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Enga Mama album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Thannanthani

From Enga Mama · 1970

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Enga Mama
Movie release year
1970
Lyrics added on
17 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naan thannanthani kaattu raajaa
En thottathil ethanai rojaa
Naan theeraadha vilaiyaattu pillai
En thottilil ethanai mullai mullai mullai
Oo… ooo… ooo… ooo…
Oo… ooo… ooo… ooo…
Naan thannanthani kaattu raajaa
En thottathil ethanai rojaa
Naan theeraadha vilaiyaattu pillai
En thottilil ethanai mullai mullai mullai
Chinna arumbugal
Seiyum kurumbugal
Solla solla indha ullam inithidum
Oo… ooo… ooo… ooo…
Alli edukkaiyil
Thulli kudhithidum
Mutham kodukkaiyil
Mookkai kadithidum
Oo… ooo… ooo… ooo…
Engal kudumbam romba perusu
Pillai kuttigalo pathu dhinusu
Engal kudumbam romba perusu
Pillai kuttigalo pathu dhinusu
Ivai athanaiyum anbu parisu
Nalla muthu pol vellai manasu
Lallalla lallalla laa
Lallalla lallalla lallalla lallalla
Laalalla laalalla laa
Naan thannanthani kaattu raajaa
En thottathil ethanai rojaa
Naan theeraadha vilaiyaattu pillai
En thottilil ethanai mullai mullai mullai
Pesum mozhigalil
Baedham namakkillai
Vaazhum uyirgalil
Jaadhi inam illai
Oo… ooo… ooo… ooo…
Allaa mudharkondu
Yaesu buthan varai
Ellor madhangalum
Engal vazhi thunai
Oo… ooo… ooo… ooo…
Pala idathil pirandha nadhighal
Oru kadalil vandhu serum
Pala idathil pirandha nadhighal
Oru kadalil vandhu saerum
Pala nirathil pootha malargal
Oru maalai pol urumaarum
Lallalla lallalla laa
Lallalla lallalla lallalla lallalla
Laalalla laalalla laa
Naan thannanthani kaattu raajaa
Chorus :Raajaa
Male :Thottathil ethanai rojaa
Chorus :Rojaa
Male :Theeraadha vilaiyaattu pillai
Chorus :Pillai
Male :Thottilil ethanai mullai mullai mullai
I am the lone king of the forest,
look how many roses bloom in my garden!
I am an endlessly playful child,
look how many jasmines are in my cradle, jasmines, jasmines!
Oh… oh-oh… oh-oh… oh-oh…
Oh… oh-oh… oh-oh… oh-oh…
I am the lone king of the forest,
look how many roses bloom in my garden!
I am an endlessly playful child,
look how many jasmines are in my cradle, jasmines, jasmines!
These little buds,
and the mischief they make—
speaking of them sweetens my heart!
Oh… oh-oh… oh-oh… oh-oh…
When I scoop them up in my arms,
they bounce and jump with joy!
When I give them a kiss,
they playfully bite my nose!
Oh… oh-oh… oh-oh… oh-oh…
Our family is very large,
and the children come in ten different varieties!
Our family is very large,
and the children come in ten different varieties!
All of them are gifts of love,
with pure, innocent hearts like pearls!
La-la-la, la-la-la, la
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Lal-al-la, lal-al-la, la
I am the lone king of the forest,
look how many roses bloom in my garden!
I am an endlessly playful child,
look how many jasmines are in my cradle, jasmines, jasmines!
In the languages we speak,
we know no differences!
Among living souls,
there is no caste or race!
Oh… oh-oh… oh-oh… oh-oh…
From Allah
to Jesus and the Buddha,
every religion
is a guiding companion on our journey!
Oh… oh-oh… oh-oh… oh-oh…
Rivers born in different places
come together to merge in a single sea!
Rivers born in different places
come together to merge in a single sea!
Flowers blooming in different colours
come together as a single garland!
La-la-la, la-la-la, la
La-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la
Lal-al-la, lal-al-la, la
I am the lone king of the forest,
Chorus: The king!
Male: Look how many roses in my garden!
Chorus: Roses!
Male: An endlessly playful child,
Chorus: A child!
Male: Look how many jasmines in the cradle, jasmines, jasmines!
Male
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male
Chorus
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Naan Thannanthani Kaattu Raajaa is a joyous and heartwarming song from the 1970 Tamil film Enga Mama, picturized on Sivaji Ganesan taking care of a large group of orphaned children. The protagonist tenderly compares his household to a garden and the children to sweet roses and jasmine flowers, delighting in their innocent pranks, playful bites, and pure hearts.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naan thannanthani kaattu raajaa / En thottathil ethanai rojaa

Compares himself to a forest king ('kaattu raajaa') and the children to roses ('rojaa') and jasmine blossoms ('mullai').

Simile (Uvamai)

Nalla muthu pol vellai manasu

Compares the innocent, pure hearts of children to bright white pearls ('muthu pol vellai manasu').

Analogy / Symbolism

Pala idathil pirandha nadhighal oru kadalil vandhu serum / Pala nirathil pootha malargal oru maalai pol urumaarum

Uses the confluence of rivers into an ocean and distinct flowers woven into one garland to symbolize unity in diversity.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Pala idathil pirandha nadhighal / Pala nirathil pootha malargal

The initial 'P' sound repeats across lines to create poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Enga Mama (1970) was an official remake of the hit 1968 Hindi film Brahmachari. Music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, with lyrics written by Kannadasan and vocals rendered by T. M. Soundararajan. The song serves as an iconic example of Tamil cinema celebrating secularism and universal brotherhood through child-centric tracks.

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