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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Ninaivugal Nenjinil

From Autograph · 2004

Lyricists
Not listed
Singer
Unni Menon
Music director
Bharathwaj
Details
Autograph2004

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ninaivugal nenjinil pudhainthathinaalBecause memories are buried inside my heart,
Neruppaal enthan nenjai sudugindrenI burn my own heart with fire.
Un uruvam kangalilae pathinthathinaalBecause your image is etched in my eyes,
Kanneer vittu kanneer vittu azhikkindrenI try to erase it by shedding tears again and again.
Thaai thanthaikaaga ennai piriyaTo part ways with me for the sake of your parents,
Kaadhalai kaaghithamaai thookki eriyaTo throw our love away like a piece of paper,
Pennae unnaal mudikirathaeOh woman, you were able to do it easily,
Ennaal yeno mudiyavillaiWhy is it that I am unable to do the same?
Enakae enakae ennai pidikavillaiI do not even like myself anymore,
Karanam kettaal theriyavillaiIf someone asks for the reason, I do not know.
Male
Ninaivugal nenjinil pudhainthathinaalBecause memories are buried inside my heart,
Neruppaal enthan nenjai sudugindrenI burn my own heart with fire.
Un uruvam kangalilae pathinthathinaalBecause your image is etched in my eyes,
Kanneer vittu kanneer vittu azhikkindrenI try to erase it by shedding tears again and again.
Male
Aahaa…ahahahhhahaaa…Aahaa…ahahahhhahaaa…
Female
Aah… aha… ahaahaaaaa……Aah… aha… ahaahaaaaa……
Male
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu pazhagiyavanI am the one who grew accustomed to waiting and waiting,
Nee ennai kadakindra oru nodikkaagaJust for that single second when you cross my path.
Kaathirunthu kaathirunthu pazhagiyavanI am the one who grew accustomed to waiting and waiting,
Kashtapattu kashtapattu pesiyavanI am the one who struggled and struggled to speak,
Nee ennai kaadhalikka un thaai mozhiyaiStruggling to speak in your mother tongue so that you would love me,
Kashtapattu kashtapattu pesiyavanI am the one who struggled and struggled to speak.
Male
Nodigal ellaam noi pattuAll the seconds have fallen ill,
Ennai sumanthu poga marukkirathaeRefusing to carry me along and move forward.
Mozhigal ellaam mudamaagiAll languages have become crippled,
En mounathai kooda erikkirathaeBurning even my silence.
Swaasikka kooda mudiyavillaiI am unable to even breathe,
Ennai vaasikka mannil evarumillaiThere is no one on this earth to understand me.
Ennai enakae pidikka villaiI do not even like myself anymore,
Karanam kettaal theriyavillaiIf someone asks for the reason, I do not know.
Male
Ninaivugal nenjinil pudhainthathinaalBecause memories are buried inside my heart,
Neruppaal enthan nenjai sudugindrenI burn my own heart with fire.
Un uruvam kangalilae pathinthathinaalBecause your image is etched in my eyes,
Kanneer vittu kanneer vittu azhikkindrenI try to erase it by shedding tears again and again.
Thaai thanthaikaaga ennai piriyaTo part ways with me for the sake of your parents,
Kaadhalai kaaghithamaai thookki eriyaTo throw our love away like a piece of paper,
Pennae unnaal mudikirathaeOh woman, you were able to do it easily,
Ennaal yeno mudiyavillaiWhy is it that I am unable to do the same?
Enakae enakae ennai pidikkavillaiI do not even like myself anymore,
Karanam kettaal theriyavillaiIf someone asks for the reason, I do not know.
Male
Aahaa…ahahahhhahaaa…Aahaa…ahahahhhahaaa…
Female
Aah… aha… ahaahaaaaa……Aah… aha… ahaahaaaaa……

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from the movie 'Autograph' captures the profound grief and helplessness of a young lover facing heartbreak. The protagonist struggles with memories of his beloved that burn his heart and tears that refuse to stop flowing. He reflects on how easily she discarded their relationship for her family's wishes, treating their love like a piece of paper, while he remains hopelessly stuck in the past, unable to move on or even like himself anymore. The lyrics vividly depict his devotion—recalling how he learned her mother tongue and patiently waited just to catch a glimpse of her. In his state of grief, time itself seems to stall, and language fails to express his agony. The theme underscores the raw pain of unrequited affection and the difficulty of letting go after investing deeply in a relationship.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Ninaivugal nenjinil pudhainthathinaal

Repetition of the initial 'Ni/Ne' sound across words ('Ninaivugal', 'nenjinil') creates a rhythmic auditory flow.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Neruppaal enthan nenjai sudugindren

Comparing painful memories to fire burning the heart directly conveys the intensity of emotional pain.

Simile (Upamai Ani)

Kaadhalai kaaghithamaai thookki eriya

Compares discarding love to tossing away a worthless piece of paper ('kaaghithamaai').

Personification

Nodigal ellaam noi pattu / Ennai sumanthu poga marukkirathae

Gives time (seconds) human traits of falling ill and actively refusing to carry the protagonist forward.

Did you know?

Trivia

This emotional song is featured in the 2004 Tamil cult classic 'Autograph', directed by and starring Cheran. The film's soundtrack was composed by Bharadwaj and won critical acclaim for its nostalgic and soul-stirring melodies. The movie explores four distinct phases of love in a man's life, and this song highlights the grief of a failed love affair during his college days in Kerala.

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