Nee Illa Naanum
From 99 Songs · 2021
- Lyricist
- Kabilan
- Singer
- Haricharan
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- 99 Songs2021
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ooo nee illaa naanum | Oh, without you, I am |
| Aal illaa maidhaanam | Like an empty, deserted open field |
| Yen vaazha thonum | Why would I even feel like living? |
| En anbae.. en anbae | My love.. my love |
| Male | |
| Ooo nee illaa naanum | Oh, without you, I am |
| Aal illaa maidhaanam | Like an empty, deserted open field |
| Yen vaazha thonum | Why would I even feel like living? |
| Sol en anbae.. en anbae | Tell me, my love.. my love |
| Male | |
| En paadalin vaasam neethaanae | You are indeed the fragrance of my song |
| En thedalin dhooram neethaanae | You are the destination of my search |
| Un kaigalin regai noolaanen | I became the thread following the lines of your palm |
| Vidumurai naal aanen | I became a peaceful holiday |
| Male | |
| Oru paravaiyaanen vinnodu | I became a bird soaring into the sky |
| Nee parakkavae illai ennodu | Yet you did not fly along with me |
| En siragugal tholaithena unnodu | Did I lose my wings along with you? |
| Kannae kanneerae | My beloved, now turned into tears |
| Male | |
| Kuzhal osai kuyil osai | The sound of the flute, the song of the cuckoo |
| Nee illaamal naan puyal osai | Without you, I am just the roaring sound of a storm |
| Kuzhal osai kuyil osai | The sound of the flute, the song of the cuckoo |
| Nee illaamal naan puyal osai | Without you, I am just the roaring sound of a storm |
| Male | |
| Ooo nee illaa naanum | Oh, without you, I am |
| Aal illaa maidhaanam | Like an empty, deserted open field |
| Yen vaazha thonum | Why would I even feel like living? |
| Sol en anbae.. en anbae | Tell me, my love.. my love |
| Male | |
| Nee paarvaiyin arguae illaamal | Without you near the reach of my sight |
| Naan pagalinil tholaindha nilavaanen | I became the moon faded and lost in daylight |
| Oru velichamae illaa veedaanen | I became a pitch-black house without any light |
| Vidhi vasam naan aanen | I became bound to the hands of fate |
ஓ நீ இல்லா நானும்
ஆள் இல்லா மைதானம்
ஏன் வாழ தோணும்
என் அன்பே.. என் அன்பே
Oh, without you, I am
Like an empty, deserted open field
Why would I even feel like living?
My love.. my love
ஓ நீ இல்லா நானும்
ஆள் இல்லா மைதானம்
ஏன் வாழ தோணும்
என் அன்பே.. என் அன்பே
Oh, without you, I am
Like an empty, deserted open field
Why would I even feel like living?
Tell me, my love.. my love
ஒரு பறவையானேன் விண்ணோடு
நீ பறக்கவே இல்லை என்னோடு
என் சிறகுகள் தொலைத்தேனா உன்னோடு
கண்ணே கண்ணீரே
You are indeed the fragrance of my song
You are the destination of my search
I became the thread following the lines of your palm
I became a peaceful holiday
குழல் ஓசை குயில் ஓசை
நீ இல்லாமல் நான் புயல் ஓசை
குழல் ஓசை குயில் ஓசை
நீ இல்லாமல் நான் புயல் ஓசை
I became a bird soaring into the sky
Yet you did not fly along with me
Did I lose my wings along with you?
My beloved, now turned into tears
ஓ நீ இல்லா நானும்
ஆள் இல்லா மைதானம்
ஏன் வாழ தோணும்
சொல் என் அன்பே.. என் அன்பே
The sound of the flute, the song of the cuckoo
Without you, I am just the roaring sound of a storm
The sound of the flute, the song of the cuckoo
Without you, I am just the roaring sound of a storm
நீ பார்வையின் அருகவே இல்லாமல்
நான் பகலினில் தொலைந்த நிலவானேன்
ஒரு வெளிச்சமே இல்லா வீடானேன்
விதி வசம் நான் ஆனேன்
Oh, without you, I am
Like an empty, deserted open field
Why would I even feel like living?
Tell me, my love.. my love
Without you near the reach of my sight
I became the moon faded and lost in daylight
I became a pitch-black house without any light
I became bound to the hands of fate
Ooo nee illaa naanum
Oh, without you, I am
Aal illaa maidhaanam
Like an empty, deserted open field
Yen vaazha thonum
Why would I even feel like living?
En anbae.. en anbae
My love.. my love
Ooo nee illaa naanum
Oh, without you, I am
Aal illaa maidhaanam
Like an empty, deserted open field
Yen vaazha thonum
Why would I even feel like living?
Sol en anbae.. en anbae
Tell me, my love.. my love
En paadalin vaasam neethaanae
You are indeed the fragrance of my song
En thedalin dhooram neethaanae
You are the destination of my search
Un kaigalin regai noolaanen
I became the thread following the lines of your palm
Vidumurai naal aanen
I became a peaceful holiday
Oru paravaiyaanen vinnodu
I became a bird soaring into the sky
Nee parakkavae illai ennodu
Yet you did not fly along with me
En siragugal tholaithena unnodu
Did I lose my wings along with you?
Kannae kanneerae
My beloved, now turned into tears
Kuzhal osai kuyil osai
The sound of the flute, the song of the cuckoo
Nee illaamal naan puyal osai
Without you, I am just the roaring sound of a storm
Kuzhal osai kuyil osai
The sound of the flute, the song of the cuckoo
Nee illaamal naan puyal osai
Without you, I am just the roaring sound of a storm
Ooo nee illaa naanum
Oh, without you, I am
Aal illaa maidhaanam
Like an empty, deserted open field
Yen vaazha thonum
Why would I even feel like living?
Sol en anbae.. en anbae
Tell me, my love.. my love
Nee paarvaiyin arguae illaamal
Without you near the reach of my sight
Naan pagalinil tholaindha nilavaanen
I became the moon faded and lost in daylight
Oru velichamae illaa veedaanen
I became a pitch-black house without any light
Vidhi vasam naan aanen
I became bound to the hands of fate
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nee Illaa Naanum' from '99 Songs' is a deeply emotional ballad depicting profound loneliness, longing, and heartbreak after being separated from one's soulmate. The protagonist reflects on how his lover gave essence to his music, purpose to his journey, and freedom to his soul. In her absence, his life feels completely drained of joy and vitality. Through poignant imagery, he describes his existence as a deserted ground, a storm in place of sweet music, a moon lost in the bright daylight, and a house in total darkness. The song beautifully conveys how love elevates one's spirit, while separation leaves one feeling powerless, wingless, and surrendered to fate.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Aal illaa maidhaanam”
Compares the protagonist's desolate, lonely mind directly to an empty, uninhabited field ('Aal illaa maidhaanam').
Juxtaposition / Antithesis
“Nee illaamal naan puyal osai”
Contrasts gentle, pleasant sounds ('Kuzhal osai' - flute, 'kuyil osai' - cuckoo) with chaotic, turbulent sound ('puyal osai' - storm) to highlight the emotional turmoil caused by separation.
Visual Imagery & Metaphor
“Naan pagalinil tholaindha nilavaanen”
Uses the evocative visual of a moon invisible during daylight ('pagalinil tholaindha nilavani') to symbolize losing one's identity and significance without the loved one.
Iyaibu (End Rhyme)
“Kuzhal osai kuyil osai”
The repetitive rhythmic end-rhyme 'osai' creates a melodic and soothing cadence across the lines.
Did you know?
Trivia
'99 Songs' (2021) marks A. R. Rahman's debut as a film producer and co-writer. The film centers around a musician's quest, featuring a rich soundtrack of 14 tracks. 'Nee Illaa Naanum' highlights Haricharan's expressive vocal delivery paired with lyricist Kabilan's deeply metaphorical Tamil poetry.
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