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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Yengay Yengay

From Aasal · 2010

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Aasal2010

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Engae engaeWhere, oh where
Manithan engaeWhere is the human?
Manithan udaiyilIn the attire of a human
Mirugam ingae ..A beast resides here..
Ingae..ingaeHere.. here
Male
Onaai ullamThe heart of a wolf
Nariyin kallamThe cunningness of a fox
Ondraai sernthaJoined together into one
Ulagam ingaeHere is such a world
Ingae..ingaeHere.. here
Male
ValigalaalThrough the pains
Vantha varangalaalAnd the blessings born from them
VaazhkkaiyilIn this life
Gnyaanam kondenI attained wisdom
Chorus :Oh ho…Chorus :Oh ho…
Male
Kaadhal endraalIf it is love
Kannil yuththamIt is a battle in the eyes
Kanneer ellaamAll tears are
Vellai raththamLike white blood
Male
Uravum natpumRelationship and friendship
Chorus :Ho hoo ooChorus :Ho hoo oo
Male :Bimbam bimbamMale :A mere reflection, a reflection
Chorus :Ho hoo ooChorus :Ho hoo oo
Male :Ullam engaeMale :Where is the heart?
Nambum nambumBelieving and believing
Male
PoigalinOf lies
Karaikku naduvilaeBetween the two banks
Poguthae vaazhkkai nadhiFlows the river of life
Chorus
Ho ho ho ho….Ho ho ho ho….
Ho ho ho ho….Ho ho ho ho….
Male
Jananam unmaiBirth is a truth
Maranam unmaiDeath is a truth
ThanthaanaeHe granted them
Kadavul thanthaanaeGod gave them both
Male
Andha rendai thaviraExcept for those two
Ellaam poiyaaiEverything else as a lie
SeithaanaeHe created
Manithan seithaanaeMan created it so
Chorus :Yo yo yo yo…..(Overlapping)Chorus :Yo yo yo yo…..(Overlapping)
Male
Kadugai pilanthuSplitting open a mustard seed
Kaanum pothuWhen I look inside
Vaanam irundhida kandenI saw the sky turning dark
Naan uravai thiranthuOpening up relationships
Kaanum pothuWhen I look inside
Ulagam therinthida kandenI came to understand the true nature of the world
Male
En udalai thottaalIf you touch my body
Naan manithan aanenI became a human
En uyirai thottaalIf you touch my soul
Naan kadavul aavenI will become God
Chorus
Aa….aah …haa..aaa…aa…Aa….aah …haa..aaa…aa…
Aa….aah …haa..aaa…aa…Aa….aah …haa..aaa…aa…
Male
Ingae ingaeHere, right here
Manithan ingaeHere is the true human
Imayam thaangumCapable of bearing the Himalayas
Idhayam ingaeHere lies such a heart
Kaadum maramumForests and trees
En kaalil purkkalAre mere blades of grass beneath my feet
Kundrum malaiyumHills and mountains
KoozhaankarkkalAre just small pebbles
Male
SaambalilFrom the ashes
Uyirkkum paravaipolLike the bird that rises to life
Saathikkavae parakkindrenI fly to achieve
Saathikkavae parakkindrenI fly to achieve

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Engae Engae' from the 2010 film 'Aasal' is a intense philosophical composition exploring themes of human deceit, existential realization, and triumphant resilience. The protagonist reflects on how people often disguise beastly, wolf-like deceit beneath human appearances, realizing that while birth and death are divine truths, most earthly relationships and promises are fabricated lies. Through profound heartbreak and pain, the protagonist gains spiritual clarity, recognizing life as a river flowing between banks of deception. In the latter half, the tone shifts from disillusionment to immense empowerment and self-realization. Comparing himself to a Phoenix rising from ashes, the protagonist realizes his inner strength can move mountains and endure any burden. He asserts that while his physical body makes him human, his transcendent spirit connects him directly to the divine, empowering him to rise above betrayal and achieve greatness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagaim)

Poguthae vaazhkkai nadhi

Life is metaphorically represented as a river flowing between banks of lies ('Poguthae vaazhkkai nadhi'). Tears are termed 'white blood' ('Kanneer ellaam vellai raththam').

Allusion / Imagery (Phoenix imagery)

Saambalil uyirkkum paravaipol

Refers to the mythical Phoenix bird rising revived from its own ashes, symbolizing resilience and rebirth after betrayal.

Antithesis / Contrast (Muran)

Jananam unmai / Maranam unmai ... Ellaam poiyaai seithaanae manithan seithaanae

Contrasts the divine truth of birth and death against the deception created by humankind.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Imayam thaangum idhayam ingae

Exaggerates the heart's strength as powerful enough to support the weight of the Himalayas, and viewing mountains as mere pebbles.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Bharadwaj and sung by legendary singer S. P. Balasubrahmanyam alongside Sunitha Sarathy and Naveen, this song serves as a central philosophical theme for Ajith Kumar's character in 'Aasal'. The lyrics written by Vairamuthu draw inspiration from classical Tamil philosophical traditions mixed with Western existential imagery like the Phoenix.

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