Nee Illai
From Poochudava · 1997
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- Hariharan
- Music director
- Sirpy
- Details
- Poochudava1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| { Nee illai nilavillai | { You are not here, the moon is not here, |
| Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2) | Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2) |
| Male | |
| Neethaanae eppodhum endhan | Is it not you who always |
| Kangalil vaazhgindrai | Lives in my eyes? |
| Azhugindren ippodhu nee | Now I am crying, and you |
| En kanneer aagindrai | Have become my tears. |
| Male | |
| { Nee illai nilavillai | { You are not here, the moon is not here, |
| Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2) | Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2) |
| Male | |
| Unperai naan ezhuthi | I wrote your name, |
| Ennai naan vaasithen | And read myself through it. |
| Engeyo ennai thedi | Searching for myself somewhere, |
| Unnil thaan santhithen | I met myself only within you. |
| Kaadhalae kaadhalae | Oh love, oh love, |
| Oonjalaai aanathae | Has become like a swing. |
| Naan angum ingum | Was it meant only for me to wander |
| Alainthida thaanaa sol-ll….. | Here and there? Tell me... |
| Male | |
| { Nee illai nilavillai | { You are not here, the moon is not here, |
| Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2) | Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2) |
| Female | |
| ………………………… | ...................... |
| Male | |
| Pagalindri vaazhnthirunthen | I lived without daylight, |
| Sooriyanai thanthaayae | You gave me the sun. |
| Niramindri vaazhnthirunthen | I lived without color, |
| Vaanavillai thanthaayae | You gave me a rainbow. |
| Koondhalil soodinaai | You wore me in your hair, |
| Vaadumun veesinaai | Yet tossed me away before I withered. |
| Adi kaadhalum poovai | Oh dear, is love also |
| Pondrathu thaanaa sol-ll…….. | Just like a flower? Tell me... |
| Male | |
| { Nee illai nilavillai | { You are not here, the moon is not here, |
| Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2) | Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2) |
| Male | |
| Neethaanae eppodhum endhan | Is it not you who always |
| Kangalil vaazhgindrai | Lives in my eyes? |
| Azhugindren ippodhu nee | Now I am crying, and you |
| En kanneer aagindrai | Have become my tears. |
{ நீ இல்லை
நிலவில்லை நிழல்
கூட துணையில்லை } (2)
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
நீ தானே
எப்போதும் எந்தன்
கண்களில் வாழ்கின்றாய்
அழுகின்றேன் இப்போது
நீ என் கண்ணீர் ஆகின்றாய்
Is it not you who always
Lives in my eyes?
Now I am crying, and you
Have become my tears.
{ நீ இல்லை
நிலவில்லை நிழல்
கூட துணையில்லை } (2)
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
உன் பேரை நான்
எழுதி என்னை நான்
வாசித்தேன் எங்கேயோ
எனை தேடி உன்னில் தான்
சந்தித்தேன் காதலே காதலே
ஊஞ்சலாய் ஆனதே நான்
அங்கும் இங்கும் அலைந்திட
தானா சொல்... இல்
I wrote your name,
And read myself through it.
Searching for myself somewhere,
I met myself only within you.
Oh love, oh love,
Has become like a swing.
Was it meant only for me to wander
Here and there? Tell me...
{ நீ இல்லை
நிலவில்லை நிழல்
கூட துணையில்லை } (2)
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
............................
......................
பகலின்றி
வாழ்ந்திருந்தேன்
சூரியனை தந்தாயே
நிறமின்றி வாழ்ந்திருந்தேன்
வானவில்லை தந்தாயே
கூந்தலில் சூடினாய் வாடும்
முன் வீசினாய் அடி காதலும்
பூவை போன்றது தானா
சொல்..... இல்
I lived without daylight,
You gave me the sun.
I lived without color,
You gave me a rainbow.
You wore me in your hair,
Yet tossed me away before I withered.
Oh dear, is love also
Just like a flower? Tell me...
{ நீ இல்லை
நிலவில்லை நிழல்
கூட துணையில்லை } (2)
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
நீ தானே
எப்போதும் எந்தன்
கண்களில் வாழ்கின்றாய்
அழுகின்றேன் இப்போது
நீ என் கண்ணீர் ஆகின்றாய்
Is it not you who always
Lives in my eyes?
Now I am crying, and you
Have become my tears.
விஷ்லிங் :
.......................
{ Nee illai nilavillai
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2)
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
Neethaanae eppodhum endhan
Is it not you who always
Kangalil vaazhgindrai
Lives in my eyes?
Azhugindren ippodhu nee
Now I am crying, and you
En kanneer aagindrai
Have become my tears.
{ Nee illai nilavillai
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2)
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
Unperai naan ezhuthi
I wrote your name,
Ennai naan vaasithen
And read myself through it.
Engeyo ennai thedi
Searching for myself somewhere,
Unnil thaan santhithen
I met myself only within you.
Kaadhalae kaadhalae
Oh love, oh love,
Oonjalaai aanathae
Has become like a swing.
Naan angum ingum
Was it meant only for me to wander
Alainthida thaanaa sol-ll…..
Here and there? Tell me...
{ Nee illai nilavillai
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2)
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
…………………………
......................
Pagalindri vaazhnthirunthen
I lived without daylight,
Sooriyanai thanthaayae
You gave me the sun.
Niramindri vaazhnthirunthen
I lived without color,
Vaanavillai thanthaayae
You gave me a rainbow.
Koondhalil soodinaai
You wore me in your hair,
Vaadumun veesinaai
Yet tossed me away before I withered.
Adi kaadhalum poovai
Oh dear, is love also
Pondrathu thaanaa sol-ll……..
Just like a flower? Tell me...
{ Nee illai nilavillai
{ You are not here, the moon is not here,
Nizhal kooda thunaiyillai } (2)
Even my shadow is no companion to me } (2)
Neethaanae eppodhum endhan
Is it not you who always
Kangalil vaazhgindrai
Lives in my eyes?
Azhugindren ippodhu nee
Now I am crying, and you
En kanneer aagindrai
Have become my tears.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nee Illai Nilavillai is a poignant song that conveys the profound pain of separation and lost love. The protagonist feels completely isolated, expressing that without their beloved, even the moon lacks light and their own shadow offers no comfort. The memory of the lover remains permanently enshrined in their eyes, transforming into tears of grief. The lyrics contrast past happiness with current sorrow. The beloved once brought warmth like the sun to a dark life and vibrant color like a rainbow to a dull existence. However, the beloved discarded this love prematurely, leading the protagonist to painfully question whether love is as fragile and short-lived as a flower tossed aside before it even wilts.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“En kanneer aagindrai”
The lover is directly equated to tears flowing from the protagonist's eyes, emphasizing that the lost love has transformed entirely into grief.
Contrast & Imagery
“Pagalindri vaazhnthirunthen / Sooriyanai thanthaayae”
Contrasts living without daylight and color against receiving the sun and a rainbow, vividly depicting how the beloved enriched the lover's existence.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Adi kaadhalum poovai / Pondrathu thaanaa sol-ll”
Compares love to a fragile flower that gets discarded, questioning the temporary nature of affection.
Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)
“Pagalindri vaazhnthirunthen / Niramindri vaazhnthirunthen”
The second consonant 'g' in 'Pagalindri' matches with 'r' in 'Niramindri' in structural rhythm, creating acoustic harmony.
Did you know?
Trivia
Poochudava (1997) is a romantic drama film directed by V. S. Ramanan, starring Abbas and Simran in lead roles. The film's soundtrack was composed by Sirpy, featuring soulful melodies that highlight the bittersweet emotional themes of late 90s Tamil romantic cinema.
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