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Oru Malarin Payanam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Neeya Ennai

From Oru Malarin Payanam · 1985

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singer
Vani Jairam
Music director
Chandrabose
Movie name
Oru Malarin Payanam
Movie release year
1985
Lyrics added on
11 Dec 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Neeyaa ennai paarththavan
Tholil saerththavan
Neeyaa…..neeyaa….
Neeyaa ennai paarththavan
Tholil saerththavan
Aandaan aanaal aanmai illai
Meesai konda pen pillai
Aandaan aanaal aanmai illai
Meesai konda pen pillai
Neeyaa…..neeyaa….
Neeyaa ennai paarththavan
Tholil saerththavan
Mugavariyo theriyavillai
Mugaththai mattum thaedinaen
Mugavariyo theriyavillai
Mugaththai mattum thaedinaen
Naadi seitha paavam illai
Paadham thaangum eera mullai
Endraalum en karpil nashtam illai
Neeyaa…..neeyaa….
Neeyaa ennai paarththavan
Tholil saerththavan
Aangalukku avashththai illai
Pengalukkae sumaikalo
Aangalukku avashththai illai
Pengalukkae sumaikalo
Intha vaazhkkai enna needhi
Seedhai kooda intha jaathi
Yaarendru naan kandaal maarum saedhi
Neeyaa…..neeyaa….
Neeyaa ennai paarththavan
Tholil saerththavan
Aandaan aanaal aanmai illai
Meesai konda pen pillai
Aandaan aanaal aanmai illai
Meesai konda pen pillai
Neeyaa…..neeyaa….
Neeyaa ennai paarththavan
Tholil saerththavan
Are you the one who looked at me?
The one who held me in his arms?
Is it you... is it you?
Are you the one who looked at me,
the one who held me in his arms?
You possessed me, but have no manhood,
you are just a girl with a mustache...
You possessed me, but have no manhood,
you are just a girl with a mustache...
Is it you... is it you?
Are you the one who looked at me,
the one who held me in his arms?
I do not know your address,
I have only been searching for your face.
I do not know your address,
I have only been searching for your face.
It was not a sin I willingly sought,
I am like a wet jasmine crushed under a foot,
yet my true purity is not lost.
Is it you... is it you?
Are you the one who looked at me,
the one who held me in his arms?
Men suffer no misery,
are all the burdens only for women?
Men suffer no misery,
are all the burdens only for women?
What kind of justice is this life?
Even Sita shared this same fate.
Once I find out who it is, the story will change!
Is it you... is it you?
Are you the one who looked at me,
the one who held me in his arms?
You possessed me, but have no manhood,
you are just a girl with a mustache...
You possessed me, but have no manhood,
you are just a girl with a mustache...
Is it you... is it you?
Are you the one who looked at me,
the one who held me in his arms...
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from 'Oru Malarin Payanam' is a poignant, anger-filled lament of a woman confronting betrayal and societal double standards. She questions the identity and integrity of the man who took advantage of her, calling out his lack of true manhood despite his outward appearance. She reflects on how society holds women alone responsible for transgressions while men escape scrutiny, drawing a parallel to goddess Sita who also suffered unjust trials. Despite her plight, she fiercely asserts her moral innocence and vows that the truth will prevail once the perpetrator is unmasked.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Oxymoron / Irony

Meesai konda pen pillai

Combining opposing ideas 'Meesai konda pen pillai' (a female child with a mustache) to insult a man's cowardice and lack of chivalry.

Mythological Allusion

Seedhai kooda intha jaathi

Reference to 'Seedhai' (Sita) from the Ramayana to highlight the historical and ongoing suffering and trial by fire endured by virtuous women.

Moanai (Tamil Alliteration)

Mugavariyo theriyavillai / Mugaththai mattum thaedinaen

Repetition of initial phonetic sounds ('Mugavariyo' / 'Mugaththai') across consecutive lines.

Metaphor

Paadham thaangum eera mullai

Comparing unexpected pain to 'eera mullai' (a wet thorn underfoot).

Did you know?

Trivia

'Oru Malarin Payanam' (1985) is a Tamil drama film directed by Muktha Srinivasan, starring Suhasini, Urvashi, and Misro. The film's soundtrack was composed by M. S. Viswanathan with lyrics penned by Vairamuthu, highlighting strong social themes regarding women's rights and moral struggles.

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