Oh My Love
From Nee Sirithaal Deepavali · 1990
- Lyricist
- Lyricist Not Known
- Singer
- K. J. Yesudas
- Music director
- Ilayaraja
- Details
- Nee Sirithaal Deepavali1990
Lyrics & meaning
| ♫ Tanglish lyrics | ↻ English translation |
|---|---|
| Male | |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Male | |
| Sindhu mani punnagaiyil | In that pearl-like smile, |
| Sindhi varum mellisaiyil | In the soft music spilling forth, |
| Sindhu mani punnagaiyil | In that pearl-like smile, |
| Sindhi varum mellisaiyil | In the soft music spilling forth, |
| Kaelaadha raagangal ketkindradhu | Unheard melodies are being heard, |
| Kanneerum poo pola pookkindradhu | Even tears bloom like flowers. |
| Male | |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Male | |
| Sindhu mani punnagaiyil | In that pearl-like smile, |
| Sindhi varum mellisaiyil | In the soft music spilling forth, |
| Male | |
| Mukkulithu naanum | Can I not dive deep |
| Nalla muthedukka koodaadho | And fetch a fine pearl? |
| Muthizhandhu ponaal | If the pearl is lost, |
| Nenjam thathalithu vaadaadho | Won't the heart struggle and wither away? |
| Meettaadha veenaikku viral yengudhu | Fingers long for the unplayed veena, |
| Paadaadha paattukku kural yengudhu | The voice longs for the unsung song, |
| Saeraadha uravukku udal yengudhu | The body longs for the unfulfilled bond, |
| Vaaraadha vaigaikku kadal yengudhu | The ocean longs for the Vaigai river that hasn't arrived. |
| Male | |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Male | |
| Sindhu mani punnagaiyil | In that pearl-like smile, |
| Sindhi varum mellisaiyil | In the soft music spilling forth, |
| Male | |
| Anbu ennum noolil | With the thread called love, |
| Andru katti vaitha poo maalai | The flower garland tied back then— |
| Kutram endru sonnaal | If anyone calls it a crime, |
| Sollum kangalukku kaamaalai | It is jaundice in the eyes that say so. |
| Dheiveega anbenna thavaraagumaa | Can divine love ever be a mistake? |
| Thanneeril varaigindra neer kolamaa | Is it a rangoli drawn upon water? |
| Naan enna aagaadha sagavaasamaa | Am I such bad company? |
| Adharkkaaga unakkindru sirai vaasamaa | Is that why you face imprisonment today? |
| Male | |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Male | |
| Sindhu mani punnagaiyil | In that pearl-like smile, |
| Sindhi varum mellisaiyil | In the soft music spilling forth, |
| Kaelaadha raagangal ketkindradhu | Unheard melodies are being heard, |
| Kanneerum poo pola pookkindradhu | Even tears bloom like flowers. |
| Male | |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
| Oh my love oh my love | Oh my love, oh my love |
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
சிந்தும் மணி புன்னகையில்
சிந்தி வரும் மெல்லிசையில்
சிந்தும் மணி புன்னகையில்
சிந்தி வரும் மெல்லிசையில்
கேளாத ராகங்கள் கேட்கின்றது
கண்ணீரும் பூ போல பூக்கின்றதே
In that pearl-like smile,
In the soft music spilling forth,
In that pearl-like smile,
In the soft music spilling forth,
Unheard melodies are being heard,
Even tears bloom like flowers.
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
சிந்தும் மணி புன்னகையில்
சிந்தி வரும் மெல்லிசையில்
In that pearl-like smile,
In the soft music spilling forth,
முக்குளித்து நானும்
நல்ல முத்தெடுக்க கூடாதோ
முத்திழந்து போனால்
நெஞ்சம் தத்தளித்து வாடாதோ
மீறாத வீணைக்கு விரல் ஏங்குது
பாடாத பாட்டுக்கு குரல் ஏங்குது
சேராத உறவுக்கு உடல் ஏங்குது
வாராத வைகைக்கு கடல் ஏங்குது
Can I not dive deep
And fetch a fine pearl?
If the pearl is lost,
Won't the heart struggle and wither away?
Fingers long for the unplayed veena,
The voice longs for the unsung song,
The body longs for the unfulfilled bond,
The ocean longs for the Vaigai river that hasn't arrived.
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
சிந்தும் மணி புன்னகையில்
சிந்தி வரும் மெல்லிசையில்
In that pearl-like smile,
In the soft music spilling forth,
அன்பு என்னும் நூலில்
அன்று கட்டி வைத்த பூ மாலை
குற்றம் என்று சொன்னால்
சொல்லும் கண்களுக்கு காமாலை
தெய்வீக அன்பென்ன தவறாகுமா
தண்ணீரில் வரைகின்ற நீர் கோலம்மா
நான் என்ன ஆகாத சகவாசம்மா
அதற்காக உனக்கின்று சிறை வாசம்மா
With the thread called love,
The flower garland tied back then—
If anyone calls it a crime,
It is jaundice in the eyes that say so.
Can divine love ever be a mistake?
Is it a rangoli drawn upon water?
Am I such bad company?
Is that why you face imprisonment today?
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
சிந்தும் மணி புன்னகையில்
சிந்தி வரும் மெல்லிசையில்
கேளாத ராகங்கள் கேட்கின்றது
கண்ணீரும் பூ போல பூக்கின்றதே
In that pearl-like smile,
In the soft music spilling forth,
Unheard melodies are being heard,
Even tears bloom like flowers.
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
ஓ மை லவ் ஓ மை லவ்
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Sindhu mani punnagaiyil
In that pearl-like smile,
Sindhi varum mellisaiyil
In the soft music spilling forth,
Sindhu mani punnagaiyil
In that pearl-like smile,
Sindhi varum mellisaiyil
In the soft music spilling forth,
Kaelaadha raagangal ketkindradhu
Unheard melodies are being heard,
Kanneerum poo pola pookkindradhu
Even tears bloom like flowers.
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Sindhu mani punnagaiyil
In that pearl-like smile,
Sindhi varum mellisaiyil
In the soft music spilling forth,
Mukkulithu naanum
Can I not dive deep
Nalla muthedukka koodaadho
And fetch a fine pearl?
Muthizhandhu ponaal
If the pearl is lost,
Nenjam thathalithu vaadaadho
Won't the heart struggle and wither away?
Meettaadha veenaikku viral yengudhu
Fingers long for the unplayed veena,
Paadaadha paattukku kural yengudhu
The voice longs for the unsung song,
Saeraadha uravukku udal yengudhu
The body longs for the unfulfilled bond,
Vaaraadha vaigaikku kadal yengudhu
The ocean longs for the Vaigai river that hasn't arrived.
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Sindhu mani punnagaiyil
In that pearl-like smile,
Sindhi varum mellisaiyil
In the soft music spilling forth,
Anbu ennum noolil
With the thread called love,
Andru katti vaitha poo maalai
The flower garland tied back then—
Kutram endru sonnaal
If anyone calls it a crime,
Sollum kangalukku kaamaalai
It is jaundice in the eyes that say so.
Dheiveega anbenna thavaraagumaa
Can divine love ever be a mistake?
Thanneeril varaigindra neer kolamaa
Is it a rangoli drawn upon water?
Naan enna aagaadha sagavaasamaa
Am I such bad company?
Adharkkaaga unakkindru sirai vaasamaa
Is that why you face imprisonment today?
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Sindhu mani punnagaiyil
In that pearl-like smile,
Sindhi varum mellisaiyil
In the soft music spilling forth,
Kaelaadha raagangal ketkindradhu
Unheard melodies are being heard,
Kanneerum poo pola pookkindradhu
Even tears bloom like flowers.
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Oh my love oh my love
Oh my love, oh my love
Beyond the translation
Song interpretation
This song is a melancholic romantic expression blending intense love with pain and separation. The protagonist reflects on the ethereal beauty of their partner's smile and presence, which turns sadness into art, making even tears blossom like flowers and unheard ragas resonate in the heart. Through evocative imagery of unplayed instruments and unfulfilled longing, the singer conveys a deep craving for union. In the second stanza, the narrative shifts toward questioning societal judgment and destiny. The singer defends their pure, divine affection, rejecting the idea that their bond is a mistake or a transient mark upon water. The song expresses distress over the beloved suffering punishment or imprisonment, lamenting how pure devotion has been misunderstood as a crime.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Simile (Upamai Ani)
“Kanneerum poo pola pookkindradhu”
Compares tears blooming softly to flowers blooming, using the explicit comparison word 'pola'.
Iyaipu (End Rhyme / Epistrophe)
“Meettaadha veenaikku viral yengudhu / Paadaadha paattukku kural yengudhu”
Repetition of the ending phrase 'yengudhu' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic symmetry and emphasizes longing.
Metaphor (Uruvagam)
“Anbu ennum noolil”
Directly equates love to a thread ('nool') that holds flowers together into a garland.
Rhetorical Question
“Thanneeril varaigindra neer kolamaa”
Questions whether love is impermanent like a pattern drawn on water, emphasizing its true eternal nature.
Did you know?
Trivia
Featured in the 1990 Tamil movie 'Nee Sirithaal Deepavali', this song uses classic Tamil poetic tropes—such as pearls, rivers seeking the sea, and veenas—to express romantic yearning and tragic separation.
Keep listening
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