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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Oru Kadhal Sangeetham

From Nayagan · 1987

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
Mano, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Nayagan1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…You are a music of love...
Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…You are a music of love...
Vaai mozhi sonnaal dheiveegamWhen spoken by word of mouth, it feels divine.
Female
Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…You are a music of love...
Vaai mozhi sonnaal dheiveegamWhen spoken by word of mouth, it feels divine.
Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…You are a music of love...
Female
Vaanam paadiparavaigal rendu oorvalam engho pogirathuTwo singing birds in the sky are going on a procession somewhere.
Male :Kaadhal kaadhal enumoru geedham paadidum oosai ketkiradhuMale: A sound is heard singing a song named Love, Love.
Female :Isai mazhai engum…Female: A rain of music everywhere...
Isai mazhai engum pozhigiradhu engalin jeevan nanaigiradhuA rain of music pours everywhere, soaking our souls.
Male: Kadalalai yaavum isai magal meettum azhagiya veenai surasthaanamMale: All the sea waves are musical notes played on a beautiful veena by the goddess of music.
Iravum pagalum rasithiruppom…We shall savor this day and night...
Female
Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…You are a music of love...
Male :Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…Male: You are a music of love...
Female :Vaai mozhi sonnaal dheiveegamFemale: When spoken by word of mouth, it feels divine.
Male :Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…Male: You are a music of love...
Male
Poovinai suttum koondhalil endhan aaviyai nee enn soottugirai..Why do you adorn my soul in your hair that wears flowers?
Female :Thaenai ootrum nilavinil kooda theeyinai nee enn moottugirai..Female: Why do you spark a fire even in the moon that pours honey?
Male :Kadarkarai kaatrae…Male: Oh seashore breeze...
Male :Kadarkarai kaatrae vazhiyai vidu dhevadhai vandhaal ennoduMale: Oh seashore breeze, make way, the goddess has arrived with me.
Female :Manalalai yaavum iruvarin paadham nadandhadhai kaatrae maraikaadhaeFemale: Oh breeze, do not erase the footprints left by both of us walking on the sand dunes.
Dhinamum payanam thodarattumaeLet this journey continue every day.
Male
Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…You are a music of love...
Female :Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…Female: You are a music of love...
Male :Vaai mozhi sonnaal dheiveegamMale: When spoken by word of mouth, it feels divine.
Female :Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…Female: You are a music of love...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nee Oru Kaadhal Sangeetham is a soulful romantic duet from the iconic 1987 Tamil movie Nayagan. The song portrays two lovers expressing their deep, poetic devotion to each other against nature's backdrop of sea waves, moonlight, and gentle breezes. They describe their love as divine music that drenches their souls, turning every moment and landscape into a poetic symphony.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Nee oru kaadhal sangeetham…

Comparing the beloved directly to love music ('kaadhal sangeetham') and the ocean waves to notes played on a veena ('isai magal meettum azhagiya veenai surasthaanam').

Imagery (Kaatchi Uruvagangal)

Isai mazhai engum pozhigiradhu engalin jeevan nanaigiradhu

Creates vivid visual and sensory imagery of rain made of music ('isai mazhai') soaking the soul ('jeevan nanaigiradhu').

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navortchi)

Thaenai ootrum nilavinil kooda theeyinai nee enn moottugirai..

Exaggerating romantic emotion by asking why the lover kindles a fire inside the honey-pouring moon.

Personification (Tharkiipetru Navortchi)

Kadarkarai kaatrae vazhiyai vidu dhevadhai vandhaal ennodu

Addressing the seashore breeze directly as a conscious entity and asking it to clear the path for the goddess.

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Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Pulamaipithan, this track is sung by Mano and K.S. Chithra. The song is picturized on Kamal Haasan and Saranya Ponvannan in the Mani Ratnam classic Nayagan. It remains one of the finest romantic melodies of 1980s Tamil cinema.

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