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Isaimozhi
Rishi Moolam album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nenjil Ulla Kaayam

From Rishi Moolam · 1980

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
Jayachandran
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Rishi Moolam
Movie release year
1980
Lyrics added on
7 Feb 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru
Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu
Ennai indru naanae kaana
Naeram vandhu saerndhadhu….
Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru
Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu
Poojaikkaana dhaevanae
Poovil yaeri aadinaal
Poojai seiyum yaarumae
Kobam kollal needhiyae
Sondham konda endhan devi
Sonna vaarthai nyaayamae
Punidham neeril vandhadhae
Nadhiyin moolam allavaa…
Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru
Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu
Thaayin paavam
Pillaiyai saarugindra naattilae
Thanadhu paavam thannaiyae
Thaakkum needhi kuttramaa
Vellai aadai pulli veezhndhaal
Vaeru saatchi vaendumo
Manidhan paavam seidhaal
Manadhu thaanae saatchiyaam….
Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru
Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu
Thaai illaadha pillaiyaai
Thanimai konda selvamae
Thaai illaadha pillai nee
Vaai ilaadha kanavan naan
Indru naalai endru vaazhvom
Nalla naalai thaeduvom
Unadhu thandhai aasaiyae
Undhau kaalam velvathe
Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru
Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu
Ennai indru naanae kaana
Naeram vandhu saerndhadhu….
Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru
Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu
A wound inside my heart
has finally healed and gone.
To look at who I truly am,
the time has finally come...
A wound inside my heart
has finally healed and gone.
If the god meant for worship
steps down and tramples the flowers,
then for anyone offering prayers,
anger is only justified.
The woman I held as my goddess,
the words she spoke were truly fair.
Purity flows in the water,
after all, is it not the river's source?
A wound inside my heart
has finally healed and gone.
In a world where a mother's sin
falls upon her child,
if one's own sin strikes back at oneself,
is that justice a crime?
If a stain falls on a white cloth,
is any other witness needed?
When a human commits a sin,
the conscience itself is the witness...
A wound inside my heart
has finally healed and gone.
Like a motherless child,
my precious one living in loneliness,
you are a child without a mother,
and I am a voiceless husband.
Let us live through today and tomorrow,
and search for better days ahead.
Your father's only wish
is to see your future triumph.
A wound inside my heart
has finally healed and gone.
To look at who I truly am,
the time has finally come...
A wound inside my heart
has finally healed and gone.
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This song from Rishi Moolam (1980) reflects deep emotional catharsis, self-discovery, and moral resolution. The protagonist acknowledges the healing of a long-standing emotional wound and comes to terms with past mistakes, karma, and familial responsibilities. Through philosophical observations, he expresses that conscience serves as the ultimate judge of human actions, drawing analogies to stains on a pure white garment.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Alliteration)

“Nenjil ulla kaayam ondru / Nenjai vittu theerndhadhu”

Repetition of the initial letter/sound in consecutive words or lines, such as 'Nenjil' and 'Nenjai' or 'Poojaikkaana' and 'Poovil'.

Edhukai (Second Letter Rhyme)

“Thaayin paavam / Thanadhu paavam thannaiyae”

Matching second consonants across lines, seen in 'Thaayin' and 'Thanadhu'.

Metaphor

“Vellai aadai pulli veezhndhaal”

Using a stain on a white cloth ('Vellai aadai pulli veezhndhaal') as a metaphor for obvious guilt or sin.

Personification

“Manidhan paavam seidhaal / Manadhu thaanae saatchiyaam….”

Attributing the human role of a legal witness ('saatchi') to the human mind or conscience ('Manadhu').

Did you know?

Trivia

Rishi Moolam (1980) features music composed by Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Kannadasan. The film stars Sivaji Ganesan in the lead role, and this poignant song is sung by the legendary playback singer T. M. Soundararajan (TMS).

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