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IsaimozhiLyrics · Translation · Meaning

Lyrics & meaning

Ninnukkori Varnam

From Agni Natchathiram · 1988

Lyricist: Vaali
Singer: K. S. Chithra
Music director: Ilayaraja
Movie name: Agni Natchathiram
Movie release year: 1988
Lyrics added on: 17 Jan 2017

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics

↻ English translation

Ninnukkori… varnam varanam

Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum

Oru kili thanithirukka

Unakkena thavamirukka

Iru vizhi sivanthirukka

Ithazh mattum veluthirukka

Azhagiya raguvaranae anuthinamum

Ninnukkori varnam varanam

Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum

Unnaithaan chinna penn etho ketka

Ullukkul angangae ekkam thaakka

Mottuthaan mellathaan poo pol pookka

Thottuppaar kattippaar dhegam verkka

Poojaikaaga vaaduthu dhevan unnai theduthu

Aasai nenjam enguthu aattam pottu toonguthu

Unnodu naan… oyaamal thaen aatrilae

Neeraada ninaikkayil..

Ninnukkori… varnam varanam

Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum

Oru kili thanithirukka

Unakkena thavamirukka

Iru vizhi sivanthirukka

Ithazh mattum veluthirukka

Azhagiya raguvaranae anuthinamum

Ninnukkori varnam varanam

Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum

Pennalla veenai naan neethaan meettu

Enenna raagangal neethaan kaattu

Indralla netralla kaalam thorum

Unnodu pinnodum kaadhal nenjam

Vannappaavai moganam

Vaadippoana kaaranam

Kanni thogai meniyil

Minnal paayichum vaalibam

Un nyabagam neengaamal en nenjilae

Theeyaaga kothikuthu

Ninnukkori… varnam varanam

Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum

Oru kili thanithirukka

Unakkena thavamirukka

Iru vizhi sivanthirukka

Ithazh mattum veluthirukka

Azhagiya raguvaranae anuthinamum

Ninnukkori varnam varanam

Isaithida ennai thedi varanum varanum…..

Longing for you... to sing a song of love,

to make music, you must come looking for me, you must come.

While this solitary parrot waits all alone,

doing penance just for you,

with her two eyes grown red from waiting,

and only her lips turned pale,

my handsome Raghuvara (beloved), every single day...

Longing for you, to sing a song of love,

to make music, you must come looking for me, you must come.

This young girl asks something only of you,

as deep longings stir everywhere within her.

A tender bud is slowly blossoming like a flower,

touch me, hold me close, feel my body break into a sweat.

It withers waiting to worship you, it seeks you, its god;

my eager heart yearns, runs wild, and falls restless to sleep.

Endlessly with you in a river of honey,

as I dream of bathing together...

Longing for you... to sing a song of love,

to make music, you must come looking for me, you must come.

While this solitary parrot waits all alone,

doing penance just for you,

with her two eyes grown red from waiting,

and only her lips turned pale,

my handsome Raghuvara (beloved), every single day...

Longing for you, to sing a song of love,

to make music, you must come looking for me, you must come.

I am not just a woman, I am a veena (stringed lute)—pluck my strings,

show me all the sweet melodies you can create.

Not just today, not just yesterday, but throughout all time,

this loving heart is entwined with yours.

The reason this charming, lovely beauty

has wilted and faded away,

is the youthful passion flashing like lightning

across her graceful, tender body.

The thought of you never leaves my heart,

it burns fiercely like a flame.

Longing for you... to sing a song of love,

to make music, you must come looking for me, you must come.

While this solitary parrot waits all alone,

doing penance just for you,

with her two eyes grown red from waiting,

and only her lips turned pale,

my handsome Raghuvara (beloved), every single day...

Longing for you, to sing a song of love,

to make music, you must come looking for me, you must come...

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Female

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

'Ninnukkori' is a sensual and evocative track from Mani Ratnam's 1988 classic Agni Natchathiram, featuring lyrics by Vaali and music by Ilaiyaraaja. The song captures a woman's intense romantic passion and agonizing desire for her beloved, whom she addresses poetically as 'Raghuvaran'. Expressed through rich classical music motifs, she compares herself to a musical instrument waiting to be played and describes the physical and emotional toll of her longing. The song beautifully blends classical Carnatic aesthetics with modern romantic expressions, building a hypnotic mood of yearning and passion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Pennalla veenai naan neethaan meettu”

The singer metaphorically compares herself to a Veena (a string instrument) waiting to be strummed and played by her lover.

Simile (Uvamai)

“Mottuthaan mellathaan poo pol pookka”

The gradual unfolding of romantic feelings is compared explicitly to a bud softly blossoming into a flower using 'poo pol'.

End Rhyme (Iyaipu)

“thanithirukka / thavamirukka / sivanthirukka / veluthirukka”

The consecutive lines end with the matching suffix '-irukka', creating a rhythmic, melodic flow.

Hyperbole (Ushuyarvu Navorchi)

“Theeyaaga kothikuthu”

Her memories boiling like fire in her heart hyperbolically illustrates the intense heat of passion and separation.

Did you know?

Trivia

The song borrows its iconic opening words 'Ninnukkori' from the classic Carnatic Varnam in Mohanam ragam composed by Sonti Venkatasubbayya. Musically composed by Ilaiyaraaja and sung by K. S. Chithra, the track is renowned for its innovative fusion of electronic synth-pop beats with classical Carnatic ragas, setting a new benchmark for Tamil cinema music in the late 1980s.

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