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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

How Are You

From Neer Nilam Neruppu · 1980

Lyricist
Udhayanan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Neer Nilam Neruppu
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
13 Jul 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
How are yo
Male :Better then u
Female :How do yo do
Male :Just like you too
How are yo
Male :Better then u
Female :How do yo do
Male :Just like you too
When we are carefull life is setup
When we are carefull life is setup
Are you carefull or careless
I am not carefull or careless
Then i am careful i am care free
Make it easy everyday
Male :Take it easy everyday
Female :Make it easy everyday
Male :Take it easy everyday
Lets go go
Male :Get go go
Female :Lets go go
Male :Get go go
How are yo
Male :Better then u
Female :How do yo do
Male :Just like you too
Punal odum vazhiyellaam
Pul saainthu kidanthathammaa
Female :Naan manal veedaai ninaiththathellaam
Maaligai aanathammaa…aa….
Punal odum vazhiyellaam
Pul saainthu kidanthathammaa
Female :Naan manal veedaai ninaiththathellaam
Maaligai aanathammaa…aa….aa…aa….
Anil thedum sengani
En agaththinil vizhnthathammaa…aa…aa…aa…
Anil thedum sengani
En agaththinil vizhnthathammaa
Female :Antha agamae en illaraththin
Agamaai aanathammaa….
Agamaai aanathammaa….
Kottaangkuchchi
Female :Thattaampoochchi
Male :Hae kottaangkuchchi melae thattaam poochchi
Female :Thattaam poochchi melae pattaam poochci
Adadadadaa kottaangkuchchi melae thattaam poochchi
Female :Thattaam poochchi melae pattaam poochci
Chettinattu pakkam ponaa appachchi
Male :Srirangaththu maamiyellaam angachchi aa….
Female :Chettinattu pakkam ponaa appachchi
Male :Srirangaththu maamiyellaam angachchi aa….
Namma rendu peru uravumurai ennaachchu
Male :Idha naan solli theriyanummaa machchinichchi
Female :Namma rendu peru uravumurai ennaachchu
Male :Idha naan solli theriyanummaa machchinichchi
Kottaangkuchchi melae thattaam poochchi
Female :Thattaam poochchi melae pattaam poochci
Male :Ada kottaangkuchchi
Male :Ada thattaam poochchi
How are you?
Male: Better than you!
Female: How do you do?
Male: Just like you do!
How are you?
Male: Better than you!
Female: How do you do?
Male: Just like you do!
When we are careful, life is settled
When we are careful, life is settled
Are you careful or careless?
I am not careful or careless
Then I am careful, I am carefree
Make it easy every day
Male: Take it easy every day
Female: Make it easy every day
Male: Take it easy every day
Let's go, go
Male: Get, go, go
Female: Let's go, go
Male: Get, go, go
How are you?
Male: Better than you!
Female: How do you do?
Male: Just like you do!
Wherever the stream flows,
the grass lies bowed down, my dear!
Female: Everything I thought was just a sandcastle
has turned into a palace, my dear... ah...
Wherever the stream flows,
the grass lies bowed down, my dear!
Female: Everything I thought was just a sandcastle
has turned into a palace, my dear... ah... ah... ah...
The ripe fruit sought by the squirrel
has fallen into my heart, my dear... ah... ah... ah...
The ripe fruit sought by the squirrel
has fallen into my heart, my dear!
Female: And that heart has become
the very home of our family life, my dear...
the very home of our family life, my dear...
Coconut shell,
Female: Dragonfly!
Male: Hey, a dragonfly on top of the coconut shell,
Female: A butterfly on top of the dragonfly!
Oh, a dragonfly on top of the coconut shell,
Female: A butterfly on top of the dragonfly!
If you go to Chettinad, it is 'Appachi',
Male: While the aunties of Srirangam say 'Angachi', ah...
Female: If you go to Chettinad, it is 'Appachi',
Male: While the aunties of Srirangam say 'Angachi', ah...
What has become of the relationship between us two?
Male: Do I really need to explain that, my machinichi (sister-in-law/cousin)?
Female: What has become of the relationship between us two?
Male: Do I really need to explain that, my machinichi (sister-in-law/cousin)?
A dragonfly on top of the coconut shell,
Female: A butterfly on top of the dragonfly!
Male: Ah, coconut shell!
Male: Ah, dragonfly!
Female
Female
Female
Male
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This playful track from Neer Nilam Neruppu (1980) features a lively duet between lovers, opening with breezy broken-English greetings that reflect carefree optimism. The song transitions into rich poetic Tamil imagery where the characters compare their modest past to sandcastles that have blossomed into magnificent palaces upon finding true love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kottaangkuchchi / Thattaampoochchi

Matching second consonant 'tta' (ட்) in 'Kottaangkuchchi' and 'Thattaampoochchi'.

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Naan manal veedaai ninaiththathellaam Maaligai aanathammaa

Comparing modest expectations or humble dreams to a simple sandcastle that transforms into a grand palace upon finding love.

Yamakam (Wordplay / Polysemy)

Antha agamae en illaraththin Agamaai aanathammaa

Clever use of the word 'Agam', which means 'heart/mind' in the first instance and 'core/house' in the second instance.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Make it easy everyday / Take it easy everyday

Repetition of the phrase 'easy everyday' at the end of consecutive conversational lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by the musical duo Shankar-Ganesh and written by Udhayanan, this track blends late-70s Westernized English casual dialogue with traditional Tamil folk rhythm and wordplay, rendered playfully by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam and Vani Jairam.

Keep listening

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