Nee Illaadha Podhu
From Ilamai Kolam · 1980
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, Jency
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Ilamai Kolam1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nee illaadha podhu | When you are not around, |
| Yaengum nenjam | The heart yearns, |
| Sollaadha kadhai nooru | A hundred untold stories, |
| Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru | It is an unstoppable new river. |
| Unnodu thaan thirumanam | Marriage is only with you, |
| Uravinil narumanam | A sweet fragrance in our bond, |
| Undaaga vazhi kooru | Tell me a way for it to happen. |
| Female | |
| Nee illaadha podhu | When you are not around, |
| Yaengum nenjam | The heart yearns, |
| Sollaadha kadhai nooru | A hundred untold stories, |
| Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru | It is an unstoppable new river. |
| Female | |
| Mudhan mudhalil thodum varai | Until touching for the very first time, |
| Dhinam naan yaenga | I yearned every single day, |
| Viral nunigal padum varai | Until fingertips touched, |
| Vizhi thaan thoonga | Only then did my eyes sleep. |
| Male | |
| Kaaviyam paadum | Singing an epic poem, |
| Kaadhal poongaatru | The gentle breeze of love, |
| Manam saerndhadhae oru saadhanai | The joining of minds itself is an achievement, |
| Magizhndhaen dhinamum kannae | I rejoiced every day, my beloved. |
| Female | |
| Nee illaadha podhu | When you are not around, |
| Yaengum nenjam | The heart yearns, |
| Sollaadha kadhai nooru | A hundred untold stories, |
| Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru | It is an unstoppable new river. |
| Male | |
| Yedhu varaiyil sugam yena | To what extent bliss exists, |
| Adhai naan kaanbaen | I shall see that, |
| Idhazh muzhuvadhum suvai yena | That sweetness resides across the lips, |
| Adhai naan saervaen | I shall gather that, |
| Female | |
| Yaengidum podhu | When yearning, |
| Ennam thaangaadhu | Thoughts become unbearable, |
| Iru maeniyil oru baavanai irundhaal | If two bodies share a single feeling, |
| Thodarum inimai | The sweetness will endure. |
| Male | |
| Nee illaadha podhu | When you are not around, |
| yaengum nenjam | The heart yearns, |
| Sollaadha kadhai nooru | A hundred untold stories, |
| Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru | It is an unstoppable new river. |
| Female | |
| Unnodu thaan thirumanam | Marriage is only with you, |
| Uravinil narumanam | A sweet fragrance in our bond, |
| Undaaga vazhi kooru | Tell me a way for it to happen. |
நீ இல்லாத போது
ஏங்கும் நெஞ்சம்
சொல்லாத கதை நூறு
அது நில்லாத புது ஆறு
உன்னோடு தான் திருமணம்
உறவினில் நறுமணம்
உண்டாக வழி கூறு
When you are not around,
The heart yearns,
A hundred untold stories,
It is an unstoppable new river.
Marriage is only with you,
A sweet fragrance in our bond,
Tell me a way for it to happen.
நீ இல்லாத போது
ஏங்கும் நெஞ்சம்
சொல்லாத கதை நூறு
அது நில்லாத புது ஆறு
When you are not around,
The heart yearns,
A hundred untold stories,
It is an unstoppable new river.
முதன் முதலில் தொடும் வரை
தினம் நான் ஏங்க
விரல் நுனிகள் படும் வரை
விழிதான் தூங்க
Until touching for the very first time,
I yearned every single day,
Until fingertips touched,
Only then did my eyes sleep.
காவியம் பாடும்
காதல் பூங்காற்று
மனம் சேர்ந்ததே ஒரு சாதனை
மகிழ்ந்தேன் தினமும் கண்ணே
Singing an epic poem,
The gentle breeze of love,
The joining of minds itself is an achievement,
I rejoiced every day, my beloved.
நீ இல்லாத போது
ஏங்கும் நெஞ்சம்
சொல்லாத கதை நூறு
அது நில்லாத புது ஆறு
When you are not around,
The heart yearns,
A hundred untold stories,
It is an unstoppable new river.
எது வரையில் சுகம் என
அதை நான் காண்பேன்
இதழ் முழுவதும் சுவை என
அதை நான் சேர்வேன்
To what extent bliss exists,
I shall see that,
That sweetness resides across the lips,
I shall gather that,
ஏங்கிடும் போது
எண்ணம் தாங்காது
இரு மேனியில் ஒரு பாவனை
இருந்தால் தொடரும் இனிமை
When yearning,
Thoughts become unbearable,
If two bodies share a single feeling,
The sweetness will endure.
நீ இல்லாத போது
ஏங்கும் நெஞ்சம்
சொல்லாத கதை நூறு
அது நில்லாத புது ஆறு
When you are not around,
The heart yearns,
A hundred untold stories,
It is an unstoppable new river.
உன்னோடுதான் திருமணம்
உறவினில் நறுமணம்
உண்டாக வழி கூறு
Marriage is only with you,
A sweet fragrance in our bond,
Tell me a way for it to happen.
லா... லாலால லாலா லாலா லாலா
லலால லலலாலா......
Nee illaadha podhu
When you are not around,
Yaengum nenjam
The heart yearns,
Sollaadha kadhai nooru
A hundred untold stories,
Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru
It is an unstoppable new river.
Unnodu thaan thirumanam
Marriage is only with you,
Uravinil narumanam
A sweet fragrance in our bond,
Undaaga vazhi kooru
Tell me a way for it to happen.
Nee illaadha podhu
When you are not around,
Yaengum nenjam
The heart yearns,
Sollaadha kadhai nooru
A hundred untold stories,
Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru
It is an unstoppable new river.
Mudhan mudhalil thodum varai
Until touching for the very first time,
Dhinam naan yaenga
I yearned every single day,
Viral nunigal padum varai
Until fingertips touched,
Vizhi thaan thoonga
Only then did my eyes sleep.
Kaaviyam paadum
Singing an epic poem,
Kaadhal poongaatru
The gentle breeze of love,
Manam saerndhadhae oru saadhanai
The joining of minds itself is an achievement,
Magizhndhaen dhinamum kannae
I rejoiced every day, my beloved.
Nee illaadha podhu
When you are not around,
Yaengum nenjam
The heart yearns,
Sollaadha kadhai nooru
A hundred untold stories,
Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru
It is an unstoppable new river.
Yedhu varaiyil sugam yena
To what extent bliss exists,
Adhai naan kaanbaen
I shall see that,
Idhazh muzhuvadhum suvai yena
That sweetness resides across the lips,
Adhai naan saervaen
I shall gather that,
Yaengidum podhu
When yearning,
Ennam thaangaadhu
Thoughts become unbearable,
Iru maeniyil oru baavanai irundhaal
If two bodies share a single feeling,
Thodarum inimai
The sweetness will endure.
Nee illaadha podhu
When you are not around,
yaengum nenjam
The heart yearns,
Sollaadha kadhai nooru
A hundred untold stories,
Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru
It is an unstoppable new river.
Unnodu thaan thirumanam
Marriage is only with you,
Uravinil narumanam
A sweet fragrance in our bond,
Undaaga vazhi kooru
Tell me a way for it to happen.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Nee illaadha podhu' is a soulful Tamil romantic song expressing the pain of separation and the intense longing for togetherness. The protagonist describes how thoughts and untold feelings swell up like an unstoppable river in the absence of the beloved. The lyrics convey the eagerness for union, marriage, and physical as well as emotional harmony. The song poetically captures how two distinct individuals feel connected through shared emotion, creating an enduring sweetness and joy in love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvam)
“Sollaadha kadhai nooru / Adhu nillaadha pudhu aaru”
Comparing the unexpressed emotions and romantic stories in the heart to an ever-flowing, unstoppable river.
Personification
“Kaaviyam paadum / Kaadhal poongaatru”
Attributing the human capability of singing poetry to the gentle breeze of love.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Unnodu thaan thirumanam / Uravinil narumanam”
The second letter 'ra' rhymes across adjacent lines ('Thirumanam' and 'Narumanam'), enhancing the lyrical flow.
Did you know?
Trivia
'Ilamai Kolam' (1980) was scored by Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by his brother Gangai Amaran. The song is celebrated for its soothing melody and expressive romantic poetry characteristic of early 1980s Tamil cinema soundscapes.
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