Yean Endra Kelvi
From Aayirathil Oruvan · 1965
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- T. M. Soundararajan
- Music director
- M. S. Vishwanathan
- Details
- Aayirathil Oruvan1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Yen endra kelvi | Without asking the question 'Why', |
| Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai | There is no true life here; |
| Illai naan endra ennam | A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I' |
| Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai } (2) | Has never truly lived in this world. |
| Male | |
| { Pagutharivu | Rationality |
| Piranthathellam | Was born in this world |
| Kelvigal ketathanaalae } (2) | Only because people asked questions. |
| Male | |
| { Urimaigalai | Basic rights |
| Peruvathellam | Are won by people |
| Unarchigal ullathanaalae } (2) | Only because human emotions exist. |
| Male | |
| Yen endra kelvi | Without asking the question 'Why', |
| Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai | There is no true life here; |
| Illai naan endra ennam | A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I' |
| Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai | Has never truly lived in this world. |
| Male | |
| ……………………. | |
| Male | |
| { Oaraayiram aandugal | Let a thousand years |
| Aagatumae nam porumaiyin | Pass by, but let the true meaning |
| Porul matum vilankatumae } (2) | Of our immense patience be understood. |
| Male | |
| Varunkaalathilae | In the future, |
| Nam parambaraigal naam | May our upcoming generations |
| Adimai illai endru | Proclaim loudly that |
| Muzhankatumae | We are slaves to no one! |
| Male | |
| Yen endra kelvi | Without asking the question 'Why', |
| Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai | There is no true life here; |
| Illai naan endra ennam | A person filled with the egoisticthought of 'I' |
| Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai | Has never truly lived in this world. |
| Male | |
| { Neerodaigal kodaiyil | Streams may dry up during the summer, |
| Kaainthirukum mazhai kaalathil | But when the rainy season arrives, |
| Vellankal paainthirukum } (2) | Floods of water will rush forth warmly. |
| Male | |
| Nam thol valiyaal | Through the physical strength of our shoulders, |
| Andha naal varalaam | That glorious day shall come; |
| Andru ezhai eliyavargal | On that day, the poor and oppressed |
| Nalam peralaam | Shall gain prosperity and peace. |
| Male | |
| Munnetram | All progress |
| Enbathellam uzhaipavar | Achieved in this world comes |
| Uzhaipathanaalae | Because workers labor tirelessly. |
| Male | |
| Kadamaigalai | Performing one's duties |
| Purivathellam viduthalai | Is done entirely |
| Venduvathaalae | Out of a deep desire for freedom. |
| Male | |
| { Yen endra kelvi | Without asking the question 'Why', |
| Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai | There is no true life here; |
| Illai naan endra ennam | A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I' |
| Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai } (2) | Has never truly lived in this world. |
{ ஏன் என்ற
கேள்வி இங்கு
கேட்காமல் வாழ்க்கை
இல்லை நான் என்ற
எண்ணம் கொண்ட
மனிதன் வாழ்ந்ததில்லை } (2)
Without asking the question 'Why',
There is no true life here;
A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I'
Has never truly lived in this world.
{ பகுத்தறிவு
பிறந்ததெல்லாம்
கேள்விகள்
கேட்டதனாலே } (2)
Rationality
Was born in this world
Only because people asked questions.
{ உரிமைகளை
பெறுவதெல்லாம்
உணர்ச்சிகள்
உள்ளதனாலே} (2)
Basic rights
Are won by people
Only because human emotions exist.
ஏன் என்ற
கேள்வி இங்கு
கேட்காமல் வாழ்க்கை
இல்லை நான் என்ற
எண்ணம் கொண்ட
மனிதன் வாழ்ந்ததில்லை
Without asking the question 'Why',
There is no true life here;
A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I'
Has never truly lived in this world.
.................................
{ ஓராயிரம்
ஆண்டுகள் ஆகட்டுமே
நம் பொறுமையின்
பொருள் மட்டும்
விளங்கட்டுமே } (2)
Let a thousand years
Pass by, but let the true meaning
Of our immense patience be understood.
வருங்காலத்திலே
நம் பரம்பரைகள் நாம்
அடிமை இல்லை என்று
முழங்கட்டுமே
In the future,
May our upcoming generations
Proclaim loudly that
We are slaves to no one!
ஏன் என்ற
கேள்வி இங்கு
கேட்காமல் வாழ்க்கை
இல்லை நான் என்ற
எண்ணம் கொண்ட
மனிதன் வாழ்ந்ததில்லை
Without asking the question 'Why',
There is no true life here;
A person filled with the egoisticthought of 'I'
Has never truly lived in this world.
{ நீரோடைகள்
கோடையில் காய்ந்திருக்கும்
மழைகாலத்தில் வெள்ளங்கள்
பாய்ந்திருக்கும் } (2)
Streams may dry up during the summer,
But when the rainy season arrives,
Floods of water will rush forth warmly.
நம் தோள்
வலியால் அந்த நாள்
வரலாம் அன்று ஏழை
எளியவர்கள் நலம்
பெறலாம்
Through the physical strength of our shoulders,
That glorious day shall come;
On that day, the poor and oppressed
Shall gain prosperity and peace.
முன்னேற்றம்
என்பதெல்லாம் உழைப்பவர்
உழைப்பதனாலே
All progress
Achieved in this world comes
Because workers labor tirelessly.
கடமைகளை
புரிவதெல்லாம் விடுதலை
வேண்டுவதாலே
Performing one's duties
Is done entirely
Out of a deep desire for freedom.
{ ஏன் என்ற
கேள்வி இங்கு
கேட்காமல் வாழ்க்கை
இல்லை நான் என்ற
எண்ணம் கொண்ட
மனிதன் வாழ்ந்ததில்லை } (2)
Without asking the question 'Why',
There is no true life here;
A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I'
Has never truly lived in this world.
{ Yen endra kelvi
Without asking the question 'Why',
Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai
There is no true life here;
Illai naan endra ennam
A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I'
Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai } (2)
Has never truly lived in this world.
{ Pagutharivu
Rationality
Piranthathellam
Was born in this world
Kelvigal ketathanaalae } (2)
Only because people asked questions.
{ Urimaigalai
Basic rights
Peruvathellam
Are won by people
Unarchigal ullathanaalae } (2)
Only because human emotions exist.
Yen endra kelvi
Without asking the question 'Why',
Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai
There is no true life here;
Illai naan endra ennam
A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I'
Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai
Has never truly lived in this world.
…………………….
{ Oaraayiram aandugal
Let a thousand years
Aagatumae nam porumaiyin
Pass by, but let the true meaning
Porul matum vilankatumae } (2)
Of our immense patience be understood.
Varunkaalathilae
In the future,
Nam parambaraigal naam
May our upcoming generations
Adimai illai endru
Proclaim loudly that
Muzhankatumae
We are slaves to no one!
Yen endra kelvi
Without asking the question 'Why',
Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai
There is no true life here;
Illai naan endra ennam
A person filled with the egoisticthought of 'I'
Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai
Has never truly lived in this world.
{ Neerodaigal kodaiyil
Streams may dry up during the summer,
Kaainthirukum mazhai kaalathil
But when the rainy season arrives,
Vellankal paainthirukum } (2)
Floods of water will rush forth warmly.
Nam thol valiyaal
Through the physical strength of our shoulders,
Andha naal varalaam
That glorious day shall come;
Andru ezhai eliyavargal
On that day, the poor and oppressed
Nalam peralaam
Shall gain prosperity and peace.
Munnetram
All progress
Enbathellam uzhaipavar
Achieved in this world comes
Uzhaipathanaalae
Because workers labor tirelessly.
Kadamaigalai
Performing one's duties
Purivathellam viduthalai
Is done entirely
Venduvathaalae
Out of a deep desire for freedom.
{ Yen endra kelvi
Without asking the question 'Why',
Ingu ketkaamal vaazhkai
There is no true life here;
Illai naan endra ennam
A person filled with the egoistic thought of 'I'
Konda manidhan vaazhnthathillai } (2)
Has never truly lived in this world.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This iconic philosophical song from 'Aayirathil Oruvan' serves as a call for critical thinking, rational inquiry, and human emancipation. Written by Vaali, the lyrics stress that human progress and rationalism originate from questioning the status quo ('Yen endra kelvi'). It warns against arrogance ('Naan endra ennam') while highlighting that patience in hardship is not weakness but a prelude to eventual liberation.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)
“Neerodaigal kodaiyil / Kaainthirukum mazhai kaalathil”
The initial sound harmony created by repeating similar consonant/vowel combinations across lines.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pagutharivu / Peruvathellam”
Matching second letter patterns in Tamil poetry that enhance rhythmic cadence.
Metaphor
“Neerodaigal kodaiyil kaainthirukum mazhai kaalathil vellankal paainthirukum”
The drying up of streams in summer and flooding in rains is used as a metaphor for the temporary suffering of oppressed people before their eventual triumph.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Aayirathil Oruvan' (1965), starring M. G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa, was a landmark blockbuster directed by B. R. Panthulu. The song 'Yen Endra Kelvi', sung by T. M. Soundararajan and composed by Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy, carried strong political and ideological overtones that resonated deeply with MGR's public persona and Dravidian rationalist ideology.
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