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Isaimozhi
Genius album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Neengalum Oorum

From Genius · 2018

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Srikanth, Priya Mali
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Movie name
Genius
Movie release year
2018
Lyrics added on
2 Sept 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Naanum paathuttae irukken
Rendu perum anga inganu
Ninnu pesikittae irukinga
Enna rendu perum
Love pandringala
hmmm…mm….mmm…
Neengalum oorum
Ninaippathu madhiri
Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai
Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu
Viduthalai illai
Neengalum oorum
Ninaippathu madhiri
Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai
Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu
Viduthalai illai
Thalaiyil irunthu baaram iranga
Idhayam nazhuvi vayittril urula
Vaathimaar ellaam dhevathaiyaaga
Vagupparai ellaam pookkal pookka
Kasanthu pona kanitham kooda
Vasantha kaala vaasanai veesa
Ennavo nadakkuthu vazhkaiyilae
Solla theriyala varthaiyilae
Neengalum oorum
Ninaippathu madhiri
Kaadhalum illai karumamum illai
Ivalillaamal arivil irunthu
Viduthalai illai
Ivalae enakku
Velicham aaginaal
Ivalae enakku
Viduthalai aaginaal
Karu karu karuvena
Meesayil mudiyum
Yeruthae yeruthae
Mada mada madavana
Manathil azhutham
Maaruthae maaruthae
Yengalai purintha
Manithargal mattum
Yengalai kadanthu sellungal
Yengalai puriya mudiyaa vittaal
Kannai moodi kollungal
Yennathu puriyala…
Yengalai purintha
Manithargal mattum
Yengalai kadanthu sellungal
Yengalai puriya mudiyaa vittaal
Kannai moodi kollungal
I have been watching you two,
Both of you, here and there,
Keep standing around and talking.
What, are the two of you
In love?
Hmm... mm... mmm...
It is not what you and this town
Tend to think;
There is no love or anything like that.
Without her, from this intellect,
There is no escape.
It is not what you and this town
Tend to think;
There is no love or anything like that.
Without her, from this intellect,
There is no escape.
As the burden lifts off my head,
As my heart slips and rolls into my stomach,
As all the teachers turn into angels,
As flowers bloom all over the classroom,
Even mathematics, once so bitter,
Smells like the sweet scent of spring,
Something is happening in my life,
I do not know how to say it in words.
It is not what you and this town
Tend to think;
There is no love or anything like that.
Without her, from this intellect,
There is no escape.
If she becomes
The light for me,
If she becomes
Freedom for me,
Pitch black hair
On my moustache
Keeps growing and rising,
Quickly and steadily,
The heavy stress on my mind
Is shifting and easing away.
Only those people
Who understand us,
Walk past us and move on.
If you cannot understand us,
Just close your eyes.
What? I did not understand...
Only those people
Who understand us,
Walk past us and move on.
If you cannot understand us,
Just close your eyes.
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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.

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