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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Irunthalthan Nimmathi

From Needhiyin Nizhal · 1985

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Sankar Ganesh
Details
Needhiyin Nizhal1985

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Nee illai endraal vaazhvadhu engaeIf you are not here, where can I live?
Unnai thaan enni thaanThinking only of you
Aayiram aayiram aasaigal pongaThousands upon thousands of desires overflow
Male
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Nee illai endraal vaazhvadhu engaeIf you are not here, where can I live?
Unnai thaan enni thaanThinking only of you
Aayiram aayiram aasaigal pongaThousands upon thousands of desires overflow
Male
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Male
Unnugindra podhumEven while eating
Kann urangum podhumEven while sleeping
Unnudaiya ennam nenjil modhumThoughts of you strike against my heart
Kanni magal ponaa thannanthani aanaanWhen the young maiden departed, he became all alone
Thathalikkum vaazhvu thoondil meenaaStruggling life is like a fish on a hook
Kalaiyaadha raagam nee vilagaadha thaalam neeYou are an undissolving melody, an inseparable rhythm
Iravum pagalum isaithidum paadal neeYou are a song played day and night
Female
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Nee illai endraal vaazhvadhu engaeIf you are not here, where can I live?
Unnai thaan enni thaanThinking only of you
Aayiram aayiram aasaigal pongaThousands upon thousands of desires overflow
Female
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Nee illai endraal vaazhvadhu engaeIf you are not here, where can I live?
Unnai thaan enni thaanThinking only of you
Aayiram aayiram aasaigal pongaThousands upon thousands of desires overflow
Female
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Chorus
Aa… aa… aa… aa…Vocalizing musical notes (Aa... aa...)
Lallal lallaa lallal lallalla lallaa lallal lallallaHumming syllables (Lallal lallaa...)
Lalla lal lalla lal lallaHumming syllables (Lalla lal...)
Female
Katti vaitha maalaiThe woven garland
Putham pudhu chaelaiThe brand new saree
Endru vandhu saerum undhan tholaiWhen will they reach your shoulders?
Thottil itta thogai vittu sendra velaiWhen the peacock-like maiden left after being nurtured in a cradle
Kattil idalaamo kaadhal paavaiCan the bed be set for the idol of love?
Unakkaaga penn ondru urangaadha kann konduFor your sake, a woman stays awake with sleepless eyes
Urugum idhayam thudithidum naal indruToday is the day her melting heart throbs
Male
Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingaePeace is here only if you are present
Nee illai endraal vaazhvadhu engaeIf you are not here, where can I live?
Female
Unnai thaan enni thaanThinking only of you
Aayiram aayiram aasaigal pongaThousands upon thousands of desires overflow
Laalala laalaa laalala laalaaHumming syllables (Laalala laalaa...)
Laalala laalaa laalala laalaaHumming syllables (Laalala laalaa...)
Laalala laalaa laalala laalaaHumming syllables (Laalala laalaa...)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingae is an expressive romantic track conveying deep emotional dependence, longing, and eternal affection. The speaker emphasizes that peace and happiness exist only in the presence of their beloved, stating that life feels unbearable and aimless without them. Thoughts of the partner haunt the protagonist at all hours, whether during meals or sleep.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Kalaiyaadha raagam nee vilagaadha thaalam nee

Compares the beloved directly to music, rhythm, and song ('Kalaiyaadha raagam nee vilagaadha thaalam nee... paadal nee').

Simile

Thathalikkum vaazhvu thoondil meenaa

Compares the struggling, restless life of the protagonist without their partner to a fish caught on a hook ('thoondil meenaa').

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyming)

Katti vaitha maalai / Putham pudhu chaelai

The second consonant sound matches between adjacent words or lines, such as 'Katti' and 'Putham' or 'Maalai' and 'Chaelai'.

Anaphora / Refrain

Nee irundhaal thaan nimmadhi ingae

Repetition of key lines throughout the song to emphasize the core theme of longing for the beloved.

Did you know?

Trivia

Needhiyin Nizhal (1985) is a Tamil action-drama film starring Sivaji Ganesan and Prabhu, directed by S. A. Chandrasekhar with music composed by Sankar-Ganesh and lyrics penned by the veteran poet Vaali.

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