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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Naal Antha Oru Naal

From Devathai · 1997

Lyricist
Arivumathi
Singer
S. Janaki
Music director
Ilayaraja
Details
Devathai1997

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
……………………..
Male
Oru naal antha oru naalOne day, that one day,
Unnai mudhalil kanda antha thirunaalThat auspicious day when I first saw you,
Male & Female :Adhu maranthu pogumaaMale & Female: Can that ever be forgotten?
Female
Kanavaa verum kadhaiyaaIs it a dream, or merely a story?
Ilam nenjchai varudum nalla isaiyaaOr is it sweet music caressing a young heart?
Adhu karainthu pogumaaWill that ever fade away?
Female
Un ninaivu thazhuvi irunthenI was embraced by your memories,
Antha urakkam thazhuva maranthenAnd forgot to embrace sleep,
Nee arivaayoDo you know this?
Unnai paarkka andru piranthenI was born that day just to see you,
Athanaal irakka maranthu ponenTherefore, I forgot how to die,
Nee arivaayoDo you know this?
Female
Kaalam kaalam thadukkalaamTime may try to stop us,
Kaadhal saagaathuBut love will never die.
Vaazhvin ellai meeralaamThe boundaries of life may be crossed,
Ethu thaan aagaathu…For what is impossible?
Female
Oru naal antha oru naalOne day, that one day,
Unnai mudhalil kanda antha thirunaalThat auspicious day when I first saw you,
Adhu maranthu pogumaaCan that ever be forgotten?
Female
Kanavaa verum kadhaiyaaIs it a dream, or merely a story?
Ilam nenjchai varudum nalla isaiyaaOr is it sweet music caressing a young heart?
Adhu karainthu pogumaaWill that ever fade away?
Female
Mayakkanggal marakkaTo forget these dazes,
Madiyondru vendumI need a lap to rest on;
Marukkavendaam en anbaeDo not refuse me, my love.
Chorus
Ooo…oooo…oooo..oooOoo…oooo…oooo..ooo
Female
Marubadi pirakkaTo be reborn again,
Madhu konjcham vendumI need a little nectar;
Thadukka vendaam en anbaeDo not stop me, my love.
Female
Thanimai dhaagamThe thirst of loneliness
Thaninthaaga vendumMust be quenched,
Thavalum kaatraeO crawling breeze!
Kaigal uravil kalanthaada vendumOur hands must entwine in intimacy,
Karumbin uutrraeO fountain of sugarcane sweetness!
Female
Ezhu buvanam endru vanthenI came conquering the seven worlds,
Ho…naan un munnae tholvi thaan kandenHo… yet before you, I met only defeat.
Female
Oru naal antha oru naalOne day, that one day,
Unnai mudhalil kanda antha thirunaalThat auspicious day when I first saw you,
Adhu maranthu pogumaaCan that ever be forgotten?
Chorus
…………………………
Female
Aruginil andruBack then, when near you,
Unai kanda bodhuWhen I saw you,
Thoora thooram nindrenI stood far, far away.
Chorus
Ooo…oooo…oooo..oooOoo…oooo…oooo..ooo
Female
Neenda thooramEven when a long distance
Nee sendra bodhumYou went away,
Unthan arugae irunthenI was right beside you.
Female
Kaadhal ulagilIn the world of love,
Nerkodu velicham povadhu illaiLight does not travel only in straight lines.
Kaadhal kanakkilIn the mathematics of love,
Kaalanggal naalai mudipathillaiTime does not end with tomorrow.
Female
Kanavu thedum kanavu vendaamI don't want a dream searching for another dream,
Ho… nam unmaiyin raaganggal vendumHo… I want the melodies of our reality.
Female
Oru naal antha oru naalOne day, that one day,
Unnai mudhalil kanda antha thirunaalThat auspicious day when I first saw you,
Adhu maranthu pogumaaCan that ever be forgotten?
Female
Kanavaa verum kadhaiyaaIs it a dream, or merely a story?
Ilam nenjchai varudum nalla isaiyaaOr is it sweet music caressing a young heart?
Adhu karainthu pogumaaWill that ever fade away?

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

"Oru Naal Antha Oru Naal" from the film Devathai (1997) is a hauntingly poetic love duet that explores the profound impact of a couple's first meeting. The song reflects on how true love transcends physical distance, linear time, and even mortality. The lovers share a deep emotional connection where memories replace sleep, and love makes life immortal, defying the natural laws of existence. Through lush romantic imagery and spiritual symbolism, the lyrics contrast defeat in the physical world with victory in emotional intimacy. The lovers express a desire for genuine togetherness rather than elusive dreams, concluding that the moment they first met remains permanently etched in their souls.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Ethugai (Second-letter rhyme)

Un ninaivu thazhuvi irunthen / Antha urakkam thazhuva maranthen

Rhyming of the second letter 'n' in 'Un' and 'Antha' across consecutive lines.

Monai (First-letter alliteration)

Kanavu thedum kanavu vendaam

Alliteration featuring the repetition of the initial 'K' sound in 'Kanavu' and 'kanavu'.

Metaphor (Uruvagakani)

Ilam nenjchai varudum nalla isaiyaa

Love's tender feeling is metaphorically compared to gentle music caressing a youthful heart.

Hyperbole (Uyarvu Navitchi Ani)

Unnai paarkka andru piranthen / Athanaal irakka maranthu ponen

Poetic exaggeration stating that seeing the beloved granted immortality, making the lover forget how to die.

Did you know?

Trivia

The movie Devathai (1997) was directed by actor Nassar, who also played the male lead alongside Keerthi Reddy. The soundtrack was composed by Maestro Ilaiyaraaja with lyrics written by Arivumathi. The song features vocals by Hariharan and K.S. Chithra (with backing vocals by Bhavatharini) and is revered for its haunting melody and philosophical, deeply poetic lyricism.

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