Highways-U Lae Lae
From Manasellam · 2003
- Lyricist
- Na. Muthu Kumar
- Singers
- Karthik, Tippu, S. N. Surendar
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Manasellam2003
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Chorus | |
| Lae lae yae lae lae… | Lae lae yae lae lae… |
| Lae lae yae lae lae… | Lae lae yae lae lae… |
| Yae le le le le | Yae le le le le |
| Yae le le le le | Yae le le le le |
| Yae le le yae lae le | Yae le le yae lae le |
| Haaannnn….. | Haaannnn….. |
| Male | |
| Highways-u lae lae | There are no highways, |
| Speedbreak-u lae lae | There are no speed breakers, |
| Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae | Come, come, come into the town! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
| Male | |
| Nenjukul lae lae | Inside the heart, |
| Baaram illae lae | There is no burden at all, |
| Sutralaam vaanathulae | Let's soar and wander around in the sky! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
| Male | |
| Pookkalai paarthida | To view and enjoy the flowers, |
| Visiting card-ugal | Visiting cards... |
| Theviyillae lae lae..ae | ...are not required at all! |
| Kaadhalai vaangida | To obtain true love, |
| Ration card-ugal | Ration cards... |
| Theviyillae illa lal lae..ae | ...are not required at all! |
| Male | |
| Highways-u lae lae | There are no highways, |
| Speedbreak-u lae lae | There are no speed breakers, |
| Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae | Come, come, come into the town! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
| Male | |
| Nenjukul lae lae | Inside the heart, |
| Baaram illae lae | There is no burden at all, |
| Sutralaam vaanathulae | Let's soar and wander around in the sky! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
| Chorus | |
| …………………………. | ....................... |
| Male | |
| Vattam idum kottil paravai | With birds circling the roof, |
| Kayyaai pidiththu | Holding hands together, |
| Ishtam padi sutri varuvom | We shall roam freely as we wish! |
| Female | |
| Haii | Haii! |
| Male :Yelae maama | Male: Hey uncle! |
| Female :Hi hi | Female: Hi hi! |
| Male :Yelae maama | Male: Hey uncle! |
| Female :Hi | Female: Hi! |
| Male :Yelae ammamma | Male: Oh dear! |
| Male | |
| Natta nadu raathiriyilae | In the middle of the dark night, |
| Oru minmini pol | Like a bright firefly, |
| Pattu oli kotti thirivom | We shall wander scattering silky light! |
| Female | |
| Haii | Haii! |
| Male :Yelae maama | Male: Hey uncle! |
| Female :Hi hi | Female: Hi hi! |
| Male :Yelae ammamma | Male: Oh dear! |
| Chorus | |
| {Nammoda manasellaam | {Let the desires in our hearts |
| Yellarkkum theriyattum} (2) | Be known to everyone} (x2) |
| Ho ho ho…ho hooo… | Ho ho ho…ho hooo… |
| Chorus | |
| Idhayaththin rekkaigal | Let the wings of the heart |
| Vaanaththil viriyattum | Unfold and spread across the sky! |
| Vennilavu pandhaattam dhaan | The full white moon is like a game of ball, |
| Vandhaadu | Come play with it! |
| Male | |
| Highways-u lae lae | There are no highways, |
| Speedbreak-u lae lae | There are no speed breakers, |
| Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae | Come, come, come into the town! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
| Chorus | |
| ……………………. | .................... |
| Chorus | |
| Kottum mazhai | When the pouring rain |
| Kottum pozhudhu | Cascades down, |
| Male :Jaladhoasam indri | Male: Without catching a cold, |
| Kottamidum sutti vayasu | This playful young age causes a merry racket! |
| Female | |
| Haii | Haii! |
| Male :Yelae maama | Male: Hey uncle! |
| Female :Hi hi | Female: Hi hi! |
| Male :Yelae maama | Male: Hey uncle! |
| Female :Hi | Female: Hi! |
| Male :Yelae ammamma | Male: Oh dear! |
| Chorus | |
| Vangakadal pongum pozhudhu | When the Bay of Bengal ocean surges with waves, |
| Male : Ethirneechchal ittu | Male: Swimming upstream against the tide, |
| Sangil mani allum manasu | The heart gathers gems from conch shells! |
| Female | |
| Haii | Haii! |
| Male :Yelae maama | Male: Hey uncle! |
| Female :Hi hi | Female: Hi hi! |
| Male :Yelae ammamma | Male: Oh dear! |
| Chorus | |
| {Sughamaana kanavellaam | {All those delightful dreams, |
| Thoongaamal kaanboamae} (2) | Let us experience them wide awake!} (x2) |
| Wow wo wo… | Wow wo wo… |
| Chorus | |
| Nooraandu vaazhvellaam | A full hundred years of living, |
| Nimishaththil vaazhvomae | Let us live it all in a single moment! |
| Vaazhvae or kondaatamdhaan kondaadu | Life itself is a grand festival, so celebrate it! |
| Male | |
| Highways-u lae lae | There are no highways, |
| Speedbreak-u lae lae | There are no speed breakers, |
| Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae | Come, come, come into the town! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
| Male | |
| Nenjukul lae lae | Inside the heart, |
| Baaram illae lae | There is no burden at all, |
| Sutralaam vaanathulae | Let's soar and wander around in the sky! |
| Ha ha ha | Ha ha ha |
...........................
Lae lae yae lae lae…
Lae lae yae lae lae…
Yae le le le le
Yae le le le le
Yae le le yae lae le
Haaannnn…..
ஹைவேசு லே
லே ஸ்பீட்பிரேக்கு லே
லே வா வா வா ஊருக்குள்ளே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
There are no highways,
There are no speed breakers,
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
நெஞ்சுக்குள் லே
லே பாரம் இல்லே லே
சுற்றலாம் வானத்துலே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
Inside the heart,
There is no burden at all,
Let's soar and wander around in the sky!
Ha ha ha
பூக்களை பார்த்திட
விசிடிங் கார்டுகள்
தேவையில்லே லே லே
காதலை வாங்கிட ரேஷன்
கார்டுகள் தேவையில்லே
இல்ல ல லே
To view and enjoy the flowers,
Visiting cards...
...are not required at all!
To obtain true love,
Ration cards...
...are not required at all!
ஹைவேசு லே
லே ஸ்பீட்பிரேக்கு லே
லே வா வா வா ஊருக்குள்ளே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
There are no highways,
There are no speed breakers,
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
நெஞ்சுக்குள் லே
லே பாரம் இல்லே லே
சுற்றலாம் வானத்துலே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
Inside the heart,
There is no burden at all,
Let's soar and wander around in the sky!
Ha ha ha
................................
.......................
வட்டம் இடும்
கோட்டில் பறவை
கையை பிடித்து இஷ்ட
படி சுற்றி வருவோம்
With birds circling the roof,
Holding hands together,
We shall roam freely as we wish!
ஹாய்
ஏலே மாமா
ஹய் ஹய்
ஏலே மாமா
ஹய்
ஏலே அம்மம்மா
Haii!
Male: Hey uncle!
Female: Hi hi!
Male: Hey uncle!
Female: Hi!
Male: Oh dear!
நட்ட நடு
ராத்திரியிலே ஒரு
மின்மினி போல்
பாட்டு ஒளி
கொட்டி திரிவோம்
In the middle of the dark night,
Like a bright firefly,
We shall wander scattering silky light!
ஹாய்
ஏலே மாமா
ஹய் ஹய்
ஏலே அம்மம்மா
Haii!
Male: Hey uncle!
Female: Hi hi!
Male: Oh dear!
{ நம்மோட மனசெல்லாம்
எல்லாருக்கும் தெரியட்டும் } (2)
ஹோ ஹோ ஹோ
ஹோ ஹோ
{Let the desires in our hearts
Be known to everyone} (x2)
Ho ho ho…ho hooo…
இதயத்தின்
ரெக்கைகள் வானத்தில்
விரியட்டும் வெண்ணிலவு
பந்தாட்டம் தான் வந்தாடு
Let the wings of the heart
Unfold and spread across the sky!
The full white moon is like a game of ball,
Come play with it!
ஹைவேசு லே
லே ஸ்பீட்பிரேக்கு லே
லே வா வா வா ஊருக்குள்ளே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
There are no highways,
There are no speed breakers,
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
...............................
....................
கொட்டும் மழை
கொட்டும் பொழுது
ஆண் : ஜலதோஷம்
இன்றி கொட்டமிடும்
சுட்டி வயசு
When the pouring rain
Cascades down,
Male: Without catching a cold,
This playful young age causes a merry racket!
ஹாய்
ஏலே மாமா
ஹய் ஹய்
ஏலே மாமா
ஹய்
ஏலே அம்மம்மா
Haii!
Male: Hey uncle!
Female: Hi hi!
Male: Hey uncle!
Female: Hi!
Male: Oh dear!
வங்க கடல்
பொங்கும் பொழுது
எதிர்நீச்சல் இட்டு
சங்கில் மணி அள்ளும்
மனசு
When the Bay of Bengal ocean surges with waves,
Male: Swimming upstream against the tide,
The heart gathers gems from conch shells!
ஹாய்
ஏலே மாமா
ஹய் ஹய்
ஏலே அம்மம்மா
Haii!
Male: Hey uncle!
Female: Hi hi!
Male: Oh dear!
{ சுகமான
கனவெல்லாம்
தூங்காமல் காண்போமே } (2)
வோ வோ வோ
{All those delightful dreams,
Let us experience them wide awake!} (x2)
Wow wo wo…
நூறாண்டு
வாழ்வெல்லாம்
நிமிஷத்தில் வாழ்வோமே
வாழ்வே ஓர் கொண்டாட்டம்
தான் கொண்டாடு
A full hundred years of living,
Let us live it all in a single moment!
Life itself is a grand festival, so celebrate it!
ஹைவேசு லே
லே ஸ்பீட்பிரேக்கு லே
லே வா வா வா ஊருக்குள்ளே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
There are no highways,
There are no speed breakers,
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
நெஞ்சுக்குள் லே
லே பாரம் இல்லே லே
சுற்றலாம் வானத்துலே
ஹா ஹா ஹா
Inside the heart,
There is no burden at all,
Let's soar and wander around in the sky!
Ha ha ha
Lae lae yae lae lae…
Lae lae yae lae lae…
Lae lae yae lae lae…
Lae lae yae lae lae…
Yae le le le le
Yae le le le le
Yae le le le le
Yae le le le le
Yae le le yae lae le
Yae le le yae lae le
Haaannnn…..
Haaannnn…..
Highways-u lae lae
There are no highways,
Speedbreak-u lae lae
There are no speed breakers,
Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Nenjukul lae lae
Inside the heart,
Baaram illae lae
There is no burden at all,
Sutralaam vaanathulae
Let's soar and wander around in the sky!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Pookkalai paarthida
To view and enjoy the flowers,
Visiting card-ugal
Visiting cards...
Theviyillae lae lae..ae
...are not required at all!
Kaadhalai vaangida
To obtain true love,
Ration card-ugal
Ration cards...
Theviyillae illa lal lae..ae
...are not required at all!
Highways-u lae lae
There are no highways,
Speedbreak-u lae lae
There are no speed breakers,
Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Nenjukul lae lae
Inside the heart,
Baaram illae lae
There is no burden at all,
Sutralaam vaanathulae
Let's soar and wander around in the sky!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
………………………….
.......................
Vattam idum kottil paravai
With birds circling the roof,
Kayyaai pidiththu
Holding hands together,
Ishtam padi sutri varuvom
We shall roam freely as we wish!
Haii
Haii!
Male :Yelae maama
Male: Hey uncle!
Female :Hi hi
Female: Hi hi!
Male :Yelae maama
Male: Hey uncle!
Female :Hi
Female: Hi!
Male :Yelae ammamma
Male: Oh dear!
Natta nadu raathiriyilae
In the middle of the dark night,
Oru minmini pol
Like a bright firefly,
Pattu oli kotti thirivom
We shall wander scattering silky light!
Haii
Haii!
Male :Yelae maama
Male: Hey uncle!
Female :Hi hi
Female: Hi hi!
Male :Yelae ammamma
Male: Oh dear!
{Nammoda manasellaam
{Let the desires in our hearts
Yellarkkum theriyattum} (2)
Be known to everyone} (x2)
Ho ho ho…ho hooo…
Ho ho ho…ho hooo…
Idhayaththin rekkaigal
Let the wings of the heart
Vaanaththil viriyattum
Unfold and spread across the sky!
Vennilavu pandhaattam dhaan
The full white moon is like a game of ball,
Vandhaadu
Come play with it!
Highways-u lae lae
There are no highways,
Speedbreak-u lae lae
There are no speed breakers,
Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
…………………….
....................
Kottum mazhai
When the pouring rain
Kottum pozhudhu
Cascades down,
Male :Jaladhoasam indri
Male: Without catching a cold,
Kottamidum sutti vayasu
This playful young age causes a merry racket!
Haii
Haii!
Male :Yelae maama
Male: Hey uncle!
Female :Hi hi
Female: Hi hi!
Male :Yelae maama
Male: Hey uncle!
Female :Hi
Female: Hi!
Male :Yelae ammamma
Male: Oh dear!
Vangakadal pongum pozhudhu
When the Bay of Bengal ocean surges with waves,
Male : Ethirneechchal ittu
Male: Swimming upstream against the tide,
Sangil mani allum manasu
The heart gathers gems from conch shells!
Haii
Haii!
Male :Yelae maama
Male: Hey uncle!
Female :Hi hi
Female: Hi hi!
Male :Yelae ammamma
Male: Oh dear!
{Sughamaana kanavellaam
{All those delightful dreams,
Thoongaamal kaanboamae} (2)
Let us experience them wide awake!} (x2)
Wow wo wo…
Wow wo wo…
Nooraandu vaazhvellaam
A full hundred years of living,
Nimishaththil vaazhvomae
Let us live it all in a single moment!
Vaazhvae or kondaatamdhaan kondaadu
Life itself is a grand festival, so celebrate it!
Highways-u lae lae
There are no highways,
Speedbreak-u lae lae
There are no speed breakers,
Vaa vaa vaa oorukullae
Come, come, come into the town!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Nenjukul lae lae
Inside the heart,
Baaram illae lae
There is no burden at all,
Sutralaam vaanathulae
Let's soar and wander around in the sky!
Ha ha ha
Ha ha ha
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Highways-u Lae Lae' from the movie 'Manasellam' (2003) is an exuberant, youthful anthem celebrating lightheartedness, freedom, and the uninhibited joy of living. The lyrics reject modern bureaucratic constraints—symbolized humorously by visiting cards and ration cards—proclaiming that love and nature need no permission, badges, or speed bumps. It encourages living in the present moment, turning life's everyday simple occurrences like rain, sea waves, and moonlight into playful adventures. Throughout the track, the emotional arc shifts from light playful teasing to a grand philosophical affirmation of life. Na. Muthu Kumar's lyrics emphasize that youth and human spirits shouldn't be bogged down by emotional burdens ('Nenjukul baaram illae'). Instead, one should dream awake and compress a century's worth of joy into a single moment, treating life as one continuous celebration ('Vaazhvae or kondaatamdhaan').
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Vennilavu pandhaattam dhaan”
Compares the full white moon to a ball meant to be played with, symbolizing innocent playfulness.
Simile
“Oru minmini pol”
Uses the word 'pol' (like) to compare the wandering human spirit during the night to a glowing firefly.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Pookkalai paarthida / Kaadhalai vaangida”
The second consonant sound 'k'/'d' pattern (or structural parallel) links these lines in Tamil rhythmic verse structure.
Hyperbole
“Nooraandu vaazhvellaam nimishaththil vaazhvomae”
An exaggeration claiming to live a whole century's worth of life in a single minute, highlighting intense joy.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Manasellam' (2003) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by late celebrated lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar. The film stars Srikanth and Trisha in the lead roles. The track features energetic vocals combining playful folk refrains ('Yelae maama') with contemporary rhythm arrangements characteristic of Ilaiyaraaja's early 2000s light-music experimentation.
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