Thunbam Enbathu (Sad)
From Annavin Aasai · 1966
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- K. V. Mahadevan
- Details
- Annavin Aasai1966
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan | A man asked God what happiness truly is |
| Iraivanai kettaanaam | He went and asked God |
| Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen | Saying he did not know it himself, that God... |
| En thalaivanai kettaanaam | ...asked my leader |
| Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam | Male: The leader asked his beloved |
| Female | |
| Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan | A man asked God what happiness truly is |
| Iraivanai kettaanaam | He went and asked God |
| Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen | Saying he did not know it himself, that God... |
| En thalaivanai kettaanaam | ...asked my leader |
| Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam | Male: The leader asked his beloved |
| Male | |
| Kovil gopura silaigalilum | In the sculptures of temple towers |
| Konjum naattiya kalaiyinilum | And in the endearing art of dance |
| Female :Pettrathuthaana inbam endru | Female: 'Is happiness found in these?' |
| Avan pennidam kannaal kettaanaam | He asked the woman through his eyes |
| Male | |
| Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan | A man asked God what happiness truly is |
| Iraivanai kettaanaam | He went and asked God |
| Female :Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen | Female: Saying he did not know it himself, that God... |
| En thalaivanai kettaanaam | ...asked my leader |
| Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam | Male: The leader asked his beloved |
| Female | |
| Kadhal suvai oru vadivaaga | When the sweet flavor of love takes a physical form |
| Kanmani selvam uruvaaga | When a precious treasure of a child is created |
| Male :Aasai thalaivan kanivaaga | Male: As the cherished leader fondly cared... |
| Andrae arinthaan inbaththai thelivaaga | ...he clearly understood happiness on that very day |
| Female | |
| Thaththuvam mazhalai mozhigalilae | In the deep philosophy of a child's babbling words |
| Thalirmaeni sevvaai idhazhgalilae | In the tender body and rosy red lips |
| Male :Inbam piranthathai avan arinthaan | Male: He realized that happiness was born there |
| Antha iraivanum andrae athai arinthaan | And even God realized it on that very day |
| Female | |
| Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan | A man asked God what happiness truly is |
| Iraivanai kettaanaam | He went and asked God |
| Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen | Saying he did not know it himself, that God... |
| En thalaivanai kettaanaam | ...asked my leader |
| Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam | Male: The leader asked his beloved |
துன்பம் என்பது என்ன என்றொருவன்
இறைவனைக் கேட்டானாம்
அந்த இறைவன் தனக்கும் தெரியாதென
என் தலைவனைக் கேட்டானாம்
தலைவன் தலைவியைக் கேட்டானாம்
A man asked God what happiness truly is
He went and asked God
Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
...asked my leader
Male: The leader asked his beloved
துன்பம் என்பது என்ன என்றொருவன்
இறைவனைக் கேட்டானாம்
அந்த இறைவன் தனக்கும் தெரியாதென
என் தலைவனைக் கேட்டானாம்
தலைவன் தலைவியைக் கேட்டானாம்
A man asked God what happiness truly is
He went and asked God
Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
...asked my leader
Male: The leader asked his beloved
உறவினில் வருவது இன்பமென்றும்
அதில் ஒருவர் பிரிந்தால் துன்பமென்றும்
துணைவன் துணைவிக்கு உரைத்தானாம்
அவன் துன்பத்தின் நிழலைக் கொடுத்தானாம்
In the sculptures of temple towers
And in the endearing art of dance
Female: 'Is happiness found in these?'
He asked the woman through his eyes
இரவும் பகலும் மாறுமென்றும்
இன்பமும் துன்பமும் நேருமென்றும்
உறவினில் வருவது இன்பமென்றும்
ஒருவர் பிரிந்தால் துன்பமென்றும்
A man asked God what happiness truly is
He went and asked God
Female: Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
...asked my leader
Male: The leader asked his beloved
வருவது வந்தே தீருமென்றும்
மரணத்தின் மடியில் சேருமென்றும்
துணைவன் துணைவிக்கு உரைத்தானாம்
அவன் துன்பத்தின் நிழலைக் கொடுத்தானாம்
When the sweet flavor of love takes a physical form
When a precious treasure of a child is created
Male: As the cherished leader fondly cared...
...he clearly understood happiness on that very day
துன்பம் என்பது என்ன என்றொருவன்
இறைவனைக் கேட்டானாம்
அந்த இறைவன் தனக்கும் தெரியாதென
என் தலைவனைக் கேட்டானாம்
தலைவன் தலைவியைக் கேட்டானாம்
In the deep philosophy of a child's babbling words
In the tender body and rosy red lips
Male: He realized that happiness was born there
And even God realized it on that very day
A man asked God what happiness truly is
He went and asked God
Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
...asked my leader
Male: The leader asked his beloved
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
A man asked God what happiness truly is
Iraivanai kettaanaam
He went and asked God
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
...asked my leader
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Male: The leader asked his beloved
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
A man asked God what happiness truly is
Iraivanai kettaanaam
He went and asked God
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
...asked my leader
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Male: The leader asked his beloved
Kovil gopura silaigalilum
In the sculptures of temple towers
Konjum naattiya kalaiyinilum
And in the endearing art of dance
Female :Pettrathuthaana inbam endru
Female: 'Is happiness found in these?'
Avan pennidam kannaal kettaanaam
He asked the woman through his eyes
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
A man asked God what happiness truly is
Iraivanai kettaanaam
He went and asked God
Female :Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
Female: Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
...asked my leader
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Male: The leader asked his beloved
Kadhal suvai oru vadivaaga
When the sweet flavor of love takes a physical form
Kanmani selvam uruvaaga
When a precious treasure of a child is created
Male :Aasai thalaivan kanivaaga
Male: As the cherished leader fondly cared...
Andrae arinthaan inbaththai thelivaaga
...he clearly understood happiness on that very day
Thaththuvam mazhalai mozhigalilae
In the deep philosophy of a child's babbling words
Thalirmaeni sevvaai idhazhgalilae
In the tender body and rosy red lips
Male :Inbam piranthathai avan arinthaan
Male: He realized that happiness was born there
Antha iraivanum andrae athai arinthaan
And even God realized it on that very day
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
A man asked God what happiness truly is
Iraivanai kettaanaam
He went and asked God
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
Saying he did not know it himself, that God...
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
...asked my leader
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Male: The leader asked his beloved
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Inbam Enbathu Enna from the film Annavin Aasai (1966) is a philosophical romantic duet penned by Kannadasan and composed by K. V. Mahadevan. The song explores the ultimate definition of 'Inbam' (bliss or happiness). A seeker poses this question to God, but God admits his ignorance and defers to a human leader (husband/lover), who in turn seeks the answer from his beloved lady. After contemplating art, temple sculptures, and dance, they conclude that supreme happiness is born when romantic love manifests as a child. Hearing the innocent babbling of a infant and witnessing a new life allows even God to understand the true depth of worldly joy. The song beautifully elevates marital love and parenthood as spiritual, divine experiences.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Refrain / Anaphora
“Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan”
The opening lines questioning the nature of happiness ('Inbam enbathu enna...') repeat regularly across stanzas to anchor the philosophical query of the song.
Emona (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan / Iraivanai kettaanaam”
Matching initial vowel sounds in Tamil poetry across adjacent words, such as 'Inbam' and 'Iraivanai'.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Avan pennidam kannaal kettaanaam”
The repetitive verbal endings ('kettaanaam', 'arinthaan') create a rhythmic, conversational folk storytelling cadence.
Metaphor (Uvamaani)
“Kadhal suvai oru vadivaaga / Kanmani selvam uruvaaga”
Describing a newborn child as love taking a physical form ('Kadhal suvai oru vadivaaga').
Did you know?
Trivia
Annavin Aasai (1966) was directed by D. Yoganand and starred Gemini Ganesan and Savitri. Lyricist Kannadasan was famous for weaving profound philosophical queries into romantic duets, and this song stands out as a prime example where human love and parenthood are portrayed as superior even to divine knowledge.
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