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Isaimozhi
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Nanban Irundhal

From Enakku 20 Unakku 18 · 2003

Lyricist
Pa. Vijay
Singers
S. P. B. Charan, Venkat Prabhu, Chinmayi
Music director
A. R. Rahman
Details
Enakku 20 Unakku 182003

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Male
Ye ye ye ye yeah yeahYe ye ye ye yeah yeah
Ye ye ye ye yeah yeahYe ye ye ye yeah yeah
Ye ye ye ye yeah yeahYe ye ye ye yeah yeah
Ye ye ye ye yeah yeahYe ye ye ye yeah yeah
Female
Oru nanban irundhaalIf you have a friend
Oru nanban irundhaalIf you have a friend
Male :Kaiyodu boomiyaiMale: In our hands, the earth
SumandhidalaamWe can carry
Female
Thodu vaanam pakkamaeThe horizon is nearby
Thoda vendum nanbanaeWe must touch it, my friend
Male :Nam peril thisaigalaiMale: In our names, the directions
EzhudhalaamWe can write
Female
Kadalil nadhigal peyarAs the names of rivers in the sea
KalandhadhuAre blended together
Indha natppil engal uyirIn this friendship, our souls
KalandhadhuHave blended together
Male
Natpu enbadhuFriendship is
Engal mugavariOur address
Idhu vaazhkai paadathilIn life's lesson
Mudhal variIt is the very first line
Female
Indha ulagil miga perum yeniThe greatest ladder in this world...
Nanban illaadhavan… heii...is missing for one without a friend, hey!
Female
Ha..aaa.haa…aaa…aaaaHa..aaa.haa…aaa…aaaa
Ha..aaa.haa…aaa…aaaaHa..aaa.haa…aaa…aaaa
Male
Thozh meedhu kai pottu konduPutting an arm over each other's shoulders
Thondriyadhellaam pesiTalking about whatever comes to mind
Oorai sutri vandhom vandhomWe roamed and roamed around the town
Male
Oruvar veettilaeIn one friend's house
Paduthu thoonginomWe lay down and slept
Natpin porvaikkullaeUnderneath the blanket of friendship
Male
Indha kaadhal kooda vaazhkkaiyilEven love in this life
Azhagilae thondrumaeAppears beautiful because of this
Thozhan endra sondham ondruA relationship called 'a friend'
Thondrum namadhu uyiroduIs born alongside our very life
Female
Oru nanban irundhaalIf you have a friend
Oru nanban irundhaalIf you have a friend
Male :Kaiyodu boomiyaiMale: In our hands, the earth
SumandhidalaamWe can carry
Female
Thodu vaanam pakkamaeThe horizon is nearby
Thoda vendum nanbanaeWe must touch it, my friend
Male :Nam peril thisaigalaiMale: Nam peril thisaigalai
EzhudhalaamWe can write
Male
Nenjukkul nenjukkul ullaDeep within our hearts
Ennangal ennangal sollaTo express our innermost thoughts
Nanban orae sondhamA friend is the only true relation
Male
Namadhu mejaiyilAt our dining table
Unavu koottaniA coalition of sharing food
Adhil natpin rusiIn that lies the true taste of friendship
Female
Ada vaazhkai payanam maaralaamAh, the journey of life may change
Natpu dhaan maarumaBut will friendship ever change?
Male
Aayul kaalam therndha naalilOn the day life's journey comes to an end
Nanban mugam dhaan marakkaadhaeA friend's face will never be forgotten

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This song is a vibrant, heartwarming celebration of youth, companionship, and the invincible bond of friendship. The lyrics convey that having a true friend gives a person the ultimate confidence and strength—symbolically enabling them to hold the earth in their hands, reach the horizon, and write directions in their own names. Friendship is described not just as a relationship, but as an core identity ('our address') and the foundational lesson of life.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Hyperbole (Exaggeration)

Male :Kaiyodu boomiyai Sumandhidalaam

Exaggerates the empowering strength of friendship by claiming one can hold the Earth in their hands.

Metaphor

Natpin porvaikkullae

Compares friendship to a warm blanket ('porvai') under which friends rest and share their lives.

Monai (Initial Rhyme / Alliteration)

Thodu vaanam pakkamae / Thoda vendum nanbanae

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Tho' across consecutive lines.

Iyaipu (End Rhyme)

Engal mugavari / Mudhal vari

Rhyming endings of lines with 'vari' creating a rhythmic flow.

Did you know?

Trivia

Although listed as 'Unknown' in the prompt's provided context, the music for 'Enakku 20 Unakku 18' (2003) was actually composed by Academy Award winner A. R. Rahman. The film was simultaneously shot in Telugu as 'Nee Manasu Naaku Telusu'. Lyricist Pa. Vijay captured early-2000s youth culture effectively in this song, making it a classic friendship anthem among Tamil college students.

Keep listening

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