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Aaytha Ezhuthu album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Mazhai

From Aaytha Ezhuthu · 2004

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Sunitha Sarathy, Karthik
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Aaytha Ezhuthu
Movie release year
2004
Lyrics added on
10 Aug 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nee mazhai naan ilai
Etharkumel uravillai
Vidai kodu pogiren…
Vidai kodu pogiren
Eeramaai vaazhgiren
Nee mazhai naan ilai
Etharkumel uravillai
Vidai kodu pogiren
Vidai kodu pogiren
Eeramaai vaazhgiren
Nee yaaro naan yaaro
Kan thondri kan kaana kanneero
Kan thondri kan kaana kanneero
Oho ohh ooo ooo oooo
Oho ohh ooo ooo oooo
Ooooo….oooo…oooo…
You are the rain, I am a leaf.
There is no bond beyond this.
Bid me farewell, I am leaving...
Bid me farewell, I am leaving.
I live on, drenched.
You are the rain, I am a leaf.
There is no bond beyond this.
Bid me farewell, I am leaving.
Bid me farewell, I am leaving.
I live on, drenched.
Who are you? Who am I?
Are we tears born in the eyes, yet unseen by the eyes?
Are we tears born in the eyes, yet unseen by the eyes?
Oho oh, ooh ooh oohoo...
Oho oh, ooh ooh oohoo...
Ooh... ooh... ooh...
Female
Female
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This soulful track from Mani Ratnam's 'Aaytha Ezhuthu' portrays a fleeting, delicate human bond through evocative nature imagery. Comparing one person to rain and the other to a leaf, lyricist Vairamuthu highlights how two souls can touch deeply yet briefly—leaving behind lingering emotional wetness before parting ways forever.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

Nee mazhai naan ilai

Compares the two individuals to rain and a leaf, illustrating a brief, transformative encounter that leaves a lasting impression without permanence.

Alliteration (Monai)

Kan thondri kan kaana kanneero

Repetition of the 'Kan' sound across words creates a rhythmic and melodic resonance.

Anaphora (Repetition)

Vidai kodu pogiren

Repeated phrasing of departure emphasizes the inescapable reality and grief of bidding farewell.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by A. R. Rahman for Mani Ratnam's 2004 multi-narrative political drama 'Aaytha Ezhuthu', this poetic piece features lyrics by Vairamuthu. The song captures the intertwined yet distinct fates of the lead characters.

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