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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yarai Nambi Naan Poranthen

From Enga Oor Raja · 1968

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
T. M. Soundararajan
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Enga Oor Raja
Movie release year
1968
Lyrics added on
31 May 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Yaarai nambi naan porandhen
Pongadaa ponga
En kaalam vellum vendra pinnae
Vaangadaa vaanga
Yaarai nambi naan porandhen
Pongadaa ponga
En kaalam vellum vendra pinnae
Vaangadaa vaanga
Kulathilae thanni illae
Kokkumillae meenumillae
Kulathilae thanni illae
Kokkumillae meenumillae
Pettiyilae panamillae
Petha pullae sondhamillae
Yaarai nambi naan porandhen
Pongadaa ponga
En kaalam vellum vendra pinnae
Vaangadaa vaanga
Thennaiya pethaa ilaneeru
Pillaiya pethaa kanneeru
Thennaiya pethaa ilaneeru
Pillaiya pethaa kanneeru
Pethavan manamae pithammaa
Pillai manamae kallammaa
Paanaiyilae sor irundhaa
Poonaigalum sondhamadaa
Sodhanaiyai pangu vachaa
Sondhamillae bandhamillae
Yaarai nambi naan porandhen
Pongadaa ponga
En kaalam vellum vendra pinnae
Vaangadaa vaanga
Nenjamirukku thunivaaga
Neramirukku thelivaaga
Nenjamirukku thunivaaga
Neramirukku thelivaaga
Ninaithaal mudippen thaniyaaga
Nee yaar naan yaar poda po
Aadiyilae kaathadichaa
Ippasiyil mazhai varum
Thedi varum kaalam vandhaa
Selvamellaam odi varum
Yaarai nambi naan porandhen
Pongadaa ponga
En kaalam vellum vendra pinnae
Vaangadaa vaanga
En kaalam vellum vendra pinnae
Vaangadaa vaanga
Vaangadaa vaanga vaangadaa vaanga
Who did I rely on when I was born?
Go away, all of you, just go!
My time will triumph, and once it does,
Come back then, come back!
Who did I rely on when I was born?
Go away, all of you, just go!
My time will triumph, and once it does,
Come back then, come back!
There is no water in the pond,
So there are no cranes and no fish.
There is no water in the pond,
So there are no cranes and no fish.
There is no money in the cashbox,
And even the child I raised is no longer kin.
Who did I rely on when I was born?
Go away, all of you, just go!
My time will triumph, and once it does,
Come back then, come back!
Raise a coconut tree and it gives sweet water;
Raise a child and it gives only tears.
Raise a coconut tree and it gives sweet water;
Raise a child and it gives only tears.
A parent's heart is full of blind love,
While a child's heart turns to stone.
As long as there is rice in the pot,
Even cats gather around like family!
But try to share your troubles,
And there are no relatives, no bonds at all.
Who did I rely on when I was born?
Go away, all of you, just go!
My time will triumph, and once it does,
Come back then, come back!
My heart is full of courage,
My time ahead is clear,
My heart is full of courage,
My time ahead is clear,
If I set my mind to it, I can achieve it all alone.
Who are you to me, and who am I to you? Just go away!
If the winds blow strong in the month of Aadi,
The rains will surely arrive in Aippasi.
When my destined time comes searching for me,
All wealth and good fortune will come running.
Who did I rely on when I was born?
Go away, all of you, just go!
My time will triumph, and once it does,
Come back then, come back!
My time will triumph, and once it does,
Come back then, come back!
Come back then, come! Come back then, come!
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Yaarai Nambi Naan Porandhen is an iconic philosophical song from the 1968 Tamil film Enga Oor Raja. Lyricist Kannadasan powerfully articulates the painful reality of transactional human relationships and fair-weather kinships. The protagonist reflects on how wealth determines social standing and familial affection: when money disappears, even one's own children and relatives desert them, much like birds leaving a dried pond or cats disappearing when the rice pot is empty.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

“Thennaiya pethaa ilaneeru / Pillaiya pethaa kanneeru”

The lines end with rhyming words ('ilaneeru' and 'kanneeru'), emphasizing the stark emotional contrast.

Muran (Contrast)

“Pethavan manamae pithammaa / Pillai manamae kallammaa”

Contrasts the boundless, almost irrational love of a parent ('pithu') with the cold, unfeeling heart of an ungrateful child ('kal').

Metaphor / Analogy

“Kulathilae thanni illae / Kokkumillae meenumillae”

Uses a dried-up pond lacking fish and birds as a metaphor for a person who has lost their wealth, leading to the departure of opportunistic companions.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Nenjamirukku thunivaaga / Neramirukku thelivaaga”

Repetition of the initial sound 'Ne' at the beginning of consecutive lines, providing a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Enga Oor Raja (1968) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Jayalalithaa, directed by P. Madhavan. The music was composed by M. S. Viswanathan, and this famous track was rendered by T. M. Soundararajan with memorable lyrics written by Kannadasan, capturing the essence of self-reliance and patience through life's changing tides.

Keep listening

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Poovizhi RajaLonelinessFamily
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Onbadhu Roobai NottuLonelinessFamily
Aandavane Nee Irunthaa1973
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