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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Aval Adhu

From Naan Aval Adhu · 2007

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Karthik
Music director
G. V. Prakash Kumar
Details
Naan Aval Adhu2007

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Inbam edhu endraalIf you ask what happiness is,
Endhan vaazhkaiyaeIt is my life.
Thunbam edhu endraaalIf you ask what sorrow is,
En vaazhkaiyaeIt is my life.
Male
Kangal edhu endraalIf you ask what eyes are,
Enthan kaadhalaeIt is my love.
Kanneer edhu endraalIf you ask what tears are,
En kaadhalaeIt is my love.
Male
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
Vidai thaan edhuWhat is the answer?
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
PuriyathathuRemains incomprehensible.
Male
Inbam edhu endraalIf you ask what happiness is,
Endhan vaazhkaiyaeIt is my life.
Thunbam edhu endraaalIf you ask what sorrow is,
En vaazhkaiyaeIt is my life.
Male
Kangal edhu endraalIf you ask what eyes are,
Enthan kaadhalaeIt is my love.
Kanneer edhu endraalIf you ask what tears are,
En kaadhalaeIt is my love.
Male
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
Vidai thaan edhuWhat is the answer?
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
PuriyathathuRemains incomprehensible.
Male
Yedho puriyatha bothaiAs an incomprehensible intoxication
ThaakkaStruck me,
Engo thadumaari ponenaeI stumbled somewhere.
Kaalgal theriyatha paadhai pogaAs my feet walked an unseen path,
Naanum vazhi maari porenaeI too lost my way.
Male
Kaalam ennai kuri vaiththathuTime aimed its target at me,
Mayakkam ennai vizha vaiththathuA trance made me fall down,
Mounam ennai azha vaiththathuSilence made me weep,
En uyiraeOh my life!
Male
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
Vidai thaan edhuWhat is the answer?
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
PuriyathathuRemains incomprehensible.
Male
Vaanavil polaeLike a rainbow,
Endhan vaazhkai pennaeMy life was, oh girl,
Vannangal ellaam indrengaeWhere have all the colors gone today?
Kaanalin neeraaiLike mirage water,
Ellaam kanavaai pogaAs everything fades into a dream,
Thanimai theevil naan ingaeI remain here on an island of loneliness.
Male
Puyal vegam ..mm….Will the storm's speed... mm...
Vadiyaatha…aaa..aaaNot subside? Ah... ah...
Poo meendum…mmm..mm..Will the flower again... mm... mm...
malaraathaa…aaa…aaa..Not bloom? Ah... ah...
Male
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
Vidai thaan edhuWhat is the answer?
Naan aval adhuMe, her, and that,
PuriyathathuRemains incomprehensible.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song explores the protagonist's profound emotional conflict, sorrow, and existential crisis surrounding love and identity. It highlights the dualities of life where joy and pain, vision and tears, are inextricably tied to the same experiences. The lyrics convey a sense of being lost on a dark path, feeling isolated like an islander after life's colorful rainbow fades into a mirage, while yearning for emotional recovery.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Antithesis / Contrast (Ethirinai)

Inbam edhu endraal / Thunbam edhu endraaal

Contrasting pleasure ('Inbam') and pain ('Thunbam') to demonstrate how both extremes stem from the same life.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Kangal edhu endraal Enthan kaadhalae

Directly equating eyes/vision and tears with love itself.

Simile (Uvamai)

Vaanavil polae Endhan vaazhkai pennae

Comparing the fleeting, colorful nature of life to a rainbow ('Vaanavil polae') and unfulfilled desires to mirage water ('Kaanalin neeraai').

Anaphora / Repetition

Naan aval adhu

Refrain repetition of 'Naan aval adhu' underlines the core unresolved riddle of the protagonist's relationship.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Naan Aval Adhu' was a delayed horror-thriller film project starring R. Madhavan, Shamita Shetty, and Sadha. The song's lyrics were penned by the late acclaimed lyricist Na. Muthu Kumar, featuring music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar.

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