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Lyrics & meaning

Nee Thoongum Nerathil (Male)

From Manasellam · 2003

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Manasellam2003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
{ Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are asleep,
En kangal thoongaadhu } (2)My eyes will not sleep (2)
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh my beloved, oh my beloved
Male
Kannukul kannaagaAs the eye within my eye
Endrendrum nee vendumI want you forever
Ennuyire hoo ennuyireOh my life, oh my life
Male
Poo ondru un meedhuEven if a single flower
Vizhundhaalum thaangaadhuFalls upon you, it cannot bear it
En nenjam punnaai pogumae ooh ohMy heart will become wounded, oh
Male
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are asleep
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes will not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh my beloved, oh my beloved
Male
Aariro aariro aariroLullaby chant (Aariro aariro aariro)
Aariro aariro aariroLullaby chant (Aariro aariro aariro)
Aariro aaraariroLullaby chant (Aariro aaraariro)
Male
Madi meedhu nee irundhaalIf you rest upon my lap
Swargangal unmai endru aagaadhoWon't heaven become a reality?
Nodi neram pirindhaalumEven if we part for a fraction of a second
Kaalangalum nindru pogaadhoWon't time itself come to a standstill?
Male
Oru moochil iru dhegamTwo bodies living in a single breath
Vaazhvadhu naam andri veraaroWho else lives like this other than us?
Nam kaadhal vellathilIn the flood of our love
Naduvae naam irundhaalumEven though we are right in the middle of it
En nenjam dhaagam kolludhae ohoooMy heart still feels thirsty, oh
Male
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are asleep
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes will not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh my beloved, oh my beloved
Male
Kannukul kannaagaAs the eye within my eye
Endrendrum nee vendumI want you forever
Ennuyire hoo ennuyireOh my life, oh my life
Male
Kannodum nenjodumWith my eyes and with my heart
Uyiraal unnai moodi kondenaeI have wrapped you with my soul
Kanavodum ninaivodumIn dreams and in thoughts
Neengaamal unnarugil vaazhndhenaeI lived beside you without leaving
Male
Madhi parikum madhi mugamaeOh moon-like face that steals the mind
Unnoli alaithannil naan irupenI will dwell within the waves of your light
Engae nee sendraalumWherever you go
Angae naan varuvenaeI will follow you there
Manasellam neethaan neethaanae ohoooMy entire heart is filled only with you, oh
Male
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are asleep
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes will not sleep
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyaeOh my beloved, oh my beloved
Male
Poo ondru un meedhuEven if a single flower
Vizhundhaalum thaangaadhuFalls upon you, it cannot bear it
En nenjam punnaai pogumae ooh ohMy heart will become wounded, oh
Male
Nee thoongum nerathilWhen you are asleep
En kangal thoongaadhuMy eyes will not sleep
{ Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae } (2)Oh my beloved, oh my beloved (2)
Ennuyire hoo ennuyireOh my life, oh my life

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nee Thoongum Nerathil is a deeply tender love ballad from the film Manasellam (2003), composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja and penned by lyricist Na. Muthukumar. The protagonist expresses an intense, protective affection, keeping vigil over the sleeping beloved. The depth of love is depicted as so fragile and profound that even a soft flower falling on the lover feels like an unbearable pain to the protagonist's heart. The lyricist encapsulates the feeling of two souls sharing one breath and an insatiable desire where even drowning in an ocean of love leaves them thirsty for more.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Poo ondru un meedhu vizhundhaalum thaangaadhu

Exaggerates extreme sensitivity and tenderness by stating that even a soft flower falling on the beloved would cause hurt and wound the speaker's heart.

Paradox / Metaphor

Nam kaadhal vellathil naduvae naam irundhaalum en nenjam dhaagam kolludhae

Compares love to an overflowing flood while expressing thirst, highlighting the boundless, unquenchable nature of deep romantic affection.

Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Kannodum nenjodum / Kanavodum ninaivodum

The second consonant sound 'n' is matched across initial words of consecutive lines.

Anaphora / Refrain

Nee thoongum nerathil en kangal thoongaadhu

Repetition of the central theme line throughout the song to emphasize devotion and watchfulness.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics by Na. Muthukumar, this song features distinct male (Hariharan) and female (Sadhana Sargam) solo versions in the movie Manasellam (2003). The composition seamlessly weaves traditional lullaby chants ('Aariro') into a mainstream romantic song structure.

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