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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
Details
Neer Nilam Neruppu1980

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
How are yoHow are you?
Male :Better then uMale: Better than you!
Female :How do yo doFemale: How do you do?
Male :Just like you tooMale: Just like you too!
Female
How are yoHow are you?
Male :Better then uMale: Better than you!
Female :How do yo doFemale: How do you do?
Male :Just like you tooMale: Just like you too!
Female
When we are carefull life is setupWhen we are careful, life is settled.
When we are carefull life is setupWhen we are careful, life is settled.
Are you carefull or carelessAre you careful or careless?
Male
I am not carefull or carelessI am neither careful nor careless.
Then i am careful i am care freeThen I am careful, I am carefree.
Female
Make it easy everydayMake it easy every day.
Male :Take it easy everydayMale: Take it easy every day.
Female :Make it easy everydayFemale: Make it easy every day.
Male :Take it easy everydayMale: Take it easy every day.
Female
Lets go goLet's go, go!
Male :Get go goMale: Get going, go!
Female :Lets go goFemale: Let's go, go!
Male :Get go goMale: Get going, go!
Female
How are yoHow are you?
Male :Better then uMale: Better than you!
Female :How do yo doFemale: How do you do?
Male :Just like you tooMale: Just like you too!
Male
Punal odum vazhiyellaamAll along the path where water flows,
Pul saainthu kidanthathammaaThe grass was lying bent down, my dear.
Female :Naan manal veedaai ninaiththathellaamFemale: Everything I thought was just a sandcastle,
Maaligai aanathammaa…aa….Has turned into a grand palace, my dear!
Male
Punal odum vazhiyellaamAll along the path where water flows,
Pul saainthu kidanthathammaaThe grass was lying bent down, my dear.
Female :Naan manal veedaai ninaiththathellaamFemale: Everything I thought was just a sandcastle,
Maaligai aanathammaa…aa….aa…aa….Has turned into a grand palace, my dear!
Male
Anil thedum senganiThe ripe red fruit that the squirrel searches for,
En agaththinil vizhnthathammaa…aa…aa…aa…Has fallen into my inner heart, my dear!
Anil thedum senganiThe ripe red fruit that the squirrel searches for,
En agaththinil vizhnthathammaaHas fallen into my inner heart, my dear.
Female :Antha agamae en illaraththinFemale: That very inner heart,
Agamaai aanathammaa….Has become the central soul of my domestic life, my dear!
Agamaai aanathammaa….Has become the central soul of my domestic life, my dear!
Male
KottaangkuchchiCoconut shell,
Female :ThattaampoochchiFemale: Dragonfly,
Male :Hae kottaangkuchchi melae thattaam poochchiMale: Hey, a dragonfly on top of a coconut shell!
Female :Thattaam poochchi melae pattaam poochciFemale: A butterfly on top of the dragonfly!
Male
Adadadadaa kottaangkuchchi melae thattaam poochchiOh my, a dragonfly on top of a coconut shell!
Female :Thattaam poochchi melae pattaam poochciFemale: A butterfly on top of the dragonfly!
Female
Chettinattu pakkam ponaa appachchiIf you go towards the Chettinad region, it is grandfather (Appachi)...
Male :Srirangaththu maamiyellaam angachchi aa….Male: All the aunts of Srirangam are older sisters (Angachi)...
Female :Chettinattu pakkam ponaa appachchiFemale: If you go towards the Chettinad region, it is grandfather (Appachi)...
Male :Srirangaththu maamiyellaam angachchi aa….Male: All the aunts of Srirangam are older sisters (Angachi)...
Female
Namma rendu peru uravumurai ennaachchuWhat has become of the relationship between the two of us?
Male :Idha naan solli theriyanummaa machchinichchiMale: Do I really need to explain this to you, sister-in-law?
Female :Namma rendu peru uravumurai ennaachchuFemale: What has become of the relationship between the two of us?
Male :Idha naan solli theriyanummaa machchinichchiMale: Do I really need to explain this to you, sister-in-law?
Male
Kottaangkuchchi melae thattaam poochchiA dragonfly on top of a coconut shell,
Female :Thattaam poochchi melae pattaam poochciFemale: A butterfly on top of the dragonfly!
Male :Ada kottaangkuchchiMale: Oh, coconut shell!
Male :Ada thattaam poochchiMale: Oh, dragonfly!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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