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Isaimozhi
Selvi album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Yaar Yaaro Enakku

From Selvi · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. Janaki, Malaysia Vasudevan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Selvi
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
1 Feb 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
………………………….
Yaar yaaro enakku potti
Naan vandhen kodiyai naatti
Female :Ilaiyavan iniyavan isaiyilae
Yevarumae mayanguvaar sabaiyilae
Yaar yaaro enakku potti
Surangalai pidithu
Layangalil thoduthu
Sugangalai kodukka therindhavan
Kalaigalai ninaithu kalavalaiyai marandhu
Siragugal virithu parandhavan
Idhayam malarndhu vida
Ninaivil ezhundhu varum
Pudhiya nilavae
Iravil urangi vidum
Vizhiyil valarndhu varum
Iniya kanavae
Paadaadha paattellaam
Naan paaduven hae
Vaangaadha perellaam naan vaanguven
Pugazh enum vaanil naan kadhiravan
Yaar yaaro enakku potti
……………………………
Udaigalum enakku
Sumai yena irukku
Kodiyidai thuvazhndu neliyudhae
Pani idhazh velukka
Mani vizhi sivakka
Thalirudal kodhitthu urugudhae
Pudhiya viragam idhu
Kodiya naragam idhu
Marundhu yedhuvo
Iravu thodangiyadhum
Nilavu kilambiyadhum
Mayakkam varudho
Naan kaattum
Jaadaigal sollaadhadhaa
Kannaa un nenjenna pollaadhadhaa
Oru thalai raagamaai irukkudhae
Yaar yaaro enakku potti
Naan vandhen kodiyai naatti
Ilaiyavan iniyavan isaiyilae
Yevarumae mayanguvaar sabaiyilae
Yaar yaaro
Female :Enakku potti
Male :Naan vandhen
Female :Kodiyai naatti
...
So many people are my rivals!
I have come and planted my flag!
Female: In the music of the sweet young man,
Everyone in the gathering will be spellbound!
So many people are my rivals!
Capturing the musical notes,
Weaving them into rhythms,
He is the one who knows how to bestow joy.
Cherishing the arts and forgetting all worries,
He is the one who spread his wings and soared.
As the heart blossoms open,
Rising up within memory,
Oh new moon!
Sleeping through the night,
Growing inside the eyes,
Oh sweet dream!
All the songs never sung before,
I shall sing them, hey!
All the fame never yet won, I shall achieve!
In the sky of fame, I am the sun!
So many people are my rivals!
...
Even my clothes to me,
Feel like a heavy burden.
My vine-like waist wilts and squirms.
As my dew-like lips turn pale,
And my gem-like eyes turn red,
My tender body boils and melts.
This is a new anguish of longing,
This is a cruel hell,
Is there any cure for this?
As soon as night sets in,
As soon as the moon rises,
Does a sweet trance overcome me?
The subtle gestures
That I make, do they not speak?
Oh Kanna, is your heart so cruel?
It remains like a one-sided melody!
So many people are my rivals!
I have come and planted my flag!
In the music of the sweet young man,
Everyone in the gathering will be spellbound!
So many people,
Female: Are my rivals!
Male: I have come,
Female: Planting my flag!
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Chorus
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Yaar Yaaro Enakku Potti from the movie Selvi (1985) is a spirited musical duet celebrating artistic mastery and intense romantic yearning. Written by Vaali, the lyrics portray a proud artist claiming complete dominance in music and performance, asserting that no rival can match their talent, while simultaneously delving into the emotional heat and physical vulnerability of deep love and separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Pugazh enum vaanil naan kadhiravan

The singer metaphorically describes themselves as the sun ('kadhiravan') shining in the sky ('vaan') of fame ('pugazh').

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Pani idhazh velukka / Mani vizhi sivakka

'Pani' and 'Mani' share the second letter 'ni', creating a classical Tamil rhythmic harmony.

Metaphor

Kodiyidai thuvazhndu neliyudhae

The waist is metaphorically compared to a tender vine ('kodi') that wilts and bends.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by lyricist Vaali for the 1985 film 'Selvi', the song deftly weaves classical music terminology (layam, suranggal, raagam) with emotional expressions of triumph and romantic passion.

Keep listening

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