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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oh Nanbane

From Dhill · 2001

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singers
Karthik, K. S. Chithra, Tippu, Anand
Music director
Vidyasagar
Details
Dhill2001

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ala ala ala oh oh ohWave wave wave oh oh oh
Yei ala ala ala oh oh ohHey wave wave wave oh oh oh
Ala ala ala ala ohhoo..hoi..Wave wave wave wave ohhoo..hoi..
Male
Oh nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, my friend
NanbanaeMy friend
Nee endrumaeYou are forever
Vetriyin nanbanaeThe friend of victory
Chorus
Oh nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, my friend
NanbanaeMy friend
Nee endrumaeYou are forever
Vetriyin nanbanaeThe friend of victory
Male
Oru naal oru naal un peraiOne day, one day, carve your name
Nilavil nilavil vettuCarve it on the moon, on the moon
Inimel unthan pugal paadaTo sing your glory from now on
Imaiyam thaanae kalvettu….The Himalayas itself is the stone inscription...
Chorus
{Alae alae alae ohoho..{Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae ohoho..Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae alae ohooooo} (2)Waves waves waves waves ohooooo} (2)
Male
Oh nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, my friend
NanbanaeMy friend
Nee endrumaeYou are forever
Vetriyin nanbanaeThe friend of victory
Female
Aaaaaa…..aaaa…..aaa….Aaaaaa…..aaaa…..aaa….
Ahaaaa…aaa….Ahaaaa…aaa….
Female
Yenna yenna oviyam enna…What artwork, what painting is this...
Unthan meesai seiyathatha…Is it not crafted by your mustache...
Male :Yenna yenna kavithaigal enna…Male : What poems, what verses are these...
Unthan mounam sollathatha…Does your silence not speak them...
Female
Kanden kanden eeram kanden…I saw, I saw moisture...
Kangal rendil thee kanden…I saw fire in both your eyes...
Male :Konden konden kaadhal konden…Male : I fell, I fell in love...
Unnal ennai naan kanden…Through you, I found myself...
Female
Ippothum.. eppothumNow.. forever
Nee pothumae…You are enough for me...
Unswasam illamal naan illaiyae…Without your breath, I do not exist...
Chorus
{Alae alae alae ohoho..{Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae ohoho..Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae alae ohooooo} (2)Waves waves waves waves ohooooo} (2)
Male
Oh nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, my friend
NanbanaeMy friend
Nee endrumaeYou are forever
Vetriyin nanbanaeThe friend of victory
Male
Anbae unthan thaavaniyalae…My love, using your half-saree...
Thottil katti naan thoongava…Shall I tie a cradle and sleep...
Female :Anbae neeyum en pillaithaanae…Female : My love, aren't you like my child...
Thaaiyai unnai thaalattava…As a mother, shall I sing you a lullaby...
Male
Puyal kaatrai pola vanthu…Coming like a stormy wind...
Pura koondil kaithanen…I got captured in a dove's cage...
Female :Anbae neeyum engum sella…Female : My love, wherever you go...
Naanae unthan siragaanen..I became your wings...
Male
Poovasam.. thaenvaasamFragrance of flowers.. fragrance of honey
Paal vaasamae..Fragrance of milk..
Penvaasam unnodu kandenandi…I found the fragrance of womanhood with you...
Chorus
{Alae alae alae ohoho..{Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae ohoho..Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae alae ohooooo} (2)Waves waves waves waves ohooooo} (2)
Male
Oh nanbanae nanbanaeOh friend, my friend
NanbanaeMy friend
Nee endrumaeYou are forever
Vetriyin nanbanaeThe friend of victory
Male
Oru naal oru naal un peraiOne day, one day, carve your name
Nilavil nilavil vettuCarve it on the moon, on the moon
Inimel unthan pugal paadaTo sing your glory from now on
Imaiyam thaanae kalvettu….The Himalayas itself is the stone inscription...
Chorus
{Alae alae alae ohoho..{Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae ohoho..Waves waves waves ohoho..
Alae alae alae alae ohooooo} (2){Waves waves waves waves ohooooo} (2)

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

Oh Nanbanae from the 2001 Tamil film Dhill, composed by Vidyasagar and written by Arivumathi, is an uplifting track celebrating deep companionship, triumph, and affection. The song addresses a beloved partner as both a steadfast friend and an emblem of victory, asserting that their glory deserves to be carved into the moon and Mount Himalayas. The lyrics intricately weave expressions of romantic admiration with tender maternal feelings, conveying total emotional reliance, unity, and unwavering devotion between the lovers.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Imaiyam thaanae kalvettu….

Exaggerating the protagonist's fame and achievement by stating that the Himalayas serves as a rock inscription to record their glory.

Oxymoron / Paradox

Kanden kanden eeram kanden / Kangal rendil thee kanden…

Juxtaposing 'eeram' (soft moisture/tenderness) with 'thee' (intense fire) seen simultaneously within the eyes.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

Naanae unthan siragaanen..

The speaker metaphorically identifies herself as wings that enable her partner to fly wherever he wishes.

Did you know?

Trivia

Dhill (2001), directed by Dharani and starring Vikram and Laila, featured music composed by Vidyasagar. The film was a massive blockbuster that helped solidify Vikram's image as an action star in Tamil cinema.

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