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Isaimozhi
Alai Osai album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Neeya Azhaithathu

From Alai Osai · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Alai Osai
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
25 Oct 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Silirkkiren venneer aatril kulikkiren
Thavikkiren ennai naanae anaikkiren
Sirikkiren thanimaiyil enai…..
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Thanneeril vennilavu
Neeraadumaa
Female :Vennilavu tharai vandhaal
Aarodumaa
Penmai kuliththadhil
Thannai marandhadhu neerodai
Female : Karaiyil irundhadhu
Kaatril parandhadhu mel aadai
Kaatrae vaazhga
Kaadhal dhevan nandri solgiren
Female : Enna leelai kannan velai
Ilaigalil udai kodu illai oru vazhi vidu
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Thalaivanae viraivinil
Penn paarkka vaa
Male :Kaalangal kaniyattum
Kai serkka vaa
Saelai pookkalil
Thaenai thirududhu pon vandu
Male :Aasai nadhiyinil
Aazham paarkkira naal endru
Enni yengum
Kanni nenjam palli kollumaa
Male :Kelvi enna gaeli enna
Enna idhil varaimurai
Thendral thodum iruvarai
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Silirkkiren venneer aatril kulikkiren
Thavikkiren ennai naanae anaikkiren
Sirikkiren thanimaiyil enai…..
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Neeyaa azhaithadhu
En nenjil minnal adithadhu
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
I shiver with excitement, as if bathing in a warm river.
I ache with longing and hold myself close.
I smile to myself in solitude...
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
Does the pale moon...
...bathe in the water?
Female: If the pale moon comes down to earth,
can the river just keep flowing?
Because a woman bathed in it,
the stream forgot itself.
Female: It was lying on the riverbank,
but the breeze blew my garment away.
Long live the breeze!
I, the god of love, give my thanks.
Female: What playful mischief! Is this a trick of Lord Krishna?
Give me clothes made of leaves, or make way for me!
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
My love, come quickly...
...come see me as your bride!
Male: Let the right time ripen,
and I will come to take your hand.
From the flowers on your saree,
a golden beetle steals the honey.
Male: In this river of desire,
when will the day come to test its depth?
Yearning with these thoughts,
how can a young woman's heart fall asleep?
Male: Why these questions? Why this teasing?
What rules can there be,
when the gentle breeze touches the two of us?
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
I shiver with excitement, as if bathing in a warm river.
I ache with longing and hold myself close.
I smile to myself in solitude...
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
Was it you who called me?
Lightning struck my heart.
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This classic romantic composition captures the intimate banter and sensory overwhelmedness of two lovers lost in passion. The female protagonist experiences an intense rush of romantic longing upon hearing her lover's call, describing the sensation as a bolt of lightning hitting her heart and causing her to feel both warm shivering and deep solitude.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamai)

“En nenjil minnal adithadhu”

The sudden surge of romantic feeling is metaphorically described as lightning striking the heart.

Mythological Allusion (Purana Kurippu)

“Enna leelai kannan velai”

Refers to Lord Krishna's famous play (Gopika Vastrapaharanam) of stealing garments while women bathe in the river.

Iyaibu (Rhyme / Verbal Parallelism)

“Silirkkiren venneer aatril kulikkiren”

The consecutive verbs end with identical suffixes 'kiren' (Silirkkiren, Thavikkiren, Sirikkiren) creating a rhythmic cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Alai Osai' (1985) features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Vairamuthu. The song vividly uses nature imagery such as rivers, breezes, and water to parallel romantic awakenings.

Keep listening

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