Nenje Un Aasai Enna
From Naan Potta Savaal · 1980
- Lyricist
- Puratchi Dasan
- Singer
- T. L. Maharajan
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Naan Potta Savaal1980
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Nenje un aasai enna | Oh heart, what is your desire? |
| Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna | If you set your mind, what is impossible? |
| Nenje un aasai enna | Oh heart, what is your desire? |
| Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna | If you set your mind, what is impossible? |
| Intha bhoomi antha vaanam | This earth and that sky, |
| Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna | Why do they endure thunder and lightning? |
| Male | |
| Nenje un aasai enna | Oh heart, what is your desire? |
| Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna | If you set your mind, what is impossible? |
| Intha bhoomi antha vaanam | This earth and that sky, |
| Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna | Why do they endure thunder and lightning? |
| Male | |
| Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu | Seek the truth, search for achievement, |
| Eththisaiyum adhai paadu | Sing about it in all directions! |
| Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu | Seek the truth, search for achievement, |
| Eththisaiyum adhai paadu | Sing about it in all directions! |
| Male | |
| Kaththum kadal kannayara oivu ketkumaa | Does the roaring sea ask for rest or sleep? |
| Antha kaatchiyai kanda pothilae | When seeing such a sight, |
| Mana kangal thoongumaa | Will the eyes of the mind sleep? |
| Male | |
| Nenje un aasai enna | Oh heart, what is your desire? |
| Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna | If you set your mind, what is impossible? |
| Intha bhoomi antha vaanam | This earth and that sky, |
| Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna | Why do they endure thunder and lightning? |
| Male | |
| Otti vantha moochchu odivitaal pochchu | Once the breath attached to life flees, it is gone, |
| Nattamenna kettathenna | What is the gain, and what is the loss? |
| Otti vantha moochchu odivitaal pochchu | Once the breath attached to life flees, it is gone, |
| Nattamenna kettathenna | What is the gain, and what is the loss? |
| Male | |
| Sirpi endraal seelan endraal thiyaagi aagalaam | If one is a sculptor or a virtuous person, one can become a selfless giver; |
| Nalla sinthanai adhil theerkkamaai | With good thoughts, firmly and decisively, |
| Nee jeyiththu kaattalaam | You can win and prove yourself! |
| Male | |
| Nenje un aasai enna | Oh heart, what is your desire? |
| Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna | If you set your mind, what is impossible? |
| Intha bhoomi antha vaanam | This earth and that sky, |
| Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna | Why do they endure thunder and lightning? |
| Male | |
| Nenje un aasai enna | Oh heart, what is your desire? |
| Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna | If you set your mind, what is impossible? |
| Intha bhoomi antha vaanam | This earth and that sky, |
| Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna | Why do they endure thunder and lightning? |
| Male | |
| Lala laallala laallala laalaa | Lala laallala laallala laalaa |
| Lala laallala laallala laalaa | Lala laallala laallala laalaa |
| Lala laallala laallala laalaa | Lala laallala laallala laalaa |
நெஞ்சே உன் ஆசை என்ன
நீ நினைத்தால் ஆகாததென்ன
நெஞ்சே உன் ஆசை என்ன
நீ நினைத்தால் ஆகாததென்ன
இந்த பூமி அந்த வானம்
இடி மின்னலை தாங்குவதென்ன
Oh heart, what is your desire?
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Oh heart, what is your desire?
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
This earth and that sky,
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
நெஞ்சே உன் ஆசை என்ன
நீ நினைத்தால் ஆகாததென்ன
இந்த பூமி அந்த வானம்
இடி மின்னலை தாங்குவதென்ன
Oh heart, what is your desire?
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
This earth and that sky,
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
சத்தியத்தை நாடு சாதனையை தேடு
எத்திசையும் அதை பாடு
சத்தியத்தை நாடு சாதனையை தேடு
எத்திசையும் அதை பாடு
Seek the truth, search for achievement,
Sing about it in all directions!
Seek the truth, search for achievement,
Sing about it in all directions!
கத்தும் கடல் கண்ணயற ஓய்வு கேட்குமா
அந்த காட்சியை கண்ட போதிலே
மனக் கண்கள் தூங்குமா.....
Does the roaring sea ask for rest or sleep?
When seeing such a sight,
Will the eyes of the mind sleep?
நெஞ்சே உன் ஆசை என்ன
நீ நினைத்தால் ஆகாததென்ன
இந்த பூமி அந்த வானம்
இடி மின்னலை தாங்குவதென்ன
Oh heart, what is your desire?
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
This earth and that sky,
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
ஒட்டி வந்த மூச்சு ஓடிவிட்டால் போச்சு
நட்டமென்ன கெட்டதென்ன
ஒட்டி வந்த மூச்சு ஓடிவிட்டால் போச்சு
நட்டமென்ன கெட்டதென்ன
Once the breath attached to life flees, it is gone,
What is the gain, and what is the loss?
Once the breath attached to life flees, it is gone,
What is the gain, and what is the loss?
சிற்பி என்றால் சீலன் என்றால் தியாகி ஆகலாம்
நல்ல சிந்தனை அதில் தீர்க்கமாய்
நீ ஜெயித்து காட்டலாம்......
If one is a sculptor or a virtuous person, one can become a selfless giver;
With good thoughts, firmly and decisively,
You can win and prove yourself!
நெஞ்சே உன் ஆசை என்ன
நீ நினைத்தால் ஆகாததென்ன
இந்த பூமி அந்த வானம்
இடி மின்னலை தாங்குவதென்ன
Oh heart, what is your desire?
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
This earth and that sky,
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
நெஞ்சே உன் ஆசை என்ன
நீ நினைத்தால் ஆகாததென்ன
இந்த பூமி அந்த வானம்
இடி மின்னலை தாங்குவதென்ன
Oh heart, what is your desire?
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
This earth and that sky,
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
லல லால்லல லால்லல லாலா
லல லால்லல லால்லல லாலா
லல லால்லல லால்லல லாலா
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Nenje un aasai enna
Oh heart, what is your desire?
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Nenje un aasai enna
Oh heart, what is your desire?
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
This earth and that sky,
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
Nenje un aasai enna
Oh heart, what is your desire?
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
This earth and that sky,
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu
Seek the truth, search for achievement,
Eththisaiyum adhai paadu
Sing about it in all directions!
Saththiyaththai naadu saathanaiyai thedu
Seek the truth, search for achievement,
Eththisaiyum adhai paadu
Sing about it in all directions!
Kaththum kadal kannayara oivu ketkumaa
Does the roaring sea ask for rest or sleep?
Antha kaatchiyai kanda pothilae
When seeing such a sight,
Mana kangal thoongumaa
Will the eyes of the mind sleep?
Nenje un aasai enna
Oh heart, what is your desire?
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
This earth and that sky,
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
Otti vantha moochchu odivitaal pochchu
Once the breath attached to life flees, it is gone,
Nattamenna kettathenna
What is the gain, and what is the loss?
Otti vantha moochchu odivitaal pochchu
Once the breath attached to life flees, it is gone,
Nattamenna kettathenna
What is the gain, and what is the loss?
Sirpi endraal seelan endraal thiyaagi aagalaam
If one is a sculptor or a virtuous person, one can become a selfless giver;
Nalla sinthanai adhil theerkkamaai
With good thoughts, firmly and decisively,
Nee jeyiththu kaattalaam
You can win and prove yourself!
Nenje un aasai enna
Oh heart, what is your desire?
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
This earth and that sky,
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
Nenje un aasai enna
Oh heart, what is your desire?
Nee ninaiththaal aagaathathenna
If you set your mind, what is impossible?
Intha bhoomi antha vaanam
This earth and that sky,
Idi minnalai thaanguvathenna
Why do they endure thunder and lightning?
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Lala laallala laallala laalaa
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
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.
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