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Naan Potta Savaal album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nenje Un Aasai Enna

From Naan Potta Savaal · 1980

Lyricist
Puratchi Dasan
Singer
T. L. Maharajan
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Naan Potta Savaal
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
7 Jun 2022

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nenje un aasai enna
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
Nenje un aasai enna
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Nenje un aasai enna
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu
Eththisaiyum adhai paadu
Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu
Eththisaiyum adhai paadu
Kaththum kadal kannayara oivu ketkumaa
Antha kaatchiyai kanda pothilae
Mana kangal thoongumaa
Nenje un aasai enna
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Otti vantha moochchu odivitaal pochchu
Nattamenna kettathenna
Otti vantha moochchu odivitaal pochchu
Nattamenna kettathenna
Sirpi endraal seelan endraal thiyaagi aagalaam
Nalla sinthanai adhil theerkkamaai
Nee jeyiththu kaattalaam
Nenje un aasai enna
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Nenje un aasai enna
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
O heart, what is your desire?
What is impossible if you set your mind to it?
O heart, what is your desire?
What is impossible if you set your mind to it?
Look at this earth and that sky,
See how they endure thunder and lightning!
O heart, what is your desire?
What is impossible if you set your mind to it?
Look at this earth and that sky,
See how they endure thunder and lightning!
Seek the truth and strive for achievement,
Sing of it in every direction.
Seek the truth and strive for achievement,
Sing of it in every direction.
Does the roaring ocean ever ask for rest to close its eyes?
When you witness that sight,
Can the eyes of your mind ever sleep?
O heart, what is your desire?
What is impossible if you set your mind to it?
Look at this earth and that sky,
See how they endure thunder and lightning!
When the fleeting breath of life leaves, it is gone,
What is the loss, and what is ruined?
When the fleeting breath of life leaves, it is gone,
What is the loss, and what is ruined?
As a creator or a person of virtue, you can make sacrifices,
With clear and resolute thoughts,
You can win and prove yourself!
O heart, what is your desire?
What is impossible if you set your mind to it?
Look at this earth and that sky,
See how they endure thunder and lightning!
O heart, what is your desire?
What is impossible if you set your mind to it?
Look at this earth and that sky,
See how they endure thunder and lightning!
La la laallala laallala laala
La la laallala laallala laala
La la laallala laallala laala
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nenje Un Aasai Enna is an uplifting philosophical song from the 1980 Tamil film Naan Potta Savaal. The lyrics address the human mind directly, prompting it to overcome limitations and recognize its infinite potential. By evoking nature's endurance—such as the earth and sky bearing heavy thunderbolts and the sea working endlessly without rest—the song encourages constant perseverance, pursuit of truth, and determination.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Emoni (Second-letter rhyme / Ethirai)

Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu / Eththisaiyum adhai paadu

Rhyming of second consonants across lines (Sath-thiyaththai / Eth-thisaiyum).

Rhetorical Question

Kaththum kadal kannayara oivu ketkumaa

Asking a question with an implied negative answer to motivate the listener about the ceaseless nature of duty.

Metaphor

Mana kangal thoongumaa

'Mana kangal' refers to the eyes of the mind or consciousness.

Monaai (Initial Alliteration)

Intha bhoomi antha vaanam / Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna

Repetition of initial vocalic sound 'I' across 'Intha', 'Idi'.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by traditional and playback singer T. L. Maharajan, this motivational song features Rajinikanth in the movie Naan Potta Savaal (1980). The film was a Tamil remake of the 1974 Hindi hit Haath Ki Safai.

Keep listening

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