Netru Varai Nee Yaaro
From Vaazhkai Padagu · 1965
- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- P. B. Sreenivas
- Music director
- Vishwanathan-Ramamoorthy
- Details
- Vaazhkai Padagu1965
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro | Until yesterday, who were you and who was I? |
| Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero | From today onwards, can we ever be apart? |
| Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro | Until yesterday, who were you and who was I? |
| Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero | From today onwards, can we ever be apart? |
| Kaanum varai nee engae naan engae | Until we met, where were you and where was I? |
| Kandavudan nee ingae naan angae | The moment we met, you are here in me and I am there in you! |
| Male | |
| Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro | Until yesterday, who were you and who was I? |
| Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero | From today onwards, can we ever be apart? |
| Male | |
| Unnai naan paarkkum podhu | When I look directly at you, |
| Mannai nee paarkkindraayae | You look down at the ground in bashfulness. |
| Unnai naan paarkkum podhu | When I look directly at you, |
| Mannai nee paarkkindraayae | You look down at the ground in bashfulness. |
| Male | |
| Vinnai naan paarkkum podhu | When I look up towards the sky, |
| Ennai nee paarkkindraayae | You turn your eyes to look at me. |
| Vinnai naan paarkkum podhu | When I look up towards the sky, |
| Ennai nee paarkkindraayae | You turn your eyes to look at me. |
| Male | |
| Naerilae paarthaal enna | What harm comes if you look at me directly? |
| Nilavenna thaeindhaa pogum | Will the moon wane and fade away? |
| Punnagai purindhaal enna | What harm comes if you smile softly? |
| Poo mugam sivandhaa pogum | Will your flower-like face blush and turn red? |
| Male | |
| Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro | Until yesterday, who were you and who was I? |
| Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero | From today onwards, can we ever be apart? |
| Male | |
| Paavai un mugathai kanden | In you, my maiden, I saw a beautiful face, |
| Thaamarai malarai kanden | I saw a blossoming lotus flower. |
| Paavai un mugathai kanden | In you, my maiden, I saw a beautiful face, |
| Thaamarai malarai kanden | I saw a blossoming lotus flower. |
| Male | |
| Kovai pol idhazhai kanden | I saw lips as red as the ivy gourd fruit, |
| Kuguma chimizhai kanden | I saw a delicate box of vermilion. |
| Kovai pol idhazhai kanden | I saw lips as red as the ivy gourd fruit, |
| Kuguma chimizhai kanden | I saw a delicate box of vermilion. |
| Male | |
| Vandhadhae kanavo endru | Wondering if all this joy was merely a dream, |
| Vaadinen thaniyae nindru | I stood alone and withered in sadness. |
| Vandu pol vandhaai indru | Like a honeybee, you came to me today, |
| Mayanginen unnai kandu | And seeing you, I became completely entranced. |
| Male | |
| Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro | Until yesterday, who were you and who was I? |
| Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero | From today onwards, can we ever be apart? |
| Kaanum varai nee engae naan engae | Until we met, where were you and where was I? |
| Kandavudan nee ingae naan angae | The moment we met, you are here in me and I am there in you! |
| Male | |
| Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro | Until yesterday, who were you and who was I? |
| Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero | From today onwards, can we ever be apart? |
நேற்று வரை நீ யாரோ நான் யாரோ
இன்று முதல் நீ வேறோ நான் வேறோ
நேற்று வரை நீ யாரோ நான் யாரோ
இன்று முதல் நீ வேறோ நான் வேறோ
காணும் வரை நீ எங்கே நான் எங்கே
கண்டவுடன் நீ இங்கே நான் இங்கே
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Until we met, where were you and where was I?
The moment we met, you are here in me and I am there in you!
நேற்று வரை நீ யாரோ நான் யாரோ
இன்று முதல் நீ வேறோ நான் வேறோ
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
உன்னை நான் பார்க்கும் போது
மண்ணை நீ பார்க்கின்றாயே.....
உன்னை நான் பார்க்கும் போது
மண்ணை நீ பார்க்கின்றாயே....
When I look directly at you,
You look down at the ground in bashfulness.
When I look directly at you,
You look down at the ground in bashfulness.
விண்ணை நான் பார்க்கும் போது
என்னை நீ பார்க்கின்றாயே
விண்ணை நான் பார்க்கும் போது
என்னை நீ பார்க்கின்றாயே
When I look up towards the sky,
You turn your eyes to look at me.
When I look up towards the sky,
You turn your eyes to look at me.
நேரிலே பார்த்தால் என்ன
நிலவென்ன தேய்ந்தா போகும்
புன்னகை புரிந்தால் என்ன
பூ முகம் சிவந்தா போகும்
What harm comes if you look at me directly?
Will the moon wane and fade away?
What harm comes if you smile softly?
Will your flower-like face blush and turn red?
நேற்று வரை நீ யாரோ நான் யாரோ
இன்று முதல் நீ வேறோ நான் வேறோ
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
பாவை உன் முகத்தை கண்டேன்
தாமரை மலரை கண்டேன்
பாவை உன் முகத்தை கண்டேன்
தாமரை மலரை கண்டேன்
In you, my maiden, I saw a beautiful face,
I saw a blossoming lotus flower.
In you, my maiden, I saw a beautiful face,
I saw a blossoming lotus flower.
கோவை போல் இதழை கண்டேன்
குங்குமச் சிமிழைக் கண்டேன்
கோவை போல் இதழை கண்டேன்
குங்குமச் சிமிழைக் கண்டேன்
I saw lips as red as the ivy gourd fruit,
I saw a delicate box of vermilion.
I saw lips as red as the ivy gourd fruit,
I saw a delicate box of vermilion.
வந்ததே கனவோ என்று
வாடினேன் தனியே நின்று
வண்டு போல் வந்தாய் இன்று
மயங்கினேன் உன்னை கண்டு
Wondering if all this joy was merely a dream,
I stood alone and withered in sadness.
Like a honeybee, you came to me today,
And seeing you, I became completely entranced.
நேற்று வரை நீ யாரோ நான் யாரோ
இன்று முதல் நீ வேறோ நான் வேறோ
காணும் வரை நீ எங்கே நான் எங்கே
கண்டவுடன் நீ இங்கே நான் இங்கே
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Until we met, where were you and where was I?
The moment we met, you are here in me and I am there in you!
நேற்று வரை நீ யாரோ நான் யாரோ
இன்று முதல் நீ வேறோ நான் வேறோ
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Kaanum varai nee engae naan engae
Until we met, where were you and where was I?
Kandavudan nee ingae naan angae
The moment we met, you are here in me and I am there in you!
Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Unnai naan paarkkum podhu
When I look directly at you,
Mannai nee paarkkindraayae
You look down at the ground in bashfulness.
Unnai naan paarkkum podhu
When I look directly at you,
Mannai nee paarkkindraayae
You look down at the ground in bashfulness.
Vinnai naan paarkkum podhu
When I look up towards the sky,
Ennai nee paarkkindraayae
You turn your eyes to look at me.
Vinnai naan paarkkum podhu
When I look up towards the sky,
Ennai nee paarkkindraayae
You turn your eyes to look at me.
Naerilae paarthaal enna
What harm comes if you look at me directly?
Nilavenna thaeindhaa pogum
Will the moon wane and fade away?
Punnagai purindhaal enna
What harm comes if you smile softly?
Poo mugam sivandhaa pogum
Will your flower-like face blush and turn red?
Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Paavai un mugathai kanden
In you, my maiden, I saw a beautiful face,
Thaamarai malarai kanden
I saw a blossoming lotus flower.
Paavai un mugathai kanden
In you, my maiden, I saw a beautiful face,
Thaamarai malarai kanden
I saw a blossoming lotus flower.
Kovai pol idhazhai kanden
I saw lips as red as the ivy gourd fruit,
Kuguma chimizhai kanden
I saw a delicate box of vermilion.
Kovai pol idhazhai kanden
I saw lips as red as the ivy gourd fruit,
Kuguma chimizhai kanden
I saw a delicate box of vermilion.
Vandhadhae kanavo endru
Wondering if all this joy was merely a dream,
Vaadinen thaniyae nindru
I stood alone and withered in sadness.
Vandu pol vandhaai indru
Like a honeybee, you came to me today,
Mayanginen unnai kandu
And seeing you, I became completely entranced.
Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Kaanum varai nee engae naan engae
Until we met, where were you and where was I?
Kandavudan nee ingae naan angae
The moment we met, you are here in me and I am there in you!
Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro
Until yesterday, who were you and who was I?
Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero
From today onwards, can we ever be apart?
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
'Naetru Varai Nee Yaaro' is a timeless romantic duet from the 1965 Tamil movie 'Vaazhkai Padagu'. The song beautifully captures the transformation of two strangers into soulmates upon falling in love. The chorus reflects on how two separate lives, previously unaware of each other's existence, suddenly become inseparable and intertwined. The verses feature playful romantic banter between the lovers. The male protagonist teases the female lead for her shy bashfulness—noticing how she looks at the ground when he gazes at her, yet steals glances at him the moment he looks away. He praises her radiant beauty using classic Tamil literary tropes, comparing her face to a lotus and her lips to bright red berries. The female lead expresses her own longing and delight at his arrival, comparing him to a bee drawing close to a flower.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Iyaipu (End Rhyme)
“Naetru varai nee yaaro naan yaaro / Indru mudhal nee vaero naan vaero”
The repeating end sounds 'yaaro' and 'vaero' create a rhythmic, melodic cadence throughout the chorus.
Simile (Uvamai)
“Kovai pol idhazhai kanden”
The lyricist explicitly compares the lady's red lips to the ripe Kovai fruit (ivy gourd) using the comparison word 'pol' (like).
Simile (Uvamai)
“Vandu pol vandhaai indru”
The lover's sudden and welcome arrival is compared to a honeybee ('vandu') hovering around a blossom.
Ethugai (Second-letter Rhyme)
“Unnai naan paarkkum podhu / Vinnai naan paarkkum podhu”
The second letter 'n' (ன/ண்) in 'Unnai' and 'Vinnai' creates a classic Tamil second-letter rhyme.
Monai (First-letter Alliteration)
“Kaanum varai nee engae... / Kandavudan nee ingae...”
The repetition of the initial 'K' sound ('Kaanum' / 'Kandavudan') creates pleasant head alliteration.
Did you know?
Trivia
The song 'Naetru Varai Nee Yaaro' from 'Vaazhkai Padagu' (1965) features music composed by the legendary duo Viswanathan–Ramamoorthy and vocals by P.B. Sreenivas and P. Susheela. Written by Kannadasan, this track remains one of the most famous romantic duets in Tamil cinema, picturized on 'Kaadhal Mannan' Gemini Ganesan and Devika. The song's playful lyrics on courtship and bashful glances made it an enduring classic of 1960s Tamil film music.
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