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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Engey Nee Engey

From Ullathai Killathe · 1999

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
Arun Mozhi
Music director
Deva
Details
Ullathai Killathe1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee engae nee engaeWhere are you, where are you?
Idhayam nindru thudikkirathaeMy heart stops and beats erratically.
En anbe en anbeMy love, my love,
Manasum siluvai sumaikkirathaeMy mind carries a heavy cross.
Male
Nee engae nee engaeWhere are you, where are you?
Idhayam nindru thudikkirathaeMy heart stops and beats erratically.
En anbe en anbeMy love, my love,
Manasum siluvai sumakkirathaeMy mind carries a heavy cross.
Male
Nenjodu nee vendumI need you close to my heart,
Illai endraal nee vendumOtherwise, I still need you.
Naan kannaadi sirppamthaanI am a sculpture made of glass,
Kal veesi pogaatha neeDo not throw a stone at me and leave.
Male
Mudhal jenmam idhu endraalIf this is my very first birth,
Idhu pothum unnai saernthaalIt is enough if I unite with you in this lifetime itself.
Male
Nee engae nee engaeWhere are you, where are you?
Idhayam nindru thudikkirathaeMy heart stops and beats erratically.
En anbe en anbeMy love, my love,
Manasum siluvai sumakkirathaeMy mind carries a heavy cross.
Male
Valathu kannil vanthu un ninaivuEntering my right eye, your memory
Oru mullai vaikkirathuPlaces a thorn inside.
Idathu kannil vanthu un ninaivuEntering my left eye, your memory
Sudum theeyai vaikkirathuPlaces a burning fire inside.
Male
Oru samayam nenjilAt times, in my heart,
Un kanavu siru poovai veesiyathuYour dream showered a small flower.
Oru samayam nenjilAt times, in my heart,
Un kanavu siru poovai veesiyathuYour dream showered a small flower.
Male
Un peyarai sollaatha neraththilWhen I am not speaking your name,
En naakku enai thittum kovaththilaeMy tongue scolds me out of anger.
Unnai ennai azhuthiddaTo weep for you and me,
Ingae irandu vizhi thaangaathuTwo eyes here are not enough.
Naga kangal adhilumEven if the nails of my fingers turned into eyes,
Azhuthaal adhu kooda pothaathuCrying through them still would not suffice.
Male
Naan unnaal siragaanaenBecause of you, I gained wings to fly;
Nee illai viragaanaenWithout you, I became mere firewood.
En raththathin oru paadhiOne half of my blood
Kanneeraai veli yaeruthaeIs leaving my body as tears.
Male
Oru sollil uyir thanthaaiWith one word you gave me life,
Maru sollil adhai kettaaiWith another word you asked for it back.
Male
Nee engae nee engaeWhere are you, where are you?
Idhayam nindru thudikkirathaeMy heart stops and beats erratically.
En anbe en anbeMy love, my love,
Manasum siluvai sumakkirathaeMy mind carries a heavy cross.
Male
Megangalai pola naan irunthaalIf I were like the clouds,
Unnai mazhaiyaai saernthiruppaenI would have joined you as rain.
Vennilavai pola naan irunthaalIf I were like the full moon,
Unnai iravil thoonga vaippaenI would lull you to sleep at night.
Male
Thendral adhai pola naan irunthaalIf I were like the gentle breeze,
Un moochchil kudiyiruppaenI would reside inside your breath.
Bhoomiyinai pola naan irunthaalIf I were like the Earth,
Un paadhaththai sumanthiruppaenI would bear the weight of your footsteps.
Male
Sthambiththu nirkindra gragam idhuThis is a planet that has come to a complete standstill,
Neeyindri vaazhgindra naanthaan adhuAnd that planet is me, living without you.
Male
Uyir irukkum pothae kettaenWhile life still remains inside me, I make
Unnaidaththil vinnappamA humble request to you:
Un madiyil uyir vida thaanaeJust to pass away on your lap,
Meendum oru santharppamGive me one more chance.
Male
Maram thedum paravai naanI am a bird searching for a tree,
Mugam thedum uruvam naanI am a form searching for its face.
Ada ippothum appothumOh, right now or at any moment,
En moochchu thaan nirkkumoWill my breath come to a total halt?
Male
Idhayaththil siru thuvaaramThere is a small hole in my heart,
Nee ponaal perithaagumIf you leave, it will widen further.
Male
Nee engae nee engaeWhere are you, where are you?
Idhayam nindru thudikkirathaeMy heart stops and beats erratically.
En anbe en anbeMy love, my love,
Manasum siluvai sumakkirathaeMy mind carries a heavy cross.
Male
Nenjodu nee vandumI need you close to my heart,
Illai endraal nee vendumOtherwise, I still need you.
Naan kannaadi sirppamthaanI am a sculpture made of glass,
Kal veesi pogaatha neeDo not throw a stone at me and leave.
Male
Mudhal jenmam idhu endraalIf this is my very first birth,
Idhu pothum unnai saernthaalIt is enough if I unite with you in this lifetime itself.
Male
Nee engae nee engaeWhere are you, where are you?
Idhayam nindru thudikkirathaeMy heart stops and beats erratically.
En anbe en anbeMy love, my love,
Manasum siluvai sumakkirathaeMy mind carries a heavy cross.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful track from Ullathai Killathe expresses the intense grief and deep sense of abandonment felt by a lover separated from their soulmate. Through vivid imagery, the protagonist describes their mind as carrying a heavy cross and their fragility like that of a glass sculpture vulnerable to emotional stones. The memories of the loved one fluctuate between comforting flowers and excruciating thorns, highlighting the deep psychological turmoil caused by the separation.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Naan kannaadi sirppamthaan

Compares the speaker's fragile emotional state to a glass sculpture.

Metaphor

Manasum siluvai sumakkirathae

Compares the emotional burden and suffering to bearing a heavy cross.

Contrast / Antithesis

Naan unnaal siragaanaen / Nee illai viragaanaen

Contrasts gaining wings (joy/life) with becoming firewood (destruction/death) to show the effect of the beloved's presence versus absence.

Simile

Megangalai pola naan irunthaal

Uses 'pola' (like) to compare oneself to clouds, moon, breeze, and earth.

Hyperbole

En raththathin oru paadhi / Kanneeraai veli yaeruthae

Exaggerates grief by stating that half of the speaker's blood flows out as tears.

Did you know?

Trivia

The lyrics were written by Pa. Vijay early in his career, showcasing his trademark style of blending intense emotional metaphors with accessible language. 'Ullathai Killathe' (1999) featured music composed by Deva, known for his emotive melody compositions in late 90s Tamil cinema.

Keep listening

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