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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nenjukku Mugame

From Maadi Veettu Mappillai · 1967

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singers
T. M. Soundararajan, P. Susheela
Music director
T. Chalapathi Rao
Movie name
Maadi Veettu Mappillai
Movie release year
1967
Lyrics added on
23 Mar 2025

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nenjukku mugamae kannadi
Nee ninaipadhai kattum munnadi
Nenjukku mugamae kannadi
Nee ninaipadhai kattum munnadi
Oor ariyaamal maraitha podhum
Oor ariyaamal maraitha podhum
Odum vizhigal thalladi
Nenjukku mugamae kannadi
Nee ninaipadhai kattum munnadi
Sabai ariyaamal nadakkum
Adhu thalai mudhal kaalvarai alakkum
Sabai ariyaamal nadakkum
Adhu thalai mudhal kaalvarai alakkum
Idai daiyae konjam sirikkum
Adhu yezhaiyin pasipol irukkum irukkum
Nenjukku mugamae kannadi
Nee ninaipadhai kattum munnadi
Aasaiyai pala naal adakkum
Andha adakathilae udal ilaikkum
Aasaiyai pala naal adakkum
Andha adakathilae udal ilaikkum
Female :Aayinum nenjathai maraikum
Adhu aangalukku engae irukkum irukkum
Male :Nenjukku mugamae kannadi
Nee ninaipadhai kattum munnadi
Pennukku ragasiyam yedhu
Thalai pinnalum pesidum podhu
Pennukku ragasiyam yedhu
Thalai pinnalum pesidum podhu
Female :Kannukku thirai kidaiyadhu
Adhu kalandha pinn vilaguvadhuyedhu
Both :Nenjukku mugamae kannadi
Nee ninaipadhai kattum munnadi
Oor ariyaamal maraitha podhum
Oor ariyaamal maraitha podhum
Odum vizhigal thalladi
Nenjukku un nenjukku ….hahahaha….
The face is a mirror to the heart,
It reveals right before you whatever you think.
The face is a mirror to the heart,
It reveals right before you whatever you think.
Even if you hide it from the world,
Even if you hide it from the world,
Your wavering eyes rush and give it away.
The face is a mirror to the heart,
It reveals right before you whatever you think.
A glance moves without the crowd noticing,
Measuring you from head to toe.
A glance moves without the crowd noticing,
Measuring you from head to toe.
It breaks into a gentle smile now and then,
Staying as relentless as a poor person's hunger.
The face is a mirror to the heart,
It reveals right before you whatever you think.
Desire is held back for many days,
And from holding it in, the body grows thin.
Desire is held back for many days,
And from holding it in, the body grows thin.
Female: Yet it still conceals what is inside the heart—
Where would men ever have that kind of patience?
Male: The face is a mirror to the heart,
It reveals right before you whatever you think.
What secret can a woman keep,
When even her braided hair speaks?
What secret can a woman keep,
When even her braided hair speaks?
Female: The eyes have no curtain to hide behind;
Once they unite, how can they ever turn away?
Both: The face is a mirror to the heart,
It reveals right before you whatever you think.
Even if you hide it from the world,
Even if you hide it from the world,
Your wavering eyes rush and give it away.
To the heart... to your heart... hahaha!
Male
Female
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

Nenjukku Mugamae Kannadi is a playful and lighthearted duet exploring the subtle non-verbal language of love and desire. The core message of the song is that the human face acts as a flawless mirror to one's inner thoughts—no matter how hard someone tries to conceal their feelings from society, their gaze and subtle expressions will inevitably betray them.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uvamaani)

“Nenjukku mugamae kannadi”

Directly compares the human face to a mirror that reflects the innermost thoughts of the heart.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Adhu yezhaiyin pasipol irukkum irukkum”

Compares persistent, unfulfilled desire or longing to the constant hunger experienced by a poor person.

Personification

“Thalai pinnalum pesidum podhu”

Attributes the human ability of speech to a woman's braided hair, suggesting that body language speaks volumes.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

“Aasaiyai pala naal adakkum / Andha adakathilae udal ilaikkum”

Repetition of the initial sound ('Aa') across consecutive lines for poetic rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

Composed by T. Chalapathi Rao with lyrics by Kannadasan, this song from 'Maadi Veettu Mappillai' (1967) features the iconic duet voice pair T. M. Soundararajan and P. Susheela. The opening line 'Nenjukku mugamae kannadi' became a famous colloquial idiom in Tamil culture to denote that eyes and facial expressions never lie.

Keep listening

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