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Lyrics & meaning

Neeyillatha Ulagathile

From Deivathin Deivam · 1962

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Deivathin Deivam1962

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nee illadha ulagathilaeIn a world without you
Nimmadhi illaiThere is no peace
Un ninaivilladha idhayathilaeIn a heart that lacks your thoughts
Sindhanaiyillai sindhanaiyillaiThere is no thought, no thought at all
Female
Kaayum nila vaanil vandhaalWhen the glowing moon shines in the sky
KannurangavillaiMy eyes do not sleep
Kaayum nila vaanil vandhaalWhen the glowing moon shines in the sky
KannurangavillaiMy eyes do not sleep
Unnai kandu konda naal mudhalaaiFrom the day I found you
PennurangavillaiThis woman has not slept
PennurangavillaiThis woman has not slept
Female
Un mugathai paarpadharkkaeOnly to look at your face
Kangal vandhadhuDid these eyes come to be
Un maarbil saaivadharkkaeOnly to lean upon your chest
Udal valarndhadhuDid this body grow
Kanni manam unakkenavaeA maiden's heart, solely for you
KaathirukkudhuIs waiting
Kanni manam unakkenavaeA maiden's heart, solely for you
KaathirukkudhuIs waiting
Indha kaaval thaandi aaval unaiSurpassing all guards, my longing for you
Thedi oodudhu thedi oodudhuRuns searching, runs searching
Female
Pon vilangai vendumendraeDesiring golden shackles
Pootti kondaenaeI locked myself in
Unnai purindha koodaEven after understanding you
Siraiyil vandhu maati kondenaeI came and trapped myself in this prison
Indru naalai endru naalaiToday, tomorrow, saying tomorrow
Endru ennukindrenaeI keep counting the days
Indru naalai endru naalaiToday, tomorrow, saying tomorrow
Endru ennukindrenaeI keep counting the days
Naan endrum undhan elllaiyilaeI will always remain within your boundary
Vandhiduvenae vandhiduvenaeI will surely come, I will surely come
Female
Nee illadha ulagathilaeIn a world without you
Nimmadhi illaiThere is no peace
Un ninaivilladha idhayathilaeIn a heart that lacks your thoughts
Sindhanaiyillai sindhanaiyillaiThere is no thought, no thought at all

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Nee illadha ulagathilae is an iconic classic Tamil song that captures the intense devotion, longing, and sweet surrender of a woman in love. The lyrics articulate how her physical senses and life purpose exist purely for her lover—her eyes were formed to gaze upon him and her body matured to rest upon his chest. Kannadasan poetically describes love as a cherished imprisonment, where she willingly wears golden shackles and steps into a cage of emotional devotion. Despite external obstacles or guards, her passionate heart breaks free to pursue her beloved. Waiting anxiously day after day, counting down today and tomorrow, she resolves to forever stay within his realm, affirming that a life devoid of him holds neither peace nor true consciousness.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Pon vilangai vendumendrae pootti kondaenae

Love is poetically framed as wearing 'golden handcuffs' (Pon vilangai), symbolizing willing surrender to sweet emotional captivity.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi)

Un mugathai paarpadharkkae kangal vandhadhu

Exaggeration that eyes were created solely for the purpose of seeing the beloved's face and the body grew only to lean on his chest.

Epizeuxis (Adukku Thodar)

Thedi oodudhu thedi oodudhu

Repetition of words in immediate succession to emphasize the intense urgency and passion of love.

Did you know?

Trivia

Deivathin Deivam (1962), directed by K. S. Gopalakrishnan, featured music composed by legendary maestro G. Ramanathan. Sung exquisitely by P. Susheela with lyrics by Kaviarasu Kannadasan, this track remains one of the finest classical solo melodies in Tamil cinema history.

Keep listening

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