Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Innum Sila Naatkalil

From Vellai Pookkal · 2019

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
Sarath Santosh, Jothi Lingam, Pratap, Deepika Parthasarathy, Kiran Sravan
Music director
Ramgopal Krishnaraju
Details
Vellai Pookkal2019

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha mugangal pazhagividumThese faces will become familiar.
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha saalaigal vilangividumThese streets will become understood.
Chorus
Idharkku munnaeBefore this,
Unaraa unarvugalEmotions never felt before,
Male :En naavukku pidithuvidumMale: My tongue will acquire a taste for.
Chorus :AnniyanChorus: Outsider
Male :Endra mugamoodi naalaiMale: Tomorrow, the mask named 'outsider'
En mugam vittu kazhandru vidumWill slip away from my face.
Chorus
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha mugangal pazhagividumThese faces will become familiar.
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha saalaigal vilangividumThese streets will become understood.
Male
Saalai ora thaeneer kadaiyumThe roadside tea shop,
Maalai naera nanbar padaiyumThe evening gathering of friends,
Vaagana nerisalThe traffic jam,
Horn oligalThe sound of vehicle horns,
Vetkam kollum kaadhal kiligalThe shy lovebirds,
Male
Suvarotti engumPosters everywhere,
Thalaivar padamWith the leader's photo,
Metro lorry pinBehind the metro water lorry,
Negizhi kudamPlastic pots,
Male
Suvarotti engumPosters everywhere,
Thalaivar padamWith the leader's photo,
Metro lorry pinBehind the metro water lorry,
Negizhi kudamPlastic pots,
Male
Ethuvum ingae illaiNone of those are here,
Aanaal adhu thaan thollaiAnd that itself is the trouble.
Males : Ellam pazhagividumMales: Everything will become familiar.
Chorus
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha mugangal pazhagividumThese faces will become familiar.
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha saalaigal vilangividumThese streets will become understood.
Male
Thoosi illaa kaatraiDust-free air,
Naasi yetru kollumThe nose will learn to take in.
Paasam illaa sorkalAffectionless words,
Seviyum yetru kollumThe ears will learn to accept too.
Chorus
Thoosi illaa kaatraiDust-free air,
Naasi yetru kollumThe nose will learn to take in.
Paasam illaa sorkalAffectionless words,
Seviyum yetru kollumThe ears will learn to accept too.
Male
Thinathanthi padikkaa kaalaiMornings without reading the Daily Thanthi newspaper,
Kisukisu illaa velaiTimes without any gossip,
Males :Ellam pazhagividumMales: Everything will become familiar.
Chorus
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha mugangal pazhagividumThese faces will become familiar.
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha saalaigal vilangividumThese streets will become understood.
Male
Kadavulum madhamum veruGod and religion may differ,
Vendhudhal engum ondraeBut prayers everywhere are the same.
Kaasin madhippu veruCurrency values may differ,
Aasai engum ondraeBut desires everywhere are the same.
Male
Mozhigal veruLanguages may differ,
Manidhar ondraeHumanity is one.
Nirangal veruSkin colors may differ,
Kaadhal ondraeLove is one.
Male
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha mugangal pazhagividumThese faces will become familiar.
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha saalaigal vilangividumThese streets will become understood.
Male
Idharkku munnaeBefore this,
Unaraa unarvugalEmotions never felt before,
En naavukku pidithuvidumMy tongue will acquire a taste for.
Anniyan endra mugamoodi naalaiTomorrow, the mask named 'outsider'
En mugam vittu kazhandru vidumWill slip away from my face.
Male
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha mugangal pazhagividumThese faces will become familiar.
Innum sila naatkalilIn a few more days,
Indha saalaigal vilangividumThese streets will become understood.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the film 'Vellai Pookkal' explores the psychological journey of an Indian immigrant or traveler adapting to a foreign land (specifically the USA in the movie context). The protagonist reflects on missing the chaotic charm of home—the roadside tea stalls, traffic noise, political posters, and community gossip—while adjusting to a clean, orderly, yet emotionally distant new environment. Over time, the speaker realizes that human nature, desires, and love remain universal across all cultures despite differences in language, currency, and religion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Monoreyme / Second-letter Rhyme)

Kadavulum madhamum veru / Vendhudhal engum ondrae

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Kadavulum' and 'Vendhudhal', or 'Mozhigal' and 'Nirangal'.

Antithesis / Contrast (Ehirinai)

Thoosi illaa kaatrai / Naasi yetru kollum

Contrasting local chaos with clean alien order ('Thoosi illaa kaatrai' vs 'Paasam illaa sorkal') to highlight nostalgia and emotional disconnect.

Metaphor

Anniyan endra mugamoodi naalai / En mugam vittu kazhandru vidum

Describing the feeling of being an outsider as wearing a mask ('Anniyan endra mugamoodi') that will eventually slip off once acclimated.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features in the 2019 crime thriller 'Vellai Pookkal', starring Vivekh in a lead dramatic role as a retired Indian police officer visiting his son in Seattle, USA. The lyrics by Madhan Karky poignantly capture the experience of an elderly Indian parent navigating life in the West.

Keep listening

More from Vellai Pookkal