Netru Illadha Matram
From Pudhiya Mugam · 1993
- Lyricist
- Vairamuthu
- Singer
- Sujatha
- Music director
- A. R. Rahman
- Details
- Pudhiya Mugam1993
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Female | |
| {Netru illatha matram ennathu | {What is this change that wasn't there yesterday? |
| Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu | The wind whispered something in my ear. |
| Ithu thaan kaadhal enbadha | Is this what they call love? |
| Ilamai pongivitatha | Has youth overflowed? |
| Idhayam sindhivitatha | Has the heart spilled over? |
| Sol maname…..} (2) | Tell me, my heart...} (2) |
| Female | |
| Kadavul illai endren.. | I said God did not exist... |
| Thayai kannum varai | ...until I saw a mother. |
| Kanavu illai endren.. | I said dreams did not exist... |
| Aasai thondrum varai | ...until desire arose. |
| Kaadhal poi endru sonnen.. | I said love was a lie... |
| Unnai kannum varai… | ...until I saw you. |
| Female | |
| Kavithai variyin suvai.. | The true taste of a poem's line... |
| Artham puriyum varai | ...lasts until its meaning is understood. |
| Gangai neerin suvai.. | The sweetness of Ganges water... |
| Kadalil serrum varai | ...lasts until it joins the sea. |
| Kaadhal suvai ondru thanae.. | The sweet taste of love alone... |
| Kaatru veesum varai…. | ...will last as long as the wind blows. |
| Female | |
| Netru illatha matram ennathu | What is this change that wasn't there yesterday? |
| Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu | The wind whispered something in my ear. |
| Ithu thaan kaadhal enbadha | Is this what they call love? |
| Ilamai pongivitatha | Has youth overflowed? |
| Idhayam sindhivitatha | Has the heart spilled over? |
| Sol maname…. | Tell me, my heart... |
| Female | |
| Netru illatha matram ennathu | What is this change that wasn't there yesterday? |
| Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu | The wind whispered something in my ear. |
| Female | |
| Vaanam illamalae | Without the sky, |
| Boomi undagalaam | the earth might exist. |
| Varthai ilaamalae | Without words, |
| Bashai undagalaam | a language might exist. |
| Kaadhal ilamal ponal | If love ceases to exist, |
| Vazhkai undagumaa… | can life ever exist? |
| Female | |
| Vaasam illamalae | Without fragrance, |
| Vanna poo pookalam | a colorful flower might bloom. |
| Vasal ilamalae | Without a doorway, |
| Kaatru vandhadalam | the breeze might still enter. |
| Nesam ilaatha vazhvil | In a life without affection, |
| Paasam undagumaa… | can genuine love ever bloom? |
| Female | |
| {Netru illatha matram ennathu | {What is this change that wasn't there yesterday? |
| Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu | The wind whispered something in my ear. |
| Ithu thaan kaadhal enbadha | Is this what they call love? |
| Ilamai pongivitatha | Has youth overflowed? |
| Idhayam sindhivitatha | Has the heart spilled over? |
| Sol maname….} (2) | Tell me, my heart...} (2) |
{ நேற்று இல்லாத
மாற்றம் என்னது காற்று
என் காதில் ஏதோ
சொன்னது இதுதான் காதல்
என்பதா இளமை பொங்கி
விட்டதா இதயம் சிந்தி
விட்டதா சொல் மனமே } (2)
{What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Is this what they call love?
Has youth overflowed?
Has the heart spilled over?
Tell me, my heart...} (2)
கடவுள் இல்லை
என்றேன் தாயை காணும்
வரை கனவு இல்லை
என்றேன் ஆசை தோன்றும்
வரை காதல் பொய் என்று
சொன்னேன் உன்னை
காணும் வரை
I said God did not exist...
...until I saw a mother.
I said dreams did not exist...
...until desire arose.
I said love was a lie...
...until I saw you.
கவிதை
வரியின் சுவை
அர்த்தம் புரியும்
வரை கங்கை நீரின்
சுவை கடலில் சேரும்
வரை காதல் சுவை
ஒன்றுதானே காற்று
வீசும் வரை
The true taste of a poem's line...
...lasts until its meaning is understood.
The sweetness of Ganges water...
...lasts until it joins the sea.
The sweet taste of love alone...
...will last as long as the wind blows.
நேற்று இல்லாத
மாற்றம் என்னது காற்று
என் காதில் ஏதோ
சொன்னது இதுதான் காதல்
என்பதா இளமை பொங்கி
விட்டதா இதயம் சிந்தி
விட்டதா சொல் மனமே
What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Is this what they call love?
Has youth overflowed?
Has the heart spilled over?
Tell me, my heart...
நேற்று இல்லாத
மாற்றம் என்னது காற்று
என் காதில் ஏதோ
சொன்னது
What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
The wind whispered something in my ear.
வானம்
இல்லாமலே பூமி
உண்டாகலாம்
வார்த்தை இல்லாமலே
பாஷை உண்டாகலாம்
காதல் இல்லாமல் போனால்
வாழ்க்கை உண்டாகுமா
Without the sky,
the earth might exist.
Without words,
a language might exist.
If love ceases to exist,
can life ever exist?
வாசம்
இல்லாமலே வண்ண
பூ பூக்கலாம் வாசல்
இல்லாமலே காற்று
வந்தாடலாம் நேசம்
இல்லாத வாழ்வில்
பாசம் உண்டாகுமா
Without fragrance,
a colorful flower might bloom.
Without a doorway,
the breeze might still enter.
In a life without affection,
can genuine love ever bloom?
{ நேற்று இல்லாத
மாற்றம் என்னது காற்று
என் காதில் ஏதோ
சொன்னது இதுதான் காதல்
என்பதா இளமை பொங்கி
விட்டதா இதயம் சிந்தி
விட்டதா சொல் மனமே } (2)
{What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Is this what they call love?
Has youth overflowed?
Has the heart spilled over?
Tell me, my heart...} (2)
{Netru illatha matram ennathu
{What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Ithu thaan kaadhal enbadha
Is this what they call love?
Ilamai pongivitatha
Has youth overflowed?
Idhayam sindhivitatha
Has the heart spilled over?
Sol maname…..} (2)
Tell me, my heart...} (2)
Kadavul illai endren..
I said God did not exist...
Thayai kannum varai
...until I saw a mother.
Kanavu illai endren..
I said dreams did not exist...
Aasai thondrum varai
...until desire arose.
Kaadhal poi endru sonnen..
I said love was a lie...
Unnai kannum varai…
...until I saw you.
Kavithai variyin suvai..
The true taste of a poem's line...
Artham puriyum varai
...lasts until its meaning is understood.
Gangai neerin suvai..
The sweetness of Ganges water...
Kadalil serrum varai
...lasts until it joins the sea.
Kaadhal suvai ondru thanae..
The sweet taste of love alone...
Kaatru veesum varai….
...will last as long as the wind blows.
Netru illatha matram ennathu
What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Ithu thaan kaadhal enbadha
Is this what they call love?
Ilamai pongivitatha
Has youth overflowed?
Idhayam sindhivitatha
Has the heart spilled over?
Sol maname….
Tell me, my heart...
Netru illatha matram ennathu
What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Vaanam illamalae
Without the sky,
Boomi undagalaam
the earth might exist.
Varthai ilaamalae
Without words,
Bashai undagalaam
a language might exist.
Kaadhal ilamal ponal
If love ceases to exist,
Vazhkai undagumaa…
can life ever exist?
Vaasam illamalae
Without fragrance,
Vanna poo pookalam
a colorful flower might bloom.
Vasal ilamalae
Without a doorway,
Kaatru vandhadalam
the breeze might still enter.
Nesam ilaatha vazhvil
In a life without affection,
Paasam undagumaa…
can genuine love ever bloom?
{Netru illatha matram ennathu
{What is this change that wasn't there yesterday?
Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu
The wind whispered something in my ear.
Ithu thaan kaadhal enbadha
Is this what they call love?
Ilamai pongivitatha
Has youth overflowed?
Idhayam sindhivitatha
Has the heart spilled over?
Sol maname….} (2)
Tell me, my heart...} (2)
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This classic romantic song captures the subtle, awakening epiphany of falling in love for the first time. The protagonist reflects on an inexplicable overnight transformation within themselves, questioning whether this overwhelming feeling of joy and vulnerability is indeed love. The lyrics express how the presence of the beloved gives real meaning to abstract concepts like passion, beauty, and life itself. Through poetic analogies, Vairamuthu elevates love from a mere emotion to an essential element of existence. Just as a mother's selfless affection proves the existence of God, meeting one's soulmate validates the truth of love. The song poetically argues that while physical phenomena might exist without their natural conditions, human life is fundamentally empty and meaningless without love and affection.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Personification
“Katru en kaathil etho sonnathu”
The wind is personified as a companion whispering secrets into the protagonist's ear.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Ilamai pongivitatha / Idhayam sindhivitatha”
Both lines end with the matching rhythmic suffix '-vitatha', creating melodic symmetry.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Vaanam illamalae / Varthai ilaamalae”
The second letter/sound structure pairs poetically across consecutive lines ('aa' sound).
Analogy / Metaphor
“Kadavul illai endren.. Thayai kannum varai”
Compares seeing a mother's love to discovering divine existence, setting up a parallel for discovering love upon seeing the beloved.
Did you know?
Trivia
Although listed with unknown composer and singers in the prompt, 'Netru Illatha Matram' is one of A. R. Rahman's iconic early hits from 'Pudhiya Mugam' (1993), featuring vocals by Sujatha Mohan and Unni Menon. Sujatha's soothing rendition earned her widespread critical acclaim and established this track as a timeless Tamil romantic classic.
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