamae vesham
Is all a disguise
Sondhangal kalainthodum
Relationships scatter and run away
Pagal megangal
Like daytime clouds
Ingu naam kaanum paasam
The affection we see here
Ellamae vesham
Is all a disguise
Sondhangal kalainthodum
Relationships scatter and run away
Pagal megangal
Like daytime clouds
Vaazhvin paathirangal
The characters of life
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Vaazhvin paathirangal
The characters of life
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
Ingu naam kaanum paasam
The affection we see here
Ellamae vesham
Is all a disguise
Sondhangal kalainthodum
Relationships scatter and run away
Pagal megangal
Like daytime clouds
Erigindra dheepam oli tharum podhum
Even when a burning lamp gives light
Vilakkin adiyil irul vattam podum
Darkness forms a circle beneath the lamp
Erigindra dheepam oli tharum podhum
Even when a burning lamp gives light
Vilakkin adiyil irul vattam podum
Darkness forms a circle beneath the lamp
Dheebathirkkae irandu mugangal
The lamp itself has two faces
Manidharkku ingae ethanaiyo
How many do humans have here?
Sondham bandham enbathu ellaam
Are all kinships and bonds
Kanavukullae karpanaiyo
Just imaginations within a dream?
Kaanal neeril meengalai
Searching for fish in a mirage
Thaedum indha vaazhkaiyoo oo
Is this life like that?
Kaanal neeril meengalai
Searching for fish in a mirage
Thaedum indha vaazhkaiyoo oo
Is this life like that?
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
Ingu naam kaanum paasam
The affection we see here
Ellamae vesham
Is all a disguise
Sondhangal kalainthodum
Relationships scatter and run away
Pagal megangal
Like daytime clouds
Vaazhvin paathirangal
The characters of life
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Karuvarai kooda kallarai thaanae
Even the womb is a tomb, after all
Kallarai kooda karuvarai thaanae
Even the tomb is a womb, after all
Karuvarai kooda kallarai thaanae
Even the womb is a tomb, after all
Kallarai kooda karuvarai thaanae
Even the tomb is a womb, after all
Vaazhvum saavum ondrae endraal
If life and death are one and the same
Sogam ingae vaaraadhu
Sorrow will not come here
Vaazhum bodhu soozhum suttram
The relatives who surround us while living
Saavil vandhu seraadhu
Will not join us in death
Vandhu vaazhndha vaazhkaiyai
The life that was lived
Vaanavillai pondrathu oo
Is like a rainbow
Vandhu vaazhndha vaazhkaiyai
The life that was lived
Vaanavillai pondrathu
Is like a rainbow
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo ooo ooo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
Hoo ooo oo ooo oo
Ingu naam kaanum paasam
The affection we see here
Ellamae vesham
Is all a disguise
Sondhangal kalainthodum
Relationships scatter and run away
Pagal megangal
Like daytime clouds
Vaazhvin paathirangal
The characters of life
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Vaazhvin paathirangal
The characters of life
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Ellam poi mugangal
All have false faces
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Poi Mugangal' is a deeply philosophical meditation on the transient and illusory nature of human relationships and life itself. Lyricist Vairamuthu uses poignant allegories to depict how people wear false faces (masks) and how love in the worldly realm often turns out to be superficial. He compares relationships to clouds drifting away in the daylight and life to chasing fish inside a mirage. Furthermore, the song explores the paradoxes of existence—just as darkness exists beneath a bright lamp, human character conceals hidden truths. By equating the womb (the start of life) to the tomb (the end of life), the lyricist delivers a sobering perspective that life is fleeting like a rainbow, reminding the listener not to be overly attached to worldly ties that dissolve at death.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Sondhangal kalainthodum pagal megangal”
Compares fleeting relationships to daytime clouds that disperse quickly without providing rain.
Paradox / Antithesis
“Erigindra dheepam oli tharum podhum vilakkin adiyil irul vattam podum”
Juxtaposes the light of a burning lamp with the shadow right beneath it to highlight dual nature in life.
Metaphor
“Kaanal neeril meengalai thaedum indha vaazhkaiyoo”
Compares futile human desire and attachment in a fake world to searching for fish in a desert mirage.
Paradox & Rhyme (Ethirhai)
“Karuvarai kooda kallarai thaanae / Kallarai kooda karuvarai thaanae”
Uses 'Karuvarai' (womb) and 'Kallarai' (tomb) to create a cyclical paradox that birth and death are intertwined, paired with strong second-letter consonant rhyming.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Vandhu vaazhndha vaazhkaiyai vaanavillai pondrathu”
Directly compares human life to a rainbow—beautiful, multi-colored, yet ephemeral.
Did you know?
Trivia
The title track 'Poi Mugangal' comes from the 1986 Tamil film directed by C. V. Sridhar, starring Rakesh and Sulakshana. The soul-stirring music was composed by V. S. Narasimhan, with legendary playback singer K. J. Yesudas lending his evocative voice to Vairamuthu's deeply philosophical verses.
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