Yen Kovil
From Pudhiavan · 1984
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- V. S. Narasimhan
- Details
- Pudhiavan1984
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
| Enai thedi ponadho oh oh | Has she gone in search of me? |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
| Enai thedi ponadho oh oh | Has she gone in search of me? |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
| Male | |
| En solai ondru | Hoping that my garden |
| Poo pookkum endru | Would blossom with flowers |
| Paalaivanam ondrai thaandi vandhen | I crossed a desert and came |
| En solai ondru | Hoping that my garden |
| Poo pookkum endru | Would blossom with flowers |
| Paalaivanam ondrai thaandi vandhen | I crossed a desert and came |
| Male | |
| Saabangal theerum santhosha neram | At the joyful time when curses end |
| Kaadhal varam ondrai vendi vandhen | I came asking for the boon of love |
| Varaverkavae ingu nee illaiyae | You are not here to welcome me |
| Thalai saaikkavae oru thol illaiyae | There is no shoulder to rest my head on |
| En vedhanai solla vaaiyillaiyae | I have no words to voice my pain |
| Male | |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
| Enai thedi ponadho oh oh | Has she gone in search of me? |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
| Male | |
| Kannaana kaadhal | Is precious, beloved love |
| Kadhaiyoduthaanaa | Confined only to stories? |
| Mei vaazhkkaiyil | In real life |
| Adhu poiyaagumo.. | Will it become a lie? |
| Male | |
| Mugamoodi vaazhkkai | A masked life |
| Mugam mattum illai | Is not just on the face |
| Brunthaavanam enna mul aagumo | Will Vrindavan turn into thorns? |
| Kanneerillai vizhi kaaigindradhu | There are no tears, my eyes are drying up |
| Unnai enni manam oigindradhu | Thinking of you, my mind grows weary |
| Udal sumandhu uyir pokindradhu | Carrying this body, my soul is departing |
| Male | |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
| Enai thedi ponadho oh oh | Has she gone in search of me? |
| En koyil ingae | My temple is here |
| Pen dheivam engae | Where is the goddess? |
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
எனைத் தேடி போனதோ ஓ ஓ
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
எனைத் தேடி போனதோ ஓ ஓ
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
Has she gone in search of me?
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
Has she gone in search of me?
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
என் சோலை ஒன்று
பூ பூக்கும் என்று
பாலைவனம் ஒன்றை தாண்டி வந்தேன்
என் சோலை ஒன்று
பூ பூக்கும் என்று
பாலைவனம் ஒன்றை தாண்டி வந்தேன்
Hoping that my garden
Would blossom with flowers
I crossed a desert and came
Hoping that my garden
Would blossom with flowers
I crossed a desert and came
சாபங்கள் தீரும் சந்தோஷ நேரம்
காதல் வரம் ஒன்றை வேண்டி வந்தேன்
வரவேற்கவே இங்கு நீ இல்லையே
தலை சாய்க்கவே ஒரு தோள் இல்லையே
என் வேதனை சொல்ல வாயில்லையே
At the joyful time when curses end
I came asking for the boon of love
You are not here to welcome me
There is no shoulder to rest my head on
I have no words to voice my pain
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
எனைத் தேடி போனதோ ஓ ஓ
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
Has she gone in search of me?
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
கண்ணான காதல்
கதையோடுதானா
மெய் வாழ்க்கையில்
அது பொய்யாகுமோ....
Is precious, beloved love
Confined only to stories?
In real life
Will it become a lie?
முகமூடி வாழ்க்கை
முகம் மட்டும் இல்லை
பிருந்தாவனம் என்ன முள் ஆகுமோ
கண்ணீரில்லை விழி காய்கின்றது
உன்னை எண்ணி மனம் ஓய்கின்றது
உடல் சுமந்து உயிர் போகின்றது
A masked life
Is not just on the face
Will Vrindavan turn into thorns?
There are no tears, my eyes are drying up
Thinking of you, my mind grows weary
Carrying this body, my soul is departing
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
எனைத் தேடி போனதோ ஓ ஓ
என் கோயில் இங்கே
பெண் தெய்வம் எங்கே
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
Has she gone in search of me?
My temple is here
Where is the goddess?
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
Enai thedi ponadho oh oh
Has she gone in search of me?
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
Enai thedi ponadho oh oh
Has she gone in search of me?
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
En solai ondru
Hoping that my garden
Poo pookkum endru
Would blossom with flowers
Paalaivanam ondrai thaandi vandhen
I crossed a desert and came
En solai ondru
Hoping that my garden
Poo pookkum endru
Would blossom with flowers
Paalaivanam ondrai thaandi vandhen
I crossed a desert and came
Saabangal theerum santhosha neram
At the joyful time when curses end
Kaadhal varam ondrai vendi vandhen
I came asking for the boon of love
Varaverkavae ingu nee illaiyae
You are not here to welcome me
Thalai saaikkavae oru thol illaiyae
There is no shoulder to rest my head on
En vedhanai solla vaaiyillaiyae
I have no words to voice my pain
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
Enai thedi ponadho oh oh
Has she gone in search of me?
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
Kannaana kaadhal
Is precious, beloved love
Kadhaiyoduthaanaa
Confined only to stories?
Mei vaazhkkaiyil
In real life
Adhu poiyaagumo..
Will it become a lie?
Mugamoodi vaazhkkai
A masked life
Mugam mattum illai
Is not just on the face
Brunthaavanam enna mul aagumo
Will Vrindavan turn into thorns?
Kanneerillai vizhi kaaigindradhu
There are no tears, my eyes are drying up
Unnai enni manam oigindradhu
Thinking of you, my mind grows weary
Udal sumandhu uyir pokindradhu
Carrying this body, my soul is departing
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
Enai thedi ponadho oh oh
Has she gone in search of me?
En koyil ingae
My temple is here
Pen dheivam engae
Where is the goddess?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'En Koyil Ingae' from the 1984 film Pudhiavan is a deeply emotional song of longing and despair written by Vairamuthu. The protagonist describes his heart or surroundings as an empty temple, searching for his beloved whom he reveres as a goddess. Having braved hardships (metaphorically crossing a desert) in the hope of finding happiness and love, he returns only to encounter solitude, grief, and a lack of support. He questions whether true love exists only in fictional stories or if real life inevitably turns affection into falsehood. As his sorrow deepens, he feels his inner paradise turning into a bed of thorns, leaving his eyes tearless and his soul slowly fading away from his weary body.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“En koyil ingae / Pen dheivam engae”
Compares the beloved to a female deity (Pen dheivam) and his abode/heart to a temple (En koyil).
Contrast (Muran)
“En solai ondru poo pookkum endru / Paalaivanam ondrai thaandi vandhen”
Contrasts a lush, blooming garden (solai poo pookkum) with a desolate desert (paalaivanam) to represent hope versus hardships.
Epiphora / Rhyme (Iyaibu Thodai)
“Varaverkavae ingu nee illaiyae / Thalai saaikkavae oru thol illaiyae / En vedhanai solla vaaiyillaiyae”
Repetition of the line-ending suffix 'illaiyae' creating a mournful rhyming rhythm.
Did you know?
Trivia
Pudhiavan (1984) featured music composed by V. S. Narasimhan, a prominent classical violinist and composer known for his sophisticated orchestration in Tamil cinema.
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