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Isaimozhi
Thithikudhe album cover
Lyrics & meaning

Oru Nimidamaa

From Thithikudhe · 2003

Lyricist
Vairamuthu
Singers
Tippu, Srivardhini
Music director
Vidyasagar
Movie name
Thithikudhe
Movie release year
2003
Lyrics added on
13 Jun 2018

Lyrics & meaning

♫ Tanglish lyrics
↻ English translation
{Oru nimidama oru nimidama
Oru nimadama thavarivitten} (2)
{Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae
Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten} (2)
Anbae anbae anbae engae…..
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Kaatrellaam un vaasam vandhu ponaaya
Karaiyellaam un thadangal vandhu ponaaya
Nadhiyellaam un kolusu vandhu ponaaya
Oru nimidama oru nimidama
Oru nimadama thavarivitten
Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae
Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten
Anbae anbae anbae anbae engae…engae
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Nilaa vandhu ponadharku
Vaan veliyil saatchiyillai
Aanaalum bhoomiyilae
Alli ellaam saatchi sollum
: Nee vandhu ponadharku
Saatchi solla yaarumillai
Aanaalum alaiyellaam
Asaiyaamal saatchi sollum
{Ilam piraiyaaga paarthavalae
Ippodheppadi iruppaayo
Angam kulithu thimirum azhagil
Adayaalangal tholaithaayo (2)
Udhattil ottiya punnagai mattum
Uraindhu vidaamal iruppaayo
Anbae anbae anbae anbae engae….engae
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Poo pola malarndhu vitten
Vaazhvil yedhum vaasam illae
Kannaa unnai kandu kondaal
Kangal meendum thevaiyillai
{Marumurai ennai paarkayilae
Maarbil pudhaindhu azhuvaayo
Vetkam thadaviya punnagaiyaalae
Vivagaarangal seivaayo} (2)
Ilaiyil sikkiya mazhaiyai polae
Ennai thodaamal thavippaayo
Anbae anbae anbae anabe engae…enage
Palli thozhiyae vandhu ponaaya
Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya
Kaatrellaam un vaasam vandhu ponaaya
Karaiyellaam un thadangal vandhu ponaaya
Nadhiyellaam un kolusu vandhu ponaaya
Oru nimidama oru nimidama
Oru nimadama thavarivitten
Oru jenmamae oru jenmamae
Oru jenmamae izhandhuvitten
Was it just for a minute, just for a minute?
Did I miss you by just a minute?
A whole lifetime, a whole lifetime,
I have lost an entire lifetime!
My love, my love, my love, where are you...
My schoolmate, did you come and go?
Little flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
My schoolmate, did you come and go?
Little flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Your fragrance fills the breeze, did you come and go?
Your footprints mark the shore, did you come and go?
The river echoes with your anklets, did you come and go?
Was it just for a minute, just for a minute?
Did I miss you by just a minute?
A whole lifetime, a whole lifetime,
I have lost an entire lifetime!
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
My schoolmate, did you come and go?
Little flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
That the moon once came and went,
there is no proof in the open sky.
Even so, down on the earth,
the water lilies bear witness.
That you came and went,
there is no one here to testify.
Even so, all the waves
stand still to bear witness.
You whom I once saw as a crescent moon,
how would you look right now?
In the blossoming beauty of your grown youth,
have you lost all your old traces?
Just that smile resting on your lips—
do you still keep it without letting it fade?
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
My schoolmate, did you come and go?
Little flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
I have blossomed like a flower,
yet my life has no sweet fragrance.
My beloved, once my eyes find you,
I will have no need for eyes again.
When you see me once again,
will you bury your face in my chest and weep?
With a smile brushed with shyness,
will you stir up sweet trouble?
Like a raindrop caught trembling on a leaf,
will you ache for me without touching?
My love, my love, my love, my love, where are you... where?
My schoolmate, did you come and go?
Little flower in a skirt, did you come and go?
Your fragrance fills the breeze, did you come and go?
Your footprints mark the shore, did you come and go?
The river echoes with your anklets, did you come and go?
Was it just for a minute, just for a minute?
Did I miss you by just a minute?
A whole lifetime, a whole lifetime,
I have lost an entire lifetime!
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Female
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Beyond the translation

Overall song meaning

‘Oru Nimidama’ is a deeply emotional song depicting the agony of lost love and nostalgic longing. The protagonist laments how missing a single fleeting minute felt like losing an entire lifetime of happiness. He fondly addresses his childhood companion ('Palli thozhiyae'), wondering if she secretly visited the places they once shared and if her presence left subtle traces in nature. Throughout the track, nature is invoked as a silent witness—the wind holding her scent, the shoreline keeping her steps, and the river carrying the memory of her anklets. He ponders how maturity has changed her over time, hoping that her innocence and smile remain untouched, while expressing a poignant hope for an emotional reunion.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Metaphor

“Paavaadai poovae vandhu ponaaya”

'Paavaadai poovae' (Flower in a half-saree/skirt) metaphorically compares the innocent young girl to a fresh flower.

Simile (Upamai)

“Ilaiyil sikkiya mazhaiyai polae”

Uses 'polae' (like/as) to compare the emotional restraint and hesitation in love to raindrops trapped on a leaf, unable to fall freely.

Personification

“Asaiyaamal saatchi sollum”

Attributes human behavior (bearing witness silently) to the ocean waves.

Monai (Initial Alliteration)

“Palli thozhiyae / Paavaadai poovae”

Repetition of the initial consonant sound 'Pa' across consecutive lines creates rhythmic harmony.

Did you know?

Trivia

The music for 'Thithikudhe' (2003) was composed by Vidyasagar, featuring iconic lyrics by Vairamuthu. This soulful track 'Oru Nimidama' was rendered by Srinivas and Sujatha Mohan. The movie stars Jiiva and Sridevi Vijaykumar in leading roles.

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