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Sahadevan Mahadevan album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Jigu Jigu Rayileri

From Sahadevan Mahadevan · 1988

Lyricist
Vaali
Singers
S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Vani Jairam
Music director
Shankar Ganesh
Movie name
Sahadevan Mahadevan
Movie release year
1988
Lyrics added on
30 Mar 2021

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
Oru jigu jigu rayilaeri
Naadha jeevan ondru poguthu
Manam sadugudu vilaiyaadi
Oodal poodhumena paaduthu
Ivan manam…..
Thanimaiyil thavippathai paarththu
Oru tharam thirumuga tharisanam kaattu
Vaa vaa nilaa nilaa
Nee thottaalum kaippaataalum
Idam thara povathillai
Male :Pon vandukkum poochendukkum
Idaiveli thevai illai
Adadaa anbu vegam aaraatho
Male :Alaiyil intha odam aadaatho
Iniyum thaalaathu odhingidu odhingidu
Male :Evarum kaanaamal ilamaiyai virunthidu
Female :Mudhalil achchaaram koduththidu koduththidu
Male :Unakku naanthaanae poruththidu poruththidu
Female :Naanam intha neram ingu vaaraatho
Oru jigu jigu rayilaeri
Kadhal jodi ondru poguthu
Manam sadugudu vilaiyaadi
Oodal podhumena kooduthu
Ivan manam…..
Thanimaiyil thavippathai paarththu
Oru tharam thirumuga tharisanam kaattu
Vaa vaa nilaa nilaa
Neeyillaathu naan mann meedhu
Uyir kondu vaazhvathillai
Female :Nee engengu naan angangu
Thani vazhi povathillai
Pirivu endra vaarththai koodathu
Female :Ninaivu nenjai neengi oodaathu
Ilamai ponaalum idhu oru thodarkadhai
Female :Iravu aanaalum idhu oru valarpirai
Male :Ulagil yaezhaaga piravigal varum varai
Female :Uravu maaraamal amainthidum manavarai
Male :Sontham intha pantham endrum maaraathu
Oru jigu jigu rayilaeri
Kadhal jodi ondru poguthu
Manam sadugudu vilaiyaadi
Oodal podhumena kooduthu
Ivan manam…..
Thanimaiyil thavippathai paarththu
Female :Oru tharam thirumuga tharisanam kaattu
Male :Vaa vaa nilaa nilaa
Oru jigu jigu rayilaeri
Kadhal jodi ondru poguthu
Female :Manam sadugudu vilaiyaadi
Oodal podhumena kooduthu
Riding on a chugging train,
A soul of melody journeys on,
With the heart playing games of tag,
Singing that this lovers' tiff is enough.
His heart...
Seeing it yearn in loneliness,
Show a glimpse of your beautiful face just once,
Come, come, my moon, my moon!
Even if you touch me or brush against me,
I will not give in to you.
Between a golden bee and a bouquet of flowers,
There is no need for any distance!
Ah, won't this rushing warmth of love calm down?
Won't this little boat dance upon the waves?
I cannot bear this anymore, step aside, step aside!
Without anyone seeing, share the feast of your youth!
First give me a token of promise, give it to me!
Am I not all yours? Just be patient, be patient!
Won't shyness overcome me at this moment?
Riding on a chugging train,
A pair of lovers journeys on,
With hearts playing games of tag,
Deciding the lovers' tiff is enough, they unite.
His heart...
Seeing it yearn in loneliness,
Show a glimpse of your beautiful face just once,
Come, come, my moon, my moon!
Without you, upon this earth,
I have no desire to live on.
Wherever you are, there I will be,
I will never walk a separate path.
The word 'separation' must never exist.
Your memory will never leave my heart.
Even if youth fades, this is an unending story.
Even as night falls, our love is a waxing moon.
Across all seven births in this world,
Our wedding altar will be set with an unchanging bond.
This relationship, this bond will never change.
Riding on a chugging train,
A pair of lovers journeys on,
With hearts playing games of tag,
Deciding the lovers' tiff is enough, they unite.
His heart...
Seeing it yearn in loneliness,
Show a glimpse of your beautiful face just once,
Come, come, my moon, my moon!
Riding on a chugging train,
A pair of lovers journeys on,
With hearts playing games of tag,
Deciding the lovers' tiff is enough, they unite.
Male
Male
Female
Female
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male

Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

The song 'Oru Jigu Jigu Rayilaeri' from the 1988 Tamil film 'Sahadevan Mahadevan' is a joyful, romantic duet that metaphorically compares the journey of love to a train ride. Initially depicting the hero's yearning and sweet plea to his beloved (whom he addresses as the moon), the song evolves into a witty and endearing dialogue between the couple. As they exchange playful banter regarding intimacy, shyness, and sweet lovers' quarrels ('oodal'), their bond deepens into a profound pledge of eternal love. They vow to stay united through life's changing phases and across seven births, affirming that their affection will remain as steady and bright as a waxing moon.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Onomatopoeia (Iraichal Sorkkal / Olippu)

“Oru jigu jigu rayilaeri”

'Jigu jigu' mimics the rhythmic chugging sound of a steam train engine.

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Pon vandukkum poochendukkum”

Compares the male lover to a golden beetle (vandhu) and the female to a bouquet of flowers (poochendu).

Metaphor (Uruvagam)

“Vaa vaa nilaa nilaa”

Addresses the beloved poetically as the 'Nilaa' (moon).

Iyaipu (Rhyming Ends)

“Mudhalil achchaaram koduththidu koduththidu / Unakku naanthaanae poruththidu poruththidu”

The repetitive rhyming verbs 'koduththidu' and 'poruththidu' create a playful rhythmic cadence at the end of the lines.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Nee engengu naan angangu”

The nasal 'ng' and structural symmetry in 'engengu' and 'angangu' generate a pleasing musical rhythm.

Did you know?

Trivia

The film 'Sahadevan Mahadevan' (1988) is a classic Tamil comedy starring Mohan and S. V. Shekhar, directed by Rama Narayanan. The music for this film was composed by the duo Shankar-Ganesh, with lyrics penned by Vaali. Vaali masterfully combined everyday colloquial expressions like train sounds ('jigu jigu') with classic poetic metaphors of Tamil literature.

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