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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Thoongum Nerathil (Female)

From Manasellam · 2003

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Sadhana Sargam
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Manasellam2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are sleeping
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes do not sleep
Female
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are sleeping
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes do not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh darling, oh my darling
Female
Kannukul kannaagaLike the pupil inside the eye
Endrendrum nee vendumI need you forever
Ennuyirae hoo ennuyiraeOh my life, oh my life
Female
Poo ondru un meedhuEven if a flower falls on you
Vizhundhaalum thaangaadhuI cannot bear it
En nenjam punnaai pogumae ..ae…My heart will become wounded
Female
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are sleeping
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes do not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh darling, oh my darling
Female
Ahaaa…aa…aaa…aaa…..Ahaaa…aa…aaa…aaa…..
Ahaaa…aa…aaa…aaa…..Ahaaa…aa…aaa…aaa…..
Ahaaa…aaa …haaa..aaahaaa…Ahaaa…aaa …haaa..aaahaaa…
Female
Madi meedhu nee irundhaalIf you sit upon my lap
Swargangal unmai endru aagaadhoWon't heaven become a reality?
Nodi neram pirindhaalumEven if separated for a fraction of a second
Kaalangalum nindru pogaadhoWon't time itself come to a standstill?
Female
Oru moochil iru dhegamTwo bodies living in a single breath
Vaazhvadhu naam andri veraaroWho else lives like this besides us?
Nam kaadhal vellathilIn the flood of our love
Naduvae naam irundhaalumEven though we are standing in the middle
En nenjam dhaagam kolludhae… ohoooMy heart still feels thirsty... oh
Female
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are sleeping
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes do not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh darling, oh my darling
Female
Kannukul kannaagaLike the pupil inside the eye
Endrendrum nee vendumI need you forever
Ennuyirae hoo ennuyiraeOh my life, oh my life
Female
Kannodum nenjodumWith my eyes and my heart
Uyiraalae unnai moodi kondenaeI wrapped you up with my very soul
Kanavodum ninaivodumIn my dreams and my memories
Neengaamal unnarugil vaazhndhenaeI lived right beside you without leaving
Female
Madhi parikum madhi mugamaeOh moon-like face that steals the charm of the moon
Unn oli alaithannil naan irupenI will remain inside your waves of light
Engae nee sendraalumWherever you go
Angae naan varuvenaeI will come there
Manasellam neethaan neethaanae…ohoooMy entire heart is filled with you, only you... oh
Female
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are sleeping
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes do not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh darling, oh my darling
Female
Poo ondru un meedhuEven if a flower falls on you
Vizhundhaalum thaangaadhuI cannot bear it
En nenjam punnaai pogumae ..ae….My heart will become wounded
Female
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are sleeping
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes do not sleep
{Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae} (2)Oh darling, oh my darling (2)
Ennuyirae hoo ennuyiraeOh my life, oh my life

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nee Thoongum Nerathil is a soul-stirring romantic lullaby-esque ballad from the movie Manasellam (2003). The song captures the overwhelming tender tenderness and emotional depth of true love. The speaker watches over their beloved as they sleep, feeling a love so gentle that even the touch of a falling flower seems too heavy. The lyrics portray a sense of complete devotion where two lovers share a single breath and feel an endless thirst for love even while submerged in its ocean. Written with profound simplicity by lyricist Na. Muthukumar, the song conveys that true love transcends bodily presence, wrapping the beloved in soul, dreams, and thoughts forever.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Poo ondru un meedhu vizhundhaalum thaangaadhu

Exaggerating the delicate nature of the beloved by stating that even the soft weight of a flower falling on them would cause unbearable pain to the lover's heart.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Oru moochil iru dhegam vaazhvadhu

Comparing the intimate spiritual union of two lovers to two separate bodies sharing a single breath.

Paradox

Nam kaadhal vellathil naduvae naam irundhaalum en nenjam dhaagam kolludhae

Expressing a deep emotional thirst despite being surrounded completely by the flood of love.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannodum nenjodum / Kanavodum ninaivodum

Matching of the second consonant sound 'n' in 'Kannodum' and 'Kanavodum'.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and was sung by Hariharan and Sadhana Sargam for the 2003 Tamil film Manasellam, starring Srikanth and Trisha. Lyricist Na. Muthukumar won widespread acclaim for capturing the delicate nuances of romantic devotion in simple yet deep Tamil phrasing.

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