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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Athu Oru Kaalam

From Adhe Neram Adhe Idam · 2009

Lyricist
Lalithanand
Singers
Haricharan, Premgi Amaren
Music director
Premgi Amaren
Details
Adhe Neram Adhe Idam2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Athu oru kaalam azhagiya kaalamThat was a time, a beautiful time,
Avaludan vaazhntha ninaivugalThe memories of living with her,
Pothum pothumEnough, enough.
Male
Pazhaiyathu yaavum maranthidu neeyumForget everything from the past,
Sirithida thaane piranthathu neeyum naanumYou and I were born only to smile.
Male
Hae jodiyaai irunthaalHey, if we were a pair,
Otraiyaai vida thaanaaShould one be left all alone?
Muthu pol sirithaalIf she smiled like a pearl,
Mothamaai azha thaanaa thaanaaShould I weep completely?
Male
Hae thullithaan thiriyumHey, wander merrily around
Pillaiyaai iru neeyumBe like a playful child,
Thunbamthaan maranthuForget your sorrows
Pattam pol para eppothumAnd fly like a kite always.
Male
Athu oru kaalam azhagiya kaalamThat was a time, a beautiful time,
Avaludan vaazhntha ninaivugalThe memories of living with her,
Pothum pothumEnough, enough.
Male
Pazhaiyathu yaavum maranthidu neeyumForget everything from the past,
Sirithida thaane piranthathu neeyum naanumYou and I were born only to smile.
Neeyum naanum neeyum naanum neeyum naanumYou and I, you and I, you and I,
Neeyum naanum neeyum naanum…..You and I, you and I...
Male
Ho idhayam enbathu veeduOh, the heart is a home,
Oruthi vasikum kooduA nest where a single woman resides;
Athile athile thee mootti ponaalIf she set fire to it and left...
Male
Oo….ulagam enbathu medaiOh... the world is a stage,
Thinamum nadanam aaduDance upon it every single day,
Puthithaai thathumbum nathi pola oduRun freely like a newly overflowing river.
Male
Nenjodu baaram kandaalIf you feel a heavy burden in your heart,
Male :Thoorathil thookki poduMale: Throw it far away!
Male :Kannodu eeram kandaalMale: If you see tears in your eyes,
Male :Innoru pennai theduMale: Look for another woman!
Male
Ho….naan poga paathai yaethuOh... which path is left for me to take?
Male :Vaanil mithakkalaamMale: We can float in the sky!
Male :Vali koora vaarthai yaethuMale: What words can express this pain?
Male :Ellaam marakkalaamMale: You can forget everything!
Male
Enakke enakkaaiJust for me,
Aval endru vaazhvaenI will live thinking she is mine.
Aval yean veruthaalWhy did she hate me?
Adiyodu saavenI will die completely from the roots.
Male
Athu oru kaalam azhagiya kaalamThat was a time, a beautiful time,
Avaludan vaazhntha ninaivugalThe memories of living with her,
Pothum pothumEnough, enough.
Male
Pazhaiyathu yaavum maranthidu neeyumForget everything from the past,
Sirithida thaane piranthathu neeyum naanumYou and I were born only to smile.
Neeyum naanum neeyum naanum neeyum naanumYou and I, you and I, you and I,
Neeyum naanum neeyum naanum…..You and I, you and I...
Male
Ho…..avalai pirinthu naanumOh... after separating from her,
Urugum melugu aanenI became a melting candle,
Avalin ninaivaal erinthene naanaeI burned away in her memories.
Male
Oo….pazhaga theriyum vaazhvilOh... in a life where you learn to get close,
Vilaga theriya vendumYou must also learn to walk away;
Purinthaal manathil thuyarillai thaaneIf you understand this, there will be no sorrow in your heart.
Male
Kalvettaai vaazhum kadhalLove lives etched like a stone inscription...
Male :Azhithida vendum neeyeMale: You must erase it yourself!
Male :Kaattaatril neechal kadhalMale: Love is swimming in a wild forest river...
Male :Kai thara vanthaen naaneMale: I came to lend you a helping hand!
Male
Ho….yearkaamal ponaal yeanoOh... if she did not accept me, why?
Male :Sogam etharkkudaaMale: Why be sad, my friend?
Male :Aaraatha kaayam thaanoMale: Is it an unhealable wound?
Male :Kaalam marunthudaaMale: Time is the cure, my friend!
Male
Ulagin naduvae thaniyaanen naanaeI became all alone in the middle of the world,
Avalaal azhuthaen kadalaanen naanaeI cried because of her and became an ocean of tears.
Male
Athu oru kaalam azhagiya kaalamThat was a time, a beautiful time,
Avaludan vaazhntha ninaivugalThe memories of living with her,
Pothum pothumEnough, enough.
Male
Pazhaiyathu yaavum maranthidu neeyumForget everything from the past,
Sirithida thaane piranthathu neeyum naanumYou and I were born only to smile.
Male
Hae jodiyaai irunthaalHey, if we were a pair,
Otraiyaai vida thaanaaShould one be left all alone?
Muthu pol sirithaalIf she smiled like a pearl,
Mothamaai azha thaanaa thaanaaShould I weep completely?
Male
Hae thullithaan thiriyumHey, wander merrily around
Pillaiyaai iru neeyumBe like a playful child,
Thunbamthaan maranthuForget your sorrows
Pattam pol para eppothumAnd fly like a kite always.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This track presents a philosophical dialogue between a heartbroken lover wallowing in grief and a pragmatic friend encouraging him to move on. While the lover mourns the memories of a ruined past, feeling consumed like a burning candle and submerged in an ocean of tears, his friend tries to shift his perspective toward hope and emotional resilience.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Ho idhayam enbathu veedu

Compares the heart to a home ('idhayam enbathu veedu'), the world to a stage ('ulagam enbathu medai'), and the grief-stricken self to a melting candle ('urugum melugu aanen').

Simile (Upamai)

Muthu pol sirithaal

Compares smiling to pearls ('muthu pol sirithaal') and living carefree to a soaring kite ('pattam pol para eppothum').

Anaphora & Monai (Alliteration)

Neeyum naanum neeyum naanum neeyum naanum

Repetition of words like 'Neeyum naanum' and 'Athu oru kaalam' provides rhythmic structure and emotional depth to the lyrics.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for Adhe Neram Adhe Idam (2009) was composed by Premgi Amaren, starring Jai and Vijayalakshmi. The lyrics were penned by Lalithanand, contrasting deep emotional grief with upbeat philosophical counsel.

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