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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nenjukku Theriyum

From Amma Enge · 1964

Lyricist
Kannadasan
Singer
P. Susheela
Music director
S. Vedhachalam
Details
Amma Enge1964

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Female
Nenjukku theriyum nilavukku theriyumThe heart knows, the moon knows,
Nee yaar naan yaar enbadhuWho you are and who I am.
Oorukkul irukkum yaarukkum theriyumEveryone living in this town knows
Unnai en manam ninaippadhuThat my heart thinks only of you.
Female
Nenjukku theriyum nilavukku theriyumThe heart knows, the moon knows,
Nee yaar naan yaar enbadhuWho you are and who I am.
Oorukkul irukkum yaarukkum theriyumEveryone living in this town knows
Unnai en manam ninaippadhuThat my heart thinks only of you.
Nenjukku theriyum..The heart knows..
Female
Androru naal nee sonnadhu polaeJust as you said on that day back then,
Anbudan irundhen vaazhvilaeI lived my life with deep affection.
Androru naal nee sonnadhu polaeJust as you said on that day back then,
Anbudan irundhen vaazhvilaeI lived my life with deep affection.
Anbin thandanai ennavendrae naanWhat the punishment for love truly is,
Arindhu konden indru naerilaeI realized today in person.
Nenjukku theriyum..The heart knows..
Female
Irundhadhu podhumEnough of existing,
vaazhndhadhu podhumEnough of living this life,
Iraivaa enakkoru vazhikkattuOh God, show me a path ahead.
Irundhadhu podhumEnough of existing,
vaazhndhadhu podhumEnough of living this life,
Iraivaa enakkoru vazhikkattuOh God, show me a path ahead.
Un arumai magalum unnidam varuvenYour beloved daughter will come to you,
Un arumai magalum unnidam varuvenYour beloved daughter will come to you,
Aiyaa unniru kai neettu..Oh Lord, extend both your hands..
Aiyaa… unniru kai neettu..Oh Lord… extend both your hands..

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song expresses deep sorrow, unspoken love, and ultimate resignation to divine will. The protagonist reflects on a love that was pure, witness to which was kept by her own heart and the moon above. Despite following the beloved's guidance and pouring boundless affection into her life, she finds herself suffering the agony that love often inflicts as a harsh punishment. Overwhelmed by grief and weary of her earthly existence, the singer turns to God, pleading for a way out. Viewing herself as a child returning to her heavenly creator, she prays for divine embrace and release from her earthly sorrows, signaling a heartbroken surrender to her fate.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Moonaal (Tamil Initial Alliteration / Monai)

Nenjukku theriyum nilavukku theriyum

Matching initial consonants in adjacent words creates a melodious rhythm ('Nenjukku' - 'Nilavukku').

Personification

Nenjukku theriyum nilavukku theriyum

Attributing human consciousness and knowledge to inanimate concepts and celestial bodies ('the heart knows, the moon knows').

Anaphora / Parallelism

Irundhadhu podhum vaazhndhadhu podhum

Repetition of identical sentence structures to emphasize extreme weariness and despair.

Aetukai (Second-letter Rhyme)

Anbudan irundhen vaazhvilae / Anbin thandanai ennavendrae naan

The second consonant sound matches across consecutive lines ('Anbudan' / 'Anbin').

Did you know?

Trivia

Featured in the 1964 Tamil film 'Amma Enge', this song highlights the poetic depth of Kannadasan and the soulful vocal performance of P. Susheela. Composed by S. Vedhachalam, the track is renowned for its tragic emotional resonance and remains a memorable classic depicting emotional despair and divine appeal.

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