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Naan Sonnathey Sattam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Adhikaalai Neram

From Naan Sonnathey Sattam · 1988

Lyricist
Lyricist Not Known
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Asha Bhosle
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Naan Sonnathey Sattam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
22 Dec 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Adhi kaalai neram
Kanavil unnai paarthaen
Adhu kalaindhidaamal
Kaiyil ennai saerthaen
Adhi kaalai neram
Kanavil unnai paarthaen
Adhu kalaindhidaamal
Kaiyil ennai saerthaen
Vizhi neengidaamal neendhugindra
Thendralae hoi
Unai saerndhidaamal vaadum
Indha andrilae hoi
Lala laala laala laala laala laalaa
Lala laala laala laala laala laalaa
Mullai poovai modhum
Ven sangu pola oodhum
Kaadhal vandin paattu
Kaalam thorum kettu
Veenai pola unnai
Kai meettum indha velai
Nooru raagam ketkum
Noyai kooda theerkkum
Paadhi paadhiyaaga
Sugam baakki ingu yaedhu
Meedham indri thandhaal
Enai yaetru konda maadhu
Dheviyae maeviya
Jeevanae nee thaan
Nee tharum kaadhalil
Vaazhbaval naan thaan
Nee illaamal naanum illaiyae
Adhi kaalai neram
Kanavil unnai paarthaen
Adhu kalaindhidaamal
Kaiyil ennai saerthaen
Vizhi neengidaamal neendhugindra
Thendralae hoi
Unai saerndhidaamal vaadum
Indha andrilae hoi
Adhi kaalai neram
Kanavil unnai paarthaen
Maalai ondru soodum
Pon maeni aaram soodum
Maadham thaedhi paarthu
Manadhu solli kettu
Velai vandhu saerum
Nam viragam andru theerum
Neenda kaala dhaagam
Nerungum podhu pogum
Kaadu maedu odi
Nadhi kadalil vandhu koodum
Aasai nenjam ingae
Dhinam analin vendhu vaadum
Vaadalum koodalum
Manmadhan velai
Vaazhvadhu kaadhal thaan
Paarkkalaam naalai
Poorva jenma bandham allavo
Adhi kaalai neram
Kanavil unnai paarthaen
Adhu kalaindhidaamal
Kaiyil ennai saerthaen
Vizhi neengidaamal neendhugindra
Thendralae hoi
Unai saerndhidaamal vaadum
Indha andrilae hoi
Lala laala laala laala laala laalaa
Lala laala laala laala laala laalaa
In the early morning hours,
I saw you in my dream.
Before it could fade away,
I held you in my arms.
In the early morning hours,
I saw you in my dream.
Before it could fade away,
I held you in my arms.
Gliding without leaving my sight,
oh gentle breeze!
Yearning without being with you,
is this andril bird (inseparable lovebird)!
La la laala laala laala laala laalaa
La la laala laala laala laala laalaa
Brushing against the jasmine flower,
sounding like a white conch,
the song of the loving bee
is heard through all time.
Like a veena (stringed instrument),
when my hands strum you at this hour,
a hundred melodies are heard,
healing every ache and sorrow.
Nothing is kept in halves,
what pleasure is left remaining?
She gave it all without holding back,
the woman who accepted me.
You are the beloved goddess,
you are my very life.
In the love that you give,
I am the one who truly lives.
Without you, I do not exist...
In the early morning hours,
I saw you in my dream.
Before it could fade away,
I held you in my arms.
Gliding without leaving my sight,
oh gentle breeze!
Yearning without being with you,
is this andril bird!
In the early morning hours,
I saw you in my dream.
A wedding garland will be worn,
a golden necklace will grace your golden form,
picking the month and the date,
listening to what our hearts say.
The right time will arrive,
and our longing will end that day.
This long-held thirst
will fade away when we draw close.
Running across woods and hills,
the river merges with the sea.
Here, this longing heart
burns and withers in fire each day.
Yearning and coming together
are the playful works of Manmatha (the god of love).
It is love that lives forever,
we will see it tomorrow.
Isn't this a bond from our past lives?
In the early morning hours,
I saw you in my dream.
Before it could fade away,
I held you in my arms.
Gliding without leaving my sight,
oh gentle breeze!
Yearning without being with you,
is this andril bird!
La la laala laala laala laala laalaa
La la laala laala laala laala laalaa
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This romantic duet captures the depth of love, longing, and spiritual connection between two lovers. The protagonist recalls seeing their beloved in an early morning dream and clinging to that precious vision, transforming it into physical closeness. The lyrics express how love acts as a healing melody, capable of curing pain, while comparing the lovers' separation to the mythical 'Andril' bird that cannot survive without its mate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

“Veenai pola unnai / Kai meettum indha velai”

Compares playing/touching the lover lovingly to strumming a Veena, which generates beautiful music and cures affliction.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Kaadu maedu odi / Nadhi kadalil vandhu koodum”

Compares the path of lovers to a river running across terrain to merge with the sea.

Allusion (Illakkiya Kurippu)

“Unai saerndhidaamal vaadum / Indha andrilae hoi”

Refers to 'Andril', a legendary bird in Classical Tamil literature known for dying if separated from its partner.

Rhyme / Assonance (Edhukai)

“Vaadalum koodalum / Manmadhan velai”

Repetition of second letter consonant harmony ('kaadu' and 'naadu/maedu', 'vaadalum' and 'manmadhan').

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naan Sonnathey Sattam' is a 1988 Tamil film starring Sarathkumar and Rekha. The song invokes classic Sangam Tamil romantic motifs such as the early morning dream ('Kanavu') and the mythical 'Andril' bird symbolizing inseparable love.

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