Naane Naana
From Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren · 1979
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singer
- Vani Jairam
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren1979
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Naanae naana yaarothaana | Is this really me, or am I someone else? |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
| Naanae naana yaarothaana | Is this really me, or am I someone else? |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
| Thannai thaanae marandhenae | I have completely forgotten myself. |
| Ennai naanae ketkkiren | I ask myself this question. |
| Female | |
| Naanae naana yaarothaana | Is this really me, or am I someone else? |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
| Female | |
| Oruvan ninaivilae | In the memory of one man, |
| Urugum idhayamaea | A heart that melts, |
| Idho…oo… thudikka | Look here... it beats! |
| Ularndha udhadugal | Parched lips, |
| Thanimai kavidhaigal | Poems of solitude, |
| Yedho..ooo.. padikka | Reciting something... |
| Female | |
| Madhuvin mayakkamae | Oh, intoxication of wine! |
| Unadha madiyil inimel | In your lap, from now on, |
| Ivaldhaan | She surrenders. |
| Charanam charanam | Refuge, I take refuge. |
| Female | |
| Naanae naana yaarothaana | Is this really me, or am I someone else? |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
| Male | |
| Piraiyil valarvadhum | Growing as a crescent phase, |
| Piragu theivadhum | And later waning, |
| Orae nilavu | It is the same single moon. |
| Uravil kalappadhum | Merging in togetherness, |
| Pirivil thavippadhum | And suffering in separation, |
| Orae manadhu | It is the same single heart. |
| Female | |
| Paruva vayadhilae | In youthful age, |
| Iravum pagalum viragam | Night and day, the pangs of longing are |
| Naragam | Hell. |
| Charanam charanam | Refuge, I take refuge. |
| Female | |
| Naanae naana yaarothaana | Is this really me, or am I someone else? |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
| Mella mella maarinena | Slowly, slowly, I have changed. |
நானே நானா யாரோ தானா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
நானே நானா யாரோ தானா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
I have completely forgotten myself.
I ask myself this question.
தன்னைத்தானே மறந்தேனே
என்னை நானே கேட்கிறேன்
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
நானே நானா யாரோ தானா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
In the memory of one man,
A heart that melts,
Look here... it beats!
Parched lips,
Poems of solitude,
Reciting something...
ஒருவன் நினைவிலே…
உருகும் இதயமே இதோ துடிக்க
உலர்ந்த உதடுகள்
தனிமைக் கவிதைகள்
எதோ படிக்க....
மதுவின் மயக்கமே
உனது மடியில் இனிமேல்
இவள்தான் சரணம் சரணம்
Oh, intoxication of wine!
In your lap, from now on,
She surrenders.
Refuge, I take refuge.
நானே நானா யாரோ தானா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
பிறையில் வளர்வதும்
பிறகு தேய்வதும் ஒரே நிலவு
உறவில் கலப்பதும்
பிரிவில் தவிப்பதும்
ஒரே மனது……
பருவ வயதிலே
இரவும் பகலும் விரகம்
நரகம் சரணம் சரணம்
Growing as a crescent phase,
And later waning,
It is the same single moon.
Merging in togetherness,
And suffering in separation,
It is the same single heart.
நானே நானா யாரோ தானா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
In youthful age,
Night and day, the pangs of longing are
Hell.
Refuge, I take refuge.
தன்னைத்தானே மறந்தேனே
என்னை நானே கேட்கிறேன்
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
நானே நானா யாரோ தானா
மெல்ல மெல்ல மாறினேனா
Naanae naana yaarothaana
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Naanae naana yaarothaana
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Thannai thaanae marandhenae
I have completely forgotten myself.
Ennai naanae ketkkiren
I ask myself this question.
Naanae naana yaarothaana
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Oruvan ninaivilae
In the memory of one man,
Urugum idhayamaea
A heart that melts,
Idho…oo… thudikka
Look here... it beats!
Ularndha udhadugal
Parched lips,
Thanimai kavidhaigal
Poems of solitude,
Yedho..ooo.. padikka
Reciting something...
Madhuvin mayakkamae
Oh, intoxication of wine!
Unadha madiyil inimel
In your lap, from now on,
Ivaldhaan
She surrenders.
Charanam charanam
Refuge, I take refuge.
Naanae naana yaarothaana
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Piraiyil valarvadhum
Growing as a crescent phase,
Piragu theivadhum
And later waning,
Orae nilavu
It is the same single moon.
Uravil kalappadhum
Merging in togetherness,
Pirivil thavippadhum
And suffering in separation,
Orae manadhu
It is the same single heart.
Paruva vayadhilae
In youthful age,
Iravum pagalum viragam
Night and day, the pangs of longing are
Naragam
Hell.
Charanam charanam
Refuge, I take refuge.
Naanae naana yaarothaana
Is this really me, or am I someone else?
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Mella mella maarinena
Slowly, slowly, I have changed.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic song expresses the profound, unsettling, yet beautiful personal transformation that comes with falling in love. The protagonist finds herself questioning her own identity as she becomes consumed by thoughts of her beloved, realizing that she has gradually evolved into a completely different person. She surrenders her heart completely, seeking refuge in her partner's presence. Through poetic imagery, the lyrics reflect on the duality of emotional states in youth and romance—drawing a parallel between the heart's cycles of intimacy and painful separation to the natural waxing and waning of a single moon. The song captures the intense vulnerability, solitude, and ultimate ecstasy of love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Adukku Thodar (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Mella mella maarinena”
The repetition of 'Mella mella' (slowly, slowly) emphasizes the subtle and gradual nature of how love changes a person's inner self.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Piraiyil valarvadhum / Piragu theivadhum / Orae nilavu”
Compares the emotional shifts of union and separation in a single heart to the waxing and waning phases of a single moon.
Rhetorical Question (Vinaa Aani)
“Naanae naana yaarothaana”
The singer asks 'Naanae naana' (Am I really myself?) to dramatically highlight her disorientation and self-doubt caused by overwhelming love.
Monnai (Initial Rhyme / Assonance)
“Piraiyil valarvadhum / Uravil kalappadhum”
Matching initial sounds across lines ('Piraiyil' / 'Uravil' and 'Paruva' / 'Iravum') creates melodic cohesion.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and sung by Vani Jairam, 'Naanae Naana' from Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren (1979) remains one of Tamil cinema's most iconic solos capturing female introspection. Lyricist Vaali's evocative words seamlessly blends romantic longing with existential self-reflection.
Keep listening
More from Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren
Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren
Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren
Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren
Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren
Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren
Azhage Unnai Aarathikkiren