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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nimmathi Enna Vilai

From Jallikattu Kaalai · 1994

Lyricist
Kalidasan
Singer
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam
Music director
Deva
Details
Jallikattu Kaalai1994

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Ooo….ooo….oo….Ooo….ooo….oo….
Ooo….ooo….oo….Ooo….ooo….oo….
Male
Nimmathi enna vilaiWhat is the price of peace of mind?
Sonnaal vaanguvaen intha bhoomiyilaeTell me, and I will buy it on this earth.
Male
Nimmathi enna vilaiWhat is the price of peace of mind?
Sonnaal vaanguvaen intha bhoomiyilaeTell me, and I will buy it on this earth.
Naan sonnathai nambavillaiYou didn't believe what I told you,
Adiyae adhu yaen en poonguyilOh my dear, why is that, my gentle cuckoo?
Male
Adi ooraar sollivittaalIf the villagers said it,
Adhil niyaayam thavaraagumJustice in that might go wrong.
Adhai neeyae sollivittaaiBut you yourself said it to me;
Naan ariyaen oru paavamI know not of any sin I committed.
Ennuyirae ennuyirae ennuyirae…..My soul, my soul, my soul...
Male
Nimmathi enna vilaiWhat is the price of peace of mind?
Sonnaal vaanguvaen intha bhoomiyilaeTell me, and I will buy it on this earth.
Chorus
………………
Male
Nimmathi kodukkum sannathi endrae odinaenI ran to you thinking you were the sanctuary that gives peace.
Sannathi adaiththaal dheivaththai engae theduvaenIf the sanctuary itself is closed, where will I search for God?
Nimmathi kodukkum sannathi endrae odinaenI ran to you thinking you were the sanctuary that gives peace.
Sannathi adaiththaal dheivaththai engae theduvaenIf the sanctuary itself is closed, where will I search for God?
Male
Manthinilae idi vizhunthaal adhai naan thaanguvaenIf lightning strikes my heart, I can endure it;
Marupadiyum manaiviyai naan engae vaanguvaenWhere can I find another wife again?
Male
Naan vellamillaa aattrinilae neenthum odamaaAm I a boat floating in a dry river without water?
Adi nallavarkku sodhanaithaan vaazhvin paadamaaIs testing good people the ultimate lesson of life?
Thodaathae endru sonna naayagi hahha….Oh my lady who told me not to touch her, ha ha...
Male
Nimmathi enna vilaiWhat is the price of peace of mind?
Sonnaal vaanguvaen intha bhoomiyilaeTell me, and I will buy it on this earth.
Chorus
………………
Male
Thaaikku pinnaalae thaaramendraal adhan porulennaIf they say a wife comes next to a mother, what is the meaning of that?
Thalaividhi enbathu manaiviyendraal en mudivennaIf my wife becomes my ill fate, what will be my end?
Thaaikku pinnaalae thaaramendraal adhan porulennaIf they say a wife comes next to a mother, what is the meaning of that?
Thalaividhi enbathu manaiviyendraal en mudivennaIf my wife becomes my ill fate, what will be my end?
Male
Thanaimaiyilae ilamaigalin kaalam poguthaeThe golden days of youth are slipping away in solitude.
Uravirunthum pirivinilae idhayam noguthaeDespite having a relationship, the heart aches in separation.
Male
Nee kandathoru kaatchiyathu maayamthaanadiWhat you witnessed was merely an optical illusion, my dear.
Naan unmaiyaiththaan solvathendraal saatchi yaedhadiIf I am to speak the truth, where is the witness to prove it?
Thodaathae endru sonna naayagi hahha….Oh my lady who told me not to touch her, ha ha...
Male
Nimmathi enna vilaiWhat is the price of peace of mind?
Sonnaal vaanguvaen intha bhoomiyilaeTell me, and I will buy it on this earth.
Naan sonnathai nambavillaiYou didn't believe what I told you,
Adiyae adhu yean en poonguyilaeOh my dear, why is that, my gentle cuckoo?
Male
Adi ooraar sollivittaalIf the villagers said it,
Adhil niyaayam thavaraagumJustice in that might go wrong.
Adhai neeyae sollivittaaiBut you yourself said it to me;
Naan ariyaen oru paavamI know not of any sin I committed.
Ennuyirae ennuyirae ennuyirae…..My soul, my soul, my soul...

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This poignant song depicts the anguish of a husband who has been falsely accused and rejected by his wife due to a misunderstanding or optical illusion she witnessed. Deeply hurt by her refusal to trust him, he questions the value of peace of mind and laments how his youth and love are being squandered in painful separation despite being married.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Nimmathi kodukkum sannathi endrae odinaen

The speaker compares his beloved wife to a divine sanctuary ('sannathi') that bestows peace of mind.

Metaphor

Naan vellamillaa aattrinilae neenthum odamaa

The protagonist compares his helpless situation to a boat attempting to sail in a dry river without water.

Rhetorical Question

Nimmathi enna vilai

The singer asks what price peace of mind costs, emphasizing his desperate state of mental agony.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Thaaikku pinnaalae thaaramendraal adhan porulenna

Repetition of the initial 'Tha' sound in 'Thaaikku' and 'thaaramendraal'.

Did you know?

Trivia

'Jallikattu Kaalai' (1994) features music composed by Deva, with lyrics penned by Kalidasan. The film stars Prabhu and Kanaka in the lead roles.

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