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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Nenjukulle

From Kadal · 2012

Lyricist: Vairamuthu
Singers: Shakthisree Gopalan, A. R. Rahman
Music director: A. R. Rahman
Movie name: Kadal
Movie release year: 2012
Lyrics added on: 21 Aug 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Inga yethisaiyil

Yempozhappu vidinjirukko

Vella paarva

Veesiviteer munnadi

Itha thaangatha manasu

Thanni patta kannadi

Vanna maniyaaram

Valathukai kediyaaram

Aanai puliyellaam

Adakum athigaram

Neer pona pinnum

Nizhal mattum pogalayae pogalayae

Nenjukuliyil nizhal vanthu

Vizhunthiruchu

Apa niminthava thaan

Aparama kuniyalayae kuniyalayae

Kodakambi pola manam

Kuthi nikkuthae

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Inga yethisaiyil

Yempozhappu vidinjirukko

Pachi orangiruchu

Paal thayiraa thoongiruchu

Ichi marathu mela

Ela kuda thoongiruchu

Kaasa noikkaarigalum

Kannurangum velaiyila

Aasa noi vanthamaga

Aranimisham thungalaiyae…ae…ae…ae..

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Inga yethisaiyil

Yempozhappu vidinjirukko

Oru vaai yerangalayae

Ull naaku nanaiyalaiyae

Ezhettu naala

Echil muzhungalaiyae

Yelae ilanchirukki

Yetho solla mudiyalayae

Rubber valavikkellaam

Saththamida vaaiyillaiyae

Oh nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Inga yethisaiyil

Yempozhappu vidinjirukko

Vella paarva

Veesiviteer munnadi

Itha thaangatha manasu

Thanni patta kannadi

Vanna maniyaaram

Valathukai kediyaaram

Aanai puliyellaam

Adakum athigaram

Neer pona pinnum

Nizhal mattum pogalayae pogalayae

Nenjukuliyil nizhal vanthu

Vizhunthiruchu

Apa niminthava thaan

Aparama kuniyalayae kuniyalayae

Kodakambi pola manam

Kuthi nikkuthae

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Nenjukkulla

Umma mudinjirukken

Inga yethisaiyil

Yempozhappu vidinjirukko

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

In which direction, I wonder,

has dawn broken over my life?

A pure and gentle glance

you cast toward me.

Unable to bear its touch, my heart

is like glass sprinkled with water.

A colorful beaded necklace,

a watch on your right wrist,

and the commanding presence

that could tame elephants and tigers!

Even after you walked away,

your shadow just wouldn't leave, wouldn't leave.

Right into the depths of my heart,

that shadow came and settled.

The head I lifted then

hasn't bowed down since, hasn't bowed at all.

Like the rib of an umbrella,

my heart stands taut and pierced.

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

In which direction, I wonder,

has dawn broken over my life?

The birds have gone to sleep;

the milk has rested into curd.

Up in the wild fig tree,

even the leaves have fallen asleep.

Even those suffering from sickness

fall asleep at this hour,

yet this girl struck by the ache of love

hasn't slept for even half a minute...

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

In which direction, I wonder,

has dawn broken over my life?

Not a single morsel goes down;

my throat hasn't even grown wet.

For seven or eight days now,

I haven't even swallowed my own spit.

Hey young girl,

there's something I just cannot say.

Rubber bangles, after all,

have no voice to make a sound.

Oh, inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

In which direction, I wonder,

has dawn broken over my life?

A pure and gentle glance

you cast toward me.

Unable to bear its touch, my heart

is like glass sprinkled with water.

A colorful beaded necklace,

a watch on your right wrist,

and the commanding presence

that could tame elephants and tigers!

Even after you walked away,

your shadow just wouldn't leave, wouldn't leave.

Right into the depths of my heart,

that shadow came and settled.

The head I lifted then

hasn't bowed down since, hasn't bowed at all.

Like the rib of an umbrella,

my heart stands taut and pierced.

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

Inside my heart,

I have tied you up tight.

In which direction, I wonder,

has dawn broken over my life?

Female

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Female

Female

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Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

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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