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Lyrics & meaning

Neethane

From Sarvam · 2009

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singer
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Music director
Yuvan Shankar Raja
Details
Sarvam2009

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Sila iravugal iravugal thaanSome nights are just nights,
Theeraa theeraathaeNever ending, never fading.
Sila kanavugal kanavugal thaanSome dreams are just dreams,
Pogaa pogaathaeNever going away, never leaving.
Sila suvadugal suvadugal thaanSome footsteps are just footsteps,
Theyaa theyaathaeNever wearing out, never wearing down.
Sila ninaivugal ninaivugal thaanSome memories are just memories,
Moozhgaa moozhgaathaeNever sinking, never drowning.
Male
Neethaanae neethaanaeIt was you, only you,
En narambukkul odinaaiWho ran inside my nerves.
Neethaanae neethaanaeIt was you, only you,
En imaigalai neevinaaiWho gently stroked my eyelids.
Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..
Male
Sila iravugal iravugal thaanSome nights are just nights,
Theeraa theeraathaeNever ending, never fading.
Sila kanavugal kanavugal thaanSome dreams are just dreams,
Pogaa pogaathaeNever going away, never leaving.
Sila suvadugal suvadugal thaanSome footsteps are just footsteps,
Theyaa theyaathaeNever wearing out, never wearing down.
Sila ninaivugal ninaivugal thaanSome memories are just memories,
Moozhgaa moozhgaathaeNever sinking, never drowning.
Male
Neethaanae neethaanaeIt was you, only you,
En narambukkul odinaaiWho ran inside my nerves.
Neethaanae neethaanaeIt was you, only you,
En imaigalai neevinaaiWho gently stroked my eyelids.
Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..
Female
Ohooo…oooOhooo…ooo
Ohooo..ooo..ooo..oooOhooo..ooo..ooo..ooo
Male
Nee odum paathai en nenjamoIs my heart the path you run upon?
Un suvadugal valippathu konjamoDoes the pain left by your footprints hurt just a little?
Hey en vizhiyin karumaniyil thedippaarHey, search within the pupil of my eye,
Un kaaladi thadangalai kaattumae..oh..It will reveal the marks of your footsteps.
Chorus
Prabanja ragasiyam purinthathaeThe secret of the universe became clear,
Un sirai ennum pirivil therinthathaeRevealed during the separation that is your prison.
Vibaththugal enakkul nadankkavaeAs emotional accidents happen within me,
Un ninaivugal thappichella valikkuthaeIt hurts as your memories try to escape.
Male
Unmaigal solvathumThe one who speaks the truth,
Unarchiyai kolvathumThe one who slays/consumes feelings,
Uyirvarai selvathum neethaanaeThe one who reaches into the soul, it is you.
Male
Neethaanae neethaanaeIt was you, only you,
En narambukkul odinaaiWho ran inside my nerves.
Neethaanae neethaanaeIt was you, only you,
En imaigalai neevinaaiWho gently stroked my eyelids.
Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..
Female
Ahaaa….aaa….Ahaaa….aaa….
Ahaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa….Ahaaa…aaa….aaa…aaa….
Male
Nee thedaththedaAs I search for you,
Yen tholaigiraaiWhy do you keep getting lost?
En valiyil marubadi kidaikkiraai heyHey, you appear again in my path of pain.
Nee iravil veyilaai irukkiraaiYou are like sunlight during the night,
En uyirai iravalaai ketkiraai heyHey, asking for my life on loan.
Chorus
Idhaya chathukkam nadunkuthaeThe square of my heart trembles,
Un njaabagam vanthapinbu adanguthaeAnd settles down only after your memory arrives.
Alaigal othukkum kilinjalaaiLike a seashell washed ashore by the waves,
En nizhalae en nenjaththai othukkuthaeMy own shadow pushes my heart aside.
Male
Oru kanam saagirenI die for one moment,
Marukanam vaazhkirenI live in the next moment,
Irandukkum naduvilae neethaanaeAnd right in between the two, it is you.
Male
Neethaanae hey heyIt is you, hey hey,
Neethaanae hey heyIt is you, hey hey,
En narambukkullaeInside my nerves,
Neethaanae hey heyIt is you, hey hey,
Neethaanae hey heyIt is you, hey hey,
En narambukkullaeInside my nerves,
Hey hey ey hey hey ey ho ho hoHey hey ey hey hey ey ho ho ho
Yeh eh eh ehhhhh…..ohooo..ooYeh eh eh ehhhhh…..ohooo..oo

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Sila Iravugal from the film Sarvam (2009) is a soulful, introspective track exploring the deep ache of love, longing, and memory. The protagonist reflects on how lingering thoughts of a lover pervade every sensory experience—from the nerves pulsing beneath the skin to the footprints etched in the heart. The lyrics depict a state of emotional liminality where the protagonist constantly fluctuates between life and death, light and dark, in the agonizing absence of the beloved.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Anaphora / Initial Repetition

Sila iravugal iravugal thaan / Sila kanavugal kanavugal thaan

The word 'Sila' (Some) is repeated across successive lines to create a rhythmic emphasis on the lingering nature of nights, dreams, and memories.

Oxymoron / Paradox

Nee iravil veyilaai irukkiraai

The imagery of 'sunlight in the night' juxtaposes two contradictory elements to convey the disorienting, intense nature of the lover's presence.

Metaphor

Un sirai ennum pirivil therinthathae

Describing separation as a prison ('sirai ennum pirivil') metaphorically conveys the claustrophobic and inescapable feeling of heartbreak.

Visual Imagery

Hey en vizhiyin karumaniyil thedippaar / Un kaaladi thadangalai kaattumae

The lyricist uses poetic imagery suggesting that looking into the pupil of the narrator's eye will physically reflect the footsteps of the beloved.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Yuvan Shankar Raja for Vishnuvardhan's stylish thriller 'Sarvam' (2009), this song features unique vocal stylings by Suvi Suresh, Sunitha Sarathy, and Rahul Nambiar. The soundtrack was hugely popular for its trendy electro-acoustic blend, with 'Sila Iravugal' standing out as a moody fan favorite.

Keep listening

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Neethane Lyrics | English Translation | Meaning | Isaimozhi