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Madras To Pondichery album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Payanam Enge

From Madras To Pondichery · 1966

Lyricist
Namakkal Varadharajan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
T. K. Ramamoorthy
Movie name
Madras To Pondichery
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
13 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Engae ..payanam engae payanam engae
Enna velai enn thevaiyoo
Sondham yaavum paarkkum aasaiyoo
Enna velai enn thevaiyoo
Sondham yaavum paarkkum aasaiyoo
Payanam engae payanam engae
Enna velai enn thevaiyoo
Sondham yaavum paarkkum aasaiyoo
Enna velai enn thevaiyoo
Sondham yaavum paarkkum aasaiyoo
Payanam engae payanam engae
Kovil paarkkavoo paavam theerkkavoo
Sothu serkkavoo sumaiyai thookkavoo
Payanam engae payanam engae
Serndhu varubhavar ethanai perr
Nallavar kettavar yaar arivaar
Serndhu varubhavar ethanai perr
Nallavar kettavar yaar arivaar
Asalai polae nagal irukkum
Asandha neram kedirukkum
Asalai polae nagal irukkum
Asandha neram kedirukkum
Vaazhvil kavanam vendum adhai
Vellum thunivum vendum
Vaazhvil kavanam vendum adhai
Vellum thunivum vendum
Payanam engae payanam engae
Pugaiyum idathil thee irukkum
Pagaiyum arugil marainthirukkum
Pugaiyum idathil thee irukkum
Pagaiyum arugil marainthirukkum
Vagai theriyaamal maattikkitta adhu
Vanjam theerkka thunindhu vidum
Vagai theriyaamal maattikkitta adhu
Vanjam theerkka thunindhu vidum
Vaazhvil kavanam vendum
Vellum thunivum vendum
Vaazhvil kavanam vendum
Vellum thunivum vendum
Payanam engae payanam engae
Enna velai enn thevaiyoo
Sondham yaavum paarkkum aasaiyoo
Enna velai enn thevaiyoo
Sondham yaavum paarkkum aasaiyoo
Payanam engae payanam engae
Kovil paarkkavoo paavam theerkkavoo
Sothu serkkavoo sumaiyai thookkavoo
Payanam engae payanam engae
Where... where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
What is the purpose, what is the need?
Is it a desire to see all your loved ones?
What is the purpose, what is the need?
Is it a desire to see all your loved ones?
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
What is the purpose, what is the need?
Is it a desire to see all your loved ones?
What is the purpose, what is the need?
Is it a desire to see all your loved ones?
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
Is it to visit a temple, or wash away sins?
Is it to gather wealth, or carry a burden?
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
So many people are travelling along,
who knows who is good and who is bad?
So many people are travelling along,
who knows who is good and who is bad?
A fake can look just like the original,
and danger strikes the moment you let down your guard.
A fake can look just like the original,
and danger strikes the moment you let down your guard.
You need caution in life, and
the courage to overcome.
You need caution in life, and
the courage to overcome.
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
Where there is smoke, there is fire,
and enmity lies hidden nearby.
Where there is smoke, there is fire,
and enmity lies hidden nearby.
If you get trapped without realizing,
it will dare to take its revenge.
If you get trapped without realizing,
it will dare to take its revenge.
You need caution in life,
and the courage to overcome.
You need caution in life,
and the courage to overcome.
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
What is the purpose, what is the need?
Is it a desire to see all your loved ones?
What is the purpose, what is the need?
Is it a desire to see all your loved ones?
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
Is it to visit a temple, or wash away sins?
Is it to gather wealth, or carry a burden?
Where is the journey to? Where is the journey to?
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Engae Payanam Engae is a philosophical yet situation-driven song from the 1966 Tamil road-comedy thriller film Madras To Pondichery. Sung by T. M. Soundararajan, the song ponders the true purpose of a journey, drawing a parallel between a bus ride and the journey of life. It questions whether people travel to perform duties, meet family, seek spiritual cleansing at temples, or pursue material wealth. At the same time, it warns about the unpredictability of human nature among fellow travelers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Kovil paarkkavoo paavam theerkkavoo / Sothu serkkavoo sumaiyai thookkavoo”

The rhyming suffixes '-oo' in 'paarkkavoo', 'theerkkavoo', 'serkkavoo', and 'thookkavoo' create a rhythmic lyrical pattern.

Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Pugaiyum idathil thee irukkum / Pagaiyum arugil marainthirukkum”

The second letters 'ga' in 'Pugaiyum' and 'Pagaiyum' rhyme to highlight contrast and connection.

Proverbial Imagery

“Pugaiyum idathil thee irukkum”

Uses the famous idiom 'where there's smoke, there's fire' to caution about hidden hostility.

Did you know?

Trivia

Madras To Pondichery (1966) was a major hit comedy road film directed by Thirumalai-Mahalingam. It was later remade in Hindi as the legendary comedy film Bombay to Goa (1972), featuring Amitabh Bachchan.

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