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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Neeyum Naanum Ondru

From Koduthu Vaithaval · 1963

Lyricist
A. Maruthakasi
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
K. V. Mahadevan
Details
Koduthu Vaithaval1963

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Mmm…mmm…hmmm…mm…Mmm…mmm…hmmm…mm…
Hmmm mmm mmm mmm hmm mmm mmHmmm mmm mmm mmm hmm mmm mm
Neeyum naanum ondru oruYou and I are one and the same,
Nilaiyil paarthaal indruIf seen from a certain perspective today.
Neeyum naanum ondru oruYou and I are one and the same,
Nilaiyil paarthaal indruIf seen from a certain perspective today.
Female
Neeyum naanum ondru…You and I are one...
Female
Azhagai unakku kodutha iraivanThe God who gave you beauty,
Arivil mayakkam koduthu vittaanGave confusion and stupor to your mind.
Azhagai unakku kodutha iraivanThe God who gave you beauty,
Arivil mayakkam koduthu vittaanGave confusion and stupor to your mind.
Vizhiyai enakku kodutha iraivanThe God who gave me eyes,
Vazhiyai kaatta maruthu vittaanRefused to show me the way forward.
Vizhiyai enakku kodutha iraivanThe God who gave me eyes,
Vazhiyai kaatta maruthu vittaanRefused to show me the way forward.
Female
Neeyum naanum ondru oruYou and I are one and the same,
Nilaiyil paarthaal indruIf seen from a certain perspective today.
Neeyum naanum ondru oru…uu….You and I are one...
Female
Engu pirandhom engu valarndhomWhere we were born, where we grew up,
Enbadhunakkum theriyavillaiEven you do not know.
Engu pirandhom engu valarndhomWhere we were born, where we grew up,
Enbadhunakkum theriyavillaiEven you do not know.
Edharkku pirandhom edharkku valarndhomWhy we were born, why we grew up,
Enbadhenakkum puriyavillaiEven I do not understand.
Edharkku pirandhom edharkku valarndhomWhy we were born, why we grew up,
Enbadhenakkum puriyavillaiEven I do not understand.
Female
Neeyum naanum ondru oruYou and I are one...
Female
Uravumillai pagaiyumillaiYou have no relatives, nor any enemies,
Uyarvum thaazhvum unakkillaiYou have no concepts of high or low status.
Uravumillai pagaiyumillaiYou have no relatives, nor any enemies,
Uyarvum thaazhvum unakkillaiYou have no concepts of high or low status.
Iravumillai pagalum illaiFor me, there is no distinction of night or day,
Edhuvum ulagil enakkillaiThere is nothing left for me in this world.
Female
Neeyum naanum ondru oruYou and I are one and the same,
Nilaiyil paarthaal indruIf seen from a certain perspective today.
Neeyum naanum ondru oru…uu….You and I are one...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This soulful song expresses a deep philosophical connection between two individuals bound by shared suffering and existential helplessness. The speaker reflects on how both of them, despite their differences, are fundamentally in the same plight when viewed from a broader perspective. One lacks mental clarity despite having physical beauty, while the other possesses vision yet remains blind to a clear path forward in life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethirai (Second letter rhyme)

Azhagai unakku kodutha iraivan / Vizhiyai enakku kodutha iraivan

Matching second consonants across lines, such as 'Azhagai' (zh) and 'Vizhiyai' (zh).

Moonaai (Initial letter alliteration)

Engu pirandhom engu valarndhom / Enbadhunakkum theriyavillai

Matching initial letters in adjacent words or lines, such as 'Engu' and 'Enbadhunakkum'.

Antithesis / Oxymoron (Muran)

Uravumillai pagaiyumillai / Uyarvum thaazhvum unakkillai / Iravumillai pagalum illai

Juxtaposition of opposing concepts such as relatives/enemies, high/low, and night/day.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Koduthu Vaithaval' (1963) stars M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) and B. Saroja Devi. Music for the soundtrack was composed by the legendary K. V. Mahadevan, with lyrics written by A. Maruthakasi.

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