Saathi Ennum
From Thirunelveli · 2000
- Lyricist
- Poovai Senguttavan
- Singer
- Ilayaraja
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Thirunelveli2000
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Saathi ennum kodumai | When will the cruelty known as caste |
| Intha naattai endru vidumo | Ever leave this country? |
| Veedhikku veedhi vanthu | Will it keep coming street to street |
| Pethai uyir kondu sellumo | And taking away innocent lives? |
| Male | |
| Aadhiyil illaatha saathiyum | This caste system that did not exist in the beginning, |
| Paadhiyil vanthathenna thollaiyae | What a nuisance that it arrived halfway through! |
| Saathi ennum peyai oottidum | To drive away this demon called caste, |
| Saththiya poosaari ingillaiyae | There is no priest of truth present here. |
| Male | |
| Saathi ennum kodumai | When will the cruelty known as caste |
| Intha naattai endru vidumo | Ever leave this country? |
| Veedhikku veedhi vanthu | Will it keep coming street to street |
| Pethai uyir kondu sellumo | And taking away innocent lives? |
| Male | |
| Unnaiyum ennaiyum pettrathu | That which gave birth to you and me |
| Annai thanthai saadhi alla | Is mother and father, not caste. |
| Unna urangida kaappathu | That which protects us while eating and sleeping |
| Mann magalae saadhi alla | Is mother earth, not caste. |
| Male | |
| Nanmaiyum unmaiyum | Goodness and truth |
| Niththamum saaguthu saathiyinaal | Are dying every day because of caste. |
| Anbu panbu enum narkunam | Good qualities like love and character |
| Veguthu saathiyinaal | Are burning away because of caste. |
| Male | |
| Kaatru ennum saadhi | If the caste called wind |
| Thee ennum saadhiyai theendaavidil | Does not touch the caste called fire, |
| Nilam ennum saadhiyum | And if the caste called land |
| Neer ennum saadhiyai theendaavidil | Does not touch the caste called water, |
| Neeyum naanum illai | Neither you nor I would exist, |
| Mannil uyirum illai nyaana pennae | Nor would there be any life on earth, oh wise girl. |
| Male | |
| {Saathi ennum kodumai | When will the cruelty known as caste |
| Intha naattai endru vidumo | Ever leave this country? |
| Veedhikku veedhi vanthu | Will it keep coming street to street |
| Pethai uyir kondu sellumo} (2) | And taking away innocent lives? |
சாதி என்னும் கொடுமை
இந்த நாட்டை என்று விடுமோ
வீதிக்கு வீதி வந்து
பேதை உயிர் கொண்டு செல்லுமோ
When will the cruelty known as caste
Ever leave this country?
Will it keep coming street to street
And taking away innocent lives?
ஆதியில் இல்லாத சாதியும்
பாதியில் வந்ததென்ன தொல்லையே
சாதி என்னும் பேயை ஓட்டிடும்
சத்தியப் பூசாரி இங்கில்லையே.....
This caste system that did not exist in the beginning,
What a nuisance that it arrived halfway through!
To drive away this demon called caste,
There is no priest of truth present here.
சாதி என்னும் கொடுமை
இந்த நாட்டை என்று விடுமோ
வீதிக்கு வீதி வந்து
பேதை உயிர் கொண்டு செல்லுமோ
When will the cruelty known as caste
Ever leave this country?
Will it keep coming street to street
And taking away innocent lives?
உன்னையும் என்னையும் பெற்றது
அன்னை தந்தை சாதி அல்ல
உண்ண உறங்கிட காப்பது
மண் மகளே சாதி அல்ல
That which gave birth to you and me
Is mother and father, not caste.
That which protects us while eating and sleeping
Is mother earth, not caste.
நன்மையும் உண்மையும்
நித்தமும் சாகுது சாதியினால்
அன்பு பண்பு எனும் நற்குணம்
வேகுது சாதியினால்
Goodness and truth
Are dying every day because of caste.
Good qualities like love and character
Are burning away because of caste.
காற்று என்னும் சாதி
தீ என்னும் சாதியை தீண்டாவிடில்
நிலம் என்னும் சாதியும்
நீர் என்னும் சாதியை தீண்டாவிடில்
நீயும் நானும் இல்லை
மண்ணில் உயிரும் இல்லை ஞானப் பெண்ணே
If the caste called wind
Does not touch the caste called fire,
And if the caste called land
Does not touch the caste called water,
Neither you nor I would exist,
Nor would there be any life on earth, oh wise girl.
{சாதி என்னும் கொடுமை
இந்த நாட்டை என்று விடுமோ
வீதிக்கு வீதி வந்து
பேதை உயிர் கொண்டு செல்லுமோ} (2)
When will the cruelty known as caste
Ever leave this country?
Will it keep coming street to street
And taking away innocent lives?
Saathi ennum kodumai
When will the cruelty known as caste
Intha naattai endru vidumo
Ever leave this country?
Veedhikku veedhi vanthu
Will it keep coming street to street
Pethai uyir kondu sellumo
And taking away innocent lives?
Aadhiyil illaatha saathiyum
This caste system that did not exist in the beginning,
Paadhiyil vanthathenna thollaiyae
What a nuisance that it arrived halfway through!
Saathi ennum peyai oottidum
To drive away this demon called caste,
Saththiya poosaari ingillaiyae
There is no priest of truth present here.
Saathi ennum kodumai
When will the cruelty known as caste
Intha naattai endru vidumo
Ever leave this country?
Veedhikku veedhi vanthu
Will it keep coming street to street
Pethai uyir kondu sellumo
And taking away innocent lives?
Unnaiyum ennaiyum pettrathu
That which gave birth to you and me
Annai thanthai saadhi alla
Is mother and father, not caste.
Unna urangida kaappathu
That which protects us while eating and sleeping
Mann magalae saadhi alla
Is mother earth, not caste.
Nanmaiyum unmaiyum
Goodness and truth
Niththamum saaguthu saathiyinaal
Are dying every day because of caste.
Anbu panbu enum narkunam
Good qualities like love and character
Veguthu saathiyinaal
Are burning away because of caste.
Kaatru ennum saadhi
If the caste called wind
Thee ennum saadhiyai theendaavidil
Does not touch the caste called fire,
Nilam ennum saadhiyum
And if the caste called land
Neer ennum saadhiyai theendaavidil
Does not touch the caste called water,
Neeyum naanum illai
Neither you nor I would exist,
Mannil uyirum illai nyaana pennae
Nor would there be any life on earth, oh wise girl.
{Saathi ennum kodumai
When will the cruelty known as caste
Intha naattai endru vidumo
Ever leave this country?
Veedhikku veedhi vanthu
Will it keep coming street to street
Pethai uyir kondu sellumo} (2)
And taking away innocent lives?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This social reform song from the movie Thirunelveli (2000) addresses the destructive impact of the caste system in society. The lyricist laments how caste discrimination—an artificial construct not present in ancient times—has become a demonic force claiming innocent lives across streets and villages. The song highlights that human existence relies on universal parents and Mother Earth rather than caste identity, while lamenting the daily destruction of goodness, love, truth, and moral character caused by caste-based hatred.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Saathi ennum peyai oottidum”
Caste is directly compared to a evil demon ('Saathi ennum peyai') that needs to be exorcised.
Edugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Aadhiyil illaatha saathiyum / Paadhiyil vanthathenna thollaiyae”
The second consonant 'dhi' matches across consecutive lines ('Aadhiyil' and 'Paadhiyil').
Analogy / Nature Imagery
“Kaatru ennum saadhi / Thee ennum saadhiyai theendaavidil”
The lyricist metaphorically assigns 'caste' to natural elements (wind, fire, land, water) to illustrate that life cannot exist if elements refuse to touch or interact with one another.
Monaai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Nanmaiyum unmaiyum / Niththamum saaguthu saathiyinaal”
Repetition of the initial letter 'N' across 'Nanmaiyum' and 'Niththamum'.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Thirunelveli (2000) deals directly with caste-based oppression and violence in southern Tamil Nadu. With music composed by Ilaiyaraaja, this track features lyrics by veteran writer Poovai Senguttavan, who uses the traditional 'Nyaana Pennae' (wise girl) address style reminiscent of Siddhar folk poetry to deliver a sharp social critique.
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