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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nethu Vara Yarodu

From Vaazhga Valarga · 1987

Lyricist
Isaignani Ilayaraja
Singers
S. Janaki, Mano
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Vaazhga Valarga1987

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Lalala laa… lalala la laa…Lalala laa… lalala la laa…
Lala lalala laa… lala lalala laa…Lala lalala laa… lala lalala laa…
Lalala lalala laa… lalala lalala laa…Lalala lalala laa… lalala lalala laa…
Lallaa lallaa lallaaLallaa lallaa lallaa
Male
Naethu vara yaaroduRegardless of who you were with
Nee irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Kandu kolla maattenae kanni pombalaI won't mind it, my young girl
Haa naethu vara yaaroduHaa, regardless of who you were with
Nee irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Kandu kolla maattenae kanni pombalaI won't mind it, my young girl
Ippa nee en kooda irukkuradhu thaanaeNow you are here with me, aren't you?
Seppu kodam pola sirikkiradhu thaanaeSmiling bright like a polished brass pot, aren't you?
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi kanni pombalaHey, it is true, it is true, my young girl
Adha othu kollu othu kollu chinna pombalaAdmit it, admit it, my little girl
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi kanni pombalaHey, it is true, it is true, my young girl
Adha othu kollu othu kollu chinna pombalaAdmit it, admit it, my little girl
Male
Haa naethu vara yaaroduHaa, regardless of who you were with
Nee irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Kandu kolla maattenae kanni pombalaI won't mind it, my young girl
Male
Poovaa em maela nee saanjaaIf you lean on me like a soft flower
Boomi thannaala saanjaadumThe earth sways on its own
Female
Boomi ingae adhu nee thaanaeFor me, you are the earth right here
Poovaa poothaen naan om maelaI blossomed like a flower for you
Male
Vaadi themmaangu paadiCome, singing a folk melody
Vaada kaathukku nee jodiYou are the perfect companion to the northern wind
Female
Vanna mayil kungumathil neeraadiLike a colorful peacock bathing in vermillion
On vaasalukku vandhirukku en saamiMy Lord has arrived at your doorstep
Em mannanukku sangadhiya sollaattiIf I don't break this news to my king
Ada yaaru kitta povaa un seemaattiHey, to whom else will your lady go?
Male
Andhiyila vekkum pandhi idhu illaThis is not a feast served late at night
Mundhi adha sonnaa sangadamum illaThere is no harm in expressing it earlier
Sangu sakkara saami sakkaraSweet sugar of the Lord with conch and discus
Pangu vekkira romba akkaraSharing with so much love and care
Female
Naethu vara yaarodaRegardless of who I was with
Naan irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Adha marandhu ponenI forgot all about that
Em machaan unnaalaMy dear man, all because of you
Ippa nee en kooda irukkuradhu thaanaeNow you are here with me, aren't you?
Seppu kodam pola sirikkiradhu thaanaeSmiling bright like a polished brass pot, aren't you?
Unmai idhu unmai idhu chinna machaanaeThis is true, this is true, my young man
Othu konden othu konden karutha machaanaeI accept it, I accept it, my dark-complexioned man
Female
Naethu vara yaarodaRegardless of who I was with
Naan irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Adha marandhu ponenI forgot all about that
Em machaan unnaalaMy dear man, all because of you
Female
Kaeni thanneerum aathodaEven well water doesn't flow into the river
Thaanaa pogaadhu em maamaaOn its own, my beloved uncle
Male
Oda thanneeru oru naalumAnd stream water will never
Oruthan nelathula paayaadhuFlow onto someone's land on its own
Female
Paathaa en dhaagam theeraadhuJust looking won't quench my thirst
Kai saethaa un aasa maaraadhuUnless hands join, your desire won't fade
Male
Paattukku pakka melam nee thaan deeYou are the accompanying beat to my song, my girl
En koottukku pen jodi nee thaan deeYou are the female partner for my group, my girl
Kaattukku kattila kondaa deeBring a cot out to the forest, my girl
Ada veettukku thottilae venaa deeHey, don't we need a cradle for our house, my girl?
Female
Sandhaiyila paathaa sandhanathu thaeraeYou look like a sandalwood chariot seen in the market
En singathukku naanum seeru onna thaarenI shall present a dowry to my lion-like man
Sangu sakkara saami sakkaraSweet sugar of the Lord with conch and discus
Pangu vekkira romba akkaraSharing with so much love and care
Male
Naethu vara yaaroduRegardless of who you were with
Nee irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Kandu kolla maattenae kanni pombalaI won't mind it, my young girl
Haa naethu vara yaaroduHaa, regardless of who you were with
Nee irundhaalumUntil yesterday
Kandu kolla maattenae kanni pombalaI won't mind it, my young girl
Ippa nee en kooda irukkuradhu thaanaeNow you are here with me, aren't you?
Seppu kodam pola sirikkiradhu thaanaeSmiling bright like a polished brass pot, aren't you?
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi kanni pombalaHey, it is true, it is true, my young girl
Adha othu kollu othu kollu chinna pombalaAdmit it, admit it, my little girl
Ada unmaiyadi unmaiyadi kanni pombalaHey, it is true, it is true, my young girl
Adha othu kollu othu kollu chinna pombala haaAdmit it, admit it, my little girl, haa
Female
Naethu vara yaaroda naan irundhaalumRegardless of who I was with until yesterday
Male
HaehhaeHaehhae
Female
Adha marandhu ponenI forgot all about that
Em machaan unnaalaMy dear man, all because of you
Male
ThanakkadaThanakkada
Female
Naethu vara yaaroda naan irundhaalumRegardless of who I was with until yesterday
Male
HaehhaeHaehhae
Female
Adha marandhu ponenI forgot all about that
Em machaan unnaalaMy dear man, all because of you

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

'Naethu Vara Yaarodu' is a vibrant Tamil folk duet that depicts a playful and affectionate conversation between two lovers. The male partner begins by assuring his lover that whatever past she had does not matter to him, as long as she is with him now and bringing joy into his present. The female partner reciprocates by confessing that meeting him has erased all her memories of the past, completely cementing her devotion to him. The song is rich with rustic imagery and traditional idioms—referencing brass pots, sandalwood chariots, stream waters, and wedding customs. Through rhythmic banter and romantic teasing, the lovers acknowledge their shared bond, transitioning from playful banter about their pasts to accepting their future together.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Uvamai Ani (Simile)

Seppu kodam pola sirikkiradhu thaanae

Compares her bright, cheerful smile directly to a polished, shining brass pot ('seppu kodam pola').

Uruvagam (Metaphor)

Sandhaiyila paathaa sandhanathu thaerae

Metaphorically addresses the beloved as a decorative 'sandalwood chariot' seen at a market fair.

Monai (Alliteration)

Sangu sakkara saami sakkara

Repetition of the initial sound 'Sa' across consecutive words creating a rhythmic, musical flow.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Unmaiyadi unmaiyadi kanni pombala / Adha othu kollu othu kollu chinna pombala

Rhyming endings with 'pombala' across adjacent lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

This song features lyrics penned by Isaignani Ilaiyaraaja, highlighting his versatile talent not only as a renowned music director but also as a lyricist well-versed in rural Tamil folk idioms, cultural metaphors, and rhythmic poetry.

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