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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Thunbam Enbathu (Sad)

From Annavin Aasai · 1966

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Movie name
Annavin Aasai
Movie release year
1966
Lyrics added on
15 Jan 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Kovil gopura silaigalilum
Konjum naattiya kalaiyinilum
Female :Pettrathuthaana inbam endru
Avan pennidam kannaal kettaanaam
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Female :Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
Kadhal suvai oru vadivaaga
Kanmani selvam uruvaaga
Male :Aasai thalaivan kanivaaga
Andrae arinthaan inbaththai thelivaaga
Thaththuvam mazhalai mozhigalilae
Thalirmaeni sevvaai idhazhgalilae
Male :Inbam piranthathai avan arinthaan
Antha iraivanum andrae athai arinthaan
Inbam enbathu enna endroruvan
Iraivanai kettaanaam
Antha iraivan thanakku theriyaathaen
En thalaivanai kettaanaam
Male :Thalaivan thalaiviyai kettaanaam
A man asked God,
"What is true happiness?"
Saying He did not know it Himself,
that God asked my beloved.
Male: And the lover asked his lady.
A man asked God,
"What is true happiness?"
Saying He did not know it Himself,
that God asked my beloved.
Male: And the lover asked his lady.
"In the sculptures of temple towers,
and in the graceful art of dance,
Female: is that where joy is found?"
he asked his woman with his eyes.
A man asked God,
"What is true happiness?"
Female: Saying He did not know it Himself,
that God asked my beloved.
Male: And the lover asked his lady.
As the sweetness of love took shape,
as a precious child was born,
Male: the loving husband tenderly
understood true happiness clearly that day.
In the innocent babble of a child,
in its tender body and rosy lips,
Male: he realized that joy was born,
and even God came to know it that day.
A man asked God,
"What is true happiness?"
Saying He did not know it Himself,
that God asked my beloved.
Male: And the lover asked his lady.
Female
Female
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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