Skip to content
Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neenga Illama Naanga

From Neengalum Herothan · 1990

Lyricist
Gangai Amaran
Singer
Gangai Amaran
Music director
Gangai Amaran
Details
Neengalum Herothan1990

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Neenga illama naanga illaWithout you, we do not exist.
Naanga ungalku chellapillai haeiWe are your beloved children, hey!
Chorus :Neenga illama naanga illaChorus: Without you, we do not exist.
Naanga ungalku chellapillaiWe are your beloved children.
Male
Cinema illadha oorum illaThere is no town without cinema.
Rasigargal illama cinema illaThere is no cinema without fans.
Chorus :Cinema illadha oorum illaChorus: There is no town without cinema.
Rasigargal illama cinema illaThere is no cinema without fans.
Male
Neenga illama naanga illaWithout you, we do not exist.
Naanga ungalku chellapillaiWe are your beloved children.
Chorus
……………………….
Male
Cinema ennumoru kattadathirkkuFor the building called cinema,
Ozhaikkum naangal ellam asthivaaram thaanAll of us who labor are the foundation.
Melae irukkindra sengalgalai polLike the bricks sitting high above,
Irukkum engalodu nalla kuzhuthaanYou are the good group that stays with us.
Male
Kanakku paaramal selavu seidhuSpending without counting the cost,
Kadhai eduthu adhai padam pidithuChoosing a story and filming it,
Vetti eduthu adhai otti koduthuEditing and stitching it together,
Viruppam pola nalla isaiamaithuComposing fine music as desired,
Kaanikaiyaaga thandhu irukkomWe have given this as an offering,
Kaithattal ketkka kaathu irukkomAnd we are waiting to hear your applause.
Male
Neenga illama naanga illaWithout you, we do not exist.
Naanga ungalku chellapillai haeiWe are your beloved children, hey!
Chorus :Neenga illama naanga illaChorus: Without you, we do not exist.
Naanga ungalku chellapillaiWe are your beloved children.
Male
Cinema illadha oorum illaThere is no town without cinema.
Rasigargal illama cinema illaThere is no cinema without fans.
Chorus :Cinema illadha oorum illaChorus: There is no town without cinema.
Male :AamaMale: Yes!
Chorus :Rasigargal illama cinema illaChorus: There is no cinema without fans.

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

The song is a meta-tribute from film creators to cinema lovers and fans. It expresses deep gratitude, acknowledging that cinema cannot survive without its audience, and describes fans as the beloved patrons of art. Furthermore, it details the arduous creative process behind making a film—from story selection, shooting, and editing to music composition—presenting the final movie as an offering to the audience in anticipation of their applause.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvam)

Cinema ennumoru kattadathirkku / Ozhaikkum naangal ellam asthivaaram thaan

Cinema is compared to a grand building ('Cinema ennumoru kattadathirkku'), and the hardworking technicians behind the scenes are metaphorically called its foundation ('asthivaaram').

Simile (Uvamai)

Melae irukkindra sengalgalai pol

The word 'pol' (like/as) explicitly compares the audience/structure elements to bricks placed atop a building.

End Rhyme (Iyaibu)

Kadhai eduthu adhai padam pidithu / Vetti eduthu adhai otti koduthu

Consecutive lines end with matching rhyming verbs ending in 'thu' (selavu seidhu, padam pidithu, otti koduthu, isaiamaithu).

Did you know?

Trivia

This song is from the 1990 Tamil comedy-drama 'Neengalum Herothan', directed by V. Sekhar and starring Pandiarajan. The song serves as an ode to film technicians and movie fans, highlighting the collaborative nature of cinema.

Keep listening

More from Neengalum Herothan