Nenje Nenje
From Ratchagan · 1997
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Sadhana Sargam, K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Ratchagan1997
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nenjae nenjae marandhu vidu | O heart, O heart, please forget. |
| Ninaivanai kadanthu vidu | Move beyond all thoughts and memories. |
| Nenjae nenjae urangi vidu | O heart, O heart, go to sleep. |
| Nijangalai thurandhu vidu…uuu… | Renounce the harsh realities... |
| Female | |
| Kangalai vitruthaan oviyama | Is a painting worth selling one's eyes? |
| Venneeril meengal thoonguma | Can fish sleep in boiling water? |
| Kanneeril kaadhal vaazhuma | Can love survive in tears? |
| Male | |
| Nenjae nenjae marandhu vidu | O heart, O heart, please forget. |
| Ninaivanai kadanthu vidu..uu… | Move beyond all thoughts and memories... |
| Nenjae nenjae urangi vidu | O heart, O heart, go to sleep. |
| Nijangalai thurandhu vidu… | Renounce the harsh realities... |
| Female | |
| Ahaa…aaaa…ahaaa…aaaa… | Ahaa... aaaa... ahaaa... aaaa... |
| Male | |
| Pennae pennae un valayal | O girl, O girl, your bangles, |
| Enakkoru vilangallavoo | Are they not like handcuffs to me? |
| Kaatrukku siraiyennavoo | What kind of prison can hold the wind? |
| Male | |
| Thanmaanathin thalayai vittru | Should I sell the head of my self-respect, |
| Kaadhalil vaazh vaangavoo | To buy a life in love? |
| Kan moodi naan vaazhavoo | Should I live with my eyes closed? |
| Male | |
| Unnai enni mul virithu | Thinking of you, I have learned to sleep |
| Padukkavum pazhagi konden | On a bed where thorns are spread out. |
| Ennil yaarum kallerinthaal | If anyone throws stones at me, |
| sirikkavum pazhagi konden | I have learned to just smile. |
| Male | |
| Ullathai maraithen | I hid what was inside my heart, |
| Uyir vali poruthenae | I endured soul-piercing pain. |
| Suyathai edhuvoo | Something scorched my true self, |
| Suttathadi vandhen | And yet I have come to you. |
| Female | |
| Nenjae nenjae nerungi vidu | O heart, O heart, come closer. |
| Nihazhnthathai marandhu vidu | Forget everything that occurred. |
| Nenjae nenjae nehizhnthu vidu | O heart, O heart, soften up. |
| Nijangalil kalandhu vidu…uuu… | Blend into the true realities... |
| Female | |
| Katti veitha kaatrae | O wind that was bound, |
| Vandhu vidu | Come to me now. |
| Kaigal rendai yenthinen | I hold out both my hands, |
| Kaadhal pichchai ketkiren..haan | Begging for the alms of love..haan |
| Female | |
| Nenjae nenjae | O heart, O heart, |
| Nenjae nenjae ….ae…nenjae nenjae | O heart, O heart... ae... O heart, O heart. |
| Female | |
| Anbae anbae nee pirinthaal | O beloved, O beloved, if you separate from me, |
| Kangalil mazhai varumae | Rain will pour from my eyes. |
| Kaatru enai kai vidumae..ae…. | The air itself will abandon me..ae.... |
| Female | |
| Vidhai azhithu | Only by sacrificing the seed, |
| Chedi varumae | Does the plant sprout. |
| Sippigal udaitha pinnae | Only after breaking open the shells, |
| Muthukal kai varumae | Do pearls come into our hands. |
| Female | |
| Kaadhal raja ondrai koduthaal | If the king of love gives up one thing, |
| Innondril uyir varumae | Life springs up in another. |
| Unnai konjam vittu koduthaal | If you give up a little of your ego, |
| Kaadhalil sugam varumae | Bliss will enter love. |
| Asthamanam ellam nirandharam alla | Sunset is never permanent, |
| Merkil vidhaithaal kizhakkinil mulaikum | If sown in the west, it will sprout in the east. |
| Female | |
| Nenjae nenjae | O heart, O heart, |
| Nenjae nenjae ….ae…nenjae nenjae | O heart, O heart... ae... O heart, O heart. |
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
மறந்துவிடு நினைவினை
கடந்துவிடு நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
உறங்கிவிடு நிஜங்களை
துறந்துவிடு
O heart, O heart, please forget.
Move beyond all thoughts and memories.
O heart, O heart, go to sleep.
Renounce the harsh realities...
கண்களை
விற்றுதான் ஓவியமா
வெந்நீரில் மீன்கள்
தூங்குமா கண்ணீரில்
காதல் வாழுமா
Is a painting worth selling one's eyes?
Can fish sleep in boiling water?
Can love survive in tears?
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
மறந்துவிடு நினைவினை
கடந்துவிடு நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
உறங்கிவிடு நிஜங்களை
துறந்துவிடு
O heart, O heart, please forget.
Move beyond all thoughts and memories...
O heart, O heart, go to sleep.
Renounce the harsh realities...
ஆஹா ஆஆ
ஆஹா ஆஆ
Ahaa... aaaa... ahaaa... aaaa...
பெண்ணே பெண்ணே
உன் வளையல் எனக்கொரு
விளங்கல்லவோ காற்றுக்கு
சிறை என்னவோ
O girl, O girl, your bangles,
Are they not like handcuffs to me?
What kind of prison can hold the wind?
தன்மானத்தின்
தலையை விற்று காதலில்
வாழ் வாங்கவோ கண் மூடி
நான் வாழவோ
Should I sell the head of my self-respect,
To buy a life in love?
Should I live with my eyes closed?
உன்னை எண்ணி
முள் விரித்து படுக்கவும்
பழகிக்கொண்டேன் என்னில்
யாரும் கல் எறிந்தால்
சிரிக்கவும் பழகிக்கொண்டேன்
Thinking of you, I have learned to sleep
On a bed where thorns are spread out.
If anyone throws stones at me,
I have learned to just smile.
உள்ளத்தை
மறைத்தேன் உயிர்வலி
பொறுத்தேனே சுயத்தை
எதுவோ சுட்டதடி வந்தேன்
I hid what was inside my heart,
I endured soul-piercing pain.
Something scorched my true self,
And yet I have come to you.
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
நெறுங்கிவிடு நிகழ்ந்ததை
மறந்துவிடு நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
நெகிழ்ந்துவிடு நிஜங்களில்
கலந்துவிடு
O heart, O heart, come closer.
Forget everything that occurred.
O heart, O heart, soften up.
Blend into the true realities...
கட்டி வைத்த
காற்றே வந்துவிடு
கைகள் ரெண்டை
ஏந்தினேன் காதல்
பிச்சை கேட்கிறேன்
ஹான்
O wind that was bound,
Come to me now.
I hold out both my hands,
Begging for the alms of love..haan
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
O heart, O heart,
O heart, O heart... ae... O heart, O heart.
அன்பே அன்பே
நீ பிரிந்தால் கண்களில்
மழை வருமே காற்று
எனை கை விடுமே
O beloved, O beloved, if you separate from me,
Rain will pour from my eyes.
The air itself will abandon me..ae....
விதை அழித்து
செடி வருமே சிற்பிகள்
உடைத்த பின்னே
முத்துக்கள் கைவருமே
Only by sacrificing the seed,
Does the plant sprout.
Only after breaking open the shells,
Do pearls come into our hands.
காதல் ராஜா
ஒன்றை கொடுத்தால்
இன்னொன்றில் உயிர்
வருமே உன்னை கொஞ்சம்
விட்டுக் கொடுத்தால் காதலில்
சுகம் வருமே அஸ்தமனம்
எல்லாம் நிரந்தரம் அல்ல
மேற்கில் விதைத்தால்
கிழக்கினில் முளைக்கும்
If the king of love gives up one thing,
Life springs up in another.
If you give up a little of your ego,
Bliss will enter love.
Sunset is never permanent,
If sown in the west, it will sprout in the east.
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
நெஞ்சே நெஞ்சே
O heart, O heart,
O heart, O heart... ae... O heart, O heart.
Nenjae nenjae marandhu vidu
O heart, O heart, please forget.
Ninaivanai kadanthu vidu
Move beyond all thoughts and memories.
Nenjae nenjae urangi vidu
O heart, O heart, go to sleep.
Nijangalai thurandhu vidu…uuu…
Renounce the harsh realities...
Kangalai vitruthaan oviyama
Is a painting worth selling one's eyes?
Venneeril meengal thoonguma
Can fish sleep in boiling water?
Kanneeril kaadhal vaazhuma
Can love survive in tears?
Nenjae nenjae marandhu vidu
O heart, O heart, please forget.
Ninaivanai kadanthu vidu..uu…
Move beyond all thoughts and memories...
Nenjae nenjae urangi vidu
O heart, O heart, go to sleep.
Nijangalai thurandhu vidu…
Renounce the harsh realities...
Ahaa…aaaa…ahaaa…aaaa…
Ahaa... aaaa... ahaaa... aaaa...
Pennae pennae un valayal
O girl, O girl, your bangles,
Enakkoru vilangallavoo
Are they not like handcuffs to me?
Kaatrukku siraiyennavoo
What kind of prison can hold the wind?
Thanmaanathin thalayai vittru
Should I sell the head of my self-respect,
Kaadhalil vaazh vaangavoo
To buy a life in love?
Kan moodi naan vaazhavoo
Should I live with my eyes closed?
Unnai enni mul virithu
Thinking of you, I have learned to sleep
Padukkavum pazhagi konden
On a bed where thorns are spread out.
Ennil yaarum kallerinthaal
If anyone throws stones at me,
sirikkavum pazhagi konden
I have learned to just smile.
Ullathai maraithen
I hid what was inside my heart,
Uyir vali poruthenae
I endured soul-piercing pain.
Suyathai edhuvoo
Something scorched my true self,
Suttathadi vandhen
And yet I have come to you.
Nenjae nenjae nerungi vidu
O heart, O heart, come closer.
Nihazhnthathai marandhu vidu
Forget everything that occurred.
Nenjae nenjae nehizhnthu vidu
O heart, O heart, soften up.
Nijangalil kalandhu vidu…uuu…
Blend into the true realities...
Katti veitha kaatrae
O wind that was bound,
Vandhu vidu
Come to me now.
Kaigal rendai yenthinen
I hold out both my hands,
Kaadhal pichchai ketkiren..haan
Begging for the alms of love..haan
Nenjae nenjae
O heart, O heart,
Nenjae nenjae ….ae…nenjae nenjae
O heart, O heart... ae... O heart, O heart.
Anbae anbae nee pirinthaal
O beloved, O beloved, if you separate from me,
Kangalil mazhai varumae
Rain will pour from my eyes.
Kaatru enai kai vidumae..ae….
The air itself will abandon me..ae....
Vidhai azhithu
Only by sacrificing the seed,
Chedi varumae
Does the plant sprout.
Sippigal udaitha pinnae
Only after breaking open the shells,
Muthukal kai varumae
Do pearls come into our hands.
Kaadhal raja ondrai koduthaal
If the king of love gives up one thing,
Innondril uyir varumae
Life springs up in another.
Unnai konjam vittu koduthaal
If you give up a little of your ego,
Kaadhalil sugam varumae
Bliss will enter love.
Asthamanam ellam nirandharam alla
Sunset is never permanent,
Merkil vidhaithaal kizhakkinil mulaikum
If sown in the west, it will sprout in the east.
Nenjae nenjae
O heart, O heart,
Nenjae nenjae ….ae…nenjae nenjae
O heart, O heart... ae... O heart, O heart.
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This poignant duet captures an intense inner conflict between pride, self-respect, and deep romantic devotion. Initially, the protagonist tries to convince his heart to move on, realizing that love cannot thrive in pain just as fish cannot live in boiling water or eyes be sacrificed for a mere painting. He reflects on how love made him endure suffering, humiliation, and loss of self-respect. However, as the song progresses, the lovers realize that true love requires compromise and letting go of one's ego. Metaphors of nature—a seed destroying itself to grow into a tree, a shell breaking to release a pearl, and the sun setting only to rise again—illustrate that temporary sacrifices in love ultimately yield eternal joy and rebirth.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Rhetorical Question (Uvamaani / Vinathodai)
“Kangalai vitruthaan oviyama / Venneeril meengal thoonguma”
The lyricist uses poignant rhetorical questions like selling eyes for art or fish in boiling water to highlight the absurdity of losing self-respect for pain.
Metaphor (Uvamai)
“Pennae pennae un valayal / Enakkoru vilangallavoo”
Comparing bangles to handcuffs (vilangu) and the self to the uncontainable wind (kaatru) symbolizes emotional bondage vs freedom.
Ethirai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Thanmaanathin thalayai vittru / Kaadhalil vaazh vaangavoo”
Tamil poetic rhyme where the second letter matches across consecutive lines ('th' in Thanmaanathin and Kaadhalil).
Natural Imagery & Paradox
“Asthamanam ellam nirandharam alla / Merkil vidhaithaal kizhakkinil mulaikum”
Using sunset turning into sunrise and seeds dying to grow trees as metaphors for sacrifice bringing rebirth in love.
Did you know?
Trivia
Composed by A.R. Rahman for the 1997 Tamil romantic action extravaganza 'Ratchagan' starring Nagarjuna and Sushmita Sen. Sung eloquently by K.J. Yesudas and Sadhana Sargam, the track features profound philosophical lyrics by Vairamuthu exploring self-respect versus romantic compromise.
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