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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

My Name Is Nobody

From En Kelvikku Enna Bathil · 1971

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Details
En Kelvikku Enna Bathil1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
My name is nobodyMy name is nobody
His name is somebodyHis name is somebody
I want that somebodyI want that somebody
Om hari om hari om hari om hari om….Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om....
Male
My name is nobodyMy name is nobody
His name is somebodyHis name is somebody
I want that somebodyI want that somebody
Om hari om hari om hari om hari om….Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om....
Male
Oru maraththil paravaigal iranduThere were two birds on a single tree
Adhil ondrai azhaiththathu ondruOne of them called out to the other
Adhu indrum vaazhuthu ingu idhu niyaayamthaanoThat one still lives here today; is this fair?
Kelvikku enna bathilWhat is the answer to my question?
Male
Oru maraththil paravaigal iranduThere were two birds on a single tree
Adhil ondrai azhaiththathu ondruOne of them called out to the other
Adhu indrum vaazhuthu ingu idhu niyaayamthaanoThat one still lives here today; is this fair?
Kelvikku enna bathil hae……hae……What is the answer to my question? Hey... hey...
Male
My name is nobodyMy name is nobody
His name is somebodyHis name is somebody
I want that somebodyI want that somebody
Om hari om hari om hari om hari om….Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om....
Male
Annann vazhi sendra sriraman thambiLord Rama's younger brother followed his elder brother's path
Annaalil vazhnthathu poiyallavaeThe life lived in those days was no lie
Kolai seiyyum thambigal palarundu ippothuNowadays there are many younger brothers who commit murder
Idhu ondrum naanae sollum kadhaiyallavaeThis is not a story created solely by me
Male
Thangakudam polae irunthaanae annanThe elder brother was like a golden pot
Thanakkendru vaazhaamal vaazhnthaanammaaOh lady, he lived without living for himself
Avan patta thunbangal ondralla irandallaThe sufferings he endured were not just one or two
Adipatta kiliyaaga vizhunthaanammaaHe fell down like a wounded bird, oh lady
Male
Idhu niyaayamaa idhu dharmamaaIs this justice? Is this righteousness?
Neriyaagumaa kulam vaazhumaaIs this right? Will the family lineage survive?
En kelvikku enna bathil hae….hae….What is the answer to my question? Hey... hey...
Male
My name is nobodyMy name is nobody
His name is somebodyHis name is somebody
I want that somebodyI want that somebody
Om hari om hari om hari om hari om….Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om....
Male
Thanthai peyar kaakkum pillaigal iranduTwo sons who uphold their father's name
Thamizhodu isaipolae vaazhnthaarammaaLived together like Tamil language and music, oh lady
Neri ketta thambiyaal pirivuttru nindraargalDue to a wicked younger brother, they stood separated
Ini endru ondraaga inaivaarammaaWhen will they unite as one again, oh lady?
Male
Anbu magan pettra magaraasi annaiThe blessed mother who gave birth to a loving son
Deivaththai pol nindru arulvaalammaaWill stand like a deity and bestow her blessings, oh lady
irul vantha illaththil endrenum oliyunduThere is always light in a house shrouded by darkness
Iruvarukkum thunaiyaavaal abhiraamiyaeGoddess Abhirami will be a pillar of support for both of them
Male
Sila sathiyinaal vazhi maarinomDue to some conspiracies, we strayed from our path
Aval arulinaal ini seruvomBy her grace, we shall reunite now
Sila sathiyinaal vazhi maarinomDue to some conspiracies, we strayed from our path
Aval arulinaal ini seruvomBy her grace, we shall reunite now
Aval solvaal orr naalShe will give an answer one day
Kelvikku nalla bathil hae haeA good answer to the question, hey hey
Male
My name is nobodyMy name is nobody
His name is somebodyHis name is somebody
I want that somebodyI want that somebody
Om hari om hari om hari om hari om….Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om Hari Om....

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

En Kelvikku Enna Bathil is a emotionally charged philosophical song rendered by S. P. Balasubramanyam, set to music by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan. The track reflects on betrayal, familial duty, and righteousness by contrasting the legendary devotion of Lakshmana to Rama with contemporary deceit among brothers. Through metaphors of wounded birds and golden vessels, the singer laments the unjust suffering endured by a self-sacrificing brother. Despite the prevailing gloom and separation caused by malicious conspiracies, the song concludes on a hopeful note. It expresses profound trust in divine justice and maternal grace—symbolized by Goddess Abhirami—believing that truth will ultimately prevail and bring broken relationships back together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Uvamai)

Thangakudam polae irunthaanae annan

Compares the noble nature of the elder brother to a pure golden pot ('Thangakudam polae irunthaanae annan') and his fall to a wounded bird ('Adipatta kiliyaaga vizhunthaanammaa').

Analogy / Metaphor

Thamizhodu isaipolae vaazhnthaarammaa

Compares the harmonious bond between brothers to the inseparable relationship between the Tamil language and music ('Thamizhodu isaipolae vaazhnthaarammaa').

Rhetorical Question

Idhu niyaayamaa idhu dharmamaa

Uses dramatic questions to challenge moral decay and seek divine justice.

Alliterative Rhyme (Moni / Etukai)

Thangakudam polae irunthaanae annan / Thanakkendru vaazhaamal vaazhnthaanammaa

Uses matching initial sounds across lines, such as 'Thangakudam' and 'Thanakkendru'.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song uniquely fuses westernized English hooks ('My name is nobody...') with traditional Tamil lyrical philosophy and chanting ('Om Hari Om'), showcasing M. S. Viswanathan's innovative fusion arrangements during the early 1970s.

Keep listening

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