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Isaimozhi
Neela Malargal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Idhu Irava Pagala

From Neela Malargal · 1979

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
K. J. Yesudas, Vani Jairam
Music director
M. S. Vishwanathan
Movie name
Neela Malargal
Movie release year
1979
Lyrics added on
8 Aug 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Hmm hmm hmm mm mmm
Hoo hoo hoo ho ho ho ho…
Idhu iravaa pagalaa
Male :Nee nilavaa kadhiraa
Idhu iravaa pagalaa
Male :Nee nilavaa kadhiraa
Idhu vanamaa maaligaiyaa
Male :Nee malaraa oviyamaa
Idhu vanamaa maaligaiyaa
Male :Nee malaraa oviyamaa oo hoo oo…
Idhu iravaa pagalaa
Male :Nee nilavaa kadhiraa
Megam enbadhum
Minnal enbadhum
Arugil illaiyaa
Un koondhal enbadhil
Poo charam vaippadhu
Arivaa illaiyaa
Aaaa….aaa…..aaa….
Female :Megam enbadhum
Minnal enbadhum
Arugil illaiyaa
Un koondhal enbadhil
Poo charam vaippadhu
Arivaa illaiyaa
Idhu kaniyaa kaayaa
Male :Adhai kadithaal theriyum
Female :Idhu paniyaa mazhaiyaa
Male :Enai anaithaal theriyum
Idhu iravaa pagalaa
Male :Nee nilavaa kadhiraa
Thendral vandhadhum
Vanna poongodi
Edhanaal asaindhadhu
Thannai marandhu
Kaadhal kanindhu
Ondraai inaindhadhu
Aaa….aaa….aaa…
Female :Thendral vandhadhum
Vanna poongodi
Edhanaal asaindhadhu
Thannai marandhu
Kaadhal kanindhu
Ondraai inaindhadhu
Idhu kuyilaa kuzhalaa
Male :Un kuralin sugamae
Idhu mayilaa maanaa
Male :Avai undhan inamae
Idhu iravaa pagalaa
Male :Nee nilavaa kadhiraa
Paalin niramum
Thaenin niramum
Ondraai kaanumaa
Poovai kannamum
Kovai idhazhum
Ondraai aagumaa
Ingu kili thaan azhagaa
Male :Un azhagae azhagu
Indha ulagam peridhaa
Male :Nam uravae peridhu
Hmm hmm hmm mm mmm
Hoo hoo hoo ho ho ho ho...
Is this night or day?
Male: Are you the moon or the sun?
Is this night or day?
Male: Are you the moon or the sun?
Is this a forest or a palace?
Male: Are you a flower or a painting?
Is this a forest or a palace?
Male: Are you a flower or a painting? Oh hoo oh...
Is this night or day?
Male: Are you the moon or the sun?
Aren't the cloud
and the lightning
always side by side?
In that dark hair of yours,
wearing a string of flowers—
is it wise or not?
Aaaa... aaaa... aaaa...
Female: Aren't the cloud
and the lightning
always side by side?
In that dark hair of yours,
wearing a string of flowers—
is it wise or not?
Is this fruit ripe or raw?
Male: You will know if you bite it!
Female: Is this dew or rain?
Male: You will know if you hold me close!
Is this night or day?
Male: Are you the moon or the sun?
When the gentle breeze arrived,
why did the colorful flowering vine
sway like that?
Forgetting itself,
with love ripening,
it joined as one.
Aaaa... aaaa... aaaa...
Female: When the gentle breeze arrived,
why did the colorful flowering vine
sway like that?
Forgetting itself,
with love ripening,
it joined as one.
Is this a cuckoo's song or a flute?
Male: It is the sweetness of your voice!
Is this a peacock or a deer?
Male: They belong to your kind!
Is this night or day?
Male: Are you the moon or the sun?
Can the color of milk
and the color of honey
ever be seen together as one?
A woman's cheek
and her red lips—
don't they come together like that?
Is the parrot the only beauty here?
Male: Your beauty is the true beauty!
Is this vast world bigger?
Male: Our bond of love is bigger!
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
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Male
Male
Male
Female
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Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic duet 'Idhu Iravaa Pagalaa' from the film Neela Malargal features a romantic, playful Q&A conversation between lovers. The lyrics utilize poetic questioning (Vinaa Aani) to capture the enchanting confusion and ecstasy of love, where boundaries between day and night, nature and artifice, and sensory experiences blur into one another.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Vinaa Aani (Rhetorical Questions)

Idhu iravaa pagalaa / Nee nilavaa kadhiraa

The entire song structure relies on rapid-fire questions and answers between the lovers, comparing nature with human emotions.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Megam enbadhum / Minnal enbadhum

Matching second consonants across lines like 'Megam' and 'Minnal' creates rhythm.

Metaphor & Imagery (Uvamaani)

Poovai kannamum / Kovai idhazhum

Comparing lips to 'Kovai idhazh' (red ivy gourd fruit) and voice to flute/cuckoo music.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics by Kannadasan, this iconic duet was sung by K. J. Yesudas and Vani Jairam for the 1979 film 'Neela Malargal' starring Kamal Haasan and Sridevi.

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