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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nenjinile Ninaivu

From Chitrangi · 1964

Lyricist
Ku. Ma. Balasubramaniam
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela, K. Jamunarani
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Chitrangi1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
: Nenjinile…In the heart...
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Nilavilum therivathunEven in the moon, what is seen is your
Azhagu mugam.. aasai mugamBeautiful face.. desired face
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Male
Aaruyir endru azhaithavaleO lady who called me her precious soul
Pudhu asaiyai nenjinile vithaithaveleO lady who sowed a new desire in my heart
Aaruyir endru azhaithavaleO lady who called me her precious soul
Pudhu asaiyai nenjinile vithaithaveleO lady who sowed a new desire in my heart
Naan oruyir nindru thavikayileAs I stand suffering with a single life
Ne odi marainthathu neethiyillaiYour running away and hiding is unjust
Male
Nenjinile…In the heart...
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Nilavilum therivathunEven in the moon, what is seen is your
Azhagu mugam.. aasai mugamBeautiful face.. desired face
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Female
Vaanathin tharagaiThe stars of the sky
Pooveduthen endrumI plucked like flowers, and
Vaadatha maalaiyaainaan thoduthenI strung them into an unfading garland
Vaanathin tharagaiThe stars of the sky
Pooveduthen endrumI plucked like flowers, and
Vaadatha maalaiyaainaan thoduthenI strung them into an unfading garland
Athil thean illaiyeThere is no honey in it
Endru solli vittaarSo he declared
Viral thendaamleWithout even touching with his fingers
Mannil thalli vittaar…. thalli vittaarHe pushed it down into the dirt... pushed it down
Male
Nenjinile…In the heart...
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Nilavilum therivathunEven in the moon, what is seen is your
Azhagu mugam.. aasai mugamBeautiful face.. desired face
Nenjinile ninaivu mugamThe remembered face is in the heart
Female
Aayiram kottaigal katti vaithenI built a thousand castles
En anbaiye dheepamai etri vaithenI lit my love itself as a lamp
Aayiram kottaigal katti vaithenI built a thousand castles
En anbaiye dheepamai etri vaithenI lit my love itself as a lamp
Antha koiyilile enthan deivam illaiMy deity was not in that temple
Naan koriya varamum kidaikavillaiNor did I receive the boon I sought

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

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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