Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Who Am I

From Vaanam · 2011

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Benny Dayal
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Vaanam
Movie release year
2011
Lyrics added on
11 Sept 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
1 2 3 4… lets walk
Dhinam dhinam marudhinam
Kannaadiyai paarkkiren
Ennai naanae ketkiren
Who am i
Oru nodi sirikkiren
Marunodi azghukiren
Mayakkathil kidakkiren
Who am i
Nerupinil pizhaikiren
Who am i
Vazhum virupathil kodhikiren
Who am i
Kannavugal vithaikiren
Kalaindhadhum thavikiren
Kadavulai ketkiren kulambudhae
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Pirappadhum irappadhum
Puzhuvukkum nadakkumae
Saadhanaigal seidhu vida ninaikkiren
Dhinasari kavalaigal
Dhinam dhinam thurathida
Aththanaiyum enakkullae pudhaikkiren
Kuthamendru solvena
Ullam enna solvenaa
Enna enna solveno
Enakkondrum puriyala
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Enakkena nanbargal
Illaiyendru enni
Ennai naanae nanbanaai ninaikkiren
Enakkena edhirigal
Yaarumillai endru enni
Ennai naanae edhiriyaai verukkiren
Ennai naanae velvenaa
Ennai naanae kolvenaa
Endhappakkam selveno
Enakkondrum theriyala
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Dhinam dhinam marudhinam
Kannaadiyai paarkkiren
Ennai naanae ketkiren
Who am i
Oru nodi sirikkiren
Marunodi azghukiren
Mayakkathil kidakkiren
Who am i
Nerupinil pizhaikiren
Who am i
Vazhum virupathil kodhikiren
Who am i
Kannavugal vithaikiren
Kalaindhadhum thavikiren
Kadavulai ketkiren kulambudhae
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i
Who am i who am i who am i
Who am i who am i …
Whoooo..am …ii..
1, 2, 3, 4… Let's walk
Day after day, every single day,
I look into the mirror,
And ask myself,
Who am I?
One moment I smile,
The next moment I cry,
I lie here in a daze,
Who am I?
I survive inside the fire,
Who am I?
I burn with the desire to live,
Who am I?
I sow seeds of dreams,
And suffer when they shatter,
I ask God, but I am so confused,
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Being born and dying
Happens even to a worm,
I want to achieve something great,
As everyday worries
Chase me day after day,
I bury everything inside myself,
Shall I call it a mistake?
Shall I speak what is in my heart?
What all will I say?
I understand nothing at all,
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Thinking that I have
No friends of my own,
I treat myself as my only friend,
Thinking that I have
No enemies at all,
I hate myself as my own enemy,
Will I conquer myself?
Will I destroy myself?
Which path will I take?
I know nothing at all,
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Day after day, every single day,
I look into the mirror,
And ask myself,
Who am I?
One moment I smile,
The next moment I cry,
I lie here in a daze,
Who am I?
I survive inside the fire,
Who am I?
I burn with the desire to live,
Who am I?
I sow seeds of dreams,
And suffer when they shatter,
I ask God, but I am so confused,
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I? Who am I?
Who am I? Who am I?…
Who… am… I…
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Who Am I' from Vaanam is a deeply philosophical and existential monologue about identity, inner conflict, and human resilience. The protagonist grapples with volatile emotions—shifting rapidly between laughter and tears, hope and despair—while questioning the meaning of their existence. Rather than settling for a mundane life shared by all living creatures, they dream of extraordinary accomplishments, yet feel stifled by the burden of daily struggles.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Muran (Antithesis)

“Oru nodi sirikkiren / Marunodi azghukiren”

Contrasts laughing ('sirikkiren') and crying ('azghukiren') in consecutive moments to depict extreme emotional turmoil.

Metaphor

“Kannavugal vithaikiren”

Compares forming hopes and ambitions to sowing seeds ('vithaikiren').

Muran (Antithesis)

“Ennai naanae nanbanaai ninaikkiren ... Ennai naanae edhiriyaai verukkiren”

Juxtaposes viewing oneself as a friend ('nanban') and as an enemy ('edhiri').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

“Pirappadhum irappadhum / Puzhuvukkum nadakkumae”

The second letter 'ra' in 'Pirappadhum' and 'irappadhum' creates a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song was composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for the film Vaanam (2011), directed by Krish. The lyrics were penned by Na. Muthu Kumar, known for capturing profound existential angst and philosophical themes in contemporary Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

Songs with a similar feeling

Thaalam Thattum2022
KanamHopeDreams
Jinthako2019
AiraaIdentityDreams
Vaazh Veesum2024
VettaiyanGriefIdentity
Yea Pa Yeppappa2018
Iravukku Aayiram KangalGriefLoneliness
Theera Mazhai2024
Mazhai Pidikkatha ManithanGriefRegret
Nila Nila Nerupil2023
VirupakshaHopeAnxious

From the same album

More songs from Vaanam

View album
Saroja2011
VaanamSensual
Cable Raja2011
VaanamCelebratory
No Money No Honey2011
VaanamCalm
Vaanam Deivam Vazhvathu2011
VaanamContemplative
Evan Di Unna Pethan2011
VaanamPassionate

Spot an issue?

Help us improve the lyrics or English translation.