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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neethaane Emmele

From Jananam · 2004

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Harish Raghavendra, Chinmayi
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Jananam2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kaiyai veithaaiWho first laid your hand?
Female
Thana na thana na….Thana na thana na....
Female
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kannai veithaaiWho first set your eyes?
Female
Thana na thana na….Thana na thana na....
Male
Neethaanae en kannilWasn't it you in my eyes
Mudhalil kaadhal veithaaiWho first placed love?
Female :Neethaanae en nenjilFemale: Wasn't it you in my heart
Mudhalil aasai veithaaiWho first placed desire?
Male
Thodaamal thodaathaeDon't touch without touching
Kollaamal kollaathaeDon't kill without killing
Female :Killaamal killaathaeFemale: Don't pinch without pinching
Thallaathae hoDon't push away, ho
Male
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kaiyai veithaaiWho first laid your hand?
Female :Neethaanae en melaeFemale: Wasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kannai veithaaiWho first set your eyes?
Chorus
……………………................
Male
Kannathai mudhalil thottathuThe one who touched my cheek first
Neethaanae neethaanaeWas it you, was it you
Kai viralai mudhalil kadithathuThe one who bit my finger first
Neethaanae neethaanaeWas it you, was it you
Female
Thana na thana naThana na thana na
Thana na naaa…Thana na naaa...
Female
Kaadhugalil mudhalil kudainthathuThe one who tickled in my ears first
Neethaanae neethaanaeWas it you, was it you
Kazhuthadiyil mudhalil pudhainthathuThe one who buried yourself near my neck first
Neethaanae neethaanaeWas it you, was it you
Male
Aththumeeral seithathuThe one who trespassed boundaries first
Mudhalil neethaanaeWas it you first
Aadai meeral sonnathuThe one who spoke of unclothing
Neethaanae neethaanaeWas it you, was it you
Female
Paithiyam aanathu neethaanaeThe one who turned crazy was you
Paithiyam aanathu neethaanaeThe one who turned crazy was you
Male :Vaithiyam aanathum neethaanaeMale: The one who became the cure was also you
Vaithiyam aanathum neethaanaeThe one who became the cure was also you
Male
Thodaamal thodaathaeDon't touch without touching
Kollaamal kollaathaeDon't kill without killing
Female :Killaamal killaathaeFemale: Don't pinch without pinching
Thallaathae hoDon't push away, ho
Male
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kaiyai veithaaiWho first laid your hand?
Female :Neethaanae en melaeFemale: Wasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kannai veithaaiWho first set your eyes?
Chorus
…………………………..........................
Male
Muththangal pidikkaathendraaiYou said you didn't like kisses
Poithaanae poithaanaeIsn't that a lie, a lie?
Vetkam thaan varuthae endraaiYou said you felt shy
Poithaanae poithaanaeIsn't that a lie, a lie?
Female
Thookamthaan illaiyendraalWhen you said you had no sleep
Poithaanae poithaanaeIsn't that a lie, a lie?
Kanavil naan vandhen endraaiYou said I came in your dream
Poithaanae poithaanaeIsn't that a lie, a lie?
Male
Aasai illai engiraaiYou say you have no desire
Adada poithaanaeOh, isn't that a lie?
Female :Kavithai nooru solkiraaiFemale: You recite a hundred poems
Ellaamae poithaanaeIsn't everything a lie?
Male
Thottaal muraippathu poithaanaeGlaring when touched, isn't it a lie?
Thollai enbathu poithaanaeCalling it a trouble, isn't it a lie?
Female :Uyirae enbathum poithaanaeFemale: Calling me your life, isn't it a lie?
Unakkul enbathum poithaanaeSaying I am inside you, isn't it a lie?
Male
Thodaamal thodaathaeDon't touch without touching
Kollaamal kollaathaeDon't kill without killing
Female :Killaamal killaathaeFemale: Don't pinch without pinching
Thallaathae hoDon't push away, ho
Male
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kaiyai veithaaiWho first laid your hand?
Female
Thana na thana na….Thana na thana na....
Female
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kannai veithaaiWho first set your eyes?
Female
Thana na thana na….Thana na thana na....
Male
Neethaanae en kannilWasn't it you in my eyes
Mudhalil kaadhal veithaaiWho first placed love?
Female :Neethaanae en nenjilFemale: Wasn't it you in my heart
Mudhalil aasai veithaaiWho first placed desire?
Male
Thodaamal thodaathaeDon't touch without touching
Kollaamal kollaathaeDon't kill without killing
Female :Killaamal killaathaeFemale: Don't pinch without pinching
Thallaathae hoDon't push away, ho
Male
Neethaanae en melaeWasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kaiyai veithaaiWho first laid your hand?
Female :Neethaanae en melaeFemale: Wasn't it you upon me
Mudhalil kannai veithaaiWho first set your eyes?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This romantic duet from Jananam (2004) features playful banter between two lovers who lovingly accuse each other of starting their romance and initiating physical intimacy. Through rhythmic phrasing, they recall moments of tender touches, playful bites, whispered secrets, and fake protestations of shyness or disinterest.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhukai (Second letter rhyming)

Thodaamal thodaathae / Kollaamal kollaathae

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines creating a lyrical beat (da/lla).

Anaphora (Repetitive Refrain)

Kannathai mudhalil thottathu / Neethaanae neethaanae

The phrase 'Neethaanae neethaanae' and 'Poithaanae poithaanae' are repeatedly used at line endings for rhythmic emphasis and playful teasing.

Paradox / Oxymoron

Paithiyam aanathu neethaanae / Vaithiyam aanathum neethaanae

Juxtaposition of madness and cure ('Paithiyam' and 'Vaithiyam'), highlighting how love causes both affliction and its remedy.

Did you know?

Trivia

The soundtrack of Jananam (2004) was composed by Bharadwaj with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu. The film stars Prasanna and Priyanka Trivedi in lead roles.

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