Nenjukulle
From Kadal · 2012
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singers
- Shakthisree Gopalan, A. R. Rahman
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Kadal2012
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Inga yethisaiyil | In which direction here |
| Yempozhappu vidinjirukko | Has my life dawned? |
| Vella paarva | An innocent glance |
| Veesiviteer munnadi | You cast before me |
| Itha thaangatha manasu | My heart unable to bear this |
| Thanni patta kannadi | Is like a mirror touched by water |
| Female | |
| Vanna maniyaaram | Colorful beaded garland |
| Valathukai kediyaaram | Wristwatch on the right hand |
| Aanai puliyellaam | Even elephants and tigers |
| Adakum athigaram | The authority that subdues them |
| Female | |
| Neer pona pinnum | Even after you left |
| Nizhal mattum pogalayae pogalayae | Your shadow alone hasn't left, hasn't left |
| Nenjukuliyil nizhal vanthu | Into the pit of my heart, a shadow came |
| Vizhunthiruchu | And fell into it |
| Female | |
| Apa niminthava thaan | The girl who stood tall then |
| Aparama kuniyalayae kuniyalayae | Hasn't bent down since, hasn't bent down |
| Kodakambi pola manam | Like the rib of an umbrella, my heart |
| Kuthi nikkuthae | Stands upright and pokes out |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Inga yethisaiyil | In which direction here |
| Yempozhappu vidinjirukko | Has my life dawned? |
| Female | |
| Pachi orangiruchu | The bird has gone to sleep |
| Paal thayiraa thoongiruchu | Milk has slept into curd |
| Ichi marathu mela | Atop the fig tree |
| Ela kuda thoongiruchu | Even the leaf has fallen asleep |
| Female | |
| Kaasa noikkaarigalum | Even those suffering from tuberculosis |
| Kannurangum velaiyila | At the time when they sleep peacefully |
| Aasa noi vanthamaga | Having been struck by the disease of love |
| Aranimisham thungalaiyae…ae…ae…ae.. | I haven't slept even for half a minute |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Inga yethisaiyil | In which direction here |
| Yempozhappu vidinjirukko | Has my life dawned? |
| Female | |
| Oru vaai yerangalayae | Not a single morsel goes down |
| Ull naaku nanaiyalaiyae | The inner tongue hasn't even moistened |
| Ezhettu naala | For seven or eight days |
| Echil muzhungalaiyae | I haven't even swallowed my saliva |
| Female | |
| Yelae ilanchirukki | Hey young girl |
| Yetho solla mudiyalayae | I am unable to say something |
| Rubber valavikkellaam | For rubber bangles |
| Saththamida vaaiyillaiyae | There is no mouth to make a sound |
| Female | |
| Oh nenjukkulla | Oh inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Inga yethisaiyil | In which direction here |
| Yempozhappu vidinjirukko | Has my life dawned? |
| Vella paarva | An innocent glance |
| Veesiviteer munnadi | You cast before me |
| Itha thaangatha manasu | My heart unable to bear this |
| Thanni patta kannadi | Is like a mirror touched by water |
| Female | |
| Vanna maniyaaram | Colorful beaded garland |
| Valathukai kediyaaram | Wristwatch on the right hand |
| Aanai puliyellaam | Even elephants and tigers |
| Adakum athigaram | The authority that subdues them |
| Female | |
| Neer pona pinnum | Even after you left |
| Nizhal mattum pogalayae pogalayae | Your shadow alone hasn't left, hasn't left |
| Nenjukuliyil nizhal vanthu | Into the pit of my heart, a shadow came |
| Vizhunthiruchu | And fell into it |
| Female | |
| Apa niminthava thaan | The girl who stood tall then |
| Aparama kuniyalayae kuniyalayae | Hasn't bent down since, hasn't bent down |
| Kodakambi pola manam | Like the rib of an umbrella, my heart |
| Kuthi nikkuthae | Stands upright and pokes out |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Female | |
| Nenjukkulla | Inside my heart |
| Umma mudinjirukken | I have bound you |
| Inga yethisaiyil | In which direction here |
| Yempozhappu vidinjirukko | Has my life dawned? |
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
Inside my heart
I have bound you
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
இங்க எத்திசையில்
எம்பொழப்பு விடிஞ்சிருக்கோ
வெள்ளை பார்வை
வீசிவிட்டீர் முன்னாடி
இத தாங்காத மனசு
தண்ணி பட்ட கண்ணாடி
Inside my heart
I have bound you
In which direction here
Has my life dawned?
An innocent glance
You cast before me
My heart unable to bear this
Is like a mirror touched by water
வண்ண மணியாரம்
வலதுகை கெடியாரம்
ஆனை புலியெல்லாம்
அடக்கும் அதிகாரம்
Colorful beaded garland
Wristwatch on the right hand
Even elephants and tigers
The authority that subdues them
நீர் போன பின்னும்
நிழல் மட்டும் போகலயே போகலயே
நெஞ்சுகுழியில் நிழல் வந்து
விழுந்துருச்சு
Even after you left
Your shadow alone hasn't left, hasn't left
Into the pit of my heart, a shadow came
And fell into it
அப்ப நிமிந்தவ தான்
அப்பறமா குனியலையே குனியலையே
கொடக்கம்பி போல மனம்
குத்தி நிக்குதே
The girl who stood tall then
Hasn't bent down since, hasn't bent down
Like the rib of an umbrella, my heart
Stands upright and pokes out
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
Inside my heart
I have bound you
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
இங்க எத்திசையில்
எம்பொழப்பு விடிஞ்சிருக்கோ
Inside my heart
I have bound you
In which direction here
Has my life dawned?
பச்சி ஒறங்கிருச்சு
பால் தயிரா தூங்கிருச்சு
இச்சி மரத்து மேல
எல கூட தூங்கிருச்சு
The bird has gone to sleep
Milk has slept into curd
Atop the fig tree
Even the leaf has fallen asleep
காச நோய்க்காரிகளும்
கண்ணுறங்கும் வேளையில
ஆச நோய் வந்தமக
அரைநிமிசம் தூங்கலையே...ஏ...ஏ...ஏ...
Even those suffering from tuberculosis
At the time when they sleep peacefully
Having been struck by the disease of love
I haven't slept even for half a minute
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
இங்க எத்திசையில்
எம்பொழப்பு விடிஞ்சிருக்கோ
Inside my heart
I have bound you
In which direction here
Has my life dawned?
ஒரு வாய் எறங்கலையே
உள் நாக்கு நனையலையே
ஏழெட்டு நாளா
எச்சில் முழுங்கலையே
Not a single morsel goes down
The inner tongue hasn't even moistened
For seven or eight days
I haven't even swallowed my saliva
ஏலே இளஞ்சிறுக்கி
ஏதோ சொல்ல முடியலையே
ரப்பர் வளவிக்கெல்லாம்
சத்தமிட வாயில்லையே
Hey young girl
I am unable to say something
For rubber bangles
There is no mouth to make a sound
ஓ நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
இங்க எத்திசையில்
எம்பொழப்பு விடிஞ்சிருக்கோ
வெள்ளை பார்வை
வீசிவிட்டீர் முன்னாடி
இத தாங்காத மனசு
தண்ணி பட்ட கண்ணாடி
Oh inside my heart
I have bound you
In which direction here
Has my life dawned?
An innocent glance
You cast before me
My heart unable to bear this
Is like a mirror touched by water
வண்ண மணியாரம்
வலதுகை கெடியாரம்
ஆனை புலியெல்லாம்
அடக்கும் அதிகாரம்
Colorful beaded garland
Wristwatch on the right hand
Even elephants and tigers
The authority that subdues them
நீர் போன பின்னும்
நிழல் மட்டும் போகலயே போகலயே
நெஞ்சுகுழியில் நிழல் வந்து
விழுந்துருச்சு
Even after you left
Your shadow alone hasn't left, hasn't left
Into the pit of my heart, a shadow came
And fell into it
அப்ப நிமிந்தவ தான்
அப்பறமா குனியலையே குனியலையே
கொடக்கம்பி போல மனம்
குத்தி நிக்குதே
The girl who stood tall then
Hasn't bent down since, hasn't bent down
Like the rib of an umbrella, my heart
Stands upright and pokes out
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
Inside my heart
I have bound you
நெஞ்சுக்குள்ள
உம்ம முடிஞ்சிருக்கேன்
இங்க எத்திசையில்
எம்பொழப்பு விடிஞ்சிருக்கோ
Inside my heart
I have bound you
In which direction here
Has my life dawned?
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Inga yethisaiyil
In which direction here
Yempozhappu vidinjirukko
Has my life dawned?
Vella paarva
An innocent glance
Veesiviteer munnadi
You cast before me
Itha thaangatha manasu
My heart unable to bear this
Thanni patta kannadi
Is like a mirror touched by water
Vanna maniyaaram
Colorful beaded garland
Valathukai kediyaaram
Wristwatch on the right hand
Aanai puliyellaam
Even elephants and tigers
Adakum athigaram
The authority that subdues them
Neer pona pinnum
Even after you left
Nizhal mattum pogalayae pogalayae
Your shadow alone hasn't left, hasn't left
Nenjukuliyil nizhal vanthu
Into the pit of my heart, a shadow came
Vizhunthiruchu
And fell into it
Apa niminthava thaan
The girl who stood tall then
Aparama kuniyalayae kuniyalayae
Hasn't bent down since, hasn't bent down
Kodakambi pola manam
Like the rib of an umbrella, my heart
Kuthi nikkuthae
Stands upright and pokes out
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Inga yethisaiyil
In which direction here
Yempozhappu vidinjirukko
Has my life dawned?
Pachi orangiruchu
The bird has gone to sleep
Paal thayiraa thoongiruchu
Milk has slept into curd
Ichi marathu mela
Atop the fig tree
Ela kuda thoongiruchu
Even the leaf has fallen asleep
Kaasa noikkaarigalum
Even those suffering from tuberculosis
Kannurangum velaiyila
At the time when they sleep peacefully
Aasa noi vanthamaga
Having been struck by the disease of love
Aranimisham thungalaiyae…ae…ae…ae..
I haven't slept even for half a minute
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Inga yethisaiyil
In which direction here
Yempozhappu vidinjirukko
Has my life dawned?
Oru vaai yerangalayae
Not a single morsel goes down
Ull naaku nanaiyalaiyae
The inner tongue hasn't even moistened
Ezhettu naala
For seven or eight days
Echil muzhungalaiyae
I haven't even swallowed my saliva
Yelae ilanchirukki
Hey young girl
Yetho solla mudiyalayae
I am unable to say something
Rubber valavikkellaam
For rubber bangles
Saththamida vaaiyillaiyae
There is no mouth to make a sound
Oh nenjukkulla
Oh inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Inga yethisaiyil
In which direction here
Yempozhappu vidinjirukko
Has my life dawned?
Vella paarva
An innocent glance
Veesiviteer munnadi
You cast before me
Itha thaangatha manasu
My heart unable to bear this
Thanni patta kannadi
Is like a mirror touched by water
Vanna maniyaaram
Colorful beaded garland
Valathukai kediyaaram
Wristwatch on the right hand
Aanai puliyellaam
Even elephants and tigers
Adakum athigaram
The authority that subdues them
Neer pona pinnum
Even after you left
Nizhal mattum pogalayae pogalayae
Your shadow alone hasn't left, hasn't left
Nenjukuliyil nizhal vanthu
Into the pit of my heart, a shadow came
Vizhunthiruchu
And fell into it
Apa niminthava thaan
The girl who stood tall then
Aparama kuniyalayae kuniyalayae
Hasn't bent down since, hasn't bent down
Kodakambi pola manam
Like the rib of an umbrella, my heart
Kuthi nikkuthae
Stands upright and pokes out
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Nenjukkulla
Inside my heart
Umma mudinjirukken
I have bound you
Inga yethisaiyil
In which direction here
Yempozhappu vidinjirukko
Has my life dawned?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
Nenjukkulla is a soulful acoustic folk-pop track from the film Kadal, expressing the intoxicating, restless experience of first love from a young woman's perspective. She describes how the captivating presence and gentle glance of her beloved have completely enveloped her, leaving her unable to sleep, eat, or concentrate while the rest of the world and nature rest around her. Vairamuthu's lyricism mixes raw rural metaphors with deep emotional vulnerability to capture the transformative power of love.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai)
“Thanni patta kannadi (Line 10 / Line 56) & Kodakambi pola manam (Line 21 / Line 67) - Comparing the heart to a water-splashed mirror and an unbending umbrella rib to depict emotional blurriness and rigid pride/devotion respectively.”
Metaphor & Personification
“Paal thayiraa thoongiruchu / Ela kuda thoongiruchu (Lines 30-32) - Personifying inanimate processes like milk fermenting into curd and tree leaves settling as 'sleeping'.”
Assonance & Internal Rhyme (Ethirai / Monai)
“Vanna maniyaaram / Valathukai kediyaaram (Lines 11-12 / Lines 57-58) - Rhythmic folk alignment of words to create natural melodic flow.”
Did you know?
Trivia
Nenjukkulla was famously unveiled live on MTV Unplugged India prior to the official audio launch of the film Kadal. Composed by A. R. Rahman, sung by Shaktisree Gopalan, and written by Vairamuthu, the live performance became an instant viral hit and catapulted singer Shaktisree Gopalan to fame.
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