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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neeraadum Kangal

From Vennira Aadai · 1965

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
Details
Vennira Aadai1965

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Neeraadum kangal ingaeTearful eyes are bathing here
Poraadum nenjam ingaeA struggling heart is fighting here
Neeraadum kangal ingaeTearful eyes are bathing here
Poraadum nenjam ingaeA struggling heart is fighting here
Nee vaaraadhirundhaalIf you had not come
Unnai paaraadhirundhaalIf I had not seen you
Ennam maaraadhiruppaen illaiyo…Would my thoughts not have remained unchanged...
Female
Kaadhalai thaedi naan azhudhaenoDid I weep searching for love?
Kaaranathodae naan sirithaenoDid I smile with a purpose?
Unnai kanda podhu ninaivugal yaedhuWhen I saw you, what memories remained?
Unnai kanda podhu ninaivugal yaedhuWhen I saw you, what memories remained?
Nee vandha pinnae nimmadhi yaedhuAfter you arrived, where is peace of mind?
Nimmadhi yaedhuWhere is peace?
Female
Neeraadum kangal ingaeTearful eyes are bathing here
Poraadum nenjam ingaeA struggling heart is fighting here
Nee vaaraadhirundhaalIf you had not come
Unnai paaraadhirundhaalIf I had not seen you
Ennam maaraadhiruppaen illaiyo…Would my thoughts not have remained unchanged...
Female
Inam ariyaamal naan irundhenaeI remained without knowing my own state
Manam ondru thandhu mayanga vaithaayaeGiving me a heart, you made me swoon in enchantment
Kanavugal ellaam nee valarthaayaeYou nurtured all my dreams
Kanavugal ellaam nee valarthaayaeYou nurtured all my dreams
Kaiyil varaamal parithu vittaayaeBefore they could reach my hands, you snatched them away
Parithu vittaayaeYou snatched them away
Female
Neeraadum kangal ingaeTearful eyes are bathing here
Poraadum nenjam ingaeA struggling heart is fighting here
Neeraadum kangal ingaeTearful eyes are bathing here
Poraadum nenjam ingaeA struggling heart is fighting here
Nee vaaraadhirundhaalIf you had not come
Unnai paaraadhirundhaalIf I had not seen you
Ennam maaraadhiruppaen illaiyo…Would my thoughts not have remained unchanged...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses the turmoil and sorrow of a woman caught in the deep angst of love. She laments that if the lover had never entered her life or caught her gaze, her mind and thoughts would have stayed peaceful and unchanged. His arrival brought overwhelming emotions, enchanting dreams, and ultimate heartbreak, leaving her eyes filled with tears and her heart constantly battling distress.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Neeraadum kangal ingae / Poraadum nenjam ingae

The second consonant 'ra' matches across adjacent lines 'Neeraadum' and 'Poraadum', creating a rhythmic flow.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Kaadhalai thaedi naan azhudhaeno / Kaaranathodae naan sirithaeno

Repetition of the 'Ka' sound in consecutive lines 'Kaadhalai' and 'Kaaranathodae'.

Metaphor / Imagery

Neeraadum kangal ingae

'Neeraadum kangal' metaphorically describes eyes overflowing with tears as 'bathing in water'.

Rhetorical Questioning

Nee vandha pinnae nimmadhi yaedhu

The lyricist uses rhetorical questions like 'Nimmadhi yaedhu' to emphasize the total loss of peace caused by love.

Did you know?

Trivia

This classic song is from the 1965 Tamil movie 'Vennira Aadai', directed by C. V. Sridhar, which famously marked the silver screen debut of J. Jayalalithaa (later Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu). The haunting composition was crafted by the duo Viswanathan-Ramamoorthy and rendered by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kannadasan.

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