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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Irunthal Naan Irupen

From Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham · 1999

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Deva
Details
Aasaiyil Oru Kaditham1999

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thom)
Female
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thom)
Female
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thom)
Male
Nee irunthaal naan irupaenIf you exist, I will exist
Nee nadanthaan naan nadappaenOnly if you walk, I will walk
Nizhalukkellaam kudai pidippaenI will hold an umbrella even over your shadow
Nee en kaadhaliyaanaalIf you become my beloved
Male
Hae hae nee irunthaal naan irupaenHey hey, if you exist, I will exist
Nee nadanthaan naan nadappaenOnly if you walk, I will walk
Nizhalukkellaam kudai pidippaenI will hold an umbrella even over your shadow
Nee en kaadhaliyaanaalIf you become my beloved
Male
Neeraada nathi thruvaenI will provide a river for you to bathe
Nee thudaikka mugil tharuvaenI will offer a cloud for you to wipe yourself dry
Nee uduththa malar tharuvaenI will offer flowers for you to wear
Nee en kadhaliyaanaalIf you become my beloved
Nee en kadhaliyaanaal…..If you become my beloved...
Male
Nee nadakkum pulveliyilOn the grassy meadow where you walk
Panithuligal thudaiththu vaippaenI will wipe away the dew drops
Nee pesum thaaimozhiyilIn the mother tongue that you speak
Vallinangal kalainthu vaippaenI will smooth out the hard consonants
Male
Nee kadantha theruvil unthan vaasam theduvaenI will search for your scent in the street you crossed
Nee kuliththa nathiyil moozhgi motcham kaanuvaenI will attain salvation by diving into the river where you bathed
Un jannal oram naan kaattraaga varuvaenI will come as a gentle breeze near your window
Naal ondru veedham naan pookkondu tharuvaenI will bring you flowers every single day
Male
Kangal theendum kanavai polaeLike a dream touched by the eyes
Nee ariyaamal naan thoduvaenI will touch you without your knowing
Nee en kadhaliyaanaal…..If you become my beloved...
Female
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimiRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi)
Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thomRhythmic solkattu syllables (Thaththiththom thomtheemtha thaga thimi thom)
Male
Vellai nilla oli thirattiGathering the light of the bright white moon
Ullangaiyil oottri vaippaenI will pour it into your palm
Kaattralaiyil isai piriththuExtracting music from the wind waves
Kaadhugalil thavazha vaippaenI will let it crawl into your ears
Male
Koburangal yaeri unthan perai koovuvaenI will climb grand towers and shout your name
Tajmahal-in melae unthan perai ezhuthuvaenI will write your name atop the Taj Mahal
Un koonthal mudiyil naan en jeevan mudivenIn the knot of your hair, I will tie my life
Nee oodal kondaal naan un kaalil vizhuvaenIf you feign a lover's sulk, I will fall at your feet
Male
Ottrai muththam sinthuvathendraalIf it means receiving a single kiss
Un madiyil uyir viduvaenI am ready to lay down my life on your lap
Nee en kadhaliyaanaal…..If you become my beloved...
Male
Nee irunthaal naan irupaenIf you exist, I will exist
Nee nadanthaan naan nadappaenOnly if you walk, I will walk
Nizhalukkellaam kudai pidippaenI will hold an umbrella even over your shadow
Nee en kaadhaliyaanaalIf you become my beloved
Male
Nee irunthaal naan irupaenIf you exist, I will exist
Nee nadanthaan naan nadappaenOnly if you walk, I will walk
Nizhalukkellaam kudai pidippaenI will hold an umbrella even over your shadow
Nee en kaadhaliyaanaalIf you become my beloved
Male
Neeraada nathi thruvaenI will provide a river for you to bathe
Nee thudaikka mugil tharuvaenI will offer a cloud for you to wipe yourself dry
Nee uduththa malar tharuvaenI will offer flowers for you to wear
Nee en kadhaliyaanaalIf you become my beloved
Nee en kadhaliyaanaal…..If you become my beloved...
Nee en kadhaliyaanaal…..If you become my beloved...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a deeply romantic monologue where the protagonist expresses boundless devotion to his beloved. He declares that his very existence depends on her love and pledges extraordinary acts of care, affection, and sacrifice if she accepts him as her lover. From gentle gestures like wiping dew off her path to poetic impossibilities like gathering moonlight and writing her name atop the Taj Mahal, the lyrics convey an romantic ideal of unconditional love.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Ushuyokthi)

Nizhalukkellaam kudai pidippaen

Exaggerated romantic devotion where the speaker promises to hold an umbrella over her shadow and write her name on the Taj Mahal.

Metaphor & Imagery

Nee thudaikka mugil tharuvaen

A cloud is metaphorically offered as a towel to dry her, creating vivid nature imagery.

Anaphora

Nee irunthaal naan irupaen / Nee nadanthaan naan nadappaen

Repetition of 'Nee' at the start of multiple successive lines to emphasize the central focus on the beloved.

Moonaai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Vellai nilla oli thiratti / Ullangaiyil oottri vaippaen

Matching sound at the beginning of consecutive lines in classic Tamil prosody.

Did you know?

Trivia

Though often confused across 1990s audio compilations, these lyrics belong to the song 'Nee Irunthaal Naan Irupaen' from the film 'En Swasa Kaatre' (1999), composed by A.R. Rahman with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu and sung by Hariharan.

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