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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Naan Unnai Vaazhthi

From Nootrukku Nooru · 1971

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
V. Kumar
Details
Nootrukku Nooru1971

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Pannirandu maniyalavilAround twelve o'clock,
Kulir pani vizhum nalliravilOn a cold, misty midnight,
Kannirandil malarnthidaTo bloom in both eyes,
Inba kanavugal vara vendumPleasant dreams ought to come.
Chorus
Happy happy new yearHappy happy new year!
Female
Naan unnai vaazhththi paadugiraenI sing wishing you well,
Nee vara vendumYou must come.
Un ninaivil mayangiIntoxicated by your thoughts,
Aadugiraen neevara vendumI dance, you must come.
Female
Naan unnai vaazhththi paadugiraenI sing wishing you well,
Nee vara vendumYou must come.
Un ninaivil mayangiIntoxicated by your thoughts,
Aadugiraen nee vara vendumI dance, you must come.
Female
Kadantha varudam nadanthathellaamWhatever happened in the past year
Pazhaiya yaettilaeIs logged in the old ledger.
Kaninthu varum pudhu varudamThe ripening new year
Pudhu paattilaeIs written in a new song.
Female
Naan unnai vaazhththi paadugiraenI sing wishing you well,
Nee vara vendumYou must come.
Un ninaivil mayangiIntoxicated by your thoughts,
Aadugiraen nee vara vendumI dance, you must come.
Chorus
……………...
Female
Maadha kovil maniyosaiThe chiming bell of the church
Nammai pottrum arulosai deva neeyum vaaIs a sound of grace praising us; my divine one, you come too.
Urugum mezhugil oliyunduThere is light in the melting wax,
Oliyin nizhalil uravundu uyirae nerungivaaThere is intimacy in the shadow of light; my soul, come close.
Female
Varungaalam ponnaaga vaazhnaalil ondraagaMay the future turn to gold, uniting our life's days,
Edhirpaarkkum neraththil enai thedi vaaraayoWill you come seeking me at this moment of anticipation?
Nenje ennidam ninaivo unnidamMy heart is with me, but my thoughts are with you,
Nenje ennidam ninaivo unnidamMy heart is with me, but my thoughts are with you.
Female
Idhayam enathu kaanikkai inaivomMy heart is my offering, with the faith
Endra nampikkai azhaithaen odivaaThat we will unite, I called out; run and come!
Odum kaalam odattumLet fleeting time run away,
Ilamai nindru vaazhattum azhagai thaedi vaaLet youth stand still and flourish; come seeking beauty.
Female
Unakkaaga pennundu urangaatha kannunduThere is a woman for you, with sleepless eyes,
Thanakkaga vaazhaamal thavikkindra nenjunduThere is a heart yearning, living not for itself.
Aasai oonjalil aadum velaiyilWhile swinging on the swing of desire,
Aasai oonjalil aadum velaiyilWhile swinging on the swing of desire,
Female
Naan unnai vaazhththi paadugiraenI sing wishing you well,
Nee vara vendumYou must come.
Un ninaivil mayangiIntoxicated by your thoughts,
Aadugiraen nee vara vendumI dance, you must come.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This classic New Year song depicts a woman ushering in the midnight of a New Year while yearning for the arrival of her beloved. She leaves behind past grievances as entries in an old ledger and welcomes a hopeful future represented by a fresh melody, church bells, and glowing candles. Throughout the song, she expresses her deep devotion, offering her heart and waiting with sleepless eyes for her lover to join her in celebration.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagam)

Kadantha varudam nadanthathellaam Pazhaiya yaettilae

Comparing the past year to an old ledger ('Pazhaiya yaettilae') and the new year to a fresh song ('Pudhu paattilae').

Ethirai (Second letter rhyming in Tamil prosody)

Kadantha varudam ... / Kaninthu varum ...

The second consonant 'da' in Kadantha rhymes with 'ni' in Kaninthu, establishing classic Tamil poetic rhythm.

Metaphor

Aasai oonjalil aadum velaiyil

'Aasai oonjal' (swing of desire) metaphorically represents the oscillation of yearning and hope in love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Nootrukku Nooru (1971), directed by K. Balachander and starring Jaishankar, features this track as one of the earliest and most iconic New Year celebration songs in Tamil cinema. The song blends Western New Year greeting elements with traditional Tamil lyricism composed by V. Kumar.

Keep listening

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