Neengalum Oorum
From Genius · 2018
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Srikanth, Priya Mali
- Music director
- Yuvan Shankar Raja
- Details
- Genius2018
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naanum paathuttae irukken | I have been watching |
| Rendu perum anga inganu | The two of you here and there |
| Ninnu pesikittae irukinga | Standing and talking continuously |
| Male | |
| Enna rendu perum | What, are you two |
| Love pandringala | Falling in love? |
| Male | |
| hmmm…mm….mmm… | Hmmm... mm... mmm... |
| Neengalum oorum | Just as you and this society |
| Ninaippathu madhiri | Tend to think |
| Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai | It is neither love nor anything nonsensical |
| Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu | Without her, from this intense intellect |
| Viduthalai illai | There is no liberation |
| Male | |
| Neengalum oorum | Just as you and this society |
| Ninaippathu madhiri | Tend to think |
| Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai | It is neither love nor anything nonsensical |
| Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu | Without her, from this intense intellect |
| Viduthalai illai | There is no liberation |
| Male | |
| Thalaiyil irunthu baaram iranga | As the heavy weight steps down from my head |
| Idhayam nazhuvi vayittril urula | The heart slips down and rolls into the stomach |
| Vaathimaar ellaam dhevathaiyaaga | All the strict teachers turn into angels |
| Vagupparai ellaam pookkal pookka | All the dry classrooms bloom into flowers |
| Male | |
| Kasanthu pona kanitham kooda | Even mathematics, which felt bitter and exhausting |
| Vasantha kaala vaasanai veesa | Now wafts the refreshing fragrance of spring |
| Ennavo nadakkuthu vazhkaiyilae | Something inexplicable is happening in my life |
| Solla theriyala varthaiyilae | I am unable to put it into words |
| Male | |
| Neengalum oorum | Just as you and this society |
| Ninaippathu madhiri | Tend to think |
| Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai | It is neither love nor anything nonsensical |
| Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu | Without her, from this intense intellect |
| Viduthalai illai | There is no liberation |
| Male | |
| Ivalae enakku | She alone for me |
| Velicham aaginaal | Became the guiding light |
| Ivalae enakku | She alone for me |
| Viduthalai aaginaal | Became my ultimate freedom |
| Male | |
| Karu karu karuvena | Dark black and thick |
| Meesayil mudiyum | Mustache hair |
| Yeruthae yeruthae | Is growing and sprouting up |
| Mada mada madavana | Rapidly and intensely |
| Manathil azhutham | The mental burden in the heart |
| Maaruthae maaruthae | Is changing and shifting |
| Male | |
| Yengalai purintha | Only those people who understand us |
| Manithargal mattum | Kind human souls |
| Yengalai kadanthu sellungal | Please walk past us peacefully |
| Yengalai puriya mudiyaa vittaal | If you cannot understand us |
| Kannai moodi kollungal | Just close your eyes and ignore us |
| Male | |
| Yennathu puriyala… | What? I didn't get that... |
| Female | |
| Yengalai purintha | Only those people who understand us |
| Manithargal mattum | Kind human souls |
| Yengalai kadanthu sellungal | Please walk past us peacefully |
| Yengalai puriya mudiyaa vittaal | If you cannot understand us |
| Kannai moodi kollungal | Just close your eyes and ignore us |
நானும் பாத்துட்டே இருக்கேன்
ரெண்டு பேரும் அங்க இங்கனு
நின்னு பேசிட்டே இருக்கீங்க
I have been watching
The two of you here and there
Standing and talking continuously
என்ன ரெண்டு பேரும்
லவ் பண்ணுறீங்க்ளா
What, are you two
Falling in love?
ஹ்ம்ம்...ம்ம்...ம்ம்ம்...
நீங்களும் ஊரும்
நினைப்பது மாதிரி
காதலும் இல்லை கருமமும் இல்லை
இவளில்லாமல் அறிவில் இருந்து
விடுதலை இல்லை
Hmmm... mm... mmm...
Just as you and this society
Tend to think
It is neither love nor anything nonsensical
Without her, from this intense intellect
There is no liberation
நீங்களும் ஊரும்
நினைப்பது மாதிரி
காதலும் இல்லை கருமமும் இல்லை
இவளில்லாமல் அறிவில் இருந்து
விடுதலை இல்லை
Just as you and this society
Tend to think
It is neither love nor anything nonsensical
Without her, from this intense intellect
There is no liberation
தலையில் இருந்து பாரம் இறங்க
இதயம் நழுவி வயிற்றில் உருள
வாத்திமார் எல்லாம் தேவதையாக
வகுப்பறை எல்லாம் பூக்கள் பூக்க
As the heavy weight steps down from my head
The heart slips down and rolls into the stomach
All the strict teachers turn into angels
All the dry classrooms bloom into flowers
கசந்து போன கணிதம் கூட
வசந்த கால வாசனை வீச
என்னவோ நடக்குது வாழ்க்கையிலே
சொல்ல தெரியல வார்த்தையிலே
Even mathematics, which felt bitter and exhausting
Now wafts the refreshing fragrance of spring
Something inexplicable is happening in my life
I am unable to put it into words
நீங்களும் ஊரும்
நினைப்பது மாதிரி
காதலும் இல்லை கருமமும் இல்லை
இவளில்லாமல் அறிவில் இருந்து
விடுதலை இல்லை
Just as you and this society
Tend to think
It is neither love nor anything nonsensical
Without her, from this intense intellect
There is no liberation
இவளே எனக்கு
வெளிச்சம் ஆகினால்
இவளே எனக்கு
விடுதலை ஆகினால்
She alone for me
Became the guiding light
She alone for me
Became my ultimate freedom
கரு கரு கருவென
மீசையில் முடியும்
ஏறுதே ஏறுதே
மட மட மடவென
மனதில் அழுத்தம்
மாறுதே மாறுதே
Dark black and thick
Mustache hair
Is growing and sprouting up
Rapidly and intensely
The mental burden in the heart
Is changing and shifting
எங்களை புரிந்த
மனிதர்கள் மட்டும்
எங்களை கடந்து செல்லுங்கள்
எங்களை புரிய முடியா விட்டால்
கண்ணை மூடி கொள்ளுங்கள்
Only those people who understand us
Kind human souls
Please walk past us peacefully
If you cannot understand us
Just close your eyes and ignore us
என்னது புரியல...
What? I didn't get that...
எங்களை புரிந்த
மனிதர்கள் மட்டும்
எங்களை கடந்த செல்லுங்கள்
எங்களை புரிய முடியா விட்டால்
கண்ணை மூடி கொள்ளுங்கள்
Only those people who understand us
Kind human souls
Please walk past us peacefully
If you cannot understand us
Just close your eyes and ignore us
Naanum paathuttae irukken
I have been watching
Rendu perum anga inganu
The two of you here and there
Ninnu pesikittae irukinga
Standing and talking continuously
Enna rendu perum
What, are you two
Love pandringala
Falling in love?
hmmm…mm….mmm…
Hmmm... mm... mmm...
Neengalum oorum
Just as you and this society
Ninaippathu madhiri
Tend to think
Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai
It is neither love nor anything nonsensical
Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu
Without her, from this intense intellect
Viduthalai illai
There is no liberation
Neengalum oorum
Just as you and this society
Ninaippathu madhiri
Tend to think
Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai
It is neither love nor anything nonsensical
Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu
Without her, from this intense intellect
Viduthalai illai
There is no liberation
Thalaiyil irunthu baaram iranga
As the heavy weight steps down from my head
Idhayam nazhuvi vayittril urula
The heart slips down and rolls into the stomach
Vaathimaar ellaam dhevathaiyaaga
All the strict teachers turn into angels
Vagupparai ellaam pookkal pookka
All the dry classrooms bloom into flowers
Kasanthu pona kanitham kooda
Even mathematics, which felt bitter and exhausting
Vasantha kaala vaasanai veesa
Now wafts the refreshing fragrance of spring
Ennavo nadakkuthu vazhkaiyilae
Something inexplicable is happening in my life
Solla theriyala varthaiyilae
I am unable to put it into words
Neengalum oorum
Just as you and this society
Ninaippathu madhiri
Tend to think
Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai
It is neither love nor anything nonsensical
Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu
Without her, from this intense intellect
Viduthalai illai
There is no liberation
Ivalae enakku
She alone for me
Velicham aaginaal
Became the guiding light
Ivalae enakku
She alone for me
Viduthalai aaginaal
Became my ultimate freedom
Karu karu karuvena
Dark black and thick
Meesayil mudiyum
Mustache hair
Yeruthae yeruthae
Is growing and sprouting up
Mada mada madavana
Rapidly and intensely
Manathil azhutham
The mental burden in the heart
Maaruthae maaruthae
Is changing and shifting
Yengalai purintha
Only those people who understand us
Manithargal mattum
Kind human souls
Yengalai kadanthu sellungal
Please walk past us peacefully
Yengalai puriya mudiyaa vittaal
If you cannot understand us
Kannai moodi kollungal
Just close your eyes and ignore us
Yennathu puriyala…
What? I didn't get that...
Yengalai purintha
Only those people who understand us
Manithargal mattum
Kind human souls
Yengalai kadanthu sellungal
Please walk past us peacefully
Yengalai puriya mudiyaa vittaal
If you cannot understand us
Kannai moodi kollungal
Just close your eyes and ignore us
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song from the movie Genius (2018) captures the psychological relief experienced by a prodigious student facing extreme academic pressure. While outsiders mistake his companionship with a female classmate for romantic love, he clarifies that it is not romance, but rather a essential therapeutic refuge. Her presence allows his overburdened mind to relax, transforming oppressive academic stress, bitter subjects, and rigid classrooms into moments of comfort and joy. The song highlights the journey of a growing youth seeking acceptance from a world that often fails to understand neurodivergence or intellectual burnout.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Irrattai Kilavi (Onomatopoeic Repetition)
“Karu karu karuvena / Mada mada madavana”
Phrases like 'Karu karu karuvena' and 'Mada mada madavana' use rhythmically repeated sound imagery to convey rapid physical growth and dynamic mental shifts.
Monai (Initial Alliteration)
“Vaathimaar ellaam dhevathaiyaaga / Vagupparai ellaam pookkal pookka”
Matching initial consonants like 'Vaathimaar' and 'Vagupparai' create poetic flow and musicality.
Metaphor
“Kasanthu pona kanitham kooda vasantha kaala vaasanai veesa”
Classrooms blooming like flowers and mathematics emitting the fragrance of spring metaphorically describe mental relief and newfound joy in learning.
Did you know?
Trivia
The film Genius (2018), directed by Suseenthiran with music by Yuvan Shankar Raja and lyrics by Vairamuthu, addresses the serious issue of academic stress, parental expectations, and mental health challenges among school students in India.
Keep listening
More from Genius
Genius
Genius