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Nenjil Oru Ragam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Megamthan Idhil Mazhaiye

From Nenjil Oru Ragam · 1982

Lyricist
T. Rajendar
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
T. Rajendar
Movie name
Nenjil Oru Ragam
Movie release year
1982
Lyrics added on
30 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
Paaimaram ondru naan viriththaen amma
Puyal vara kandu adhil thaviththaen amma
Dhisai maaravae thadumaarinaen
Alai adhil ezhuthidum kavithai endraen
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
Jothi endraen irulai pokka illai
Thoni endraen nadhiyai kadakkavillai
Nilavendraen megaththilae marainthu kondaalaam
Malarendraen idhazhgalai moodi kondaalaam
Kadal endraen alaigalaiyae niruththi kondaalaam
Kadal endraen alaigalaiyae niruththi kondaalaam
Kadhal endraen idhayamathae illai endraalaam
Kadhal endraen idhayamathae illai endraalaam
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
Ponmaalai endraen thendral veesavillai
Poomaalai ida yogam enakku illai
Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga
Suyamvaraththil enai ninaiththaal ravanan pola
Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga
Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga
Sidhai erintha pinnum urugiduven aval ninaivaaga
Sidhai erintha pinnum urugiduven aval ninaivaaga
Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae
Raagamthaan idhil isaiye illaiyae
Paaimaram ondru naan viriththaen amma
Puyal vara kandu adhil thaviththaen amma
Dhisai maaravae thadumaarinaen
Alai adhil ezhuthidum kavithai endraen
It is only a cloud, there is no rain in it.
It is only a melody, there is no music in it.
I spread out a sail, oh mother,
Seeing a storm rise, I struggled in despair, oh mother.
Losing my direction, I faltered,
Calling it a poem written by the waves.
It is only a cloud, there is no rain in it.
It is only a melody, there is no music in it.
I thought she was a light, but she did not clear the darkness.
I thought she was a boat, but she did not cross the river.
When I called her the moon, she hid behind the clouds.
When I called her a flower, she closed her petals.
When I called her the ocean, she silenced her waves.
When I called her the ocean, she silenced her waves.
When I spoke of love, she said she had no heart.
When I spoke of love, she said she had no heart.
It is only a cloud, there is no rain in it.
It is only a melody, there is no music in it.
I called it a golden evening, but no breeze blew.
I lack the fortune to garland her in marriage.
In my dreams, I imagined myself as Rama,
At the Swayamvara (bridegroom-choosing ceremony), she saw me as Ravana.
May she, my Sita, live on happily for ages to come,
May she, my Sita, live on happily for ages to come,
Even after burning on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory.
Even after burning on the funeral pyre, I will melt in her memory.
It is only a cloud, there is no rain in it.
It is only a melody, there is no music in it.
I spread out a sail, oh mother,
Seeing a storm rise, I struggled in despair, oh mother.
Losing my direction, I faltered,
Calling it a poem written by the waves.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Megamthaan Idhil Mazhaiyae Illaiyae from the 1982 movie Nenjil Oru Ragam, composed and written by T. Rajendar and sung by S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, is a poignant ballad of unrequited love and deep emotional sorrow. The protagonist uses evocative metaphors from nature—a rainless cloud, a musicless raga, a flower that closes its petals, and a sailboat caught in a tempest—to convey the severe disappointment and emptiness left by love's rejection. Despite feeling discarded and viewed as a villain rather than a hero, his love remains pure and selfless. He wishes eternal blessings for his beloved, comparing her to Sita, while accepting his tragic destiny—promising that even after his body turns to ashes on the funeral pyre, his spirit will continue to cherish her memory.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamanai)

“Megamthaan idhil mazhaiyae illaiyae”

Compares hollow romantic promises to a cloud that yields no rain and a raga without melody.

Mythological Allusion (Ilakkiya Kurippu)

“Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga”

References the Ramayana characters Rama, Sita, and Ravana to contrast romantic dreams with harsh rejection.

Wordplay / Phonetic Contrast (Sollani)

“Seedhai aval vaazhttumae yugam yugamaaga”

Juxtaposes 'Seedhai' (Sita) with 'Sidhai' (funeral pyre) for intense emotional emphasis.

Monai / Alliteration

“Soppanaththil thilaiththirunthaen ramanumaaga”

Repetition of the initial sound 'S' across consecutive lines (Soppanaththil / Suyamvaraththil).

Did you know?

Trivia

T. Rajendar wrote, composed, directed, and acted in Nenjil Oru Ragam (1982). His trademark lyrical style featuring rhythmic internal rhymes and poignant emotional dilemmas made this song an enduring classic, particularly notable for the clever phonological wordplay between 'Seedhai' (Sita) and 'Sidhai' (pyre).

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