Nenjankootil Neeye Nirkirai
From Dishyum · 2006
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Jayadev, Rajalakshmi
- Music director
- Vijay Antony
- Details
- Dishyum2006
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Ye nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae | Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart |
| Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai | You place fire on the spot on my forehead |
| Katti pottu kaadhal seigiraai muthugil | You tie me up and make love, on my back |
| Katterumbu polae urgiraai | You crawl like a black ant |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal dhaanae idhu kaadhal dhaanae | Is this love? This is love indeed! |
| Unnai ninaipadhai niruthivitaal | If I stop thinking about you |
| Nenju yennadi thudikavillai | Why doesn't my heart beat, girl? |
| Male | |
| Ennam yaavaiyum azhithuvitten | I erased all my thoughts |
| Innum poomugam marakavillai | Yet I haven't forgotten your flower-like face |
| Male | |
| Nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae | Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart |
| Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai | You place fire on the spot on my forehead |
| Male | |
| Ye vinnai thudaikindra mugilai velli nilavai | The sky-sweeping clouds, the silver moon |
| Manjal natchathirathai | The yellow star |
| Ennai thedi mannil varavazhithu | I summoned them down to earth seeking me |
| Unnai kaadhalipadhai uraipen | To express my love for you |
| Male | |
| Indru pirakindra poovukum siru pullukum | To the flower born today and to the little grass |
| Kaadhal uraithumudithen | I have finished declaring my love |
| Ullam kaadhalikum unaku matum | But to you, whom my heart loves |
| Innum solavillaiyae illaiyae | I haven't told yet, no I haven't |
| Male | |
| Latcham pala latcham endru | Though lakhs and lakhs of words |
| Thaaimozhiyil soll iruka | Exist in my mother tongue |
| Otha chollu sikavillai edhanaalae | Why couldn't I catch even a single suitable word? |
| Male | |
| Pandhi vacha veetukaari | Like the housewife who served the feast |
| Paathirathai kazhuvittu pattiniyaai | Washes the dishes and lies down hungry |
| Kidapalae adhu polae | Just like that |
| Male | |
| Nenjaankoottil nenjaankoottil | In the cage of my heart, in the cage of my heart |
| Nenjaankoottil neeyae nirkiraai pennae | Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart |
| Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai | You place fire on the spot on my forehead |
| Female | |
| ………………………………………… | |
| Male | |
| Chinna chinna chella kurumbum seeni chiripum | Small sweet mischiefs and sugary smiles |
| Ennai seerazhikudhae | Are destroying me |
| Viru viruvena vazharum pazham | The rapidly ripening fruit |
| Endhan viradhangalai velludhae | Conquers my fasting and penance |
| Male | |
| Unnai karam patri izhuthu valai udaithu | Grasping your hand, pulling you, breaking the net |
| Kaadhal sollida cholludhae | It urges me to express my love |
| Vekam iru pakkam meesai mulaithu ennai | Shyness, growing a mustache on both sides |
| Kuthi kuthiyae kolludhae | Stabs me repeatedly and kills me |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal endhan veedhi vazhi | Even after love walked down my street |
| Kaiyai veesi vandha pinnum | Waving its hands freely |
| Kaal kaduka kaathiruku edhanaalae | Why does it wait until my legs ache? |
| Male | |
| February maadhathuku | Just as four years wait |
| Naalu onnu koodi vara | For one extra day to arrive |
| Aandu naalu kaathirukum adhu polae | In the month of February, just like that |
| Male | |
| Nenjaankoottil nenjaankoottil | In the cage of my heart, in the cage of my heart |
| Nenjaankoottil neeyae nirkiraai pennae | Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart |
| Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai | You place fire on the spot on my forehead |
| Male | |
| Kaadhal dhaanae idhu kaadhal dhaanae | Is this love? This is love indeed! |
| Unnai ninaipadhai niruthivitaal | If I stop thinking about you |
| Nenju yennadi thudikavillai | Why doesn't my heart beat, girl? |
| Male | |
| Ennam yaavaiyum azhithuvitten | I erased all my thoughts |
| Innum poomugam marakavillai | Yet I haven't forgotten your flower-like face |
| Male | |
| { Nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae | Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart |
| Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai } (2) | You place fire on the spot on my forehead |
ஏ நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நீயே நிற்கிறாய் பெண்ணே
நெற்றி பொட்டில் தீயை
வைக்கிறாய் கட்டி போட்டு
காதல் செய்கிறாய் முதுகில்
கட்டெறும்பு போலே ஊர்கிறாய்
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
You tie me up and make love, on my back
You crawl like a black ant
காதல் தானே
இது காதல் தானே
உன்னை நினைப்பதை
நிறுத்தி விட்டால் நெஞ்சு
ஏனடி துடிக்கவில்லை
Is this love? This is love indeed!
If I stop thinking about you
Why doesn't my heart beat, girl?
எண்ணம்
யாவையும் அழித்து
விட்டேன் இன்னும்
பூமுகம் மறக்கவில்லை
I erased all my thoughts
Yet I haven't forgotten your flower-like face
ஏ நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நீயே நிற்கிறாய் பெண்ணே
நெற்றி பொட்டில் தீயை
வைக்கிறாய்
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
ஏ விண்ணை
துடைக்கின்ற முகிலை
வெள்ளி நிலவை மஞ்சள்
நட்சத்திரத்தை என்னை
தேடி மண்ணில் வரவழைத்து
உன்னை காதலிப்பதை
உரைப்பேன்
The sky-sweeping clouds, the silver moon
The yellow star
I summoned them down to earth seeking me
To express my love for you
இன்று பிறக்கின்ற
பூவுக்கும் சிறு புல்லுக்கும்
காதல் உரைத்து முடித்தேன்
உள்ளம் காதலிக்கும் உனக்கு
மட்டும் இன்னும் சொல்லவில்லையே
இல்லையே
To the flower born today and to the little grass
I have finished declaring my love
But to you, whom my heart loves
I haven't told yet, no I haven't
லட்சம் பல
லட்சம் என்று தாய்
மொழியில் சொல்
இருக்க ஒத்த சொல்லு
சிக்கவில்லை எதனாலே
Though lakhs and lakhs of words
Exist in my mother tongue
Why couldn't I catch even a single suitable word?
பந்தி வச்ச
வீட்டுகாரி பாத்திரத்தை
கழுவிட்டு பட்டினியாய்
கிடப்பாளே அது போலே
Like the housewife who served the feast
Washes the dishes and lies down hungry
Just like that
நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நீயே நிற்கிறாய் பெண்ணே
நெற்றி பொட்டில் தீயை
வைக்கிறாய்
In the cage of my heart, in the cage of my heart
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
..............................
சின்ன சின்ன
செல்ல குறும்பும் சீனி
சிரிப்பும் என்னை சீரழிக்குதே
விறு விறுவென வளரும் பழம்
எந்தன் விரதங்களை வெல்லுதே
Small sweet mischiefs and sugary smiles
Are destroying me
The rapidly ripening fruit
Conquers my fasting and penance
உன்னை கரம்
பற்றி இழுத்து வலை
உடைத்து காதல்
சொல்லிட சொல்லுதே
வெட்கம் இரு பக்கம் மீசை
முளைத்து என்னை குத்தி
குத்தியே கொல்லுதே
Grasping your hand, pulling you, breaking the net
It urges me to express my love
Shyness, growing a mustache on both sides
Stabs me repeatedly and kills me
காதல் எந்தன்
வீதி வழி கைய வீசி
வந்த பின்னும் கால்
கடுக்க காத்திருக்கு
எதனாலே
Even after love walked down my street
Waving its hands freely
Why does it wait until my legs ache?
பிப்ரவாி மாதத்துக்கு
நாளு ஒன்னு கூடிவர
ஆண்டு நாலு காத்திருக்கும்
அது போலே
Just as four years wait
For one extra day to arrive
In the month of February, just like that
நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நீயே நிற்கிறாய் பெண்ணே
நெற்றி பொட்டில் தீயை
வைக்கிறாய்
In the cage of my heart, in the cage of my heart
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
காதல் தானே
இது காதல் தானே
உன்னை நினைப்பதை
நிறுத்தி விட்டால் நெஞ்சு
ஏனடி துடிக்கவில்லை
Is this love? This is love indeed!
If I stop thinking about you
Why doesn't my heart beat, girl?
எண்ணம்
யாவையும் அழித்து
விட்டேன் இன்னும்
பூமுகம் மறக்கவில்லை
I erased all my thoughts
Yet I haven't forgotten your flower-like face
{ நெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில்
நீயே நிற்கிறாய் பெண்ணே
நெற்றி பொட்டில் தீயை
வைக்கிறாய் } (2)
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
Ye nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
Katti pottu kaadhal seigiraai muthugil
You tie me up and make love, on my back
Katterumbu polae urgiraai
You crawl like a black ant
Kaadhal dhaanae idhu kaadhal dhaanae
Is this love? This is love indeed!
Unnai ninaipadhai niruthivitaal
If I stop thinking about you
Nenju yennadi thudikavillai
Why doesn't my heart beat, girl?
Ennam yaavaiyum azhithuvitten
I erased all my thoughts
Innum poomugam marakavillai
Yet I haven't forgotten your flower-like face
Nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
Ye vinnai thudaikindra mugilai velli nilavai
The sky-sweeping clouds, the silver moon
Manjal natchathirathai
The yellow star
Ennai thedi mannil varavazhithu
I summoned them down to earth seeking me
Unnai kaadhalipadhai uraipen
To express my love for you
Indru pirakindra poovukum siru pullukum
To the flower born today and to the little grass
Kaadhal uraithumudithen
I have finished declaring my love
Ullam kaadhalikum unaku matum
But to you, whom my heart loves
Innum solavillaiyae illaiyae
I haven't told yet, no I haven't
Latcham pala latcham endru
Though lakhs and lakhs of words
Thaaimozhiyil soll iruka
Exist in my mother tongue
Otha chollu sikavillai edhanaalae
Why couldn't I catch even a single suitable word?
Pandhi vacha veetukaari
Like the housewife who served the feast
Paathirathai kazhuvittu pattiniyaai
Washes the dishes and lies down hungry
Kidapalae adhu polae
Just like that
Nenjaankoottil nenjaankoottil
In the cage of my heart, in the cage of my heart
Nenjaankoottil neeyae nirkiraai pennae
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
…………………………………………
Chinna chinna chella kurumbum seeni chiripum
Small sweet mischiefs and sugary smiles
Ennai seerazhikudhae
Are destroying me
Viru viruvena vazharum pazham
The rapidly ripening fruit
Endhan viradhangalai velludhae
Conquers my fasting and penance
Unnai karam patri izhuthu valai udaithu
Grasping your hand, pulling you, breaking the net
Kaadhal sollida cholludhae
It urges me to express my love
Vekam iru pakkam meesai mulaithu ennai
Shyness, growing a mustache on both sides
Kuthi kuthiyae kolludhae
Stabs me repeatedly and kills me
Kaadhal endhan veedhi vazhi
Even after love walked down my street
Kaiyai veesi vandha pinnum
Waving its hands freely
Kaal kaduka kaathiruku edhanaalae
Why does it wait until my legs ache?
February maadhathuku
Just as four years wait
Naalu onnu koodi vara
For one extra day to arrive
Aandu naalu kaathirukum adhu polae
In the month of February, just like that
Nenjaankoottil nenjaankoottil
In the cage of my heart, in the cage of my heart
Nenjaankoottil neeyae nirkiraai pennae
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
Kaadhal dhaanae idhu kaadhal dhaanae
Is this love? This is love indeed!
Unnai ninaipadhai niruthivitaal
If I stop thinking about you
Nenju yennadi thudikavillai
Why doesn't my heart beat, girl?
Ennam yaavaiyum azhithuvitten
I erased all my thoughts
Innum poomugam marakavillai
Yet I haven't forgotten your flower-like face
{ Nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae
Hey girl, you stand inside the cage of my heart
Netri pottil theeyai vaikiraai } (2)
You place fire on the spot on my forehead
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
The song 'Nenjaankootil' expresses the intense, overwhelming feelings of a young lover who is completely captivated by his beloved. He describes how her memory resides in the cage of his heart and how every tiny movement or smile from her causes an agonizing yet sweet turmoil within him. Despite telling his feelings to nature—the moon, stars, flowers, and grass—he struggles to find the courage and exact words to confess his love directly to her. Through poetic metaphors, he compares his plight to a host who cooks a grand feast for everyone but goes to sleep hungry, or like waiting four full years for February 29th to arrive in a leap year. His shyness acts like a force holding him back, even as his heart beats solely for her. Ultimately, the song is a passionate celebration of unspoken love, yearning, and the emotional sweet pain of romantic obsession.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Ye nenjaankootil neeyae nirkiraai pennae”
Compares the ribcage/chest to a birdcage ('Nenjaankootil') where the beloved stands.
Simile (Upamai)
“Katterumbu polae urgiraai”
Compares the sensation of love or thought crawling over him to a black ant ('Katterumbu polae').
Simile (Upamai)
“Pandhi vacha veetukaari paathirathai kazhuvittu pattiniyaai kidapalae adhu polae”
Compares his inability to express love to a housewife who serves a lavish feast to guests but sleeps on an empty stomach.
Personification
“Vekam iru pakkam meesai mulaithu ennai kuthi kuthiyae kolludhae”
Personifies shyness ('Vekam') as a male figure growing a mustache and stabbing him repeatedly.
Analogy
“February maadhathuku naalu onnu koodi vara aandu naalu kaathirukum adhu polae”
Compares his long wait to declare love to the four-year wait for a leap day in February.
Did you know?
Trivia
This track was composed by Vijay Antony for the 2006 film 'Dishyum' starring Jiiva and Sandhya. Sung by Jayadev and Sadhana Sargam with lyrics by Vairamuthu, it became one of Vijay Antony's earliest chartbuster hit melodies, established for its innovative orchestration and deeply evocative lyrics.
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