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Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Kettaal Naan

From Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu · 1978

Lyricist
Vaali
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu
Movie release year
1978
Lyrics added on
1 Aug 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee kettaal naan matten
Endra solven kanna
Nee kettaal naan matten
Endra solven kanna
En kannum ila nenjum
Enrdum undhan pinnal
Naan sattiyam kakkum
Uttami yakkum
Sonnadhum ketkum
Pathini yakkum haiyya
Nee kettaal naan matten
Endra solven kanna
En kannum ila nenjum
Enrdum undhan pinnal
Naan sattiyam kakkum
Uttami yakkum
Sonnadhum ketkum
Pathini yakkum haiyya
{Anbae unai aradhanai
Seigindraval manadhu
Ponpondradhu poo pondradhu
Ennangalo inidhu} (2)
Thamarai poovil thaen
Sidhara (2)
Nee konja konja
Naan kenja kenja
Nam inbathin ellaigal kanna
Engo engo ammamma
Nee kettaal naan matten
Endra solven kanna
En kannum ila nenjum
Enrdum undhan pinnal
Naan sattiyam kakkum
Uttami yakkum
Sonnadhum ketkum
Pathini yakkum haiyya
Kalluriyil kalladhathai
Kanjadaiyil payila
Pallayiram padangalum
Sollamalae puriya
Nee oru kaadhal
Nool nilayam (2)
Ponmalai dhorum
Unleelai kanum
En penmaikkum menmaikkum
Kanna nanum needhan sonthamo
Nee kettaal naan matten
Endra solven kanna
En kannum ila nenjum
Enrdum undhan pinnal
Naan sattiyam kakkum
Uttami yakkum
Sonnadhum ketkum
Pathini yakkum haiyya
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra raaa
Ra ra raaa
Ra ra raaa
Raaa…ra r ar ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ….
Nee kettaal naan matten
Endra solven kanna
En kannum ila nenjum
Enrdum undhan pinnal
Naan sattiyam kakkum
Uttami yakkum
Sonnadhum ketkum
Pathini yakkum haiyya….
If you ask me,
would I ever say no, my love?
If you ask me,
would I ever say no, my love?
My eyes and my young heart
will always follow you.
Keeping my word,
you make me a virtuous woman,
obeying all you say,
you make me a devoted wife, ah!
If you ask me,
would I ever say no, my love?
My eyes and my young heart
will always follow you.
Keeping my word,
you make me a virtuous woman,
obeying all you say,
you make me a devoted wife, ah!
My love, the heart of the woman
who adores and worships you
is pure as gold and gentle as a flower,
and her thoughts are ever so sweet.
As sweet honey spills
from the blooming lotus flower,
as you shower me with sweet affection
and I softly plead with you,
the boundaries of our joy, my love,
reach endlessly far, oh my!
If you ask me,
would I ever say no, my love?
My eyes and my young heart
will always follow you.
Keeping my word,
you make me a virtuous woman,
obeying all you say,
you make me a devoted wife, ah!
Learning through a mere glance of your eye
what was never taught in college,
making thousands of lessons understood
without a single word being spoken,
you are truly
a library of love!
Every golden evening,
witnessing your playful charms,
to my womanhood and dignity,
aren't you the only one who belongs, my love?
If you ask me,
would I ever say no, my love?
My eyes and my young heart
will always follow you.
Keeping my word,
you make me a virtuous woman,
obeying all you say,
you make me a devoted wife, ah!
Ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra ra
Ra ra ra-aa
Ra ra ra-aa
Ra ra ra-aa
Ra-aa… ra ra ar ra ra ra ra ra ra ra…
If you ask me,
would I ever say no, my love?
My eyes and my young heart
will always follow you.
Keeping my word,
you make me a virtuous woman,
obeying all you say,
you make me a devoted wife, ah!…
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nee Kettaal Naan Matten is a classic Tamil romantic track from the 1978 film Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu. Sung from the perspective of a devoted woman deeply in love, the song expresses absolute surrender, adoration, and playful romantic bliss. She promises that she could never refuse any wish of her beloved and describes her devotion as chaste, pure, and eternal. She compares her heart to gold and soft flowers, overflowing with happiness in his presence. The track captures the intimate world of two lovers where unspoken glances communicate far more than formal education ever could.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uwamai (Simile)

“Ponpondradhu poo pondradhu”

Compares the purity and delicacy of the woman's loving heart to gold ('ponpondradhu') and flowers ('poo pondradhu').

Uruvagaimai (Metaphor)

“Nee oru kaadhal Nool nilayam”

Metaphorically addresses her lover as a 'library of love' (kaadhal nool nilayam), suggesting he holds endless knowledge and depth in matters of romance.

Monnai (Initial Alliteration)

“Kalluriyil kalladhathai / Kanjadaiyil payila”

Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in 'Kalluriyil' and 'Kanjadaiyil', creating rhythmic harmony.

Esubhu / Repetition (Sol Pinvarunilai Ani)

“Nee konja konja / Naan kenja kenja”

Repetition of words like 'konja konja' and 'kenja kenja' to emphasize intimacy and tender emotional interactions.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed with unknown metadata in the query, this iconic track features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by Vaali and vocals rendered by S. Janaki. 'Ilamai Oonjal Aadukirathu' (1978) was directed by C. V. Sridhar and starred Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth, Sripriya, and Jayachitra.

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From the same album

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