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Soorarai Pottru album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Naalu Nimisham

From Soorarai Pottru · 2020

Lyricist
Maya Mahalingam
Singer
Krishnaraj
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Movie name
Soorarai Pottru
Movie release year
2020
Lyrics added on
15 Oct 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Usurae…
Usurae…
Usurae…
Minmini poochiya pola
Nee minnittu poriyadi
Andha kaananguruviya pola
Nee kaanama poniyadi
Veppamarathu nizhala
Nee veroonda venumadi
Un nizhalin arumai therinjae
Naan thalai saaika venumadi
Pathara poiyu saruga aachu en manasu
Nee odi vandhu neera ninnu usurukku usuruttu
Pathara poiyu saruga aachu en manasu
Nee odi vandhu neera ninnu usurukku usuruttu
Yelae…
Yelae…
Yelae…ae…
Yelae…ae….
Naalu nimisham unna kaanama
Nee kaanama…aa
En naadi narambu surungi ponenae
Naan ponenae…
Kann irundhum kabothi aanenae
Naan aanenae…
Unnai paartha podhu oomaiya ponenae
Naan ponenae…
Silaiyaa ninnenae
Thavama ninnenae
Ninnenae ninnenae
Naalu nimisham
Adi naalu nimisham unna kaanama
Nee kaanama…aa
En naadi narambu surungi ponenae
Naan ponenae…
Usurae…
Usurae…
Usurae…ae..usurae…
Usurae…ae..usurae…
Usurae… usurae…
My life... oh...
My life... oh...
My life... oh...
Like a firefly,
you flash by and disappear, girl.
Like that wild bird,
you vanished without a trace, girl.
Like the shade of a neem tree,
you need to take root, girl.
Knowing the comfort of your shade,
I want to rest my head.
My heart has withered into dry husk and fallen leaves,
come rushing like a flowing stream and breathe life into my soul.
My heart has withered into dry husk and fallen leaves,
come rushing like a flowing stream and breathe life into my soul.
Hey... oh...
Hey... oh...
Hey... oh...
Hey... oh...
When I couldn't see you for four minutes,
without seeing you... ah...
every nerve and pulse in me shriveled up.
I completely broke down...
Though I have eyes, I became blind.
I became blind...
When I saw you, I was struck speechless.
I became speechless...
I stood frozen like a statue,
I stood lost in deep prayer,
I stood there... I stood there...
Just four minutes...
Oh girl, not seeing you for four minutes,
without seeing you... ah...
every nerve and pulse in me shriveled up.
I completely broke down...
My life... oh...
My life... oh...
My life... oh... my life,
My life... oh... my life,
My life... my life...
Male
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Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song expresses a deeply raw and emotional ache of yearning experienced during a brief separation from one's beloved. The narrator describes how even a short absence of just four minutes leaves them feeling paralyzed, blind, mute, and drained of life. Through vivid rural imagery such as fireflies, wild sparrows, and the comforting shade of neem trees, the song illustrates how the loved one brings rejuvenation and vitality back to a heart that has withered like dry leaves.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai (Simile)

Minmini poochiya pola / Nee minnittu poriyadi

Compares the glowing yet fleeting presence of the beloved to a glowing firefly (Minmini poochiya pola).

Uvamai (Simile)

Andha kaananguruviya pola / Nee kaanama poniyadi

Compares the beloved's sudden disappearance to a elusive forest sparrow (Kaananguruviya pola).

Metaphor (Uruvagaimai)

Pathara poiyu saruga aachu en manasu

Metaphorically describes a heart distressed by sorrow as dry, withered fallen leaves (saruga aachu en manasu).

Anaphora / Repetition (Edukku Thodar)

Usurae…

Repeated invocation of 'Usurae' (My Life) underscores deep passionate obsession and emotional dependence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Written by folk artist Maya Mahalingam, the song captures raw emotional distress using traditional imagery rooted in rural Tamil Nadu, set to a haunting melody in Soorarai Pottru.

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