Neeya Illai Naana
From Aasai Mugam · 1965
- Lyricist
- Vaali
- Singers
- T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
- Music director
- S. M. Subbaiah Naidu
- Details
- Aasai Mugam1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Nenjil kadhavai | The door to the heart, |
| Konjam thiranthathu | Who opened it a little bit? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Male | |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Oru nilaiyil irundhu | From a steady state, |
| Valaiyil vizhunthadhu | Who fell into a trap of love? |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Female | |
| Oorvalamaaga | Like a grand procession, |
| Paarvaiyil vanthathu | Who came into sight? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Oru medai illaamal | Without even a stage, |
| Naadagam vaithathu | Who put on a play? |
| Naanaa illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Female | |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Nenjil kadhavai | The door to the heart, |
| Konjam thiranthathu | Who opened it a little bit? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Male | |
| Pasithavan munnae | In front of a hungry person, |
| Pazhamaai vandhathu | Who arrived like a sweet fruit? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Ilam paruvathin vaasalil | At the threshold of youth, |
| Uruvathai paarthathu | Who gazed upon the form? |
| Naanaa illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Ilam paruvathin vaasalil | At the threshold of youth, |
| Uruvathai paarthathu | Who gazed upon the form? |
| Naanaa illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Female | |
| Oru naal vandhadhum | Arriving one fine day, |
| Ullathai kettadhu | Who asked for the heart? |
| Oru naal vandhadhum | Arriving one fine day, |
| Ullathai kettadhu | Who asked for the heart? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Male | |
| Ingu marumurai varum varai | Until returning here next time, |
| Mayakkathil iruppadhu | Who remains in a romantic daze? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Ingu marumurai varum varai | Until returning here next time, |
| Mayakkathil iruppadhu | Who remains in a romantic daze? |
| Naanaa illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Female | |
| Poovidhazh oram | At the corner of flower-like lips, |
| Punnagai vaithathu | Who placed a lovely smile? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Male :Indru ulla thiraiyil | Male: Today on the curtain of life, |
| Oviyam varainthathu | Who painted a beautiful painting? |
| Naanaa illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Male | |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Oru nilaiyil irundhu | From a steady state, |
| Valaiyil vizhunthadhu | Who fell into the trap? |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
| Female | |
| Nenjil kadhavai | The door to the heart, |
| Konjam thiranthathu | Who opened it a little bit? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Neeyaa illai naanaa | Was it you or was it me? |
| Male | |
| Naana illai neeyaa | Was it me or was it you? |
ஆஆஹா ஆஅ ஆஅ......
ஆஆஹா ஆஅ ஆஅ ஆஅ ஆ......
ஆ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....அ.......
Was it you or was it me?
The door to the heart,
Who opened it a little bit?
Was it you or was it me?
Was it you or was it me?
நீயா இல்லை நானா......
Was it me or was it you?
Was it me or was it you?
From a steady state,
Who fell into a trap of love?
Was it me or was it you?
Was it me or was it you?
நீயா இல்லை நானா
நெஞ்சில் கதவைக்
கொஞ்சம் திறந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
நெஞ்சில் கதவைக்
கொஞ்சம் திறந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
Like a grand procession,
Who came into sight?
Was it you or was it me?
Without even a stage,
Who put on a play?
Was it me or was it you?
நானா இல்லை நீயா.....
Was it you or was it me?
The door to the heart,
Who opened it a little bit?
Was it you or was it me?
நானா இல்லை நீயா
ஒரு நிலையிலிருந்து
வலையில் விழுந்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
ஒரு நிலையிலிருந்து
வலையில் விழுந்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
In front of a hungry person,
Who arrived like a sweet fruit?
Was it you or was it me?
At the threshold of youth,
Who gazed upon the form?
Was it me or was it you?
At the threshold of youth,
Who gazed upon the form?
Was it me or was it you?
ஊர்வலமாக
பார்வையில் வந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
ஊர்வலமாக
பார்வையில் வந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
Arriving one fine day,
Who asked for the heart?
Arriving one fine day,
Who asked for the heart?
Was it you or was it me?
ஒரு மேடையில்லாமல்
நாடகம் வைத்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
Until returning here next time,
Who remains in a romantic daze?
Was it you or was it me?
Until returning here next time,
Who remains in a romantic daze?
Was it me or was it you?
நீயா இல்லை நானா
நெஞ்சில் கதவைக்
கொஞ்சம் திறந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
At the corner of flower-like lips,
Who placed a lovely smile?
Was it you or was it me?
Male: Today on the curtain of life,
Who painted a beautiful painting?
Was it me or was it you?
பசித்தவன் முன்னே
பழமாய் வந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......
ஆஅ.....ஆஅ.....ஆஅ......ஆ.........
இளம் பருவத்தின் வாசலில்
உருவத்தைப் பார்த்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
இளம் பருவத்தின் வாசலில்
உருவத்தைப் பார்த்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
Was it me or was it you?
From a steady state,
Who fell into the trap?
Was it me or was it you?
ஒரு நாள் வந்ததும்
உள்ளத்தைக் கேட்டது
ஒரு நாள் வந்ததும்
உள்ளத்தைக் கேட்டது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
The door to the heart,
Who opened it a little bit?
Was it you or was it me?
Was it you or was it me?
இங்கு மறுமுறை வரும் வரை
மயக்கத்தில் இருப்பது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
இங்கு மறு முறை வரும் வரை
மயக்கத்தில் இருப்பது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
Was it me or was it you?
பூவிதழோரம்
புன்னகை வைத்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
இன்று உள்ளத் திரையில்
ஓவியம் வரைந்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
நானா இல்லை நீயா
ஒரு நிலையிலிருந்து
வலையில் விழுந்தது
நானா இல்லை நீயா
நெஞ்சில் கதவைக்
கொஞ்சம் திறந்தது
நீயா இல்லை நானா
நீயா இல்லை நானா
நானா இல்லை நீயா
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Nenjil kadhavai
The door to the heart,
Konjam thiranthathu
Who opened it a little bit?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Oru nilaiyil irundhu
From a steady state,
Valaiyil vizhunthadhu
Who fell into a trap of love?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Oorvalamaaga
Like a grand procession,
Paarvaiyil vanthathu
Who came into sight?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Oru medai illaamal
Without even a stage,
Naadagam vaithathu
Who put on a play?
Naanaa illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Nenjil kadhavai
The door to the heart,
Konjam thiranthathu
Who opened it a little bit?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Pasithavan munnae
In front of a hungry person,
Pazhamaai vandhathu
Who arrived like a sweet fruit?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Ilam paruvathin vaasalil
At the threshold of youth,
Uruvathai paarthathu
Who gazed upon the form?
Naanaa illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Ilam paruvathin vaasalil
At the threshold of youth,
Uruvathai paarthathu
Who gazed upon the form?
Naanaa illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Oru naal vandhadhum
Arriving one fine day,
Ullathai kettadhu
Who asked for the heart?
Oru naal vandhadhum
Arriving one fine day,
Ullathai kettadhu
Who asked for the heart?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Ingu marumurai varum varai
Until returning here next time,
Mayakkathil iruppadhu
Who remains in a romantic daze?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Ingu marumurai varum varai
Until returning here next time,
Mayakkathil iruppadhu
Who remains in a romantic daze?
Naanaa illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Poovidhazh oram
At the corner of flower-like lips,
Punnagai vaithathu
Who placed a lovely smile?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Male :Indru ulla thiraiyil
Male: Today on the curtain of life,
Oviyam varainthathu
Who painted a beautiful painting?
Naanaa illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Oru nilaiyil irundhu
From a steady state,
Valaiyil vizhunthadhu
Who fell into the trap?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Nenjil kadhavai
The door to the heart,
Konjam thiranthathu
Who opened it a little bit?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Neeyaa illai naanaa
Was it you or was it me?
Naana illai neeyaa
Was it me or was it you?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This playful and romantic duet expresses the sweet ambiguity and playful debate between two lovers as to who initiated their romantic journey. Through rhetorical questioning—asking whether 'it was you or me' who opened the heart's door, cast the charm, or stole the heart—the lovers playfully shift blame and credit for falling in love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Vinat-thodai)
“Neeyaa illai naanaa”
The entire song hinges on the repeated rhetorical refrain 'Neeyaa illai naanaa' (Was it you or was it me?), driving the playful dialogue.
Metaphor (Uvameyam)
“Nenjil kadhavai / Konjam thiranthathu”
Comparing the entrance of love to opening a physical door to the heart ('Nenjil kadhavai').
Metaphor
“Pasithavan munnae / Pazhamaai vandhathu”
Comparing the beloved's appearance to a sweet fruit placed before a hungry person ('Pasithavan munnae pazhamaai vandhathu').
Did you know?
Trivia
'Neeyaa Illai Naanaa' is a popular duet from the 1965 Tamil film 'Aasai Mugam' starring M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. The music for the film was composed by S. M. Subbaiah Naidu, and the lyrics were penned by Vaali.
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