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Manasellam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nee Thoongum Nerathil (Male)

From Manasellam · 2003

Lyricist
Na. Muthu Kumar
Singer
Hariharan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Manasellam
Movie release year
2003
Lyrics added on
18 Feb 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{ Nee thoongum nerathil
En kangal thoongaadhu } (2)
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae
Kannukul kannaaga
Endrendrum nee vendum
Ennuyire hoo ennuyire
Poo ondru un meedhu
Vizhundhaalum thaangaadhu
En nenjam punnaai pogumae ooh oh
Nee thoongum nerathil
En kangal thoongaadhu
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae
Aariro aariro aariro
Aariro aariro aariro
Aariro aaraariro
Madi meedhu nee irundhaal
Swargangal unmai endru aagaadho
Nodi neram pirindhaalum
Kaalangalum nindru pogaadho
Oru moochil iru dhegam
Vaazhvadhu naam andri veraaro
Nam kaadhal vellathil
Naduvae naam irundhaalum
En nenjam dhaagam kolludhae ohooo
Nee thoongum nerathil
En kangal thoongaadhu
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae
Kannukul kannaaga
Endrendrum nee vendum
Ennuyire hoo ennuyire
Kannodum nenjodum
Uyiraal unnai moodi kondenae
Kanavodum ninaivodum
Neengaamal unnarugil vaazhndhenae
Madhi parikum madhi mugamae
Unnoli alaithannil naan irupen
Engae nee sendraalum
Angae naan varuvenae
Manasellam neethaan neethaanae ohooo
Nee thoongum nerathil
En kangal thoongaadhu
Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae
Poo ondru un meedhu
Vizhundhaalum thaangaadhu
En nenjam punnaai pogumae ooh oh
Nee thoongum nerathil
En kangal thoongaadhu
{ Kanmaniyae hoo kanmaniyae } (2)
Ennuyire hoo ennuyire
When you are asleep,
my eyes do not sleep.
My dearest, oh my dearest,
deep within my eyes,
I want you forever,
my life, oh my life.
Even if a flower
falls on you, it cannot bear it;
my heart would be wounded, oh.
When you are asleep,
my eyes do not sleep,
my dearest, oh my dearest.
Aariro, aariro, aariro
Aariro, aariro, aariro
Aariro, aarariro
If you rest upon my lap,
wouldn't heaven become real?
Even if we part for a single second,
wouldn't time itself stand still?
In a single breath, two bodies living—
who else could it be but us?
In this flood of our love,
even though we stand right in the middle,
my heart still thirsts for you, oh...
When you are asleep,
my eyes do not sleep,
my dearest, oh my dearest,
deep within my eyes,
I want you forever,
my life, oh my life.
In my eyes and in my heart,
I wrapped you within my very soul.
Through dreams and waking thoughts,
I lived beside you, never leaving.
Oh, moon-like face that steals my mind,
I will dwell in the waves of your light.
Wherever you go,
I will come right there,
my entire heart is only you, only you, oh...
When you are asleep,
my eyes do not sleep,
my dearest, oh my dearest.
Even if a flower
falls on you, it cannot bear it;
my heart would be wounded, oh.
When you are asleep,
my eyes do not sleep.
My dearest, oh my dearest.
My life, oh my life.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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