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Ratchagan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nenje Nenje

From Ratchagan · 1997

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Sadhana Sargam, K. J. Yesudas
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Movie name
Ratchagan
Movie release year
1997
Lyrics added on
3 Oct 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nenjae nenjae marandhu vidu
Ninaivanai kadanthu vidu
Nenjae nenjae urangi vidu
Nijangalai thurandhu vidu…uuu…
Kangalai vitruthaan oviyama
Venneeril meengal thoonguma
Kanneeril kaadhal vaazhuma
Nenjae nenjae marandhu vidu
Ninaivanai kadanthu vidu..uu…
Nenjae nenjae urangi vidu
Nijangalai thurandhu vidu…
Ahaa…aaaa…ahaaa…aaaa…
Pennae pennae un valayal
Enakkoru vilangallavoo
Kaatrukku siraiyennavoo
Thanmaanathin thalayai vittru
Kaadhalil vaazh vaangavoo
Kan moodi naan vaazhavoo
Unnai enni mul virithu
Padukkavum pazhagi konden
Ennil yaarum kallerinthaal
sirikkavum pazhagi konden
Ullathai maraithen
Uyir vali poruthenae
Suyathai edhuvoo
Suttathadi vandhen
Nenjae nenjae nerungi vidu
Nihazhnthathai marandhu vidu
Nenjae nenjae nehizhnthu vidu
Nijangalil kalandhu vidu…uuu…
Katti veitha kaatrae
Vandhu vidu
Kaigal rendai yenthinen
Kaadhal pichchai ketkiren..haan
Nenjae nenjae
Nenjae nenjae ….ae…nenjae nenjae
Anbae anbae nee pirinthaal
Kangalil mazhai varumae
Kaatru enai kai vidumae..ae….
Vidhai azhithu
Chedi varumae
Sippigal udaitha pinnae
Muthukal kai varumae
Kaadhal raja ondrai koduthaal
Innondril uyir varumae
Unnai konjam vittu koduthaal
Kaadhalil sugam varumae
Asthamanam ellam nirandharam alla
Merkil vidhaithaal kizhakkinil mulaikum
Nenjae nenjae
Nenjae nenjae ….ae…nenjae nenjae
O heart, my heart, forget it all.
Move past every memory.
O heart, my heart, go to sleep.
Let go of these painful realities...
Can you buy a painting by selling your eyes?
Can fish ever sleep in boiling water?
Can love ever survive in tears?
O heart, my heart, forget it all.
Move past every memory...
O heart, my heart, go to sleep.
Let go of these painful realities...
Aaha... aaaa... aaha... aaaa...
O girl, your bangles,
aren't they like shackles to me?
What prison can ever hold the wind?
By selling away my self-respect,
should I buy a life in love?
Should I just live with my eyes closed?
Thinking of you, I have learned
even to sleep on a bed of thorns.
If anyone throws stones at me,
I have learned to just smile.
I hid what was in my heart
and endured this agonizing pain.
Something burned my inner pride,
and so I came running back.
O heart, my heart, come closer.
Forget everything that happened.
O heart, my heart, soften and melt.
Blend into reality once again...
O wind that was held captive,
come to me now.
I hold out both my hands,
begging for your love... haan.
O heart, my heart,
O heart, my heart... oh, O heart, my heart...
My love, my love, if you leave me,
rain will pour from my eyes.
Even the breath of life will abandon me...
Only when the seed breaks
does a plant grow.
Only after opening the oyster shell
do pearls reach your hands.
My king of love, if you give up one thing,
life will blossom in another.
If you let go of your pride just a little,
sweet joy will fill our love.
A sunset is never permanent;
what is sown in the west will rise in the east.
O heart, my heart,
O heart, my heart... oh, O heart, my heart...
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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