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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Lolita

From Engeyum Kadhal · 2011

Lyricist
Thamarai
Singers
Karthik, Prashanthini
Music director
Harris Jayaraj
Details
Engeyum Kadhal2011

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Lolita ha lolitaLolita, ah Lolita!
Un dhooram kooda pakkamaaga maaruthaeEven distance from you turns into closeness.
Male
Ponmanjal manjal pennae engae selgiraaiGolden-yellow woman, where are you heading?
Minnanjal polae vanthu sendru kolgiraaiYou come and go like an email, taking my breath away.
Nee vegam kaatti pogum pothu noguthaeIt hurts when you walk away showing your speed.
Un dhooram kooda pakkamaaga maaruthaeEven distance from you turns into closeness.
Male
Lolita ha lolitaLolita, ah Lolita!
Un karai illaatha kangal vetti thalluthaeYour flawless, borderless eyes strike and push me away.
Unmaiyai naan sollattaShall I tell you the truth?
Un mulaam poosaatha pechil ellaam ullathaeEverything is contained in your unvarnished, honest talk.
Male
Ponmanjal manjal pennae engae selgiraaiGolden-yellow woman, where are you heading?
Minnanjal polae vanthu sendru kolgiraaiYou come and go like an email, taking my breath away.
Nee vegam kaatti pogum pothu noguthaeIt hurts when you walk away showing your speed.
Un dhooram kooda pakkamaaga maaruthaeEven distance from you turns into closeness.
Male
Lolita ha lolitaLolita, ah Lolita!
Un karai illaatha kangal vetti thalluthaeYour flawless, borderless eyes strike and push me away.
Unmaiyai naan sollattaShall I tell you the truth?
Un mulaam poosaatha pechil ellaam ullathaeEverything is contained in your unvarnished, honest talk.
Female
Kottum pothae mazhaiRain is best enjoyed when it pours.
Thottaal vittaal pizhaiIt is a mistake whether you touch or leave it.
Varsei vaanam maatri paarkkiraaiYou look at the sky as if changing its colors like a rainbow.
Pengal ellaam chediAll women are plants,
Patri kollum kodiCreepers that latch on,
Endrae thappu thappaai solgiraaiYou keep making all these wrong assumptions.
Male
Naan naal pakkam neer soozhntha theevallavaaAm I not an island surrounded by water on all four sides?
Yaar vanthaalum saaigindra thaer allavaaAm I not a temple chariot that bows to anyone who comes?
Naan alai noorai adai kakkum kadal allavaaAm I not the sea that hatches a hundred waves?
En aagaayam adhil kooda pala vennilaIn my sky, there are even multiple full moons.
Male
Manjal manjal pennae engae selgiraaiYellow-hued woman, where are you heading?
Minnanjal polae vanthu sendru kolgiraaiYou come and go like an email, taking my breath away.
Nee vegam kaatti pogum pothu noguthaeIt hurts when you walk away showing your speed.
Un dhooram kooda pakkamaaga maaruthaeEven distance from you turns into closeness.
Male
Lolita ha lolitaLolita, ah Lolita!
Un karai illaatha kangal vetti thalluthaeYour flawless, borderless eyes strike and push me away.
Unmaiyai naan sollattaShall I tell you the truth?
Un mulaam poosaatha pechil ellaam ullathaeEverything is contained in your unvarnished, honest talk.
Male
Thaanaai vanthaal rusiIf it comes naturally, taste it,
Thalli sendraal rasiIf it moves away, appreciate it,
Ennum vaazhkai inbam allavaaIsn't that the true pleasure of life?
Mutham endraal siriIf it is a kiss, smile,
Katik kondaal veriIf it is an embrace, let passion take over,
Kannai moodik kondu killavaaShall I pinch you with my eyes closed?
Female
Nee sollum pala nooril naan illaiyaeI am not one among the hundreds you talk about.
Un azhagaana pala poovil thaen illaiyaeThere is no nectar in many of your beautiful flowers.
Un vellathil naan ondrum purambillaiyeI am not an outsider to your flood of emotions.
Nee rusi paarkka thalai thaalthum arumbillaiyaeI am not a flower bud that bows its head for you to taste.
Male
Lolita ha lolitaLolita, ah Lolita!
Un karai illaatha kangal vetti thalluthaeYour flawless, borderless eyes strike and push me away.
Unmaiyai naan sollattaShall I tell you the truth?
Un mulaam poosaatha pechil ellaam ullathaeEverything is contained in your unvarnished, honest talk.
Male
Rath thatha.. tha rath thathaRath thatha.. tha rath thatha
Thatharathatha thatrae raaThatharathatha thatrae raa
Oh laela oh laela oh ullae lae lae lalae ..lolitaa..Oh laela oh laela oh ullae lae lae lalae ..lolitaa..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song 'Lolita' from Engeyum Kadhal is a playful yet philosophical dialogue between two lovers expressing attraction, independence, and the dynamics of modern romance. The male lead marvels at the woman's captivating eyes and straightforward demeanor, expressing how even her physical distance feels intimately close to him.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Ponmanjal manjal pennae engae selgiraai / Minnanjal polae vanthu sendru kolgiraai

The second consonant 'n' in 'Ponmanjal' matches 'Minnanjal', creating rhythmic harmony across consecutive lines.

Simile (Upamai)

Minnanjal polae vanthu sendru kolgiraai

Comparing the fleeting arrival and departure of the lover to a fast electronic mail ('Minnanjal').

Metaphor (Uruvagamm)

Naan naal pakkam neer soozhntha theevallavaa

The female lead metaphors herself to an island, a chariot, and an ocean hatching waves to express her self-reliance and complex emotions.

Monaai (First-letter alliteration)

Thaanaai vanthaal rusi / Thalli sendraal rasi

The initial 'Th' sound repeats in 'Thaanaai' and 'Thalli'.

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Trivia

Composed by Harris Jayaraj with lyrics by Thamarai, 'Lolita' features upbeat, contemporary soundscapes recorded across international locations. Thamarai cleverly coins modern Tamil vocabulary like 'Minnanjal' (email) within classical romantic poetic framing.

Keep listening

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