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Isaimozhi
Priyanka album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Nyabagam Illaiyo Male

From Priyanka · 1994

Lyricist
Mu. Metha
Singer
Ilayaraja
Music director
Ilayaraja
Movie name
Priyanka
Movie release year
1994
Lyrics added on
4 Sept 2019

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Nyaabagam illaiyo…
Nyaabagam illaiyo…
Nyaabagam illaiyo
Ennai kandadhum kaadhal kondadhum
Kaadhalin ellaiyo
Kangal paarthadhum kaigal serthadhum
Alli kulathin karai arugae arugae arugae
Thulli thirindhom en azhagae azhagae azhagae
Andru nadandhadhum indru marandhadho
Pon maane yaeno
Naabagam illaiyo
Ennai kandadhum kaadhal kondadhum
Kaadhalin ellaiyo
Kangal paarthadhum kaigal saerthadhum
Aatrangarai oram nee nadandha podhu
Aayiram pookkam angae poothadhadi
Kaatril oru geetham nee paditha podhu
Kaamanin kangal yaengi paarthadhadi
Karai meerum alai pola kaadhal neeraada
Kavi paadum valaiyosai kaigal poraada
Andhi vaanamum vandhu naanavae
Sandham paadinom andha ninaivugal unakkae
Naabagam illaiyo
Ennai kandadhum kaadhal kondadhum
Kaadhalin ellaiyo
Kangal paarthadhum kaigal saerthadhum
Don't you remember?
Don't you remember?
Don't you remember?
Seeing me and falling in love,
Was that the limit of our love?
When our eyes met and our hands joined...
Right by the banks of the lily pond,
We wandered playfully, my beautiful love!
Have you forgotten today what happened back then?
Why is that, my golden deer?
Don't you remember?
Seeing me and falling in love,
Was that the limit of our love?
When our eyes met and our hands joined...
When you walked along the riverbank,
A thousand flowers blossomed there!
When you sang a melody to the breeze,
Even Kamadeva (the God of Love) looked on with longing!
As our love bathed like waves overflowing the shore,
As your bangles chimed like poetry and our hands playfully struggled,
Making even the twilight sky blush,
We sang in sweet rhythm—those memories, to you,
Don't you remember?
Seeing me and falling in love,
Was that the limit of our love?
When our eyes met and our hands joined...
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

This poignant song expresses the nostalgic heartache of a lover asking their beloved if they have forgotten their past romance. The protagonist tenderly recalls intimate moments spent together—strolling near lily ponds and riverbanks, singing melodies in the breeze, and sharing deep eye contact. Through vivid romantic imagery, the speaker wonders how such profound love could be forgotten over time.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second Letter Rhyme)

Andru nadandhadhum indru marandhadho

The second letters of 'Andru' and 'Indru' share the same consonant sound ('ndr').

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

Kangal paarthadhum kaigal serthadhum

The words 'Kangal' and 'kaigal' start with the same 'Ka' sound.

Simile (Upamai)

Karai meerum alai pola kaadhal neeraada

The intensity of love is explicitly compared to a wave overflowing its shoreline using the word 'pola'.

Personification

Andhi vaanamum vandhu naanavae

The evening sky ('Andhi vaanam') is personified as blushing or feeling shy upon witnessing their romance.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Priyanka' (1994), starring Revathi and Jayaram, features music composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja, with lyrics penned by the acclaimed Tamil poet and lyricist Mu. Metha.

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