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Isaimozhi
Nilaave Vaa album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Kaatru Naan Maram

From Nilaave Vaa · 1998

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Hariharan, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Nilaave Vaa
Movie release year
1998
Lyrics added on
19 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Nee kaatru naan maram
Enna sonnaalum thalaiyaatuven } (2)
Nee mazhai naan boomi
Engu vizhunthaalum yenthi kollven
Nee iravu naan vinmeen
Nee irukum varai thaan naan irupen
Nee kaatru naan maram
Enna sonnaalum thalaiyaatuven
………………………………
Nee alai naan karai
Ennai adithaalum yetru kollven
Nee udal naan nizhal
Nee vizha vendam naan vizhuven
Nee kizhai naan elai
Unnai ottum varaikum thaan uyirtharipen
Nee vizhi naan imai
Unnai serum varaikum naan thudithu irupen
Nee swaasam naan thegam
Naan unnai matum uyir thoda anumathipen
Nee kaatru naan maram
Enna sonnaalum thalaiyaatuven
…………………………….
Nee vaanam naan neelam
Unnil naanaai kalanthirupen
Nee ennam naan vaarthai
Nee sollum pozhudhae veli paduven
Nee veyil naan kuyil
Un varugai paarthuthaan naan isaipen
Nee udai naan idai
Unnai urangum pozhuthum naan uduthirupen
Nee pagal naan oli
Endrum unnai matum saarndhae naan irupen
Nee kaatru naan maram
Enna sonnaalum thalaiyaatuven
Nee mazhai naan boomi
Engu vizhunthaalum yenthi kollven
Nee iravu naan vinmeen
Nee irukum varai thaan naan irupen
Nee kaatru naan maram
Enna sonnaalum thalaiyaatuven
You are the wind, I am the tree
Whatever you say, I will nod in agreement
You are the rain, I am the earth
Wherever you fall, I will gather and hold you
You are the night, I am the star
Only as long as you exist will I exist
You are the wind, I am the tree
Whatever you say, I will nod in agreement
...
You are the wave, I am the shore
Even if you lash against me, I will embrace it
You are the body, I am the shadow
You need not fall, I shall fall
You are the branch, I am the leaf
I will remain alive only as long as I cling to you
You are the eye, I am the eyelid
I will flutter until I unite with you
You are the breath, I am the body
I will allow only you to touch my soul
You are the wind, I am the tree
Whatever you say, I will nod in agreement
...
You are the sky, I am the blue
I will remain blended within you as myself
You are the thought, I am the word
The moment you speak, I will manifest
You are the sunshine, I am the cuckoo
Only upon seeing your arrival will I sing
You are the garment, I am the waist
Even while sleeping, I will stay wrapped around you
You are the day, I am the light
I will forever depend only on you
You are the wind, I am the tree
Whatever you say, I will nod in agreement
You are the rain, I am the earth
Wherever you fall, I will gather and hold you
You are the night, I am the star
Only as long as you exist will I exist
You are the wind, I am the tree
Whatever you say, I will nod in agreement
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic song expresses complete devotion, surrender, and total harmony between two lovers. Through a series of paired metaphors from nature and daily life, the speaker describes their existence as entirely derivative of and dependent upon their beloved. The lover is portrayed as the active force—wind, rain, night, wave, sky—while the speaker is the receptive medium—tree, earth, star, shore, and color.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Nee kaatru naan maram”

Pairs opposing yet inseparable entities like wind and tree, rain and earth, wave and shore to depict profound emotional harmony.

Anaphora (Edukku Thodar)

“Nee alai naan karai”

Repetition of the 'Nee ... naan ...' structure at the beginning of lines to reinforce the duality and connection.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

“thalaiyaatuven / yenthi kollven / irupen”

Rhyming verbs at the ends of alternating lines creating a melodious rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Vidyasagar for the 1998 romantic film 'Nilaave Vaa' starring Vijay, the song is widely celebrated for Vairamuthu's evocative dual-metaphor lyricism.

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