Neelu Konjam Isthavaa
From Raththa Dhanam · 1988
- Lyricist
- Gangai Amaran
- Singers
- Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chitra
- Music director
- Gangai Amaran
- Details
- Raththa Dhanam1988
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Neelu konjam ishththaavaa | Do you like me a little? |
| Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa | I am a daring expert, Laila |
| Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa | Once our thirst is quenched a little |
| Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa | If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila |
| Male | |
| Neelu konjam ishththaavaa | Do you like me a little? |
| Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa | I am a daring expert, Laila |
| Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa | Once our thirst is quenched a little |
| Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa | If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila |
| Male | |
| Anaikka venum kannu | I want to embrace you, my dear |
| Nee enakku yaeththa ponnu | You are the perfect girl for me |
| Un thangam pondra manasil naanum | In your heart which is like gold, I too |
| Thanga konja idamum venum | Need a little place to stay |
| Female | |
| Neelu naenu ishththaanu | Do you like me? |
| Nee thegira osthaanu nainaa | I am a daring expert, my dear |
| Thaagam ippa theerththaenae | I have quenched my thirst now |
| Kaala neram paaththanae mainaa | I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird |
| Female | |
| Thaagam palavithaamthaan | Thirst comes in many forms |
| Ennoda thavippu pudhu vidhamthaan | My yearning is a unique kind |
| Male :Nejangaa… | Male: Really? |
| Female :Yaengum vaalibamthaan | Female: It is a longing youth |
| Onnaachchu ini namma jaadhagamthaan | Our horoscopes have aligned together from now on |
| Male | |
| Kanniyaala theeraathu kanniyindri aaraathu | It cannot be resolved just by a maiden, nor cooled down without a maiden |
| Kaadhalennum thagangalthaan | Such is the thirst called love |
| Tholil vanthu koodaathu thedi raagam paadaathu | It will not join on shoulders, nor sing a melody after searching |
| Aaravillai megangalthaan | The clouds have not yet cooled down |
| Female :Kannaa naan nindren thaagaththilae | Female: My darling, I stood here in thirst |
| Male | |
| Neelu konjam ishththaavaa | Do you like me a little? |
| Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa | I am a daring expert, Laila |
| Female :Hae haehae thaagam ippa theerththanae | Female: Hey hey, I quenched my thirst now |
| Kaala neram paaththenae mainaa | I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird |
| Male :Aa….haa…. | Male: Ah... ha... |
| Male | |
| Vaigai neer perugi | The waters of Vaigai overflow |
| En manthil seittum jaalamenna | What magic is this playing in my mind? |
| Vaadai kattru vanthu | The chilly north wind arrives |
| Un udalil podum kolamenna | What patterns is it drawing on your body? |
| Female | |
| Neril vanthu neeyaada neramindri neeraada | To come in person and dance, to bathe without delay |
| Kanni vannam ponniyallavaa | Is not your youthful glow like the golden River Ponni? |
| Male :Aahaa | Male: Aha |
| Female :Aasai konda poongandru | Female: Desiring flower calf |
| Allikkondu neeyindru | Scooping you up today |
| Anbu ennum neerai oottravaa | Shall I pour the water called love? |
| Male :Anbe naan kadhal madai thiranthaen… | Male: My love, I opened the floodgates of romance... |
| Male | |
| Neelu konjam ishththaavaa | Do you like me a little? |
| Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa | I am a daring expert, Laila |
| Female :Thaagam ippa theerththaenae | Female: I quenched my thirst now |
| Kaala neram paaththanae mainaa | I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird |
| Male | |
| Anaikka venum kannu | I want to embrace you, my dear |
| Nee enakku yaeththa ponnu | You are the perfect girl for me |
| Un thangam pondra manasil naanum | In your heart which is like gold, I too |
| Thanga konja idamum venum | Need a little place to stay |
| Female | |
| Neelu naenu ishththaanu | Do you like me? |
| Nee thegira osthaanu nainaa | I am a daring expert, my dear |
| Male :Aaha hahhaa aa…. | Male: Aaha hahhaa aa... |
| Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa | Once our thirst is quenched a little |
| Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa…. | If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila... |
நீலு கொஞ்சம் இஸ்த்தாவா
நா தெகிற ஒஸ்தாவா லைலா
தாகம் கொஞ்சம் தீர்ந்தாக்கா
நீயும் நானும் சேர்ந்தாக்கா பைலா
Do you like me a little?
I am a daring expert, Laila
Once our thirst is quenched a little
If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila
நீலு கொஞ்சம் இஸ்த்தாவா
நா தெகிற ஒஸ்தாவா லைலா
தாகம் கொஞ்சம் தீர்ந்தாக்கா
நீயும் நானும் சேர்ந்தாக்கா பைலா
Do you like me a little?
I am a daring expert, Laila
Once our thirst is quenched a little
If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila
அணைக்க வேணும் கண்ணு
நீ எனக்கு ஏத்த பொண்ணு
உன் தங்கம் போன்ற மனசில் நானும்
தங்க கொஞ்சம் இடமும் வேணும்
I want to embrace you, my dear
You are the perfect girl for me
In your heart which is like gold, I too
Need a little place to stay
நீலு நேனு இஸ்த்தானு
நீ தெகிற ஒஸ்தானு நைனா
தாகம் இப்ப தீர்த்தேனே
கால நேரம் பாத்தேனே மைனா
Do you like me?
I am a daring expert, my dear
I have quenched my thirst now
I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird
தாகம் பலவிதம்தான்
என்னோட தவிப்பு புது விதம்தான்.....
நெஜங்கா..
ஏங்கும் வாலிபம்தான்
ஒண்ணாச்சு இனி நம்ம ஜாதகம்தான்
Thirst comes in many forms
My yearning is a unique kind
Male: Really?
Female: It is a longing youth
Our horoscopes have aligned together from now on
கன்னியால தீராது கன்னியின்றி ஆறாது
காதலென்னும் தாகங்கள்தான்
தோளில் வந்து கூடாது தோடி ராகம் பாடாது
ஆறவில்லை மோகங்கள் தான்
கண்ணா நான் நின்றேன் தாகத்திலே
It cannot be resolved just by a maiden, nor cooled down without a maiden
Such is the thirst called love
It will not join on shoulders, nor sing a melody after searching
The clouds have not yet cooled down
Female: My darling, I stood here in thirst
நீலு கொஞ்சம் இஸ்த்தாவா
நா தெகிற ஒஸ்தாவா லைலா
ஹே ஹேஹே தாகம் இப்ப தீர்த்தேனே
கால நேரம் பாத்தேனே மைனா
ஆ.....ஹா......
Do you like me a little?
I am a daring expert, Laila
Female: Hey hey, I quenched my thirst now
I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird
Male: Ah... ha...
வைகை நீர் பெருகி
என் மனதில் செய்யும் ஜாலமென்ன
வாடைக் காற்று வந்து
உன் உடலில் போடும் கோலமென்ன
The waters of Vaigai overflow
What magic is this playing in my mind?
The chilly north wind arrives
What patterns is it drawing on your body?
நேரில் வந்து நீயாட நேரமின்றி நீராட
கன்னி வண்ணம் பொன்னியல்லவா
ஆஹா
ஆசை கொண்ட பூங்கன்று
அள்ளிக் கொண்டு நீயின்று
அன்பு என்னும் நீரை ஊற்றவா
அன்பே நான் காதல் மடை திறந்தேன்...
To come in person and dance, to bathe without delay
Is not your youthful glow like the golden River Ponni?
Male: Aha
Female: Desiring flower calf
Scooping you up today
Shall I pour the water called love?
Male: My love, I opened the floodgates of romance...
நீலு கொஞ்சம் இஸ்த்தாவா
நா தெகிற ஒஸ்தாவா லைலா
தாகம் இப்ப தீர்த்தேனே
கால நேரம் பாத்தேனே மைனா
Do you like me a little?
I am a daring expert, Laila
Female: I quenched my thirst now
I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird
அணைக்க வேணும் கண்ணு
நீ எனக்கு ஏத்த பொண்ணு
உன் தங்கம் போன்ற மனசில் நானும்
தங்க கொஞ்சம் இடமும் வேணும்
I want to embrace you, my dear
You are the perfect girl for me
In your heart which is like gold, I too
Need a little place to stay
நீலு நேனு இஸ்த்தானு
நீ தெகிற ஒஸ்தானு நைனா
ஆஹ ஹஹ்ஹா ஆ....
தாகம் கொஞ்சம் தீர்ந்தாக்கா
நீயும் நானும் சேர்ந்தாக்கா பைலா....
Do you like me?
I am a daring expert, my dear
Male: Aaha hahhaa aa...
Once our thirst is quenched a little
If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila...
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Do you like me a little?
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
I am a daring expert, Laila
Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa
Once our thirst is quenched a little
Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa
If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Do you like me a little?
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
I am a daring expert, Laila
Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa
Once our thirst is quenched a little
Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa
If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila
Anaikka venum kannu
I want to embrace you, my dear
Nee enakku yaeththa ponnu
You are the perfect girl for me
Un thangam pondra manasil naanum
In your heart which is like gold, I too
Thanga konja idamum venum
Need a little place to stay
Neelu naenu ishththaanu
Do you like me?
Nee thegira osthaanu nainaa
I am a daring expert, my dear
Thaagam ippa theerththaenae
I have quenched my thirst now
Kaala neram paaththanae mainaa
I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird
Thaagam palavithaamthaan
Thirst comes in many forms
Ennoda thavippu pudhu vidhamthaan
My yearning is a unique kind
Male :Nejangaa…
Male: Really?
Female :Yaengum vaalibamthaan
Female: It is a longing youth
Onnaachchu ini namma jaadhagamthaan
Our horoscopes have aligned together from now on
Kanniyaala theeraathu kanniyindri aaraathu
It cannot be resolved just by a maiden, nor cooled down without a maiden
Kaadhalennum thagangalthaan
Such is the thirst called love
Tholil vanthu koodaathu thedi raagam paadaathu
It will not join on shoulders, nor sing a melody after searching
Aaravillai megangalthaan
The clouds have not yet cooled down
Female :Kannaa naan nindren thaagaththilae
Female: My darling, I stood here in thirst
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Do you like me a little?
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
I am a daring expert, Laila
Female :Hae haehae thaagam ippa theerththanae
Female: Hey hey, I quenched my thirst now
Kaala neram paaththenae mainaa
I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird
Male :Aa….haa….
Male: Ah... ha...
Vaigai neer perugi
The waters of Vaigai overflow
En manthil seittum jaalamenna
What magic is this playing in my mind?
Vaadai kattru vanthu
The chilly north wind arrives
Un udalil podum kolamenna
What patterns is it drawing on your body?
Neril vanthu neeyaada neramindri neeraada
To come in person and dance, to bathe without delay
Kanni vannam ponniyallavaa
Is not your youthful glow like the golden River Ponni?
Male :Aahaa
Male: Aha
Female :Aasai konda poongandru
Female: Desiring flower calf
Allikkondu neeyindru
Scooping you up today
Anbu ennum neerai oottravaa
Shall I pour the water called love?
Male :Anbe naan kadhal madai thiranthaen…
Male: My love, I opened the floodgates of romance...
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Do you like me a little?
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
I am a daring expert, Laila
Female :Thaagam ippa theerththaenae
Female: I quenched my thirst now
Kaala neram paaththanae mainaa
I watched for the auspicious time, my songbird
Anaikka venum kannu
I want to embrace you, my dear
Nee enakku yaeththa ponnu
You are the perfect girl for me
Un thangam pondra manasil naanum
In your heart which is like gold, I too
Thanga konja idamum venum
Need a little place to stay
Neelu naenu ishththaanu
Do you like me?
Nee thegira osthaanu nainaa
I am a daring expert, my dear
Male :Aaha hahhaa aa….
Male: Aaha hahhaa aa...
Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa
Once our thirst is quenched a little
Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa….
If you and I join together, it is a dance of Baila...
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful duet features lovers expressing their deep romantic longing and affection through energetic, colloquial banter mixed with poetic imagery. The song combines slang phrases (such as Telugu-influenced words like 'ishththaanu' meaning 'I like') with classical Tamil romantic metaphors, depicting love as an unquenchable thirst and comparing youthful passion to overflowing rivers like the Vaigai and Ponni.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uvamai / Uruvagathani)
“Kaadhalennum thagangalthaan”
Love is directly equated to an unquenchable thirst that needs to be satisfied by the togetherness of lovers.
Simile (Uvamaani)
“Un thangam pondra manasil naanum”
The beloved's heart is compared to pure gold ('thangam pondra manas').
Rhyme / Monnai / Ethirhai
“Neelu konjam ishththaavaa / Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa”
Use of end rhymes like 'ishththaavaa', 'osththaavaa', 'theernthaakkaa', and 'saernthaakkaa' creates a rhythmic, dance-like tempo.
Did you know?
Trivia
Written by Gangai Amaran for the 1988 Tamil film 'Raththa Dhanam', the song incorporates Madras bashai and Telugu colloquialisms (such as 'Neelu' / 'Nenu' / 'Ishtam') reflecting the vibrant, multi-linguistic urban culture in Tamil cinema duets during the late 1980s.
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