Nee Vaanavilla
From Aadai · 2019
- Lyricist
- Bharath Sankar
- Singer
- Shakthisree Gopalan
- Music director
- Oorka
- Details
- Aadai2019
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nee Vaanavilla | Are you a rainbow? |
| Vannam thedum vella poovaa | Or a white flower seeking color? |
| Female | |
| Nee paarkum porulaa | Are you the object you look at, |
| Nee paarpathellaam | or is everything you behold |
| Unna thaanaa | a reflection of yourself? |
| Female | |
| Nee Vaanavilla | Are you a rainbow? |
| Vannam thedum vella poovaa | Or a white flower seeking color? |
| Female | |
| Nee paarkum porulaa | Are you the object you look at, |
| Nee paarpathellaam | or is everything you behold |
| Unna thaanaa | a reflection of yourself? |
| Female | |
| {Sarivaa nenachi | Thinking of it as right, |
| Piriya thudikka | longing to separate, |
| Kalangum usurukku | for the troubled soul, |
| Irukkum karaiya | the existing stain |
| Azhikka nenaikka | to erase it, |
| Arivu paththala} (2) | wisdom was not enough. |
| Female | |
| Hey kaalam undu | Hey, time exists, |
| Kaathu undu | the wind exists, |
| Neeyum thaeva | and you too are needed. |
| Hey vaanam undu | Hey, the sky exists, |
| Vazhiyum undu | a path exists, |
| Indha vaazhkai thaeva | and this life is essential. |
| Female | |
| Mmm…mmm…mmm… | [Humming] |
| Mmm…mm….mmmm…mm.. | [Humming] |
| Mmmm…mm…mm…mm.. | [Humming] |
| Mmm…mmm…mm…….. | [Humming] |
| Female | |
| {Kanaa vedhachi | Sowing a dream, |
| Karaya kadakka | to cross the shore, |
| Varunthum manasukku | for the grieving heart, |
| Kasiyum periya | the oozing immense |
| Valiya adakkum | pain to suppress, |
| Mudivu theriyala} ( 2) | the solution remains unknown. |
| Female | |
| Hey kaalam undu | Hey, time exists, |
| Kaathu undu | the wind exists, |
| Neeyum thaeva | and you too are needed. |
| Hey vaanam undu | Hey, the sky exists, |
| Vazhiyum undu | a path exists, |
| Indha vaazhkai thaeva | and this life is essential. |
| Female | |
| Haa.a..aaa…aaa…aaa… | [Vocalizing] |
| Haa…aa…haaa…… | [Vocalizing] |
நீ வானவில்லா
வண்ணம் தேடும் வெள்ள பூவா
Are you a rainbow?
Or a white flower seeking color?
நீ பார்க்கும் பொருளா
நீ பார்ப்பதெல்லாம்
உன்னத்தானா
Are you the object you look at,
or is everything you behold
a reflection of yourself?
நீ வானவில்லா
வண்ணம் தேடும் வெள்ள பூவா
Are you a rainbow?
Or a white flower seeking color?
நீ பார்க்கும் பொருளா
நீ பார்ப்பதெல்லாம்
உன்னத்தானா
Are you the object you look at,
or is everything you behold
a reflection of yourself?
{சரிவ நினைச்சி
பிரிய துடிக்க
கலங்கும் உசுருக்கு
இருக்கும் கரைய
அழிக்க நினைக்க
அறிவு பத்தல} (2)
Thinking of it as right,
longing to separate,
for the troubled soul,
the existing stain
to erase it,
wisdom was not enough.
ஹேய் காலம் உண்டு
காத்து உண்டு
நீயும் தேவை
ஹேய் வானம் உண்டு
வழியும் உண்டு
இந்த வாழ்க்கை தேவை
Hey, time exists,
the wind exists,
and you too are needed.
Hey, the sky exists,
a path exists,
and this life is essential.
ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்....
ம்ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்...ம்ம்...ம்ம்
ம்ம்ம்....ம்ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
[Humming]
[Humming]
[Humming]
[Humming]
{கனவ வெதைச்சி
கரைய கடக்க
வருந்தும் மனசுக்கு
கசியும் பெரிய
வழிய அடக்கும்
முடிவு தெரியல} (2)
Sowing a dream,
to cross the shore,
for the grieving heart,
the oozing immense
pain to suppress,
the solution remains unknown.
ஹேய் காலம் உண்டு
காத்து உண்டு
நீயும் தேவை
ஹேய் ஹேய் வானம் உண்டு
வழியும் உண்டு
இந்த வாழ்க்கை தேவை
Hey, time exists,
the wind exists,
and you too are needed.
Hey, the sky exists,
a path exists,
and this life is essential.
ஹா....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ....ஆஆ....
ஹா....ஆ....ஹா......
[Vocalizing]
[Vocalizing]
Nee Vaanavilla
Are you a rainbow?
Vannam thedum vella poovaa
Or a white flower seeking color?
Nee paarkum porulaa
Are you the object you look at,
Nee paarpathellaam
or is everything you behold
Unna thaanaa
a reflection of yourself?
Nee Vaanavilla
Are you a rainbow?
Vannam thedum vella poovaa
Or a white flower seeking color?
Nee paarkum porulaa
Are you the object you look at,
Nee paarpathellaam
or is everything you behold
Unna thaanaa
a reflection of yourself?
{Sarivaa nenachi
Thinking of it as right,
Piriya thudikka
longing to separate,
Kalangum usurukku
for the troubled soul,
Irukkum karaiya
the existing stain
Azhikka nenaikka
to erase it,
Arivu paththala} (2)
wisdom was not enough.
Hey kaalam undu
Hey, time exists,
Kaathu undu
the wind exists,
Neeyum thaeva
and you too are needed.
Hey vaanam undu
Hey, the sky exists,
Vazhiyum undu
a path exists,
Indha vaazhkai thaeva
and this life is essential.
Mmm…mmm…mmm…
[Humming]
Mmm…mm….mmmm…mm..
[Humming]
Mmmm…mm…mm…mm..
[Humming]
Mmm…mmm…mm……..
[Humming]
{Kanaa vedhachi
Sowing a dream,
Karaya kadakka
to cross the shore,
Varunthum manasukku
for the grieving heart,
Kasiyum periya
the oozing immense
Valiya adakkum
pain to suppress,
Mudivu theriyala} ( 2)
the solution remains unknown.
Hey kaalam undu
Hey, time exists,
Kaathu undu
the wind exists,
Neeyum thaeva
and you too are needed.
Hey vaanam undu
Hey, the sky exists,
Vazhiyum undu
a path exists,
Indha vaazhkai thaeva
and this life is essential.
Haa.a..aaa…aaa…aaa…
[Vocalizing]
Haa…aa…haaa……
[Vocalizing]
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nee Vaanavilla is a deeply philosophical and introspective song from the film Aadai (2019). It explores theme of identity, self-worth, emotional turmoil, and resilience. The protagonist questions whether she is an observer of life or a canvas shaped by her surroundings, wrestling with mistakes, guilt, and lingering pain that human intellect alone cannot easily resolve. Despite the emotional heavy lifting, the song concludes with a grounding reassurance: nature, time, and life persist, and her existence remains vital and necessary.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor
“Nee Vaanavilla / Vannam thedum vella poovaa”
Compares the soul/person to a rainbow and a white flower seeking color to depict self-discovery and purity.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Hey kaalam undu / Kaathu undu”
Repetition of the initial 'Ka' sound in adjacent lines creates a rhythmic cadence.
Imagery / Symbolism
“Irukkum karaiya / Azhikka nenaikka”
Uses 'stain' (karai) to represent regret or guilt and 'crossing the shore' (karaya kadakka) as a metaphor for overcoming hardships.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by the Chennai-based indie rock band Oorka, 'Nee Vaanavilla' features soulful vocals by Shakthishree Gopalan. The song acts as an emotional anchor in Aadai, offering a serene contrast to the intense thriller plot centered on Amala Paul's character.
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