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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neelu Konjam Isthavaa

From Raththa Dhanam · 1988

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singers
Malaysia Vasudevan, K. S. Chitra
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Movie name
Raththa Dhanam
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
23 Apr 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa
Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa
Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa
Anaikka venum kannu
Nee enakku yaeththa ponnu
Un thangam pondra manasil naanum
Thanga konja idamum venum
Neelu naenu ishththaanu
Nee thegira osthaanu nainaa
Thaagam ippa theerththaenae
Kaala neram paaththanae mainaa
Thaagam palavithaamthaan
Ennoda thavippu pudhu vidhamthaan
Male :Nejangaa…
Female :Yaengum vaalibamthaan
Onnaachchu ini namma jaadhagamthaan
Kanniyaala theeraathu kanniyindri aaraathu
Kaadhalennum thagangalthaan
Tholil vanthu koodaathu thedi raagam paadaathu
Aaravillai megangalthaan
Female :Kannaa naan nindren thaagaththilae
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
Female :Hae haehae thaagam ippa theerththanae
Kaala neram paaththenae mainaa
Male :Aa….haa….
Vaigai neer perugi
En manthil seittum jaalamenna
Vaadai kattru vanthu
Un udalil podum kolamenna
Neril vanthu neeyaada neramindri neeraada
Kanni vannam ponniyallavaa
Male :Aahaa
Female :Aasai konda poongandru
Allikkondu neeyindru
Anbu ennum neerai oottravaa
Male :Anbe naan kadhal madai thiranthaen…
Neelu konjam ishththaavaa
Naa thegira osththaavaa lailaa
Female :Thaagam ippa theerththaenae
Kaala neram paaththanae mainaa
Anaikka venum kannu
Nee enakku yaeththa ponnu
Un thangam pondra manasil naanum
Thanga konja idamum venum
Neelu naenu ishththaanu
Nee thegira osthaanu nainaa
Male :Aaha hahhaa aa….
Thaagam konjam theernthaakkaa
Neeyum naanum saernthaakkaa bailaa….
Do you like me a little?
Will you come close to me, Laila?
Once this thirst is quenched a bit,
If you and I unite, it is time to celebrate!
Do you like me a little?
Will you come close to me, Laila?
Once this thirst is quenched a bit,
If you and I unite, it is time to celebrate!
I want to hold you in my arms, my dear,
You are the perfect girl for me.
Inside that golden heart of yours,
I need a little room to stay.
You and I like each other,
I will come close to you, my man!
I have quenched your thirst now,
I waited for the right moment, my Myna!
Thirst comes in many forms,
And my yearning is of a brand new kind.
Male: Really?
Female: In this longing youth,
Our horoscopes have finally aligned!
It cannot be settled alone, nor can it cool without a lover,
This deep thirst known as love!
Without resting upon shoulders, without singing a lovely melody,
These rain clouds will not settle down.
Female: My love, I stood waiting in thirst...
Do you like me a little?
Will you come close to me, Laila?
Female: Hey hehe, I have quenched the thirst now,
I waited for the right moment, my Myna!
Male: Ah... ha...
As the waters of the Vaigai river overflow,
What magic does it work in my heart?
As the cool breeze sweeps in,
What patterns does it trace on your body?
To come before me and play, to bathe without counting time,
Isn't a maiden's charm as pure as the river Ponni (Cauvery)?
Male: Aaha!
Female: Like a flowering sapling filled with desire,
Gather me up in your arms today,
Shall I shower you with the waters of love?
Male: My love, I have opened the floodgates of romance...
Do you like me a little?
Will you come close to me, Laila?
Female: I have quenched the thirst now,
I waited for the right moment, my Myna!
I want to hold you in my arms, my dear,
You are the perfect girl for me.
Inside that golden heart of yours,
I need a little room to stay.
You and I like each other,
I will come close to you, my man!
Male: Aaha ha ha aah...
Once this thirst is quenched a bit,
If you and I unite, it is time to celebrate!
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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