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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Appothu

From Pagal Nilavu · 1985

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, S. P. Sailaja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Pagal Nilavu1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ye kattil illa methai illaHey, there is no bed, no mattress
Paaya poduLay out a mat
Naan kan uranga pakkam vanthuCome near me so I can sleep
Raagam paaduSing a melody
Raathirikku nee irundhaIf you are there at night
Kulir pogumThe cold will go away
Nee aadharichaIf you embrace me
Sorgam inga vanthu pogumHeaven will come and go right here
Female
Nee appothu paartha pullaThe girl you saw back then
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Female :Ippa adayaalam theriyavillaiFemale: Cannot be recognized now
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Female
Ada yennamo solluraHey, you are saying something
Ada yennamo solluraHey, you are saying something
Yengeyo killuraPinching somewhere
En bothai theliyavillaiMy intoxication isn't clearing
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Female :Ada ennanu vilanga villaiFemale: Oh, I don't understand what it is
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Female
Nee appothu paartha pullaThe girl you saw back then
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Female :Ippa adayaalam theriyavillaiFemale: Cannot be recognized now
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Male
Nethu parthenI saw her yesterday
Konji pona pullaThe girl who left after fondling
Ippo paartha nenju thaalavillaiSeeing her now, my heart cannot bear it
Vaarthai yaala solla yethum illaThere is nothing to express in words
Vaari potta yethum saedham illaNothing was damaged when swept up
Male
Eduthu pona ennoda nenjuMy heart that she took away
Innum vanthu seravillaiHas still not returned to me
Koduthu pona poovana kaayamThe flower-like wound she left behind
Konjam kooda aaravillaiHas not healed even a little bit
Neeroda sernthae…ae…..Along with the stream...
Neeroda sernthaeAlong with the stream
Neeraaga naangaLike water, we
Sernthaachi piriyavillaiHave joined and cannot be separated
Adi nee ulla manasaeHey, even without a heart inside you
Illama pirikka ennala mudiyavillaiI am unable to separate from you
Female
Nee appothu paartha pullaThe girl you saw back then
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Female :Ippa adayaalam theriyavillaiFemale: Cannot be recognized now
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Male
Thanni adichumEven after drinking liquor
Sogam kaayavillaiThe sorrow doesn't dry up
Enna nenachum paasam theyavillaiWhatever I think, affection doesn't wear away
Kanna maraichenI hid my eyes
Kaadhal senja thollaiThe trouble created by love
Kadaisi varaikkumUntil the very end
Paadhai maaravillaiThe path did not change
Male
Vilangidatha pennoda manasuThe incomprehensible heart of a woman
Veli potta maayam ennaWhat magic is this fenced boundary?
Kalangidatha ennoda nenappuMy unshakeable thought
Kaanji pogum marmam ennaWhat is the mystery of it drying up?
Anbaana nenjae…ae….Oh loving heart...
Anbaana nenjaeOh loving heart
Kannadi polaLike glass
Thoolaaki potta pullaThe girl who shattered it to pieces
Nee illama enakkuWithout you, for me
Santhosham yethuWhere is happiness?
En kannu thoongavillae….My eyes have not slept...
Male
Naan appothu paartha pullaThe girl I saw back then
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Male :Ippo adayaalam theriyavillaiMale: Cannot be recognized now
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Male
Ada ennamo solluraaHey, you are saying something
Ada ennamo solluraaHey, you are saying something
Ennaiyae thalluraPushing me away
En bothai theliyavillaiMy intoxication isn't clearing
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Male :Ada ennaanu vilangavillaiMale: Oh, I don't understand what it is
Chorus :Haan haan haanChorus: Haan haan haan
Chorus
Thana thanaana thaa naa naaThana thanaana thaa naa naa
Thana thanaana thaa naa naaThana thanaana thaa naa naa
Thanaana thaa naa naaThanaana thaa naa naa
Thana thanaana thaa naa naaThana thanaana thaa naa naa

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song captures a poignant dialogue of intoxication, heartbreak, and emotional transformation between two lovers. The protagonist reflects on how the person he once knew intimately has now changed beyond recognition. He expresses the profound grief of a broken heart, describing how the emotional wounds left behind remain unhealed despite attempts to drown his sorrows in alcohol.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Kannadi pola

Compares the fragile heart broken into pieces to shattered glass ('Kannadi pola thoolaaki potta pulla').

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Koduthu pona poovana kaayam

Refers to emotional pain metaphorically as a delicate, flower-like wound ('poovana kaayam').

Second-Letter Rhyme (Edhugai)

Eduthu pona ennoda nenju / Koduthu pona poovana kaayam

The second letters 'dhu' in 'Eduthu' and 'Koduthu' rhyme across consecutive lines.

First-Letter Alliteration (Moonaa)

Kalangidatha ennoda nenappu / Kaanji pogum marmam enna

The repetition of the 'ka' sound in 'Kalangidatha' and 'Kaanji'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although the prompt context leaves music and singers unspecified, 'Pagal Nilavu' (1985) was directed by Mani Ratnam in his Tamil directorial debut, featuring a famous soundtrack composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics penned by Gangai Amaran.

Keep listening

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