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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Nizhaliyae

From Hi Nanna · 2023

Lyricist
Madhan Karky
Singers
Anurag Kulkarni, Chinmayi Sripada
Music director
Hesham Abdul Wahab
Details
Hi Nanna2023

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Nizhaliyae nee kaattum kaattumOh shadow (lens), is the sight you display, display
Kaatchi unmaiyaa unmaiyaaIs that scene real, is it real?
Nizhaliyae nee theettum theettumOh shadow (lens), is the color you paint, paint
Vannam unmaiyaaIs that color real?
Hey badhil sollu vaayaaHey, come speak up and answer me!
Female
Chinnanjiru thulai vazhiyaeThrough a tiny little aperture hole
Azhaginai pargugiraaiYou sip and drink in beauty
Thiraivittu vizhivazhiyaeLeaving the curtain, through your eyes
Avalai nee thirudugiraaiYou steal her image away
Male
Nizhaliyae nee kaattum kaattumOh shadow (lens), is the sight you display, display
Kaatchi unmaiyaa unmaiyaaIs that scene real, is it real?
Nizhaliyae nee theettum theettumOh shadow (lens), is the color you paint, paint
Vannam unmaiyaaIs that color real?
Male
Un kuvimunaiyil ulagam kaanaTo see the world through your focal point
Azhagin vaanaa edhiril thaanaIs a sky of beauty standing right in front of us?
Sollu solludiTell me, come on tell me!
Male
Tharaiyinn mele ivalai poleOn this earth, like her
Kanavum undaa solluIs there even a dream? Tell me!
Unnai vida maattenI won't let go of you
Male
Vinnil mannil neeyum naanumIn the sky and on earth, you and I
Kaanaa otrai minnalAre a rare, unseen single flash of lightning
Aval aval punnagiyil kandomIn her smile, we witnessed
Male
Poovodum theeyodumA blend of flowers and fire
Kollaa varnaa bodhaiAn intoxication of endless colors
Aval aval nirathinil kandomIn her complex shade, we saw
Male
Minkambathil poogambathilOn utility poles and in earthquakes
Illa adhirvellamVibrations that don't exist anywhere else
Aval nammai nerungida kandomAs she drew closer to us, we felt
Male
Mukkodai muthangalThree thousand kisses
Ullangaiyin ullaeInside the palm of our hand
Aval kaiyai kulikkida kandomWhen her hand held ours, we saw
Male
Adhanallena pizhiyae illaiBecause of that, there is no flaw at all
Bathil sol en moondram kanneAnswer me, my third eye (camera)
Ethirae aval nam boomilRight in front of us, on our earth
Uthipaala nam thammiyilWill she rise amongst us?
Male
{Nizhaliyae nee kaattum kaattum{Oh shadow, is the sight you display, display
Kaatchi unmaiyaa unmaiyaaIs that scene real, is it real?
Nizhaliyae nee theettum theettumOh shadow, is the color you paint, paint
Vannam unmaiyaaIs that color real?
Hey badhil sollu vaayaaHey, come speak up and answer me!
NizhaliyaeOh shadow,
Female
Chinnanjiru thulai vazhiyaeThrough a tiny little aperture hole
Azhaginai pargugiraaiYou sip and drink in beauty
Thiraivittu vizhivazhiyaeLeaving the curtain, through your eyes
Avalai nee thirudugiraaiYou steal her image away
Female
Chinnanjiru thulai vazhiyaeThrough a tiny little aperture hole
Azhaginai pargugiraaiYou sip and drink in beauty
Thiraivittu vizhivazhiyaeLeaving the curtain, through your eyes
Avalai nee thirudugiraai} (overlapping)You steal her image away}

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song from 'Hi Nanna' captures the perspective of a photographer/filmmaker admiring the beauty of his muse through the lens of a camera. The lyricist addresses the camera lens as a 'third eye' and a 'shadow', questioning whether the magical beauty captured on the screen is real or just an illusion. The song blends the technical aesthetics of photography—apertures, focal points, lighting—with deep romantic wonder and emotional fascination.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

Bathil sol en moondram kanne

The camera lens is metaphorically referred to as 'moondram kanne' (my third eye).

Personification

Nizhaliyae nee kaattum kaattum

The camera/shadow is personified as a person who can paint colors and speak answers.

Iyaipu (Rhyme)

Kaatchi unmaiyaa unmaiyaa / Vannam unmaiyaa

End-rhyming with the repetition of 'unmaiyaa' across stanza lines.

Did you know?

Trivia

This track features music composed by Hesham Abdul Wahab, who gained immense popularity in South Indian cinema following his hit album 'Hridayam'. The Tamil version features lyrics by Madhan Karky, who cleverly incorporated photography terminology like focal length and aperture into modern romantic poetry.

Keep listening

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