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Isaimozhi
Azhagan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nenjamadi Nenjam

From Azhagan · 1991

Lyricist
Pulamaipithan
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, K. S. Chithra
Music director
Maragathamani
Movie name
Azhagan
Movie release year
1991
Lyrics added on
16 May 2020

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Haa…aa….aa….aa…
Haa…aa….aa….aa…haa aa aa
Haa…aa….aa….aa…
Nenjamadi nenjam
Adhu nenjamadi nenjam
Andru naan koduthadhu
Idhudaanaa kanakku
Ninaivillai unakku
Adhu yaen marandhadhu
En nenjai indrae thiruppi kodu
Mudindhaal ennai marandhu vidu
Nenjamadi nenjam
Adhu nenjamadi nenjam
Andru naan koduthadhu
Idhudaanaa kanakku
Ninaivillai unakku
Adhu yaen marandhadhu
Marappadhakendrae manadhinil thondrum
Ninaivae kaadhaladi
Salanam sabalam mayakkam kuzhappam
Inaindhaal kaadhaladi
Ezhuththae illaa kavidhai idhu
Padithaal engae purigiradhu
Nenjamalla nenjam
Verum panjam adhu vanjam
Andru nee koduthadhu
Iru nenjam unakku
Adhil ondru enakku
Adhu dhaan kidaithadhu
Adhaiyum thiruppi anuppi vitten
En nenjai neeyum anuppi vidu
Ha… ah… ah… ah…
Ha… ah… ah… ah… ha ah ah
Ha… ah… ah… ah…
It was a heart, my dear, a heart,
Oh, it was a heart, my dear, a heart,
That I gave you back then.
Is this how you settle the account?
You don't even remember,
Why did you forget?
Give me back my heart today!
If you can, just forget me!
It was a heart, my dear, a heart,
Oh, it was a heart, my dear, a heart,
That I gave you back then.
Is this how you settle the account?
You don't even remember,
Why did you forget?
The thought that rises in the mind to forget,
That very memory is love, my dear!
Restlessness, desire, bewilderment, and confusion—
When they unite, that is love, my dear!
This is a poem with no letters;
How can it be understood just by reading?
It was no heart, not at all;
It was merely emptiness and deceit,
That you gave me back then.
You had two hearts,
And one was for me,
That was all I received.
I have sent even that back to you;
Now you too send my heart back!
Chorus
Chorus
Male
Male
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from the film Azhagan portrays a tender emotional confrontation between lovers dealing with the intricacies of love, heartbreaks, and devotion. One lover playfully yet painfully asks for their heart back after feeling forgotten, questioning the 'accounting' of feelings exchanged between them. In response, love is philosophically defined as a complex blend of restlessness, temptation, unwritten poetry, and sweet confusion that cannot be easily measured or understood.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Edhugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Idhudaanaa kanakku / Ninaivillai unakku”

The second consonant 'na' matches in consecutive lines, creating a rhythmic Tamil rhyme scheme.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“En nenjai indrae thiruppi kodu / Mudindhaal ennai marandhu vidu”

The lines end with rhyming imperative verbs 'kodu' and 'vidu'.

Paradox / Metaphor

“Ezhuththae illaa kavidhai idhu / Padithaal engae purigiradhu”

Describing love as an 'unwritten poem', highlighting how intangible and profound feelings are compared to written words.

Alliteration & Assonance

“Salanam sabalam mayakkam kuzhappam”

The repetitive use of 'sa' sounds creates a rhythmic flow listing various emotional states.

Did you know?

Trivia

Azhagan (1991), directed by K. Balachander, marked the iconic Tamil debut of renowned music director M. M. Keeravani (credited as Maragathamani in Tamil cinema). The film's soundtrack won him the Tamil Nadu State Film Award for Best Music Director.

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From the same album

More songs from Azhagan

View album
Kozhi Koovum Neram Aachu1991
AzhaganPlayful
Thudikirathe Nenjam1991
AzhaganCelebratory
Thathithom1991
AzhaganRomantic
Sangeetha Swarangal1991
AzhaganRomantic
Sathi Malli Poocharame1991
AzhaganHopeful
Mazhaiyum Neeye1991
AzhaganRomantic

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