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Lyrics & meaning

Nenjinile Ninaivu

From Chitrangi · 1964

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Movie name
Chitrangi
Movie release year
1964
Lyrics added on
6 Jun 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
: Nenjinile…
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Nilavilum therivathun
Azhagu mugam.. aasai mugam
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Aaruyir endru azhaithavale
Pudhu asaiyai nenjinile vithaithavele
Aaruyir endru azhaithavale
Pudhu asaiyai nenjinile vithaithavele
Naan oruyir nindru thavikayile
Ne odi marainthathu neethiyillai
Nenjinile…
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Nilavilum therivathun
Azhagu mugam.. aasai mugam
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Vaanathin tharagai
Pooveduthen endrum
Vaadatha maalaiyaainaan thoduthen
Vaanathin tharagai
Pooveduthen endrum
Vaadatha maalaiyaainaan thoduthen
Athil thean illaiye
Endru solli vittaar
Viral thendaamle
Mannil thalli vittaar…. thalli vittaar
Nenjinile…
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Nilavilum therivathun
Azhagu mugam.. aasai mugam
Nenjinile ninaivu mugam
Aayiram kottaigal katti vaithen
En anbaiye dheepamai etri vaithen
Aayiram kottaigal katti vaithen
En anbaiye dheepamai etri vaithen
Antha koiyilile enthan deivam illai
Naan koriya varamum kidaikavillai
In my heart...
In my heart is the face in my memories,
in my heart is the face in my memories.
Even on the face of the moon, I see
your beautiful face... your beloved face!
In my heart is the face in my memories.
You who called me your dearest life,
you who planted new longing in my heart,
you who called me your dearest life,
you who planted new longing in my heart—
while I stand here alone in agony,
it is not fair that you ran and hid away.
In my heart...
In my heart is the face in my memories,
in my heart is the face in my memories.
Even on the face of the moon, I see
your beautiful face... your beloved face!
In my heart is the face in my memories.
From the stars in the sky,
I gathered blossoms and
strung a garland that would never wither.
From the stars in the sky,
I gathered blossoms and
strung a garland that would never wither.
Saying, "There is no nectar in it,"
they brushed it aside,
and without even touching it with a finger,
they tossed it into the dust... tossed it away.
In my heart...
In my heart is the face in my memories,
in my heart is the face in my memories.
Even on the face of the moon, I see
your beautiful face... your beloved face!
In my heart is the face in my memories.
I built a thousand castles,
and lit my love as a lamp inside them.
I built a thousand castles,
and lit my love as a lamp inside them.
Yet my deity is not in that temple,
and the blessing I prayed for was never given.
Female
Male
Male
Female
Male
Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the agony of heartbreak and unrequited love. The singer envisions the beloved's cherished face lingering deeply in their heart and reflected even on the moon. Despite creating extraordinary tributes—metaphorically weaving stars into an unfading garland and constructing castles of devotion illuminated by love—the speaker's affection is cold-heartedly rejected without a second thought. The song culminates in a sorrowful realization that the deity they worshipped was absent from their temple, leaving their prayers unanswered and desires unfulfilled. Written with classical Tamil poetic grace by Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam, it beautifully captures grief, devotion, and betrayal.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Nenjinile ninaivu mugam / Nilavilum therivathun”

The repetition of the initial consonant sound 'N' ('Nenjinile' and 'Nilavilum') creates a rhythmic melodic flow.

Uruvam (Metaphor)

“Vaanathin tharagai pooveduthen endrum vaadatha maalaiyaainaan thoduthen”

Plucking stars from the sky to string an unfading garland is a poetic metaphor representing grand, pure, and eternal love.

Iyaibu (End Rhyme)

“Aaruyir endru azhaithavale / Pudhu asaiyai nenjinile vithaithavele”

Rhyming ending words ('azhaithavale' and 'vithaithavele') emphasize the emotional weight of the lover's actions.

Anaphora (Repetition)

“Nenjinile ninaivu mugam”

The phrase 'Nenjinile ninaivu mugam' is repeated periodically as a chorus to reinforce the inescapable memory of the beloved.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Chitrangi' (1964) is a historical drama film directed by R. S. Mani, featuring music composed by S. Vedhachalam. Lyricist Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam was renowned for embedding classical Tamil literary tropes into film songs of the 1950s and 60s.

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